SkimIt
There aren’t many episodes of any television series that can truly be described as dealing with the fate of the world and its freedom. This finale of Last Stand is an exception, with a story arc that pits a band of overmatched patriots against a corrupt and dangerous government.
Last Resort starring Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman airs on ABC Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET.
Amazingly, It’s Not a Good Idea to Trust a Bunch of Mutineers
So there’s a lot to cover in one hour and this episode jumps right into it. First up is the Philippines, where Christine Kendal (Jessy Schram) is being sold off by King’s SEAL friend to a party unknown. Back on the island Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) and XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) argue over the mutiny and the XO’s role in it. The mutiny appears to have failed and the island conspirators are locked up. Not that things are calm for the Captain. He’s learned three Chinese ships are headed towards the island and he warns the Chinese ambassador the Colorado will launch a nuclear weapon at Shanghai if they don’t turn around immediately.
When he enters the Colorado Chaplin discovers Master Chief Joseph ‘Cobb’ Prosser (Robert Patrick) and his sympathizers have taken control of the sub. They take the launch keys from Chaplin and lock him a room with the XO. On the island Mayor Julian Serrat (Sahr Ngaujah) lead gunmen into the NATO station and hand control over to the Chinese ambassador so their boats can be directed to the Colorado. Sophie Girard (Camille De Pazzis) sabotages the equipment, leaving the island station blind.
Back on the sub, Cobb discovers that his mutineers are heading the Colorado towards the Chinese. They’ve agreed to sell the sub to the highest bidder. As Cobb is restrained Lt. Grace Shepard (Diasy Betts) helps him escape the control room and a gunfight breaks out along the length of the sub. After the escape some mutineers grab Chaplin from the room and tell the XO he isn’t coming back. Sounds like they have a final solution for him.
There is No Rest For the Traitors
In Washington DC there is non-stop news coverage of the failed coup and the mention of a number of mysterious deaths. Kylie Sinclair (Autumn Reeser) returns to her apartment and discovers one of the conspirators hiding in abject fear. He explains how they ambushed him on their way to the Times and he is shocked she is still alive. Her phone rings and it’s her dad (Michael Gaston). He tells her she’s in danger and directs her to a drawer with a gun in it. The President comes on the line and tells her that the country needs proof she is still loyal. Apparently in this new America murder is the currency of trust. The conspirator knows what she is being asked and he tells her that she needs to kill him. Then go out and expose “everyone behind this sick plan.”
On the sub Chaplin is restrained and the remaining mutineers call the Chinese boat to tell them everything is going according to plan. The XO escapes confinement while on the bridge the one mutineer secretly loyal to the Captain helps him escape. Another gunfight breaks out along the sub’s inner hallway and the Captain and the XO end up in the reactor room. They disable the Colorado’s radar and work to get control of the helm and navigation.
‘I Envy You, Marcus. Even at the End, You’re Right Where You Want to Be’
Chaplin tells the XO that he’ll scuttle the Colorado before allowing the Chinese to get control of the sub. He calls Sophie back on the island and asks if she can get a message to Washington. He wants the U.S. military to target the Colorado and destroy her before the Chinese reach the sub. Sophie sends the message and two U.S. aircraft fly rapidly towards the sub.
The Chinese ambassador asks Cortez (Jessica Camacho) to speak with the Captain, telling her that if the Colorado is struck he’ll be killed. “I know,” she sighs, as she refuses to help. In the sub’s torpedo room Chaplin and the XO get a bit giddy from the stress and begin to bond in some astoundingly dark way. Anders calls from the bridge and tells Chaplin that if he doesn’t convince those U.S. planes to withdraw, he is going to nuke the Captain’s hometown. As Anders prepares to fire the nuke, Chaplin is able to beach the sub on a reef by using the controls in the reactor room. That’s enough to ruin the launch and protect his family.
Even As it All Ends, The Death Toll Continues to Rise
Back on the island the Chinese Ambassador watches the events unfold and realizes he’s failed to obtain the sub. As the Mayor and his goons leave the NATO station, Sophie, Cortez and the remaining crewmembers watch on radar as the planes approach the Colorado.
Chaplin and the XO attempt to leave the sub and as they do, they spot Anders (Michael Mosley). The Captain empties his service revolver into the mutineer. Grace and Cobb call on the intercom to say they’re already at the hatch. But in the control room the Captain tells the XO that he will stay on the sub and detonate enough explosives to destroy the sub to ensure it stays out of Chinese hands. Sam tries to stay but Chaplin reminds him of his desire for revenge. “I’m all out of moves here,” he tells his XO. Sam promises that the world will know what happened on the island and why.
It’s sometime later and Sam is talking to TV cameras about the Captain. While in some parking garage a mercenary turns Christine over to Kylie. Apparently she paid the ransom to get her released. She hands Christine the thumb drive and tells her she needs to tell the press her story and release the helmet cam video to them. She walks onto an elevator, leaving Christine to face the press alone. Kylie enters a packed hotel suite upstairs that includes her father and the President. Her father beams that his daughter is “one of us now” and as she approaches the President she pulls out a gun and shoots him. As the last scene fades, Sam walks away from the cameras and looks across the crowd to see his wife Christine walking towards him.
