The Night Agent Recap: Troubleshooting

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As a film enthusiast, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying season two with its thrilling chases and intense gunfights. However, what’s been missing so far is a well-crafted undercover operation, something that was briefly hinted at during the electrifying Bangkok sequence in the premiere. That’s why “Desperate Measures” felt like a breath of fresh air – an episode centered around a daring mission to infiltrate the ambassador’s residence and snatch photographs of the intriguing contents in his secret briefcase.

Similar to any well-executed heist, it necessitates meticulous preparation, coupled with scenes that underscore its apparent impossibility. At this particular party, phones are strictly prohibited. Surveillance cameras blanket every floor. Abbas’s study can only be accessed using a keycard he always carries. To top it off, Javad and his security team are known for their formidable strength. Both Noor and Peter are tense about different aspects of this operation, but Rose alleviates Peter’s concerns by urging him to “troubleshoot” and strategize a seemingly far-fetched plan.

As a movie buff, I find myself stepping into an intriguing role at the upcoming event – acting as Emil Giger’s plus-one. Emil, a Swiss attaché for special affairs, has been quietly included in the guest list by Noor, adding an element of mystery to the gathering. However, the success of this plan hinges on numerous factors going smoothly. That’s why Peter has asked me to make a solemn vow: if anything goes awry, I should gracefully exit the scene. Yet, let’s be honest here – we all know that Rose, being the free-spirited soul she is, might just find herself breaking that promise.

Giger appears amiable but calls Catherine his “captor” during their journey to the party, hinting that he’s working for her as part of an agreement. This is because she had previously caught him in a mistake several years ago. He demonstrates composure and self-assurance, advising Rose to remain patient when she grows restless upon arrival.

The operation gets off to a good start: Peter triggers the security system to temporarily shut down cameras for 15 minutes, and Noor steals Abbas’s keycard after Rose pretends to choke on a cracker while talking to him. However, complications arise during the exchange phase: Peter is supposed to take the keycard and rush to the study, but Javad needs his help with an issue, leaving Noor unable to intervene. Fortunately, Rose steps up to the plate and assumes control of the mission even though it’s risky. She snatches the keycard and a phone from Noor, then heads directly for the study.

I’d rate Rose a B on her assignment: She impressively finds alternative ways, such as bypassing the briefcase lock when the code fails, but this could also inadvertently leave traces of her presence. She successfully takes the photos and escapes – Giger neatly returns Abbas’s keycard to his pocket afterwards – however, she’s noticed using a phone by Haleh, who has reason to be suspicious. The story that she simply found Noor’s phone lying around won’t hold up for long, and the cameras turn back on in time to catch Rose on a restricted floor.

While Peter is in survival instincts, deceiving Javad about his past as a cater-waiter and refuting any background in counterintelligence. However, Javad sees through him due to his habit of surveying each new room for possible exits, a trait they both share. He’s unsure what Peter is doing here, but with rumors of a Noor issue looming, he has his guards escort Peter to the basement to extract information. The Noor issue, as you might guess, is more of a distraction than the choking: Noor deliberately knocked over a tray of drinks on Giger, and now he’s exploding in anger at the lowly aide who damaged his custom-made designer suit. Rose may be skilled at improvising, but Peter and Noor are exceptional at it.

Rose, Giger, and Noor escape unscathed, and Peter manages to handle Javad’s guards in the basement without much hassle, delivering another thrilling close-quarters combat scene. The intel Catherine later shares with Peter aligns with our expectations: it turns out that the CIA and U.S. military had been developing exceptionally hazardous chemical agents in a portable lab (stolen by Markus), presumably to create countermeasures for potential synthetic weapons that could threaten America. (The CIA is adept at finding justifications for dreadful actions.)

In this episode, much of Catherine’s screen time is dedicated to her solitary investigation into Foxglove, which yields few results: KinCare Trust turns out to be a dead end, and Mosley can’t provide any useful information from CIA head Gedney. Gedney even asks Catherine to back off, not because he poses a danger but because he’s inefficient bureaucracy. However, Catherine manages to reach him eventually, confronting him at dinner with Alice’s ashes that had been sent back and forth between Night Action and Alice’s father. The latter didn’t want the ashes; his daughter had distanced herself from her family after her significant promotion at the FBI, which was a source of sadness for Isaac. Catherine demands to know why Alice died, and Gedney might not have all the details about Foxglove, but he is aware of the essentials.

In the recent episode, Rose advised Catherine to reveal more emotional depth towards Peter, and this is exactly what transpires in this installment. As they dispersed Alice’s remains at their former meeting spot, a pier where the two agents were once acquainted, they shared memories of their late comrade and confidant. This tender moment between them resonates deeply for them, although the tales might not hold much significance for us, the audience. It appears that Catherine’s mention of losing someone in her past could tie into her relationship with Peter’s traitorous father, as hinted at earlier.

In this episode’s climax, the tension is more intense than the first three parts: Noor maintains her resolve and declines to reveal the contents of the briefcase’s files to Peter and Catherine until they ensure the safe evacuation of her family from Iran. It’s gripping to witness Noor’s determination not to be manipulated, even though it may not lead to a favorable outcome for her, considering the U.S. government’s reputation for not upholding agreements.

Classified Information

To start with a brief backstory, another flashback scene provides us a glimpse into why Noor might long for her brother’s departure from Iran. It appears their father had endured years of being fed propaganda and deceit, leading to his agonizing demise.

Tomás and Markus strengthen their agreement with Solomon, which implies they have a closer relationship with the buyer than previously assumed (their initial goal was to gather evidence on the mobile lab for blackmail, not to steal it outright). Tomás then attempts to assert his authority and chide his cousin for acting independently, but Markus firmly rejects this, going so far as to accuse Tomás of disloyalty for allowing his father to languish in a cell. Is there a term for murdering one’s own kin? Tomás should be on edge.

After completing their mission, Peter and Rose shared a kiss, hinted at earlier when Peter became flustered upon seeing Rose elegantly dressed for the party. Their interactions suggested a palpable attraction, such as him subtly adjusting her costume clasps from behind her. It’s heartwarming to see them together.

It seems that Celeste left suddenly during the night, implying that she may still be in touch with her brother, Solomon.

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2025-01-24 04:54