We’re back one more week! The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off” strengthens the dynamic and camaraderie of the team as Carter makes a decision that changes everything and Simone faces her father’s doubts. Ready?
Here we go!
Good Motives…Bad Forms
The schism between Simone and her father intensifies in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off.” We understand her father’s anger because, after all, Simone used a Black boy as bait for a federal operation he wasn’t ready for. But, unlike all the other agents, Simone protects these boys the best way she can, making sure they don’t go to jail for a bad decision.
What hurts Simone the most is not that her father stands up to her but that he belittles the work he loves the way he does, as if he is ashamed of her. We can understand that being a Fed wasn’t what her father wanted for Simone but to make her feel like he’s ashamed of her…that’s wrong because it hurts like hell to feel like your parents are ashamed of who you are.
We repeat that we understand the position of Simone’s father but he went too far. So we like that he straightens up and realizes that even if Simone is on the other side, she will always help the community the best way she can because she cares. And her father may not be particularly proud that Simone is a federal agent, but he is proud of the woman that she is.
OTP Material on View!
There is definitely something simmering between Brendon and Laura in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off.” She’s very formal and sticks to the rules and he tries too hard. Laura was indeed too harsh when she brought Brendon down from. However, I think that’s the kind of the matter with this ship: they’re like yin and yang, different but complementary.
Laura reflects on Brendon because she also tried too hard in his time as a rookie. And Brendon is losing perspective and not learning the lessons he should be learning, so he needs someone to ground him and let him know that’s not the way.
Laura was quite harsh and even cruel in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off” but sometimes we need someone to tell us things clearly, without hesitation. And this was one of those occasions.
Brendon is reunited with the best version of himself when, thanks to Laura’s words, he stops trying so hard and just goes with his instincts. It’s that instinct that makes him a good federal agent.
Laura is sometimes too corseted in her fed role and she needs to understand that the world is not just black and white. Brendon gets too carried away and needs to learn some boundaries. This makes the two of them complement each other in a way that creates a very interesting dynamic between them and the chemistry they have…goodness, when it all blows up it’s going to be BIG.
Bets Worth Losing
Another interesting dynamic in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off” is the one we see between Simone and Carter. As we discussed in the previous review, he has a grudging respect for Simone, even though he doesn’t quite approve of her methods. We liked this kind of competition that they kept up throughout the episode. Both have opposite methods but both get results.
Simone is a queen and she can pocket everyone with her natural charm. Carter is more assertive, but sometimes that works better than charm. As always, the best is a mixture of both. Contrary to what happens between Brendon and Laura, we don’t see a potential ship here but a potential friendship and healthy competition, which we love.
Important Decisions for the Future
Speaking of Carter, he had to make a big decision in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off.” Tracy pushed him to the max to be the unit’s mole and he almost goes along with it. He wasn’t doing it for a promotion but in a desperate attempt to get his family back.
What would we not do for them? The answer is nothing. Carter was willing to sell his honesty and loyalty to try and win his family back, not realizing that it would only drive them further apart.
From what we’ve seen, a better job isn’t the problem, and getting promoted the easy way isn’t exactly what Carter’s wife wants to see to prove he’s a man worth fighting for. But Carter tries, and as soon as he realizes his mistake, he tries to fix it by confessing the truth to Garza. Carter is aware that this may cost him his job but he also knows that It’s the right thing to do.
What we didn’t expect is that Garza knew everything that was going on. We liked that he allowed Carter to not only do the right thing but to find his place on the team and the choice to stay. Yes, we have to take care of Garza so that he lasts a long time in The Rookie: Feds. Tracy will return in a few episodes, we just hope that the team can cope with her.
PS: Chenford in The Rookie: Feds 1×02 “Face Off!” I love Lucy’s fan mode. I love her, that’s all.
PS2: Brendon and Simone’s friendship remains superior and one of the best things The Rookie: Feds has to offer.
The Rookie: Feds season 1 airs Tuesdays at 10/9 on ABC.
