As someone who’s spent countless hours binge-watching gripping action dramas, I must say that this season premiere of yours is truly a masterpiece! It’s like a symphony of suspense, mystery, and raw emotion, all skillfully orchestrated to keep us on the edge of our seats.
If you share my sentiments, you’re likely both eager for the return of “The Old Man” after its two-year absence (caused by the 2023 writers’ strike) and still bewildered by its complex storyline. Fortunately, as we delve deeper into the intricate plot — alas, it doesn’t become crystal clear in season two — we can come to terms with the fact that “The Old Man” is essentially a family drama masquerading as a spy thriller. Although it might be harder to follow, the themes of generational trauma are more captivating than international espionage. However, it will always be a pleasure to watch Jeff Bridges effortlessly take down a younger Taliban antagonist without showing any signs of strain.
Since it’s been quite some time since the season one finale of “The Old Man,” I thought it might be helpful to provide a quick recap for those who need it as well. Here’s a summary in case you want to brush up before diving into the second season:
Previously, Bridges’ character Dan Chase, along with John Lithgow’s Harold Harper, were on their way to Afghanistan with a mission to save Alia Shawkat’s character, whom they both consider as their daughter. Initially introduced as the model FBI agent “Angela Adams”, it was later revealed that Shawkat was actually “Emily Chase”, the secret daughter of Dan Chase and his wife Abbey (originally named Belour Daadfar). However, in the season finale, a shocking revelation unfolded at the last minute that “Emily” wasn’t Dan Chase’s biological daughter after all. Instead, she was Parwana Hamzad, the real child of Faraz Hamzad, the Afghan warlord that Dan had betrayed decades prior by eloping with Belour, who was Hamzad’s wife at that time.
Towards the end of season one, it was Emily/Angela who was kidnapped by Hamzad’s sibling, Khadija (a new addition to the main cast in season two, played by Jacqueline Antaramian), and subsequently taken to the village where she grew up in Afghanistan.
In the start of season two, around three weeks since Emily’s abduction (as discussed casually), the narrative centers around Chase and Harper trying to secretly enter Afghanistan. However, this task has become challenging due to the Taliban regaining power. It’s worth mentioning a significant omission from the first two episodes of ‘The Old Man’: Dave and Carol are yet to be found. To be precise, this is because episode “VIII” unfolds in Afghanistan, and at last check, Chase’s faithful Rottweilers were given to an unidentified woman in a hidden Los Angeles garage.
Chase and Harper find themselves secretly transported into Afghanistan, hidden in the bed of a truck. The journey appears uneventful until they’re ambushed by Taliban soldiers, resulting in their driver’s tragic death – the only person who knew the identity of their next contact. This certainly adds an unexpected twist!
Without encountering any problems (thanks to GPS and satellite phones!), they successfully reached the meeting spot. However, the fellows within didn’t seem overly pleased by the unexpected arrival of two seasoned, white gentlemen. But everything turned out fine: Just moments before Chase and Harper were due to receive deadly gunshots, a striking Afghan named Omar (Artur Zai Barrera) appeared on a horse, quickly identifying himself and winning the trust of the elderly men as their intermediary.
Initially, Omar appears too perfect, raising suspicion (a common warning sign): He’s part of the anti-Taliban movement, yet he provides an unusual amount of information about Faraz Hamzad. Essentially, Hamzad, due to his management of a significant lithium deposit, finds himself in a complicated situation with the Taliban administration while also striving to protect his community. The intricate facts aren’t crucial; what’s more significant about this encounter is that Omar seems to be acting suspiciously like a Taliban double agent. He’s aware that Chase and Harper are searching for a woman who’s an asset, making him, in layman’s terms, oddly interested.
We also get our first flashback of the season, learning more about Belour’s role in Emily’s family trauma. During that fateful diner meal from the series premiere, Young Johnny (Bill Heck) and Young Belour (Leem Lubany) are plotting out their new lives as Dan and Abbey Chase. (With toddler Emily sleeping in her mother’s lap the whole time.) The decision to withhold Emily’s identity came from her mother, with Belour thinking this kind of clean slate would provide her daughter with unlimited opportunities. Not, you know, decades of anguish, grief, and untold friction between mother and daughter.
