As a seasoned viewer of many a TV show, I must say that this last episode of The Old Man truly hit the spot! The emotional depth and complexity portrayed by Alia Shawkat in her role as Emily was nothing short of remarkable – she managed to convey every single layer of her character’s feelings without losing control or becoming too overt.
It’s been two seasons until the women have asserted control over “The Old Man”. Following season “XV”, Harold Harper finds himself held captive by his power-hungry former wife, while Dan Chase’s wealthy daughter is compelling him into secret service work. The question remains if we will witness a third season where women call the shots, as FX has not yet confirmed a renewal for “The Old Man” (as of this writing).
The fifteenth installment, ‘The Old Man,’ might have appeared chaotic at times, but it certainly delivered an ending that lived up to its name: With Chase narrowly escaping being poisoned by Russian oligarch Suleyman Pavlovich, he now finds himself in a race against time to save his daughter Emily Chase (she’s still alive!), who is on a mission to free Harper from Marion’s clutches. However, there are a couple of minor complications in this new quest.
To begin with, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Marion played a pivotal role in saving Chase’s life (we’ll delve into that later).
Three episodes following Chase’s appearance, Zoe McDonald, Harper, and Cheryl Harper claimed to have heard Emily’s assassination through audio recordings; we later see a visual portrayal of the actual events: Indeed, Pavlovich’s armed mercenaries stormed the room where Emily was hiding with her Afghan family. Regrettably, they killed several individuals, among them Emily’s paternal aunt, Khadija. Initially, Emily managed to survive by presenting herself as a Hamzad and utilizing her negotiation skills. However, it was her connection to Dan Chase that ultimately saved her life. While Emily’s counterintelligence and linguistic abilities helped earn the trust of her captors, she subtly hinted at her aggressive disposition during an interaction with a Russian soldier, revealing that she has always been prepared to go to great lengths to safeguard those she cherishes.
It was unnoticed by all that Baba Ghor-Ghori 2.0 had been camouflaged all along: Just as her father did many years ago, Emily ruthlessly dispatched numerous Russian soldiers without a second thought. This is how she practically reclaimed control of her village, the Meshbahar deposit, and rose to become one of the world’s most influential women. However, we must first verify if Dan Chase’s vital organs are still functioning properly before moving on to his storyline.
In Hong Kong, Marion receives information from the enemy’s criminal syndicate that an American woman, known as “Angela,” has regained control of the Meshbahar deposit, which had previously been under Pavlovich’s control. Harper is overjoyed to learn that Angela is still alive, but there is no time for celebration. Instead, he must convince Marion to help him again: She should persuade the Chinese government to look away while Julian Carson infiltrates the cartel’s meeting site to find Chase’s location and eliminate Suleyman Pavlovich. Marion agrees, but Harper understands that this favor will come at a high price.
Previously in England, Zoe and Carson were en route to a meeting place of the cartel, a luxurious cliffside resort. He’s there to avenge his mentor, Morgan Bote, who was murdered, while she aims to save her boyfriend. In a nerve-wracking scenario, they reach the resort, and Harper, via phone, authorizes them to eliminate the Russian delegation. The unique opportunity for this action was granted due to Marion’s instruction, allowing the cartel’s guards to disregard an unarmed man and woman roaming the resort undisturbed for 15 minutes.
In a pivotal moment, Gbenga Akinnagbe’s character, Carson, skillfully eliminates Pavlovich’s team of seven security guards. This leads to his own ‘Inigo Montoya’ moment as he avenges Morgan Bote’s murderer. It’s an impressive scene, but Zoe grows restless. She quickly hops into a car left by Pavlovich’s security, activates the GPS, checks their recent locations, and off she goes once she locates Chase. While her actions are clever, they also raise questions. Why does she abandon Carson in such a manner? It’s not very considerate.
Marion isn’t exactly friendly either? That’s clear when she tells Harper that Pavlovich has passed away, and suddenly shows an unusual kindness towards her. Harper quickly understands that this newfound friendliness comes at a price for the favor he recently asked of her. In fact, she has handed him over to the Chinese, making him appear to be their captive.
Zoe arrives at the church perched on a cliffside, where Chase hangs on precariously. In her possession is an antidote, which Carson carried in the bag during his meeting with Zoe at the police station last week. She administers the antidote to Chase and calls Carson for guidance on first aid measures. Honestly, I’m amazed Carson picked up the call considering he was the one who killed eight individuals. She left him behind afterwards.
