Zero Day Recap: The Manchurian Candidate

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Throughout this entire ordeal, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the revelation about Proteus. Now that I know, I scarcely have a moment to absorb the information before a deluge of other calamities swamps this episode. Just as we suspected, George’s bewilderment is part of the intricate plot. Valerie manages to locate a scientist named McKenna, who was instrumental in creating Proteus. He reveals that the enigmatic weapon isn’t cyber-based as we initially thought; instead, it targets the brain, causing traumatic injuries remotely and without a trace. George’s symptoms – dizziness, confusion, and hallucinations – align with those of a Proteus victim. Moreover, McKenna informs Valerie that the weapon functions optimally when targeting a specific location. Given this, it’s determined that he can no longer return home to Hudson; he must stay in his office instead.

It’s fortunate that Sheila isn’t inclined to engage with him. Over the phone, Sheila and Alex express their concerns about George’s obvious unsuitability. Despite Valerie revealing that George could be a victim of an illegal neurological weapon based on Geneva Convention violations, Sheila remains firm in her belief that he should face consequences for his actions. If George is mentally unfit, she believes he should step down; if he’s sane, she thinks he should resign due to his adoption and escalation of fascistic methods. Given the complexity of this situation, it would be wise to place Sheila in a leadership role. However, all they manage to persuade George to do is agree to some psychological assessments, which find no significant issues with him.

Despite the significant lead-up to George’s symptoms and the unveiling of what Proteus is, I found the revelation to be underwhelming at best. There’s nothing ordinary about Zero Day or the commission, as I mentioned in my previous summary, and Sheila herself points out that the core of George’s character lies in his humanity. It’s hard to imagine any human remaining calm upon learning they are the target of an MKUltra-ass weapon. It’s equally challenging for me to envision being near such a weapon, like Valerie and Sheila are, and maintaining composure. The casual manner in which this information is shared reveals the mechanical aspect of this plotline – it feels like another piece in the puzzle of the conspiracy. I yearn for George to react more emotionally. Robert Redford showed far greater distress for less in “Three Days of the Condor.

The narrative unfolds with several events preceding the Proteus episode, starting with a fresh cyber attack targeting American Homestead Bank, causing the government and commission to halt all financial transactions over the weekend, leading to widespread confusion. People find themselves without access to their money, raising questions like, “How can they survive a whole weekend without funds? What if they need essentials like water?” The connection between the American Homestead hack, Zero Day, Evan Green, or the Reapers remains unclear, and Richard Dreyer asks George to reassure the public about this. He persistently presses Alex on the matter, leading her to question when he will realize that George does not heed her advice. The scene alternates between Alex’s phone call with Richard and Roger and Valerie’s conversation, initially creating a blurred effect before revealing that Roger is at Alex’s apartment. I found this cinematic technique confusing, as it is already known that Roger and Alex are a couple. What seems novel in their relationship is the sudden display of warmth and affection between them. In a playful manner, Roger proposes they escape the country and abandon the chaos, which would have been heartwarming if we didn’t suspect he might be considering such a move due to mounting pressure.

In summary, it’s mentioned that George appears different and Carl shares similar concerns during their attempt to question Evan Green, who seems tied to the Reapers group. George queries about the malware, Leon, and Anna Sindler. Later, Carl confides in Valerie about this, leading her to suspect George could be a target of Proteus. Simultaneously, Evan Green clings tightly to his belief that nothing bad can happen to him, a sentiment that is somewhat moving. He acknowledges that being arrested boosts his ratings but fails to grasp the seriousness of his predicament until his attorney discusses it with him. Notably, the attorney visits Evan in an informal role since detainees of the commission are not entitled to legal representation – a sign of this government’s slide towards full autocracy. The attorney advises that Evan should speak up because there’s no protection for him if he remains silent.

Around the secluded buildings of the commission’s headquarters, society appears to have disintegrated significantly. Protesters flood the streets and the front of George’s house, a place he hasn’t visited in days. Monica Kidder, who was barely seen in episode two, ignites the crowd with her calls for action, still resentful about not being included on the commission, much like being excluded from a birthday party. As of now, it’s unclear what exactly Kidder’s goals are. Melissa, the commission’s public relations officer, persuades George to meet with her since they urgently need to improve his public image, as Kidder’s statements have boosted her own popularity. However, their meeting fails to yield any results; they merely clash heads for fifteen minutes.

