FBI Episode 5: Doomsday
It’s the nuclear end of the world as episode five starts… or is it? We start this episode with there being some sort of apparent insider attack on a nuclear power plant in New York. Within a few seconds, is is clear it is a drill. Then, the alarm sounds again and it’s not a drill this time. There is an air seal failure in the pool and wait, what?
There’s a body outside. We follow the staff to where a young woman’s body has been discovered, a headshot the cause of death. There is a second alarming discovery: her body is “hot” or radioactive. The inspector tells another employee to call the FBI.
I’m Radioactive, Radioactive…
OA is discussing his time at West Point, a military academy in New York (and very close to me again—this is the cool part about this show being based so local to my own home) which is situated about 15 minutes away from the Arrowpoint Nuclear Plant where the murder occurs. He remembers doing drills as a cadet involving the nuclear risk. Bell teases him.
Our duo meets with the plant manager who reveals to them that the victim is inspector Cameron Porter from the Inspectors General Office. He explains how they discovered her body and reveals that Porter was well liked and a fair inspector. The manager can’t think of any reason to why she may have wanted to cause a nuclear meltdown or how her body became radioactive. He also states that the uranium in the pool could wipe out New York if it got into the ground. She would be aware of this—most are.
They begin to question an insider job, but details are hazy. They go to the security room to watch the cameras, where they meet a security guard who is hesitant to help because he needs the job to support his family and doesn’t want it sabotaged by talking to the police. OA and Maggie are able to convince him to give him a name to investigate, a Garret Sebastian. Garret is a plumber on the plant who the security guard saw arguing with Cameron a few days previous.
First Leads…
When they find him, he is vague. Clearly suspicious of their questioning. He does not give them much and this sets off warning signs in my head. Unless you have some weird other motive, innocent people do not evade police. He’s hiding something. I’m calling it now, but the question is what? Is he our murderer?
In the bullpen, the team listens to Kristen’s details on our victim’s personal life. She says she keeps to herself and is very involved in her work. This gives us another lovely teasing scene between our duo. Their chemistry is so natural. This is a nice change from sometimes botchy partnerships in first seasons of a show. Missy Peregrym has truly smoothed into her role and continues to shine. Zeeko Zaki as well—considering this is a breakout role for him, he makes it look effortless.
Kristen can confirm that Cameron was shot in the woods and her body dragged. How did she end up radioactive and wet? Things aren’t adding up. Time for our duo to push harder. The sabotage to the plant was not successful, will there be another attack… who is to say what happens now?
It takes a lot of courage.
In search of details, the partners go to Cameron’s apartment to look for notes and her laptop. They discover the door open and come face to face with a woman who declares herself as Cameron’s best friend and fellow inspector Valerie. She is cleaning up her friend’s apartment and setting up for Cameron’s parents arrival. She is visibly upset, and mourning her death. Maggie takes a moment to bond with the woman, explains it takes a lot of courage to do what the girls do, she understands it. She loved someone who was the same way. The best friend leaves and OA questions Maggie’s statement. She evades his questions and he shows her the ovulation kit he found in the bathroom.
He states he believes she had a life. Maggie does not seem as convinced and knowingly explains she might be freezing her eggs for later use. There is an awkward pause to which Maggie reveals that her husband, Jason (first time we learn his name!) wanted kids and she wanted to wait. Another awkward pause and a little bit of tension. I’m hoping we get more out of her this episode. I’m betting that the person she mentioned to Valerie is her husband and there’s more to this story.
The guy who tried to save… or sabotage the world?
Maggie then finds a photo of Cameron with a guy and all the “Brave” fans can rejoice, we have the introduction to the character we’ve all been waiting for, Jake Fletcher, portrayed by Hadi Tabbal. Bell asks if he looks familiar and OA’s eyebrows furrow. We cut to the bullpen where we discover that Fletcher is on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list. He previously worked for the Arrowpoint plant before he was fired for leaking top secret documents that supposedly exposed the corruption within the plant. The plant says otherwise—they launched an investigation against him stating he became paranoid and abusive, creating a toxic work environment. While Fletcher claimed he was being set up, the plant fired him anyway and he went on the run from the government, eventually fleeing to Cuba.
Is he a whistleblower or an American traitor? OA and Bell don’t agree. Bell wants to give a chance to the idea that he isn’t a traitor, OA does not have the same feelings. But first, we must find him. Is he even in America?
Currently, I’m thinking back to the duo’s conversation with Garret Sebastian. He spoke about HR and the right to privacy and anonymity when making complaints. There are some puzzle pieces that seem to fit here… but to what?
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