The Old Man Recap: In the Dark

As a seasoned spy with years of covert operations under my belt, I can certainly appreciate the intricate web of secrets and deception that unfolds in this episode of “XII”. The Harper family, with their layers upon layers of hidden truths, remind me of a Russian nesting doll – or perhaps more accurately, a Russian matryoshka of deceit.

With over a decade’s experience in TV reporting under my belt, I require concrete proof of a character’s demise. While Alia Shawkat’s distressed voice, screams, gunshots, and a phone disconnecting are skillful narrative decisions, they don’t quite offer the unequivocal confirmation that Emily Chase is deceased. Regrettably, The Old Man, you’ll need to provide additional evidence for me to fully accept it.

As a movie enthusiast, it appears we’re led to believe that she was brutally killed by Suleyman Pavlovich’s mercenaries. This tragedy has driven Dan Chase into a bloodthirsty pursuit, and by the climax of “XII,” he and Zoe McDonald are bound for London in search of Faraz Hamzad’s lawyer, Nina Kruger – their only connection to Pavlovich. However, following this episode, I find myself less concerned about Chase or Zoe, despite the harrowing trauma Chase endured when he heard his daughter’s murder over the phone. It’s Harper who seems to be teetering on the brink of a mental breakdown as we approach this mission.

Without a doubt, “XII” presents numerous somber scenes, but it’s John Lithgow’s character, the seasoned FBI agent, who delves into his long-hidden past, making these moments particularly gripping. As we move into the third act of the series, The Old Man skillfully amplifies the “Harold Harper carries a heavy emotional burden” theme. However, we’re still in the dark about the specifics: In a pivotal scene where Harper’s deceased son serves as a stand-in for his internal dialogue, Chip Harper (Brad Beyer) is shown only as a shadowy figure. The suspense is heightened by the choice to set most of “XII” during a stormy night with inconsistent electricity, adding an extra layer of mystery and tension.

The scene begins by showing us Emily Chase, as she performs the burial rituals for Faraz Hamzad alongside her Afghan family. Simultaneously, she shares her farewells in a voice-over. This practice is not new to Emily; she had to bid adieu to her mother through written words as well. However, these words are primarily intended for the viewers rather than her biological father. She expresses that Afghanistan is her home and that she’s committing herself to mending generational hurts.

Initially, Farouk, now left as an orphan, is sent off with Tarik, supposedly to America – a move that doesn’t shy away from the hardships he may face in the future. She frankly informs the young boy about the fear, sadness, and pain he will encounter. This is her initial effort to disrupt the patterns of the past.

For the remainder of the episode, we’ll focus on the Harper family’s residence in Washington D.C.’s vicinity – the Harpers’. Cheryl Harper (played by Jessica Harper) is preoccupied with managing a flooded basement due to a faulty water heater, adding more stress to her day. The least ideal situation for her would be her disheveled spouse appearing, seeking assistance in providing shelter for two strangers she’s never encountered (accompanied by their Rottweilers).

The first indication that Zoe, Chase, Dave, and Carol won’t be the only visitors at the Harpers’ tonight is when Chase mentions he doesn’t want their car parked in the driveway for too long, which prompts Harper to fixate on the vehicle before shutting the door. So, what’s in the trunk, everyone?

Zoe and Chase don’t have much time left before they need to deal with the events from the previous episode. However, Zoe appears shocked following Morgan Bote’s assassination. But for now, Chase is too preoccupied to act as a therapist: He has to alert Emily about Pavlovich’s mercenaries. Despite this, he feels there might be a crucial piece of the puzzle missing. Specifically, he believes that Pavlovich’s actions on U.S. soil suggest that his vendetta is not just about profiting from mineral rights.

Meanwhile, in their basement, signs of strain are evident in the Harper marriage. Harold was heartbroken when he discovered that Cheryl had sent their grandson, Henry, to stay with other relatives for his protection. She’s tired of being the FBI wife who can’t ask questions, not even towards the two strangers who have sought shelter in her home. All she’s told is that one of these men is “Angela’s father” and that Angela herself is a fabrication. No cause for alarm, right?

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the narrative takes an intense turn when Dan Chase reaches out to Emily over the phone. She’s fleeing her village via a network of underground tunnels due to the unexpected return of the Taliban, a threat all too familiar to Dan given his past experiences with these tunnels. The scene is a masterpiece of tension, as Emily calmly describes the unfolding events while Dan, Zoe, Cheryl, and Harper huddle around the phone, powerless in an unlit living room, listening to the heavy rain outside echo their own feelings of helplessness.

