The episode opens in the present, with Erin Holme (Celine Buckens) searching for Lori (Sheridan Smith) when she hears multiple gunshots. Bunker 2 triggers a flashback from the night before the Skyline Pacific 281 Flight. Pilot Mike Brass (Brendan Cowell) gives her a map with Bunker 3 marked on it. Another gunshot rings out. She follows a trail of trash to Bunker 3. Breaking the padlock open, she enters the bunker to find a supply of canned food, water, what appears to be a flare gun, and a poster of an island. She follows a trail to where Natasha (Celeste Dodwell) is emerging from a boat. Brass grabs her from behind and pulls her into the weeds. She accuses him of being responsible for what happened. He reminds her of how he kept Natasha from shooting her. She demands to know where Lori is at.

Felix Vatubua (Lasarus Ratuere) watches Lori fish with a spear. They make out. Later, Lori wishes Amber Gordon (Charlotte Vega) a happy birthday. Daniel Eldridge (Dominic Tighe) kisses Amber before giving her a handmade necklace. They celebrate with coconut moonshine. Daniel toasts to Brass’ death. Amber suggests he may still be alive. Felix assures her that an injured Brass could not survive weeks at sea. Lori warns that Brass will never let them leave the island. Amber asks if she would leave the island and return to her former life. Lori says her friends and family are there. Amber says letting go is a sacrifice.

Daniel, Amber, Felix, and Lori party. Lori suggests Daniel and Amber want to stay on the island forever. Felix asks if they are having a good time. She asks if they are going to board the next boat. When he doesn’t respond, she says playing Jane and Tarzan is fun but not real life. Amber returns Lori’s father’s lighter. Irate, Lori accuses her of killing Jack Bantock (Joseph Mydell). Amber denies the allegation. Lori says Jack did it to save Sonny from starving to death. Lori tells Felix and Daniel about Amber taking her father’s lighter. Daniel asks who gave Amber the right to make that decision. Amber walks away. While going through Amber’s belongings, Lori suggests she may be involved with Kaali Halle (Sepi Toa) and Brass. Felix assures her that Amber just made a mistake. She questions if he is involved as well. He angrily walks away when Lori finds something in Amber’s luggage.

An armed Natasha searches for Brass. Erin threatens to scream if he refuses to tell her if Lori is alive. He claims to have last seen her alive. Natasha promises to let Brass go if he gives up Daniel’s location. In a flashback, Brass visits Daniel in the Presidential Suite to discuss a proposition. Daniel offers to pay Brass a lot of money. Back to the present, Natasha fires multiple shots into the air. He causes a disturbance to lure Natasha into the woods while Erin races to start the boat. Brass fires a flare into the air. Erin releases the mooring lone from the cleat.

Felix asks Lori if their relationship is real when they spot the flare from the island. Daniel screams for help to find Amber. He claims she entered the water and disappeared. Lori believes Amber did it because of her. Felix dives into the water to look for her. She runs away.

Natasha shoots Brass as he races to join Erin on the boat. After a bit of struggle to get the engine started, she pulls away from the shore. Natasha pleads with Erin to not leave her to starve to death. Brass promises to take her to where the plane crashed. She yells Bunker 3 has provisions. Natasha fires several shots at the boat. He claims Camilla Eldridge (Alex Childs) hired Natasha to find Daniel. She asks why he intentionally crashed the plane. He denies the allegation. She warns that whatever he was involved in will be made public. He says, “Third party”.

In a flashback, Daniel tells Brass that a woman is threatening to expose their relationship to Camilla. He offers Brass a watch valued at 200 grand to kill the woman. Brass says losing the watch would be much worse than having an affair Daniel assures him that Camilla and her father will destroy him if they find out about the affair. Brass suggests telling Camilla that he has a business trip and his lover a romantic getaway in Fiji. He vows to take him off-grid where he can kill his lover. Daniel voices concern about other passengers. Brass says it will be a forced landing on an island away from Limaji. Back to the present, Erin says Brass crashed Flight 281 to allow Daniel to kill his lover. He claims it was only meant to be for a few days but Amber survived. She asks what about Mr. and Mrs. Gordon (Gloria Garcia, James Lailey). He says Sonny was proof of their affair. Erin says he left Amber, Sonny, and Lori on the island with Daniel.

Lori confronts Daniel about his and Amber’s affair before the plane crash. He claims to have loved Amber. She asks if Sonny is his son. He says Amber kept Sonny a secret until they met at the airport. She suggests Amber took the lighter to create her own happy ending. After setting the pile of debris on fire, she notices scratches on Daniel’s neck and his pocket torn. She imagines him killing Amber and her fighting back. As she leaves for the beach, he says who would have imagined that it would be just the two of them left. She rushes back to record a message on her phone. She says Daniel may have murdered Amber. When she starts to leave a message for Erin, the battery dies.

Brass blames himself for all the deceased passengers. He claims to have taken her phone to keep her from getting on Flight 281. He says to go to Orion before dying. On the island, Daniel lets the fire go out. Realizing the scratches on his neck, he rushes to the beach. From the boat, Erin sees smoke on an island. Lori calls for Felix when Daniel approaches with a knife. She flees while he carves her name under Felix’s name in the log. The episode ends.

 

The Castaways Review

The theory behind the Skyline Pacific 281 plane crash is finally exposed. Unfortunately, the revelation is unexpected but unrealistic and to the point imbecilic. To think, a licensed pilot could get away with a forced landing is unthinkable. All flights are heavily documented and flight paths must be presented before the plane takes off. It is noted in the pilot episode that the plane didn’t have a black box. The story eludes to a massive cover-up but what it boils down to is two men trying to make an affair go away.

Why would Camilla hire Natasha to find Daniel when she obviously accepted his death? If Brass was trying to lie low, why would he utilize Lori’s bank card? Daniel claims his every move is heavily scrutinized but he has a secret affair long enough to get Amber pregnant.

Too many aspects of the story just don’t add up or make sense.

It seems Brass had planned to land the plane on the island with the bunkers. The storm forced the plane off course and to the other island. The distance between the two islands is shockingly close. Erin reaches the island fairly quickly after Brass dies.

Felix jumps into the water to search for Amber. There is no telling how long she has been gone and it is nearly pitch dark. It isn’t remotely possible for Lori’s phone battery to be partially charged after months on the island.

Saltwater crocodiles wouldn’t have been the survivors’ only threat. There would have been tropical storms and supply shortages. The story makes island life look glamorously perfect.

Why would Brass care if Erin took Flight 281? The plan was to stay on the island for two days. The storm was just an unexpected twist.

We can surely expect another silly plot twist in the finale. It wouldn’t be surprising if Daniel abandons Lori and Erin on the island in hopes of a second season.

The episode deserves a 4 out of 10. Get more The Castaways recaps here.  Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to reach our staff. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest movie and TV show releases.