Tertia Optio

...my wife & I got a big laugh from the woman emceeing the preisdent's daughter's quinceñera explaining the significance of the occasion, which you'd think an audience of ambassadors might know a little bit about. One might also think that it might be known to just about every average American.

....My jaw dropped when Greer, the Muslim, is lying in bed with the Quran propped open on his stomach - so egregious a mishandling of the volume that I had to wonder if the co-writer, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had ever met a Muslim, or whether he just wanted to flip the bird at Islam in general. I don't think it was a plot point to show that Wendell Pierce's character is a fake Muslim.

There are so many holes in this show and particularly this episode.

Despite great action scenes and a gripping story line. Why Oh Why do the writers,directors,producers insist on putting in lengthy spells of dialogue delivered in Spanish with no subtitle translation. It has been particularly bad in this episode, leading a non Spanish speaking viewer at a loss to understand if there may be something significant being referred to during these sequences.

4 out of 5 stars.

Gripping story. Sharp script and direction. The episode improves on engaging you to the thrills and plot. There is discoveries and twist with some characters as they try to investigate who the assassin is. John kransiski is great as Jack Ryan. The episode does have a brutal fight sequence which will have you grasping for air.

The "assassin" who planted the bomb is clearly not good at his job, leaving witnesses alive left and right and even making a second attempt to kill Jack in his hotel room. That was weird, starting from the bathtub to the super strong plastic bag in the garbage bin. Weirder still is Jack's conversation with the Girl with Dragon Tattoo, whose name(s) I cannot remember.

"Somebody just tried to kill me, therefore it's your ex-boyfriend Max". Kind of jumping to conclusions, but still ... there goes GDT spinning another story and Jack telling her "How am I supposed to trust you?" Good question Jack, I guess you'd better not.

Then I'd like to know exactly how things work in the CIA, when Jack and his ex-boss barge in the COS office, who promptly obliges to do as ordered and even shares private info with them. The guys get bonding on the way, but in the last scene Greer is back to his grumpy self, even more than necessary. It's like the guy has a double personality. However, flimsy and even ridiculous as the plot may be, it's kind of entertaining. And of course, the South Americans are all slimy charm and perpetual backstabbing.