As I stirred from my slumber in a serene countryside abode, I found myself in the company of Dave and Carol – quite the delightful duo! Zoe, a soothing presence, attended to my injuries that seemed to multiply like wildfire. Throughout the climactic third act, I found myself questioning if this was all just a dream, possibly a clever trick up the writers’ sleeves.
As Zoe’s expository dialogue suggests, it seems that Carson remained to assist Chase and me in returning to the U.S., living undercover, and setting us up for an off-the-grid lifestyle before vanishing once more. Frankly, I’m puzzled. This series appears to be handling Julian Carson as if he’s secondary or insignificant. I just can’t understand why.
In one of Morgan Bote’s old hideouts, Chase and Zoe are now seeking refuge and working towards recovery from their shared ordeal. The ensuing scenes depict them discussing matters they’re not yet aware of—Emily’s survival and Harper being held by the Chinese government. Their strolls together in the meadow with their dogs are heartwarming, but one can’t help but wonder why Zoe is making calls on a library computer to her son… (This action serves as a plot device to subtly hint at her marital past; Zoe’s ex-husband was always defensive towards her. However, she doesn’t experience that with Chase. Interesting…) No matter how many books he reads on the porch or how content he appears while playing house with Zoe, Dan Chase remains uneasy and anxious. Don’t worry, old chap, your peaceful life is about to take a drastic turn for the unexpected.
A package with a burner phone and a number arrives, sending Chase and Zoe towards a nondescript roadside diner. There, they find Emily who had been waiting for them! The reunion between father and daughter was filled with emotion, but Emily’s response to Chase asking if she’s alright was intriguing: She simply said she’s “here.” Emily then shares some news about Harper: Marion is using him as a pawn to manipulate the Meshbahar deposit.
Chase: “Huh? I thought some yahoos in the valley seized control of the deposit from Pavlovich.”
Emily: “Hi Dad! Lead yahoo here!”
Emily requests Chase’s assistance in rescuing Harper, and he eagerly agrees. However, when she outlines the conditions – specifically requiring access to Lou Barlow – things take a turn. As we recall from “XIII”, this Lou Barlow character has a knack for unsettling even someone as tough as Dan Chase. Now it seems Emily is asking her father to confront one final demon, for Harper’s welfare.
Chase adamantly refuses to revisit that contentious path, yet seems oblivious to the fact that his authority is now out of reach. The shocking truth unveils that Chase was Lou Barlow, a man with acts more reprehensible than brutality. Oh my goodness, Mate. What on earth have you been up to??? He assures his daughter repeatedly that he’ll devise an alternative solution for her predicament, but it’s all irrelevant now. In a dramatic shift from earlier in the season, it’s clear that Emily is calling the shots and there are no other options on the table.
Yet it goes beyond just appreciation: I adored this particular scene immensely, as Alia Shawkat masterfully portrayed every intricate facet of Emily’s thought process, while maintaining a restraint over her emotions. She harbors affection for Chase, yet she’s also seething with anger towards him for his deceit. On top of that, she’s gained influence and remains steadfast in her mission (rescuing her other father). So, it’s safe to say that negotiation is the farthest thing from her mind right now.
And she’s not going to because Chase can’t ignore the facts he’s spent decades repressing: Emily wields immense global power now. She found Chase and Zoe because she called in a favor to the FBI, resulting in Zoe’s son’s phone being tapped (I knew that was a dumb idea, Zoe!). But her FBI favors don’t stop there because, as Chase remarks, “Parwana Hamzad gets whatever she wants.” As in forcibly transporting Chase and Zoe with her out of the country to rescue Harper.
The final shot of the season is of several FBI cars surrounding the diner, confirming that even if we don’t get a season three of The Old Man, Dan Chase is now his daughter’s operative. Again, I just love how Shawkat played this scene. Emily’s not smug about the new world order — there’s even a tear in her eye. But she is angry and taking her life back on her terms. Are her actions revenge on her parents? Is power corrupting her? A little bit of both? Maybe we’ll find out in season three.
That’s, Like, Your Opinion, Man
Amy Brenneman convincingly advocated for another season, and I can understand why since we’re eager to uncover more details about Zoe’s mysterious past: The brief flashbacks hint that her marriage wasn’t built on love with her ex-husband, but it taught her valuable lessons about partnership and firearm proficiency. What other secrets does she harbor?
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2024-10-25 06:56