V – The show begins with Harold Harper (John Lithgow) and Agent Angela Adams/Emily (Alia Shawkat) in an airplane. Angela tells a story about a mother who is walking on a beach with her son. A massive wave washes her son out to sea. The distraught mother pleads to the heavens for her son to be returned to her. The woman watches an albatross as it briefly dives into the water and emerges with her son on its back. The albatross delivers the boy to his mother. After assessing her son, the woman says, “He had a hat.” Harold asks if the story is meant to be funny. After reminding him of their destination being unknown, she claims to be preparing them for the unknown.

Angela asks Harold what she is to him. He admits she used to feel like family before addressing her as “Emily.” She tells him that her father, Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) pulled strings to get her the job. When trying to discuss the issue, he hesitates to call her Angela. She assures him that nothing has changed about her. He reminds her of how she deceived him for years. She guarantees that all the time they have known each other, she has been loyal. He demands she chooses between Emily and Angela when the plane lands.

In a flashback, Dan Chase (Bill Heck) listens as a woman talks to him. Back to the present, Dan stares at Zoe (Amy Brenneman) before quietly walking away. He gives her the login info so she can check the balance of her alias, Marcia Dixon’s account. She admits to being confused by his suddenly changing his mind. He warns her that Emily’s safety has been compromised before saying he is leaving for Morocco tomorrow. She asks him to explain what is happening. He promises to tell her if she agrees to accompany him to Morocco.

In a flashback, Dan and young Abbey Chase (Leem Lubandy) listen to a Russian man who is being beaten screaming in agony. A woman covered in blood emerges from the room. Young Faraz Hamzad (Pej Vahdat) assures them that the man will eventually break. Dan suggests he reach out to the CIA for assistance. She pleads with him to not go. He admits the CIA is not favorable of him right now. She expresses her concern over what the man may say when he finally cracks. He asks what she is referring to. She says now is not an appropriate time for the conversation.

Dan asks Abbey why she fears what the Russian man will say. She admits to being concerned the man will expose her true identity. He suggests she is spying on Hamzad for the Russians. She admits to aiding the GRU in weakening their rivals to ensure Hamzad achieves what he set out to do. He warns her that she, her husband, and possibly him will hang if they find out. He suggests being honest with Hamzad. She says he may accept it, but not her other secret. She tells him about her visit with a tribal elder’s wife when an unknown man died on her doorstep. She claims the Russians told her that a crew of Greek pirates discovered a copper lode that conceals lithium and uranium, which Russia desperately need.

After assuring her the find would secure Hamzad the Afghanistan president position, he questions why she isn’t saying anything. She warns such a high status too quickly has the potential to turn men against each other. He guarantees her that Hamzad isn’t the type of man to become controlled by that kind of power. She admits it has become too difficult to handle alone.

Back to the present – Zoe warns him that she is not the Marcia Dixon he imagined. He reminds her of the scheme to take half of his money. He suggests she has a natural ability to pick up on flaws in people but doesn’t know how to utilize them. She questions if her natural ability is what draws him to her.

Angela tells Harold that it is impossible for her to choose between Emily and Angela. He asks why she feels like that. She points out that they both raised her, he gave her purpose while her father gave her life. He asks her to take him to Dan. After saying “fu** you,” she assumes her presumption about her mattering to him was wrong. He reminds her that she committed a crime. She questions if he is responsible for hiring an assassin to murder Dan before SWAT arrived on the scene. When he doesn’t respond, she admits to feeling betrayed by his not saying anything when he discovered her secret. She accuses him of waiting until now to validate his assumption by testing her reaction to her mother’s name. Harold tells her that she is his biggest threat.

After pulling into a parking garage, Dan asks Zoe to remain in the car. She watches as he leaves his dogs with a woman. He hands her a JB Pet Hotel contract signed by Henry and Marcia Dixon. He grieves over his dogs. She asks if his plan is to never return for the dogs. He admits his job was always to defend whatever needed it at the time. He says with Hamzad dealt with, she and Emily will be safe, his well-being isn’t important.

