Writer: John Simpson
Director: Paul Wilmshurst
Previously on “Strike Back”:
For those of you keeping score at home, episode 5 of the new season of “Strike Back” broke the streak of Damien Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) and his weekly sex scenes at four episodes. But in its place was a lesbian encounter that was the most Cinemax scene that “Strike Back” has ever had. Yeah, it was really excessive, but not quite to “Spartacus” levels. And “Strike Back” has always been about the excess of action and sex scenes that we don’t normally get on TV.
However, the far more interesting aspect of “Strike Back” is the sense of finality between Michael Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and Scott. It really feels like their stories are winding down, as Stonebridge suffers through some very debilitating physical problems while Scott is ready to walk away from it all with the uncut diamonds that he and Stonebridge lifted off of Leatherby’s body last week.
“Strike Back” could find a way to keep both characters around, since Stonebridge’s retirement in the first season finale didn’t exactly stick. But giving Scott and Stonebridge agendas outside of Section 20’s mission is providing their story with depth. That added bit of character is making “Strike Back” even more enjoyable.
From this point on, there are full spoilers ahead for last night’s episode so skip this review if you haven’t seen it or else Colonel Locke will upload a video about your brother.
The idea that the Real IRA and Al-Zuhari would team up for a terror attack seems a little far fetched, but that may have played better in the UK. On the surface, the Real IRA and Al-Zuhari don’t appear to have any common ground beyond their mutual hatred of Britain and the West. It’s too soon to tell whether this angle is going to work.
But this was meant to justify the presence of Mairead McKenna (Catherine Walker), the woman who killed Rachel Dalton in last week’s episode. Surprisingly, Section 20 captures McKenna fairly early in the episode, before Lt. Colonel Philip Locke (Robson Green) expertly attacks her spirit by exposing her brother as his informant rather than an IRA hero. Locke’s threat to upload a video proving the complicity of McKenna’s brother was a very effective tactic as it would have completely eroded her standing in the Real IRA.
Section 20 was dismayed to find that Dalton had a son. However, Scott wasn’t having any of their grief for their former commander. Even Dalton’s death hasn’t abated Scott’s anger about Dalton nearly getting the team killed and Sergeant Julia Richmond (Michelle Lukes) privately acknowledges that he was right. But it’s more likely that Dalton’s demise has reminded Scott of his own mortality. A near miss in the episode also pushes Scott further away from Section 20.
For his part, Stonebridge is more worried about his failing health than his cut of the stolen diamonds. With a trembling arm and questionable aim, it’s hard to see how Stonebridge can remain a soldier if his condition deteriorates. Stonebridge is startled enough to seek some medical tests, but he doesn’t admit the full extent of his symptoms.
Stonebridge also finds a potential romance with Kim Martinez (Milauna Jackson), who hilariously asks him out about before they enter a deadly raid. The attraction between Stonebridge and Martinez was evident from the first episode of the season. And why should Scott get all of the women? Stonebridge is overdue for some happiness, but he’s a little taken aback by how forward Martinez is about casually having sex without strings attached. Although he does finally take her up on her offer.
Even with the more serious tone, “Strike Back” still manages to find moments of humor, including a woman telling Scott that she’s out of his league moments after they meet… which causes both Scott and Stonebridge to laugh. Putting the green wig on their target, Sean O’Riordan during the opening sequence was another chuckle worthy scene.
As always, the action was solid, although it wasn’t quite as spectacular as most episodes. The shootouts at the train and the airport were well staged, with some great tension as Stonebridge found himself tasked with taking two critical shots. The first time, Stonebridge misses and the IRA gets away with a truckload of weapons. The second time, Stonebridge can’t risk the shot and McKenna gets away with Locke as her prisoner.
I have to admit, there was a moment in the airport shootout where I thought that Richmond had been killed. The way Richmond was hit, it very easily could have been a fatal wound. In fact, her survival felt a little cheap. But that paled in comparison to the ultimate action cliche of a prisoner pleading to use the restroom in order to access weapons that were hidden there ahead of time.
The airport security was so compromised by McKenna’s IRA that it was a huge joke. But not necessarily a funny joke. That escape seemed like an artificial way to extend the story, as did Locke’s capture. Robson Green was just given third billing in this episode, so I don’t think that Locke is going to die anytime soon. We seem to be just scratching the surface of Locke’s character, as McKenna knows him by reputation and she taunts him about his son.
One really good moment came when McKenna claimed that Dalton begged for her life and Stonebridge answered that lie with a sharp elbow. The smile that brought to Scott’s face was truly funny. All that aside, McKenna is a less engaging villain than Leatherby. I admire the creative team for being willing to kill off such a great character so quickly, but it’s definitely left a void that needs to be filled by one of the adversaries.
The subplot of the Russian assassin coming to kill Scott and Stonebridge was dropped this week, but we do briefly see both Leo Kamali (Zubin Varla) and his daughter, Ester (Amy Leigh Hickman) near the beginning of the episode. And it seems like Kamali will be back in the thick of things as soon as next week.
Despite some occasionally weak moments, “Strike Back” is still consistently entertaining. But I’m more excited about the potential character arcs for Scott and Stonebridge than I am about whether they’ll save Locke from the IRA.
