The Old Man Recap: Church of the Poison Mind

As a seasoned viewer of thrilling narratives, I must admit that this week’s episode of The Old Man left me utterly captivated. The tension between Dan Chase and Russian Inigo Montoya, reminiscent of a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy, had my heart pounding with anticipation. The unlucky Russian family, twice cursed by the actions of their ancestors, met their fate at the hands of a man twice their age, poisoned but not defeated – a testament to Jeff Bridges’ timeless charisma and the enduring allure of the anti-hero.

There’s something disappointing about “The Old Man” because although it delivers as a solid thriller, it tends to burden viewers with lengthy scenes and overly explanatory dialogues before reaching those exciting moments. Additionally, since we’ve enjoyed several episodes featuring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow together, the series doesn’t hold the same captivating charm when their characters are separated by an entire continent.

To put it frankly, I must confess that I have a complicated feeling towards expository monologues – they’re often so blatantly clear they disrupt the flow of action for me. However, given the complex and intricate nature of the plot in The Old Man, these explanations are crucial for keeping up with the story. Consequently, this week’s episode, “XIV,” was quite a load to process. As we move towards next week’s season finale, here’s what we can expect:

In an unexpected turn of events, it is revealed that Emily Chase is not only alive but thriving in an underdog victory reminiscent of David and Goliath. Against all odds, Emily, alongside a dedicated militia supporting the Hamzad family, has successfully regained control of the Meshbahar deposit from the now trembling Suleyman Pavlovich in Afghanistan.

Hooray! But not quite. In truth, this supposed good news disrupted Chase’s well-thought-out strategy. Throughout the episode, the elderly man was trying to secure a life-saving antidote from Pavlovich, as a consequence of last week’s lethal poisoning. However, since the Russian oligarch has decided to prioritize crisis management over negotiations with Chase for business matters, we’re left pondering whether our seasoned spy will still be breathing by the time we reach “XV.

In the fourteenth part, we discovered that Janet McTeer’s appearance was worth the anticipation. With just two episodes left in the season, the mysterious Marion finally graced our screens, and let me tell you, she’s a joy to watch! This icy woman, born and raised in Hong Kong, is a former British spy now using her unique abilities for personal gain. As we had speculated, she is deeply connected with the cartel dealing in rare mineral deposits, with China and Russia being its main players. So, why did she aid her ex-husband Harold Harper in Operation Exfiltrate Angela Adams From Afghanistan? Simple, she wanted to develop Parwana Hamzad, an Afghan native raised in the U.S., as a Chinese asset.

At the close of each episode, it seems everyone is in quite a predicament, yet it’s the females who hold sway, which keeps me hooked on The Old Man. Marion exudes an enticing wickedness, though I can hardly wait to witness her stirring up more trouble for Harper (I apologize, Harold!). Emily, despite their shared bloodline, has undeniably inherited Dan Chase’s formidable Baba Ghor-Ghori traits and has proven herself someone to be reckoned with. Even rookie operative Zoe McDonald manages to outshine her seasoned intelligence mentors: As it turns out, she’s quite adept at handling a rifle (a little wit, the “laser rifle” term wasn’t randomly chosen).

Initially, the episode primarily revolves around Chase devising a complex strategy to convince Pavlovich to stop the toxic substance from spreading throughout his body. Having been captured by Pavlovich, Chase finds himself imprisoned somewhere in England, within an old, dilapidated church that overlooks the sea and is adorned with exquisite cobwebs. Not only is Chase battling against his innate tendencies, but his mind, growing more confused, is making it difficult for him to maintain focus: Within him, there’s a desire to atone for a lifetime filled with secrets, lies, and murders, while also striving to survive for Zoe (he promised her he would return!). These conflicting emotions are personified in the form of Emily, who continually berates him for betraying her memory.

In the meantime, Zoe arrives at the nearby police station and introduces herself as Marcia Dixon. She claims to have witnessed the murders of Morgan Bote and Nina Kruger and requests an audience with the head of the U.S. Embassy. This certainly has the hallmarks of a Dan Chase script. It’s hard to believe that Zoe would come up with such details independently. An embassy official who isn’t the chief, as expected by the author, arrives.

At Church of the Poison Mind, Chase proposes a bargain to Pavlovich: Presently, Marcia Dixon is conversing with an embassy representative. She can either accuse Suleyman Pavlovich of murdering Morgan Bote, or she can implicate Dan Chase – all in exchange for the antidote, if Pavlovich complies. Shocked, Pavlovich questions why Chase would accept blame for his mentor’s murderer and forego revenge against the man who killed his daughter, all just to depart with Zoe. I must confess, I too was puzzled by Chase’s sudden affection for Zoe – unless it’s a calculated move to obtain the antidote, which could very well be the case.