Alerting Agent Raymond Waters (E.J. Bonilla) of an incoming call, CIA Chief (Timothy Stack) says he is to follow the caller’s orders without interjection. Morgan Bote (Joel Grey) asks Waters if he is the last person to see Harold before he was reported missing. He tells him that it is possible. Bote orders him to remain on standby while a team is put together. When Julian Carson (Gbenga Akinnagbe) takes a seat, Bote demands to know where the bullet hit him. He points to his chest. Bote apologizes for compromising his safety.

Julian tells him it isn’t necessary to apologize as he is only interested in learning the truth. Smirking, Bote admits to being responsible for putting the mole, Angela, in Harold’s office as a favor to Dan. Julian asks if he is Dan’s father. He says, “More and less. He and Harold both” before admitting he disregarded the rules. Bote asks him to harm Harold and Dan.

Harold assumes they have landed in North Africa. The pilots ignore Angela when asks for their location. Harold says they could be in Tunis, Dan and Abbey’s last stop before America, where Hamzad lost their trail. An older gentleman escorts them off the plane.

Dan and Zoe arrive at Zachary’s place. She questions the purpose of the visit. He informs her that Zachary’s signature may be needed to authorize the investment. She suggests her going in as Marcia Dixon may be more effective than him forcing him to do it. He suggests voicing her concerns to Zachary about the legitimacy of the investment. When he suddenly changes his mind, Zoe is already out the door. Zoe identifies herself to Zachary before asking him for a few minutes of his time to discuss an important matter. They agree to meet tomorrow. Once he is inside his house, Zoe has a change of heart.

When Zachary answers the door. Zoe tells him that she wasn’t finished. Dan imagines having a conversation with Abbey. She suggests he confess and seek forgiveness for the things bottled up inside him but not from her because she is only his prisoner. Zoe returns to the car.

Harold believes Hamzad is testing his ability to “find the needle in the haystack.” She questions what he is supposed to find. He says the April 1987 flight from Karachi that her parents were on. She asks if he is familiar with the flight. He admits to being responsible for arranging it. She asks what soured the flight. He contacts a woman with the flight information. The woman asks for Dan and Abbey’s seat numbers. Frustrated, he continues searching through the files. He says, “7A and 7B.” The woman warns him that a letter explaining his guilt will be dispensed before immediately disconnecting the line. He slings his phone across the room.

Angela assumes the CIA refused to protect Harold when he was targeted by someone from his past. She says once he discovered the truth, the government opened its arms to him once again. He asks what she is saying. She says he can utilize the story to support his case after Hamzad is killed. She suggests they locate her father now while he works on getting rid of Hamzad.

Dan congratulates Zoe for convincing Zachary to approve the investment. He warns her of what could happen if she makes the wrong move. She tells him that he is much more than a protector of things and people. As he tries to explain how they made it there, she tells him that it doesn’t matter. She admits to not missing the place she came from. She suggests he may not have envisioned her as his dream partner, but she may be the partner he needs. He reaches over to grab her hand. The flight attendant (Naina Michaud) identifies them as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Old Man Review

It is really difficult to rate the episode fairly when certain scenes were pitch dark. It was impossible to identify the characters and other important details due to lack of visibility.

I question why the writer filled the script with riddles. A few riddles here and there, maybe, but not at this magnitude. Riddles add mystique and intrigue when properly incorporated into a script. When the script is oversaturated with riddles, it can leave viewers scratching their heads. Try as I may, my interpretations may not be 100% correct. Spare us all, stop with the riddles!

Some members of the cast aren’t conveying emotion in their performances. Instead of telling a story, it seems as if they are straining to remember their lines. The performances feel amateurish in every sense of the word.

The book story is overall more effective. Abbey’s explanation of the copper lode was infantile and not in the least compelling.

The most heart-wrenching scene was when Dan left his dogs behind, possibly forever. The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Old Man recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link.