SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for CIA Season 2, Episode 6.
CIA Season 2, Episode 6, “Legacy” mostly wraps up the CBS drama’s early storyline. Fans of the FBI spinoff have just been waiting for Felix Vincente to return to the show, and to get some answers about Bill Goodman’s father. So what should be a showcase episode for actor Nick Gehlfuss very much is, and it all comes together perfectly except for there having to be that one last plot twist.
“Legacy” has plenty of the two things CIA thrives on: action and moral grey areas. When Vincente resurfaces, the team utilizes his business associate to finally capture him, and then of course Bill must decide how far he’s willing to go in order to uncover the truth. Some portions of the plot are predictable; viewers can guess that Bob Goodman’s old partner Carl is a bad guy, and they won’t be surprised that Colin Glass’ renewed affair with his ex-partner Toni Napier affects him in the field. These are practically standard plot points in the TV drama world. However, there are other beats that are more creative, like exactly how the team makes Vincente’s partner think he’s turned on her, and extending the third-act chase sequence with not just one, but two fistfights between Vincente and Bill. Plus, Jubal Valentine makes another guest appearance, and it’s refreshing that he asserts himself with Nikki Reynard and isn’t just there to drop off some exposition. Jeremy Sisto is really the perfect actor to make these cameos feel actually memorable.
At its best, this episode exemplifies what CIA is supposed to be about. Yes, it’s exciting, but it boils down to the contrast between Colin and Bill, and the natural progression of their friendship. From the moment this spinoff was announced, it was obvious that the fun part would be the “odd couple” dynamic and the serious part would be Bill naturally moving closer to Colin’s side of the line. Both those things are present here. Bill (and Jubal, to a brief and lesser extent) emphasize the ideological differences beween the FBI and the CIA. Bill knows that Nikki’s boss Olivia will just have Vincente killed, and that doesn’t sit well with him; he tells her to her face that the FBI would consider shooting a fleeing felon to be murder. This story also doubles down on the respect between Colin and Bill, as Colin is willing to help his partner and yet also plead with him not to cross the moral line that separates the two of them.
And that’s where “Legacy” runs into trouble. Discussion of the ending to CIA Season 2, Episode 6 should be prefaced by the fact that a strong majority of TV dramas now have some kind of fourth-act plot twist almost every week in an attempt to keep the audience on the hook. But viewers learning that Bill has Vincente held captive, still intending on interrogating him, completely undercuts that pivotal and profound scene between Colin and Bill. That moment is so beautifully played between Gehlfuss and Tom Ellis, as Colin is trying to preserve what makes Bill who he is—and what makes CIA what it is. If Bill becomes even half like Colin, then there’s no contrast to play with and this is just another spy show. It may be dramatic in the short term to see Bill bend his moral code, but it doesn’t work in the long run. It’s even potentially detrimental to Bill and Colin’s relationship, if Colin doesn’t know that Bill has Vincente captured.
And in fact, Bill’s claimed idea of turning the assassin over to the FBI is actually more compelling, because it would’ve been a fair reminder that the CIA doesn’t always get their way and that the FBI isn’t always overruled—the same point Jubal was making earlier. Of course the CIA is on a different level, but the shared universe is stronger if the fusion cell tilts the other way once in a while.
That being said, Gehlfuss deserves tons of credit for delivering one of his most intense performances on either Dick Wolf series. These kinds of personal stories only work if the actor at their core can push themselves, and Gehlfuss really does make Bill seem like he’s having a meltdown for the whole last half of “Legacy.” Ellis, who normally has the showier role given Colin’s bigger personality, is able to deftly step back and provide the calm balance that the episode needs. This episode is a great example of how much the two actors have learned to work together, just like their characters. It’s particularly clear how much Colin has come to care about Bill. not only as his partner but as a person.
“Legacy” even finds a deft way to tie up the Colin and Toni subplot, which finally rings true just as it ends. Colin saving Toni from Vincente’s sniper rifle is what scuttles the team’s original plan, leading the two of them to decide they can no longer work together. Toni informs Colin that Nikki has sent her to London, effective immediately, and they part on a goodbye hug. It’s nice that CIA doesn’t fill this moment with overwrought emotion; it’s perfect in its simplicity. And it’s an efficient way to bring both subplots together. However, it also begs the question: what was the point of CIA Season 2 bringing Toni back, if she was just going to go away again? Was it just to help set up this particular episode? Or are the writers going to have her pop back into Colin’s life in the future? Either way, it still feels like the show was better off leaving the Toni storyline resolved in Season 1. But at least there’s an important reason for her presence in this episode, and as Colin notes, a proper goodbye.
On a smaller note, followers of the Wolf Entertainment universe will appreciate two more familiar faces in the guest cast: Melissa Sagemiller (Law & Order: SVU) plays Vincente’s associate Logan Wood, while Michelle Forbes (Chicago Fire) portrays Olivia. Forbes’ character seems to be filling the same antagonist role she had on Fire, except from within the house instead of outside of it, so it’ll be interesting to see if CIA adds more depth to Olivia beyond wanting to rumble Bill.
On the whole, CIA Season 2, Episode 6 brings together all of the pieces from the previous five episodes and creates an impressive picture, with some top-notch work from both Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss. “Legacy” is particularly telling as to why Gehlfuss was cast as Bill; it shows that he can indeed tap into that darker side that this show requires. It’s just a shame that an episode that’s checked off everything on its list then has to reach for one last surprise that it doesn’t need to.
CIA airs Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS.