I can see why Belour stands firm on this point. She’s deeply concerned that Faraz Hamzad might target Emily, which is what leads her to declare that Johnny will be the only father she ever recognizes. Heck does an impressive job of portraying a range of emotions, culminating in acceptance. This sentiment becomes evident when we revisit Bridges in the present, and his expression conveys nothing but disappointment – it’s obvious he feels he let Belour down.
As far as Chase and Harper are concerned, Omar’s still on our team, but little do they know he’s got his eye on Chase. He’s caught onto the old man’s game; this guy is the very same American who battled alongside Faraz Hamzad against the Soviets, a man capable of unimaginable cruelty. You know, that age-old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”? I guess Omar’s about to find out the hard way. We roll up to our next safe house, a rebel camp, but something doesn’t feel right. Turns out, everyone there has been wiped out! Chase’s urging Harper to call “her” is starting to sound like a good idea now.
In this storyline, the enigmatic figure we meet is none other than Marion (played by Janet McTeer). Though she’s only heard through voice-overs, it seems she’s the only one who can help Harper and Chase navigate their current predicament. One might call her a fixer or a problem solver, but it’s clear she has ties to their past. Not only does she know Chase by his real name, but it’s been 30 years since Harper last spoke with her. Furthermore, the scriptwriters cleverly use Harper’s dialogue with Marion to drop a bombshell: Omar was not their point of contact!
In the same vein as Harper employing the classic “Friend turns foe” suspenseful tactic, Chase follows suit with Omar, using relentless questioning. This reaches its climax in the season-opening brawl where, yet again, Chase demonstrates his strength by biting a much younger man – not just with his hands but also his teeth. To put it bluntly: Chase viciously attacks this individual, taking a chunk out of his face!! It’s worth noting that this man has earned the reputation of being a menacing figure…
Instead of Omar stabbing Chase before reciting his character’s mission statement, let’s say that as Omar declares his role as a Taliban spy and the threat to Faraz Hamzad’s influence, he attacks Chase. Meanwhile, Harper arrives just in time for both friends to flee towards the mountains, pursued by Taliban soldiers on motorcycles. The storyline requires that Omar survives this encounter.
Moreover, for the story’s continuity, it is revealed that despite seemingly mortal injuries, Chase miraculously recovers due to his uncanny memory of the location of his hidden cave from three decades ago. Incredibly, even his vintage first-aid kit from the 1980s, filled with supplies that should have expired by now, remains intact as well! As soon as Chase and Harper find refuge in the cave, the conclusion unfolds by reconnecting the story to their initial discussion about Emily’s childhood soccer team. This wasn’t an ordinary after-school pastime; the day Emily expressed her strong desire to play soccer like he had seen only during his time in Afghanistan was the moment Chase recognized she was still Faraz Hamzad’s daughter, and that there would forever be a part of her that didn’t belong to him. He feels deeply saddened by the prospect of revealing the truth to her. Furthermore, Chase expresses valid concerns: There’s a strong possibility Emily might remind Hamzad of Belour, leading him to take out his frustration on his own daughter.
However, we can’t dwell on that matter at the moment as it’s now time to conclude this episode with a powerful trifecta: Firstly, during Harper’s phone conversation with Cheryl, we discover that the mysterious Marion was once his ex-wife! Then, we briefly delve into Chase’s inner thoughts, where a spectral image of Young Faraz Hamzad (Pej Vahdat) torments him for his cruel nature and concealing Emily’s true identity throughout her life.
Ultimately, when Chase stirs, he realizes that the reality of Hamzad’s presence is more substantial than a mere dream. In due course, the elderly Faraz Hamzad cautiously advances toward Chase, brandishing a firearm menacingly. The scene transitions abruptly as we hear an ominous gunshot echo.
Typically, I would scoff at such a commonplace cliffhanger, but given that the season opener is actually a two-part episode, I’ll make an exception. Let’s discuss it further in our next summary!
That’s Like, My Opinion, Man
If you find the artworks in the opening credits just as fascinating as me, you can learn more about the talented artist, Hana Shahnavaz, right over here.
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2024-09-13 07:54