As the clock ticks down, Emily spends her last moments to bid farewell to her adoptive American fathers. She expresses regret for causing the Harpers more sorrow with yet another child lost, but quickly assures Harold that she holds him innocent for the actions leading to Faraz Hamzad’s death. Cheryl is left bewildered in this situation. Emily then requests Chase to understand her choice to stay with her Afghan family, swearing that her love for him remains unchanged. However, there’s no room for tears as the Taliban invades their hiding spot. We hear Emily and her relatives screaming, followed by gunfire, until her phone falls silent.

Not long after, Chase vented his remorse on the Harpers’ water heater, scolding himself towards Zoe for not making more efforts to rescue Emily. At this moment, he’s a whirlwind of raw feelings, so he can only unleash decades of suppressed sorrow in a heartrending cry as he collapses into Zoe’s embrace. WOW, JEFF BRIDGES! (This version aims to maintain the original’s emotional intensity and drama while using simpler, more conversational language.)

With his mind now fully focused, Chase transforms back into monster form upon sharing the significant revelation with Zoe – Emily’s phone call contained a crucial detail: The assailants who attacked Emily spoke Russian, implying it was Pavlovich’s mercenaries, not the Taliban, who took their daughter. This implies that answers might be found in Harper’s driveway, waiting for them.

Indeed, it’s clearer now why there was such concern about the vehicle. It seems that Chase and Harper hid the lone surviving Russian assassin from last week in the car trunk. Their plan is to transfer him to the basement so Chase can interrogate Unnamed Russian Mercenary without Cheryl becoming aware. Essentially, they’re employing classic spy tactics.

Despite being an expert, Harper decides not to question the Unnamed Russian Mercenary (URM). He assumes the mercenary is likely only muscle and wouldn’t have any useful information. Moreover, he understands that Chase requires an outlet for his anger, so he doesn’t linger.

In this scene where Chase tenderly handles Harper’s tools, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the distressing signs of torment are confined merely to URM’s heartrending pleas for compassion.

Over a cup of tea with Zoe, Cheryl admits that a significant portion of her life has been shrouded in mystery. She isn’t naive; she understands that Zoe’s presence is meant to divert her attention from whatever Chase and Harper might be doing. Cheryl also expresses her mounting frustration over being kept in the dark about her husband’s work for such a long time. In an attempt to shed light on the situation, Zoe shares plot summaries from the last two episodes featuring “The Old Man.” While Cheryl is entitled to truth—she knew Morgan Bote as just “a friend of Harold’s”—I sense that Zoe might be making a beginner’s error in this case.

As Zoe discloses a significant portion of Chase’s and Harper’s hidden truths, Harper is found quietly unraveling in another part of the house. In an enigmatic conversation with his deceased son’s spirit, it becomes clear that the countless lies Harper constructed to safeguard his family ended up causing more damage than intended. A revelation looms, though its nature remains uncertain. During this emotional confrontation, Harper confesses his remorse for not bidding farewell to Chip, Emily, and Henry. He also experiences a sudden realization about the significance of final words. In a state of urgency, Harper queries Zoe if Bote had said anything significant to her prior to his demise. She confirms that he was engrossed in his phone and might have been sending something. Although it seemed as though Bote was attempting to call someone, his actions may align with Harper’s belief that the elderly man was passing on crucial information to a trusted individual.

It’s an ideal opportunity for Chase to step into the limelight with fresh intel: URM couldn’t verify that Pavlovich employed him, but he could disclose Henry and Marcia Dixon as his other targets. So, why is Pavlovich pursuing Chase and Zoe? The reasons remain unclear. Perhaps they should head to London to question Nina Kruger for answers. Given that (a) Zoe is eager to dive back into spy work, (b) Chase needs to tackle some Russian adversaries, and (c) we have only three episodes left, it might be a good idea to do so.

At the conclusion of “XII”, I can’t help but empathize with Cheryl Harper. Her husband is abandoning her at a hotel yet again, without giving any reason. However, what sets this apart is that Harper is aware their marriage is on the brink of collapse – and I must admit, I appreciate his acknowledgement of past errors. It seems he doesn’t want to let Cheryl go, and honestly, I believe him when he expresses his desire to repair their relationship. Still, I wouldn’t blame Cheryl if she chose to leave now, not just because of Zoe’s indiscretion, but also because her husband entrusted Chase and Zoe with taking her to the hotel.

In this situation, it’s worth noting that Harper has a significant household task lined up on his schedule. As the episode concludes with a somber atmosphere, we see Harper making his way into the basement, which remains submerged from the flood. However, the grisly task of getting rid of URM’s body is left for our imagination. The only hint we get is the presence of a saw in Harper’s possession.

2024-10-04 07:54

The Old Man Recap: In the Dark

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