Violet recaps Season 1 Episode 2 of The Last Ship, titled Welcome to Gitmo, where the ship takes a pit stop at Guantanamo Bay to refuel, stock up on medical supplies, and find some food – but they run into some unexpected trouble. Following the recap, both Violet and Josh share their thoughts about the episode.
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Episode Recap of The Last Ship, Season 1 Episode 2: Welcome to Gitmo
The episode begins with Quincy communicating with his Russian counterpart, who asks him to stall. He then tries to convince Rachel to let him be the one to go off ship this time. Meanwhile, the crew practices training drills and makes preparations before they head to Gitmo. Kara later tries to talk to Danny about dealing with Frankie’s death, but he just lashes out at her. That night, the crew holds a sort of memorial service for lost loved ones.
Rachel gives a rundown to the officers of the rules of the virus, which is airborne, and the incubation period of which is 3-5 days. The virus can mutate, but she believes it is now stabilized. Slattery questions her, and Chandler later scolds him for undermining her. Chandler confirms with Slattery that he’s with him.
The ship arrives at Guantanamo Bay. However, the captain will not risk either Rachel or Quincy leaving the ship. Chandler takes three teams ashore. One team enters the hospital wearing oxygen masks with one hour of air, while another team tries to get fuel for the ship, and the third looks for food. Meanwhile, Rachel watches over Kara’s shoulder through the camera attached to Danny, and tells them what medical supplies they need to grab, while Rios catches Quincy about to mess with the gas lever. Chandler’s team, looking for food, spots a dead body hanging out of a military vehicle. Suddenly, a man comes running out of a nearby building with a gun, telling them to get out of there, and the vehicle explodes.
Chandler questions the man from a distance. The man reports that they are under attack by Al Queda, and that he was a subcontracted guard. He and the other few guards let the uninfected prisoners free, and they turned on them. The man introduces himself as Tex. Meanwhile, the medical team only has 11 minutes left of air. Just then, the fuel team comes under attack by Al Queda. Back on the ship, they use their weapons to shoot a missile at the attackers.
Tex leads the food team to the warehouse where Al Queda is hording all the food. The medical team gets everything it needs and starts heading out. However, they are blocked in by the door being chained, and Al Queda attacking them from outside the exit.
The food team enters the warehouse, and a gunfight breaks out. The medical team, except for Danny and his dog, goes up to the roof, then rappels down to a lower roof area. Danny slides an explosive toward the door, busting it open, while the men on the roof pick off Al Queda. Unfortunately, they miss a guy, and Cruz gets shot. With Doc Rios helping out the injured of the fuel team, Slattery sends Rachel to help Cruz. She meets the men on the beach, and successfully removes the bullet from Cruz.
The Al Queda guys in the warehouse take Tex hostage, though he tells Chandler not to give them anything. Chandler tries to talk the men down, simultaneously hinting to Slattery that he wants them to create a diversion, and secretly telling them where to hit. The ship fires a missile that hits the corner of the building, distracting Al Queda long enough for Chandler and the other men to take them out. Chandler asks Tex to join them on the ship.
When everyone is back on board, Chandler hails a nearby ship, whose signature checks out. They prepare to greet the other ship. Chandler tells Rachel that she didn’t have anything to prove, but not to do it again. Kara finds Danny going through Frankie’s things. He breaks down and cries, and she comforts him with a hug.
It turns out that they can’t verify the other ship’s signature after all. Suddenly they realize it’s actually a Russian ship, whose captain radios over and says that they have something he wants.
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 1 Episode 2 of The Last Ship: Welcome to Gitmo
So, it turns out that Rachel’s assistant, Quincy, is actually a spy for the Russians. Convenient. How long until he is found out? How will that affect things? Can Rachel continue developing the cure without his help? How cliche is it that even after a virus has wiped out most of the world, our enemies continue to be Al Queda and the Russians, on top of the virus?
This was another gunfire and explosion filled episode. Will every episode find an excuse for that? Sure, it makes for exciting TV, but it doesn’t have to be like that all the time does it? Seems a bit of a stretch.
That is not to say that the show hasn’t made any attempt at character development, because it has. We’re getting to know Kara and Danny a little better, and the show tries to display the emotions that the crew members are going through as they react to the almost certain loss of their loved ones. I’m also enjoying Eric Dane’s performance as Captain Chandler, and Adam Baldwin’s performance as XO Slattery (of course, that’s to be expected, me being a Firefly fan). I still can’t help but think of Last Resort, though, where the Captain also faced questioning the crew members’ loyalties to him despite the Navy vessel being essentially on its own.
Looks like they’ll be facing the Russians in the next episode. What will the conflict be after that? Will it be on shore or at sea? I’m not yet gripped by the show, but I’m willing to keep watching for now.
Josh’s Thoughts: The Last Ship, Season 1 Episode 2: Welcome to Gitmo
So this episode, the soldiers finally see land, and unfortunately the neighbors aren’t too friendly. It took me a while to determine who this random fellow was that approached Chandler’s men, but it looks like in the end he was on their side. Unfortunately, the Al Qaeda soldiers were not so friendly. Their standoff was a pretty intense one, and I enjoyed how it played out.
Chandler’s hint to Slattery as to where to fire missiles was pretty awesome I have to say. I would have thought that trained Al Qaeda soldiers might be able to figure it out, but I guess not.
So this big mystery this episode is what is Quincy’s plan? I have to imagine it is not a coincidence that a Russian ship shows up to the area right after Quincy is shown conversing with them. Is Quincy going to try to make an escape? Will he be attempting to bring samples with him? Perhaps even try to kidnap Dr. Scott? I guess we will find out who these Russians really are next week…
Scenes from The Last Ship, Season 1 Episode 3, Dead Reckoning
Here are scenes from the next episode of The Last Ship, titled Dead Reckoning:
Loving this new show – can’t wait for the panel at SDCC
@mandysmind
Awesome show! I’m glad to hear that it got a second season.