Initially, George was seen as an unshakeable symbol of a good and rational president. However, over time, this image has crumbled significantly. Many, including Sheila and Richard Dreyer, believe he should step down. Dreyer even attempts to persuade Mitchell of this, reminding him of the times when George chose not to run for re-election. A more proactive approach could be for him to appear before the House Oversight Committee, which would show transparency and lack of wrongdoing – a suggestion made by Melissa, but one that George vehemently opposes.

Apart from merely prolonging the financial blockade, it’s clear that he intends to intensify it. President Mitchell firmly rejects this idea, stating bluntly that the country can’t endure any longer under these chaotic conditions. George seeks more time to extract something useful from Green, who so far has only provided a list of Reaper names after being reprimanded for his increasingly discriminatory comments towards Carl. Mitchell informs George about an alleged ransomware attack on American Homestead Bank last year, where the bank had paid the ransom and failed to report it. Despite this information, George remains unconvinced that Evan Green is not involved with Zero Day or the Homestead plot, but he becomes less reluctant about disregarding morals. With a firm resolve, George authorizes Carl to use harsh interrogation methods. He stands steadfast in his decision, as the torturers bind and cover Green’s head. Throughout this process, George maintains unbroken eye contact with Green.

The pivotal moment and the most unexpected twist in the episode is the demise of Roger. Earlier, when the commission inspected the sparse evidence found at the Idaho farm (much of which had been destroyed by the time they arrived), he recalled something he’d witnessed on Lyndon’s yacht. This memory prompted him to examine one of the radios seized from the farm. Noting the frequency it was tuned to, he adjusted his own radio to match and heard Leon on the other end, transmitting coded information, which he recorded.

Later, he waited for Alex at a bar when an ominous figure, whom he believed to be one of Lyndon’s associates, approached him. They were looking for evidence that George was ill or they would expose Roger’s misdeeds to Alex. Roger hinted that he might have something, and for a moment, he considered stealing George’s notebook filled with seemingly nonsensical notes about who killed Bambi. However, it proved too much, even for Roger. He decided to confess to Alex before Lyndon’s gang had the chance to do it. He started drinking before his confession and continued long after.

By the time the man who’d approached him at the bar, along with a few others, found him in his apartment, Roger was already deep in his downward spiral. He had little time to react as they injected him with heroin and submerged him in his bathtub, staging his death as an overdose.

As I heard about Roger’s tragic demise, my mind instantly drifted back to the heartbreaking loss of my son Nick, who succumbed to a heroin overdose. Earlier, we had learned that Roger and Alex were not just colleagues, but close friends. It was through their friendship with Nick and Alex that Roger found employment under me. Though we haven’t yet seen much about Alex’s response, a stunned silence seemed to echo in the halls of Congress when she received the shocking news over the phone.

That morning, another significant update emerged: The FBI has determined that the attack on the American Homestead Bank wasn’t linked to the Reapers or Zero Day; instead, it was carried out by a group known as Sinecure, and the matter has been resolved. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee is issuing a subpoena for Sheila Mullen due to doubts about her husband’s decision-making abilities. Initially, she had threatened to expose information if George didn’t demonstrate his mental stability, but he did so through psychological evaluations. Intriguingly, she has now admitted that “a deal is a deal.” This leads us to wonder whether someone may have provided information about the situation. As we move into the second act’s climax, it remains unclear how George will navigate out of this predicament.

President’s Daily Brief

As a devoted fan, I must admit I wasn’t prepared for Roger’s demise, leaving me eagerly anticipating how this unexpected twist will unfold in the final two episodes. One plotline I can’t wait to see develop is how the Lyndon subplot will deepen without his presence, particularly the information he received from Leon over the radio and its potential impact on the story. I’m also intrigued by how Roger’s death might influence the dynamic between Alex and her father. There could be a moment of bonding, or perhaps it might lead to a heated exchange of blame.

Roger’s semi-redemption in this episode, with his improved relationship with Alex, last-minute decision not to betray George, and reminiscing about his past, felt somewhat contrived to heighten the shock of his death – yet it effectively underscored that the conspiracy has already tightened its grip around George, leaving him with no apparent escape.

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2025-02-20 23:57