So, now that Jason finally broke free of his father, of course the show would kill him off. The show's writers are basically saying that Jason's purpose was to be his father's assistant, and doesn't get to make his own way in the world. Which is what's really sad about this episode. That, and the fact that his death was entirely preventable.
Let's get right to it: Miles and Monroe are primarily responsible for Jason's death. Jason outright admitted to them that he had a number tattooed on his eye, and Miles and Monroe already know the consequences of a Patriot agent getting a hold of him. So why, in the name of all that's good, do they let Jason wander alone amongst a crowd that contains at least one Patriot agent? Who the fuck is that stupid? Even if Jason is on the up and up, and he very likely was, who lets someone go unsupervised who can so easily be re-purposed by the Patriots in a fucking moment?
At least Rachel and Dr. Rachel's Dad have the good sense to not waste any screen time this week on their hand-wringing. Well, Rachel will get in a little wasted time.
Tom, when faced with his son's desertion, can't even keep Jason tied to him with promises of getting their mother back. Jason angrily announces that Julia is dead, and has been for a while. Which is what I would have done if I was the Patriots, too. Does Tom really think that he'll be able to just waltz away with Julia, even if he gives the President Monroe's head on a plate? Jason finally outright says what Tom really doesn't want to believe. Jason points out that his dad is foolish for believing anything the Patriots say, and walks off into the darkness.
Miles and Monroe err in even bringing Jason to Austin with them. After leaving his Dad, Jason surprises Connor taking a dump (I guess), and uses him as a hostage to get into the group. After admitting that he has no plan except getting into Team Miles, Jason passes along some information that confirms what Duncan's nephew has already told them- something's going down in Austin. Jason, in addition, has an address some Patriot agents are going to. Why do Miles and Monroe take him along? They leave Duncan's former mercenaries, so there are plenty of armed babysitters around. Why not just leave Jason? In fact, why not just leave Connor, who accomplishes absolutely nothing in Austin, too?
You know what, Jason? Just shoot him.
So, Miles, Monroe, Connor, Charlie, and Jason head off on the wagon to Austin for a super-duper top-secret mission to save the President of Texas from assassination. They quickly find the headquarters for the Patriot cadets sent to complete the mission- a flophouse with general store below, run by the crustiest woman who ever crusted, Shirley Jenkins. Shirley makes them pay in advance for information, but then complains about some kids who haven't paid her for their room yet. That was the first clue. Jason immediately proves his worth by getting them in safely, and decoding a note so Miles and Monroe figure out that their first target is Blanchard, a retired Texas official.
You kids let me get back to chewin' on rocks
Miles and Monroe have a little blindfolded fun with Blanchard, his dutiful whore standing by, but can't resist letting Blanchard in on the joke. Over drinks, they spill what they know to Blanchard about the Patriots, and he's open with them in return. Turns out, the Patriot cadets have already struck a member of Texas' Cabinet, and implicated California, governed by a Ms. Governor Affleck (Expect next season to focus on California when Texas falls. Because Texas will fall.) Blanchard didn't completely buy the idea that California wanted to assassinate a Texas official, mostly because California is too busy with yoga classes.
To be fair, Blanchard is right. Why would California, which has its own coastline, agriculture and industry, expand into scrub country? Texas has little arable land, and lots of almost useless oil (I guess you could make kerosene out of it, but that's it). California would only see an annexed Texas as a burden. The only thing California needs Texas to do is not give the Patriots a foothold in the West. Blanchard is gung-ho to get Miles and Monroe to President Carver and get going on those Patriots. But first, Blanchard figures he should maybe put on pants. Monroe is openly relieved; the cavalry will literally be coming to Willoughby to save the day. Miles, on the other hand, won't drink the booze (I wouldn't either), and doesn't sound all too thrilled. Blanchard disappears to make himself pretty.
Monroe accuses Miles of being completely pussy-whipped, reminding Miles of his good ol' bachelor days of making war without a second thought. Monroe is wondering where the bromance has gone. Monroe blames Rachel for these changes, as Miles wants to please her and has himself changed after being exposed to her special kind of tortured dithering. Miles has no answer, and never will anyway, because they hear a fight in Blanchard's bedroom. One of Blanchard's whores is stabbing him viciously. Miles and Monroe separate them, and the whore stabs herself, much like Kim two episodes ago after blowing away her own father. Monroe confirms that she, too, has a tattoo on her eyelid just as the Texas Rangers show up.
They are shocked to see Monroe alive, and not so shocked when Monroe tries to talk his way out of trouble. When that doesn't work, Monroe makes a smoke bomb so he and Miles can escape.
