Last Resort review – 1×07: ‘Nuke It Out’

It’s all about releasing tension on Last Resort as Chaplin (Andre Braugher) goes on the offensive looking for the missing nuclear firing key. Meanwhile everyone else just needs to cut loose.

Let’s bitch it out…The Colorado crew is still reeling from the events of last episode: primarily because half of the only element keeping them alive on the island has been stolen. This leads to searches, contraband confiscation, some randy sexytime on the beach and plenty of binge drinking as morale takes a nose-dive. I’m honestly surprised that it’s taken this long for the crew to let loose (or perhaps this is the first time we’re really seeing it), but it’s clear that they’re tightly wound, strictly regimented people need some form of release.

There’s plenty of ill-will to foster dicontent: Prosser (Robert Patrick) refuses to turn a blind eye to the drug use among the crew, Grace (Daisy Betts) and James (Daniel Lissing) have been kept in the dark that the fifth Black Ops, Booth (Gideon Emery), is still alive and Sophie’s (Camille de Pazzis) association with crimelord Julian (Sahr Ngaujah) is questioned.

It’s Julian that continues to draw my ire as the show has found its footing in recent episodes…except for the continuation of this contrived angle. The simple fact that the Colorado crew walks right into Julian’s musical performance in order to threaten him immediately calls into question why they haven’t simply taken him out. Even after he dumps one of their crew with a bomb strapped to her chest, they simply shoot his proxy (whom he’s clearly selected to take the fall) instead of taking him out. Honestly…just kill the guy and be done with it, already! Instead Last Resort drags it out so that Serrat can continue to cause problems or maybe even kill more of their men.

Other Observations:

• Is anyone surprised that the traitor is Cortez (Jessica Camacho)? In addition to confessing to Grace that she had worked out a deal with Serrat during her time in captivity, she also tries to get close to Chaplin during the booze’n’football morale booster organized by Kendall (Scott Speedman). Guess she wasn’t lying when she informed him that “everything’s changed”
• Prosser’s payback for interfering with Julian’s crime distribution network is significantly severe: the soles of his feet are burned and he’s given drugs to get him hooked. I’m intrigued because I like (to hate) Prosser, but again I’m frustrated that Serrat can operate so easily. Where does he keep picking up these Navy officers?! Does he have a trap or does he just keep a holding pen whenever he needs hostages? Grr…
• Christine (Jessy Schram) and Kylie’s (Autumn Reeser) grrr-power team-up yields good results in their first mission. After buying some really expensive tech, Kylie taps into lawyer Paul’s (Jay Hernandez) cell using Christine’s feminine wiles. But here’s the kicker: Paul is playing Christine because the government has his son. I’m not sure it excuses his behaviour, but it does give his character some much needed shading
• It doesn’t take long for the truth about Kendall’s drug-induced infidelity with Sophie to come to light. Initially I thought the show would dance around the issue when Sam almost finds spots the video on her computer, so it’s a nice surprise that it actually does come out a little later. It also prompts Sophie to come clean about her association with Serrat (the yawn-worthy soil testing exercise), though it’s not enough to repair her damaged relationship with Kendall. These two still have chemistry, but it’s being tested
• On the flip side is James, who bonds with Grace – in the carnal sense – over the truth that one of the five Black Operatives is still alive on the island. I’m unsure if the dirty beach sex is meant to further complicate the island drama, but frankly it just bores me because it cements James’ status as a playboy d-bag and undercuts Grace’s judgment skills. In this case, everyone loses including Tani (Dichen Lachman)

Best Lines:

• Kendall to Grace: “I don’t pull rank. I have rank.” Meow!
• Sophie to Kendall: “Only an American would apologize for a kiss.”

Last Resort airs Thursdays at 8pm EST on ABC. The show is taking a week off so we’ll see you back here in two weeks