CIA, I am wondering what I am missing. How is it that the first episode of the series was exciting and captivating and this one wasn’t better – it felt like a meh episode that just filled a spot. CIA Season 1, Episode 2 wasn’t an amazing episode – it just was.
And that is disappointing.
Now, maybe I am spoiled by all of the procedurals that are out there and I know that I want something exciting. Maybe I am being too harsh, because it did give us something. We got more insight to Colin and Nikki. Setting up this world and the characters in it is important.
DEFECT
I am not sure if I like Colin or Bill, but I am wondering what it is about Colin that seems like he’s more trusting of people than one thinks that a CIA officer should be. Then again, maybe it is that he puts on a good act, because that is what spies do.
Nikki. lets a person of interest enter the USA and it turns out what they are smuggling in is a human. She’s a Lebanese spy, sent to the states to kill a target. She doesn’t know who – she just knows that she’s supposed to meet up for her target.
When Bill and Colin catch her she says that she wants to defect. The episode is leaning into the espionage game and though I would think that these two would be able to recognize someone taking advantage. What I don’t get is how easy these two buy this woman’s story and don’t second guess her movements.
Of course she’s meeting someone in Astoria. I live in Astoria and even though I know that it is a show, I really don’t like the anxiety that follows.
NEVER TRUST A SPY
While they trusted the spy enough to make them food, Bill is weary of what she is up to. As they switch around the bowls of food, making sure that they aren’t poisoned, Colin and Bill don’t think to check the water.
And the water is what is laced.
She found muscle relaxers and put them in the water, effectively knocking the two out. What makes me laugh is that Bill and Colin are both placing blame on each other versus taking responsibility. The two don’t like being played, but who does?
With the woman’s escape – I really have to wonder why we’re supposed to believe that these two are the best of the best. They both seem indecisive and at the same point very trusting of someone that they don’t know.
But maybe the point of this episode wasn’t to be meh, but to show how Bill and Colin can and do work together.
They track her down and she claims that the person that she is meeting is her son. Though I would never trust a word out of her mouth, Bill seems to. Someone please tell me the type of spies that we are dealing with.
Now, I know Bill is not a spy, he’s FBI. But Mona and Colin should know better.
NIKKI
One thing that I love about Nikki is that she’s fearless. She’s absolutely fearless. She’s definitely in charge for a reason.
When they know that they can’t send Mona in for her meet, Nikki goes to the place where she is supposed to be. She meets the mastermind and acts so innocent and charming that he is flirty with her.
But then again, is he trying to recruit her?
He invites her to a center to learn more about her heritage. She is taken and says that she will go by. Just turns out that she goes quick than anyone thought she would.
Though she is quickly dismissed and asked to come back the next day, she shows no sign of it affecting her. Instead, she manages to get to a part of the building that she shouldn’t be in, getting vital information.
Nikki has a history of being in the field and I think that we need to not under estimate her. She’s a leader for a reason.
SLEEPER SON
Mona is a mother and I could respect that she has unconditional love for her son – regardless of giving him up. She wanted Samir to have a better life and therefore sent him to the states when he was young.
Turns out that he was radicalized and became a sleeper agent.
With Mona unable to get to her target, Samir was activated. He’s got a huge bomb and is sent to blow up the hospital where there was an outspoken opponent to the lebanese government getting surgery.
Colins conversation with Samir – his emotional speech felt manipulative but also genuine and confused me. I don’t know what to believe from him, but I also want to find a way to think that he can be the good guy.
However, what I have to remember is that he’s a spy and part of the allure of this show is trying to figure out what is real and what isn’t. CIA agents – we don’t know anything about them for a reason.
SECRETS AND LIES
Bill and Colin both have parts of their life that they want to keep secret, but don’t we all. The biggest secret that we’ve seen so far in this show (and yes, I know that it’s only episode 2) is that Colin has a family. He’s got a wife and a son.
I almost fell out of my chair.
How he manages to keep this a secret, I do not know. But then again – has he kept a secret? Does someone at the agency know?
I am quite interested to see how this plays into the overall story because one thing that we do know is that Colin tells a lot of stories. He’s a master at weaving believability.
Bill is a little more open to his secrets and relationships. He’s engaged to a woman named Katie. He’s always in trouble because he keeps cancelling on her when they are supposed to go condo shopping.
Bill goes home to an empty apartment with a note from Katie. I am curious how his relationship plays out for him. I feel like the way that he goes home and the way Colin goes home will play into something later.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I get the need to set up the partnership, but I feel like something in this episode was missing
- Bill and his homemade protein bars made me LOL
- Bill is a good shot
- Really would like to know more about the people in the command center
- Not sure what I am expecting from CIA, but here we are an I am going to just take it in.
- Bill being shot and just going on like nothing – go you strong man with the bad hair part
CIA airs Monday nights on CBS.