However, it seems like Chase’s exceptional spy abilities or deep feelings for Zoe were instrumental in achieving his goal. Quite timely, as Chase was barely able to control his facial movements at that point. Pavlovich severed Chase’s connections and handed him a phone to inform Zoe that it’s time to lay the blame.

After Chase manages to reach Zoe on the call, it’s clear that they share the same understanding: Zoe was well aware that Middling Embassy Official might warn her of long-term complications, and once signaled by Chase, she would hesitantly involve her partner in the scheme. In a touching moment, they exchange promises (rather than traditional vows) to stick together in their plan, and everything seems to be unfolding as expected.

Until Pavlovich confronts Chase, declares the deal canceled, and storms away angrily, dialogue suggests that Pavlovich has lost control over the Meshbahar mine, and the enraged cartel leaders demand his immediate presence.

Clearly, Pavlovich won’t allow Dan Chase to face a solitary death. Enter the Russian counterpart of Inigo Montoya, a henchman of Pavlovich, introduced to heighten the uncertainty about Chase’s survival throughout the season. Long ago, Dan Chase was responsible for the death of Russian Inigo Montoya’s father, who was a comrade of Pavlovich in Afghanistan. For his entire life, Russian Inigo Montoya has been waiting for this moment to exact his revenge, not just on Dan Chase, but also on the memory of his late father. He torments his captive by discarding the antidote vials and preparing to slaughter him, mirroring the fate that Chase inflicted upon his father. Typically, Russian Inigo Montoya would succeed in his mission. But this is The Old Man, and Jeff Bridges serves as an executive producer. Thus, despite being older than twice Chase’s age and poisoned, Chase manages to eliminate not only the current threat but also two generations of this particularly unfortunate Russian lineage.

That’s where we part ways with Dan Chase this week, left stranded, devoid of the antidote, and on the brink of death. Can Zoe manage to save him before it’s too late?

Initially, she must evade a group of Russian assassins sent after her. As the Middle Embassy Official arranges her immunity to buy time for negotiations with Pavlovich, she observes another murder – the Middle Embassy Official is killed by Pavlovich’s men. Now, they are pursuing Zoe. However, the Russians are unaware that, due to The Old Man’s flashbacks, Zoe has acquired proficient shooting skills from her wealthy in-laws. Remarkably, she dispatches a Russian assassin with a single strike to the head. Surprisingly, she had been concealing herself within a police station.

Without hesitation, Julian Carson arrives, asserting that he’s an ally of Harold Harper – implying that Harper was indeed part of this scheme from afar. Sensing wariness, Zoe scrutinizes him. However, as a shrewd judge of character, she decides to trust HIM, ZOE!!!!!

Regarding Harper, he’s been in Hong Kong for quite some time now, attempting to pressure his former spouse, Marion, concerning their past matters. However, Marion remains unfazed and unyielding. She is skilled at psychological games, using her abilities to charm Harper towards her side by subtly reminding him of how Morgan Bote had mistreated him, while skillfully dodging his inquiries about her cartel connections. Despite having compromised the covers of many of her fellow British spies in the past, she continues to hold a coveted position: Manipulating people for a living.

However, Harper no longer falls for her deceptions. In time, he manages to make her confess her intentions, and oh boy, it’s quite a revelation. She believes the cartel can only prosper if there is U.S. involvement (which seems improbable given the presence of China and Russia). Incidentally, there’s an associate who matches their needs perfectly: Parwana Hamzad, also known as Angela Adams and Emily Chase.

Marion asked for dinner as a condition for helping Harper leave Afghanistan because she desired an opportunity to meet Emily, who is his surrogate daughter. Emily embodies qualities that Marion believes will help her climb the social and financial ladder. She’s American, fluent in multiple languages, has Hamzad ancestry, and possesses top-notch counterintelligence skills. Impressive. Cunning, but impressive.

Harper, feeling dismayed and frustrated, is about to take decisive action, similar to a protective father. However, Marion receives an enigmatic phone call, causing him to hold back. Pavlovich is the caller, and Marion understands that this implies trouble – and that Pavlovich is “terror-stricken.

He’s terrified because, as revealed in the next scene at the secret cartel meeting, Emily Chase not only is alive but has retaken control of the valuable Meshbahar deposit — by murdering Pavlovich’s Afghanistan-based mercenaries. Like father, like daughter.

2024-10-18 07:55

The Old Man Recap: Church of the Poison Mind

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