Episode 5 of The Terminal List Season 2, ‘Frogman Sh!t,’ picks things up once more, serving up the precise brand of tactical action the series does best.
With the team now aware of the mole within the CIA, even if still at large, Reece, Freddy Strain and the rest of Ground Branch set their sights on taking down the terror cell for good. What succeeds is a brilliant action set piece with Freddy in overwatch providing cover for Reece to get the job done.
It really is the very best of The Terminal List.
Once again, it’s the detail that makes this sequence so very special. Watching Reece creep along on the move, peering around corners, sweeping doorways and getting the job done is precisely the kind of thing I live for in this series. The way these characters handle their firearms feels authentic, with Chris Pratt having absolutely bought into his role as Reece.
Even the smallest of touches, like saving that emptied magazine rather than throwing it on the floor to leave less evidence of his presence, is something that just makes this world feel that little bit more real. It’s a small thing that many may not even pick up on, but the kind of detail that adds so much to a show.
We also get to see Freddy cut loose once more, and he proves just as impressive as he was in Episode 2. Gabriel Luna continues to make him one of the more likeable additions to the cast, but ‘Frogman Sh!t’ gives us a far better look at just how good a shot he is. This is a man who, Freddy may even argue himself, has a slight edge on Reece when it comes to long-range shooting.
Speaking of which, Luke Hemsworth relishes every second in the spotlight. Hemsworth invests Jules Landry with a certain macho bravado that makes him a bit of a self-centred prick at times, but that’s part of his charm that makes him so easy to watch and easier to despise.
Away from Reece and Ground Branch, Raife Hastings continues to follow up on Katie Buranek’s trail, uncovering another familiar name from the pages of Dark Wolf: Jed Haverford.
We saw Haverford’s world come crashing down around him in the prequel series, so it’s was a pleasure to see him return as an integral part of the cast in this story too. It’s yet another strong tie between the two shows, and one that doesn’t feel like a cheap cash-in on nostalgia.
Raife continues to make inroads as he follows up on these leads, Tom Hopper emerging as another of my personal favourite aspects of Season 2. I’ve always loved watching Hopper in Dark Wolf, but this is further proof that he has the ability to headline a series without needing Reece at his side.
That’s not to say he’s centre stage, but towards the end of ‘Frogman Sh!t,’ Raife finds himself up against two assassins. I won’t spoil what happens, but it’s a truly inventive and utterly cool sequence.
I would watch an entire series about Raife Hastings. No doubt.
As promised after the events of Episode 4, ‘Frogman Sh!t,’ ramps up the action while once again raising the stakes. The terror cell is taken down, but with the mole still at large and things far from over. Even with that threat eliminated, one door closed only opens another with this new conspiracy proving far bigger than anyone could have imagined.
That’s the real bombshell of this episode. The conspiracy runs far deeper than anyone could have anticipated, with the implication being that this isn’t the work of random rogue agents. We’re dealing with something far greater, and it looks like everyone is circling a far bigger prize.
Episode 5 delivers tactical action, some incredible shooting, a continued look at Raife Hastings that highlights him as a series in his own right and enough questions raised to keep the conspiracy going.
They may have taken down the terror cell, but The Terminal List is proving that the real enemy is still out there.
Check out more from The Terminal List at Action Reloaded
