With his Cabinet urging swift retaliation, POTUS weighs his options. Isabel and Jay scramble to crack Jacob's code. Peter's day takes an explosive turn. On their own, on the run and out of time, Peter and Isabel put their lives on the line to expose the conspiracy - before it silences them for good.
"Lockstep" was written by Aiyana K. White and directed by Billy Gierhart
The President and First Lady know how to wield power corruptly. They made deals to climb to the nation's highest office. Their relationships with Jacob went back years. They were both complicit. They didn't tell each other about the arrangements they made. That's how Jacob operated. He would make a deal with anyone. He always knew there was another option to exploit. That's how he accumulated power. That's why Isabel doesn't believe he died from suicide. She questions the story Adam is telling. Peter comes to believe her. That means the greatest threat to the nation's security comes from its leaders. The Hagans are doing whatever it takes to cover up their involvement in this scandal. They score a massive victory in killing Zapata. The information Jacob provided was useful once again. They take their victory lap. Adam remains a loyal soldier. He will do whatever is ordered by the President. That includes killing Chelsea to solidify the story she colluded with Mott to sell classified intelligence. Jenny was the one actually leaking the presidential daily brief. Jacob needed that access to shape even more events. He had the Hagans in his pocket. The season was premised on the President not being trustworthy. Peter had to work under his command nevertheless. This was a different political reality. One that challenged his moral instinct to do the right thing. Going rogue now is correct even though those who shape the narrative won't frame it as such.
The President and First Lady know how to wield power corruptly. They made deals to climb to the nation's highest office. Their relationships with Jacob went back years. They were both complicit. They didn't tell each other about the arrangements they made. That's how Jacob operated. He would make a deal with anyone. He always knew there was another option to exploit. That's how he accumulated power. That's why Isabel doesn't believe he died from suicide. She questions the story Adam is telling. Peter comes to believe her. That means the greatest threat to the nation's security comes from its leaders. The Hagans are doing whatever it takes to cover up their involvement in this scandal. They score a massive victory in killing Zapata. The information Jacob provided was useful once again. They take their victory lap. Adam remains a loyal soldier. He will do whatever is ordered by the President. That includes killing Chelsea to solidify the story she colluded with Mott to sell classified intelligence. Jenny was the one actually leaking the presidential daily brief. Jacob needed that access to shape even more events. He had the Hagans in his pocket. The season was premised on the President not being trustworthy. Peter had to work under his command nevertheless. This was a different political reality. One that challenged his moral instinct to do the right thing. Going rogue now is correct even though those who shape the narrative won't frame it as such.
President Hagan believes Jacob and Zapata's deaths close this story. They aren't the only criminals responsible. Freya and the bank were involved. Isabel mentioned how the financiers of terrorisms never receive punishment. She unlocks her father's database of the illicit deals he brokered. She needs Jay's help to crack the code. She wants to expose her father. She also has conflicted feelings about his death. She can't rest until the truth is exposed. She's in danger. Adam will be tasked with eliminating her as part of the cleanup. Peter is at risk of exposure as well. He made a deal with Jacob. He's guilty of breaking into the United Nations and stealing evidence. Isabel's trust in him never wavered. That's impressive. He has supported her throughout this entire story. He doesn't know what to believe from moment to moment. He's grateful a deal was struck to prevent the Father from continuing with his mission. The stakes are still intense when Peter, Adam and Chelsea intervene at a New Jersey port to prevent explosives from reaching their targets. The stunts have remained impressive. The show keeps finding ways to create new scenarios where the protagonists have to think creatively to survive. That culminates in Peter's submerged battle. The terrorists were stopped. The climax of the season instead comes from the personal stakes of those trying to keep their secrets hidden and remain in power for the foreseeable future.
Grade: B+
"Razzmatazz" was written by Seth Fisher & Munis Rashid and directed by Billy Gierhart
The President and First Lady are removed from office due to campaign finance violations. He pardons both of them before leaving. They sign a new media deal. They land on their feet despite everything that's happened. Freya expected to survive no matter what. She didn't take Isabel seriously as a threat. When running for her life, she only focused on herself. She realized she only had two options once Peter arrived. She could either be killed by the President's men or expose his crimes in a live interview with Isabel. She opts for the latter. That still doesn't guarantee her safety. The Father tells her about his retirement. He's no longer going to fulfill this job. He refunded the money she paid him. He wasn't there to keep her safe. Nothing was worth compromising his time with his son. He created something more meaningful than work. He got away. However, he eventually finds Freya. It's assumed he kills her just like he did Mike. The visual pivots to his bond with his son. It offers the idea that there are plenty of dangerous people still operating in the world. Jacob's network is exposed. Isabel chooses to protect Peter. She understands his crimes were in the name of protecting people. It wasn't about promoting his own selfish interests. She respects that. Peter's accountability comes from finding a life outside of work. He gets banged up significantly. Relaxation is forced upon him. Mosley is eager for him to return. Night Action needs to be completely scrubbed and rebuilt. Peter will have a spot when he decides he's ready for another mission.
The President and First Lady are removed from office due to campaign finance violations. He pardons both of them before leaving. They sign a new media deal. They land on their feet despite everything that's happened. Freya expected to survive no matter what. She didn't take Isabel seriously as a threat. When running for her life, she only focused on herself. She realized she only had two options once Peter arrived. She could either be killed by the President's men or expose his crimes in a live interview with Isabel. She opts for the latter. That still doesn't guarantee her safety. The Father tells her about his retirement. He's no longer going to fulfill this job. He refunded the money she paid him. He wasn't there to keep her safe. Nothing was worth compromising his time with his son. He created something more meaningful than work. He got away. However, he eventually finds Freya. It's assumed he kills her just like he did Mike. The visual pivots to his bond with his son. It offers the idea that there are plenty of dangerous people still operating in the world. Jacob's network is exposed. Isabel chooses to protect Peter. She understands his crimes were in the name of protecting people. It wasn't about promoting his own selfish interests. She respects that. Peter's accountability comes from finding a life outside of work. He gets banged up significantly. Relaxation is forced upon him. Mosley is eager for him to return. Night Action needs to be completely scrubbed and rebuilt. Peter will have a spot when he decides he's ready for another mission.
Adam wasn't the only member of Hagan's former unit recruited to Night Action. The President operated with his own personal militia. That made him incredibly dangerous. The mission became distorted. It was about protecting his interests instead of the country's. Peter wasn't loyal to him. He was recruited by his predecessor. Catherine didn't like how he was selected outside of the usual channels. Hagan further warpped the program. His decisions made everything worse. Peter and Chelsea survive. They get to share their stories. They operate as the heroes. Adam doesn't like what he's been ordered to do. He killed Jacob. He crafted a convenient story. He catches Chelsea pretending that everything is fine. He hunts her down. Peter gets her to safety. Moreover, Peter is willing to die for his convictions. That's how certain he is. Hagan is no longer a soldier. He's a politician who compromised himself and lied to gain power. He sees that clearly. Adam's perception is altered because he knew the President from a different time. He hopes he can still trust him. That's not enough to guarantee the perfect outcome. Peter and Adam have only known each other a week. In that time, their lives have transformed. They are both capable of handling this job. Peter ensures it happens the right way. He's rewarded with a simple pleasure from his last happy memory with his mother. That inserts personal satisfaction in a way that doesn't rely on much of the known history. It offers a complete arc that was shaped over the course of this particular episode. More adventures await Peter should he choose. The show can continue to function if Netflix wants more. This finale doesn't tease that next story. It offers conclusion as the characters search for what will make them happy.
Grade: B+