In the meantime, Jason and the other kids have been busy. After capturing one of the Patriots who returned to the flophouse, Jason realizes its one of the brainwashers from his own re-education camp. They have a tortured conversation, with Bad Guy ridiculing the guy who's already beaten him up and wants to kill him. Probably not a good idea, because Jason takes out a knife and gets Charlie to uncuff him. By the time Miles and Monroe return with their news, Bad Guy is already dead. And Jason knows their plan- they'll assassinate President Carver the next day at his big public speech.
Well, lets go back to some unidentified Texas scrub/forest, where Priscilla is burning her hand on purpose in the campfire, can suddenly hear wagons from much farther away than Aaron can, and she sobs at the mention of her kids. Aaron is starting to freak out, and decides to watch Priscilla all night. Priscilla literally lies awake, not even blinking. Which really freaks Aaron out, to the point that he figures out that the nano tech have taken over Priscilla. Nano-Priscilla tries to comfort Aaron- Priscilla's mind thinks she's making French Toast for her kids, and is enjoying herself. But Nano-Priscilla is having the time of her life, using Priscilla as a science experiment to really experience feelings, sex, and the sweet, tart taste of a juicy apple. Nano-Priscilla has no intention of leaving Priscilla's mind, and if Aaron will play along, the real Priscilla will be fine. Eventually. So they mosey on to Willoughby, so Aaron can introduce his fake ex-wife to everyone.
President Carver is unthrilled at the attack on a barely alive Blanchard, and the news that Monroe is alive. Turns out that Blanchard's attacker also had California papers, which would make her the sloppiest assassin ever. He has the security at his speech doubled, because he's not canceling.
President Carver's speech goes on and on about how awesome Texas is, while the Fabulous Five approach. Miles, in a decision that will get Jason killed, decides they'll all split up and look for anyone familiar from Willoughby. Considering that Monroe, Charlie, Connor and Jason don't actually know anyone from Willoughby, this further compounds the stupidity of sending Jason off on his own. Monroe manages to knock out a Ranger who makes him, leaving him snoring under his hat, but Jason excites the interest of Shirley Jenkins. And her henchman.
After grabbing Jason and taking him behind something, they make absolutely no commotion whatsoever as they hold Jason's head in place and read his eyelid. Shirley calls herself his Commanding Officer, and questions him. Jason spills everything, and then Shirley's henchman hands him a high-powered rifle, and shows him an anonymous office building with a direct line of sight to Carver. Wouldn't the Rangers have that building locked down and monitored? They can't catch Monroe, they can't kill him, they take fucking forever to realize he's still alive, and now they just allow a perfect shooting spot to be completely unguarded. Yep. Texas will fall. Jason is lining up his shot when Charlie, who also wandered in with no resistance, tries to stop him.
Carver is finally wrapping up his speech, and then introduces Texas' newest Rangers, a bunch of fresh-faced kids all totally loyal to Texas, except for the kid we know came straight out of Willoughby's re-education camp. The kid that Miles let go. The kid who led the Patriots to their last safe house. So the Texas Rangers don't even vet their cadets. Yep, Texas will fall. Miles spots him and realizes what he's going to have to do if Carver is to survive today.
All totally legit because they've got the right hat
Jason and Charlie have a knock-down, drag out fight, with Jason almost succeeding twice in choking her. During which time, lots of noise is made that attracts absolutely no attention or any guards. And the building they're fighting in looks suspiciously like a building where books are... deposited. So will the assassination go through? Charlie, realizing that Jason has been activated and probably isn't even aware of what's going on, tries to talk him out of it, even when she has no air. Jason is silent in this scene, saying nothing, just trying to kill Charlie. The second time she scrambles free, she grabs the rifle left laying on the floor and points it right at Jason's chest. He takes the knife she stabbed him in the leg with out. He's about to lunge at her when she shoots him point blank in the chest.
Finally, the people of Austin notice that something's amiss. Rangers are running everywhere, people start screaming, and little secret Patriot cadet with the Ranger hat takes out a handgun. Another shot goes off, and Carver gets blood on his face. But it's not his blood. Patriot cadet in a Ranger Hat collapses, a red hole in his abdomen. The crowd gets down, which is weird because it's Texas and shouldn't someone have shot the one guy still standing in the crowd with a gun?
Gee, maybe someone should arrest the shooter
Miles actually is not immediately shot or tackled by anyone, or maybe isn't ever, and has time to show on his face that he really didn't want to kill the kid. Jason collapses into Charlie's arms, who sobs piteously as Jason dies and not a single law enforcement official even enters the room.
On a lighter note, Rachel is trying to convince Duncan's Nephew from fighting with Monroe anymore and not getting anywhere when the mercenaries get all worked up about a couple of newcomers. Aaron has arrived, and he magically found their new hiding place after they've been switching camps every episode. Rachel is thrilled to see him, and pleasantly surprised when Aaron re-introduces her to Priscilla. How long will it take Rachel to figure out Priscilla's secret? And how long until Rachel acts and screws things up even more?
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