TV Review: Last Resort 1.2, 'Blue On Blue'
"Sometimes the enemy is just the man keeping you from getting home"
Last Resort picks up where it left off last week in continuing to provide a mixed bag of tricks; Andre Braugher and his voice continue to provide the best scenes and dialogue and a scene without him in it is a scene wasted. Im a big fan of subtext, that hidden theme, message or ideology lurking deep down within a scene, never uttered but always suggested. Some shows have a lot of it; LOST for instance; some shows dont; Last Resort for instance. Last Resort has channeled a unique way of doing things so that this doesnt matter. Audiences dont want to see a layer of mythical and godly themes bubbling away under the surface; they want to see American soldiers fighting to the death, standing as The Stars and Stripes flaps ceremoniously in the wind. They want in-your-face gunfire and authorative tones (Braughers voice) barking out commands and warnings. Thats what they get. In this weeks episode, the boundaries are secured and now its a matter of what do you do when they dont pay attention? After a 747 crosses into the restricted airspace above Chaplins (Braugher and voice) newly occupied island, the Captain must make the decision whether or not to engage in combat with other Americans once again. The important thing to note is that, up to this point, Chaplin has uttered warning after warning, but not fully gone through with his attack. By assembling a squad with the intent to kill, its clear hes not playing around. The added revelation that his son, stationed in Afghanistan, had been killed by friendly-fire a couple of weeks previously just added to the emotional strain the guy must be feeling right now. Chaplin, the shows real highlight so far. The episode on-island largely revolves around the mission to intercept this team of strangers who may or may not be on the island, but its not that simple. Its revealed that this crew are actually Russian mercenaries, using the situation to take control of the US submarine. Theres some nice exchanges between the parties involved and it just reminds us of what kind of man Chaplin is were getting the feeling that hell do just about anything to survive now. Scott Speedman plays second-in-command, Sam, and his story this episode is designed to get an emotional backstory developed. He has a beautiful wife, Christine, who he rarely gets to see nowadays and the US government back home decide they can use this against Sam, perhaps persuade him to betray Chaplin. This is the usual, nothing out the norm, government-conspiracy trope. Theres a strong foundation at the heart of this relationship though and the last few scenes of the episode, each designed to reveal something slightly emotional about the main players, reveals that Christine is Sams motivation for doing what he does. Down the line, perhaps well really see Sam tested; forced to choose between his loyalties to his Captain and his wife back home. The one dull note in the main core of characters is Grace (Daisy Betts). Shes under a lot of fire this episode for her role in the shooting of an officer in the previous episode. Her status isnt recognised and she immediately asks to be relieved from her duties. Moments later, shes all too happy to join forces with the others and head off into battle. The character doesnt click for me; I get shes a woman in a mans world and she needs to establish herself, which she is trying to do, but unlike the other characters, I feel no emotional connection with her story. I wasnt sure about Goon #1 and Goon #2 either, who accompanied her on the mission, in order to shoot her in the back. Either way, they didnt think that through and it felt rushed, incomplete and thoroughly unnecessary. The rest of the shows characters continue to serve the plots convenience. One man drinks continuously in the local bar whilst used as a human canvas by the attractive bartender. Her artistic prevalence is impressive enough to force him into saving lives, kicking ass and taking names. Im still unsure of his name and role; not the shows fault, I just didnt catch it. He seems to have been employed in the Sawyer role though. Hes unlikable now, but he wont be... The episode continues to explore the idea of US men and women having to go to war against their own nation. Naturally, theyll need to afford as much time on this as possible as its surely (I wouldnt know) quite a traumatic event having to kill anyone, let alone your own brothers. I still dont get why everyone else doesnt just pack in and leave? Perhaps they, like me, are oddly attracted to Braughers voice and feel anyone with such an impressive and commanding tone is probably correct in everything they say and do. Could the government not just bomb the hell out of the island? Is that me being totally ignorant? Perhaps. Either way, this episode was a marked improvement on the Pilot episode and featured outstanding performances from its leading men. It has a way to go in convincing me that its a story worth telling but for now, it excites and impresses visually.