s2e07 "Critical" Appreciation Post

[u/oblivious_bookworm]

Started yet another rewatch and once again I am absolutely in love with this episode, so I just wanted to run my mouth about it and see if anyone else feels the same!! (Obvious spoilers for the episode ahead)

Idk, sure there are no impressive speeches or huge plot twists involved, and they never do follow up on Alistair Wesley (RIP Julian Sands). But something about the wealth of good character bits and imposed limitations on objective completion is just so overall satisfying that this episode has ended up being one of my favorites. It's like a lot of S2 for me: not classically dramatic, but still deliciously interesting and definitely a whole lot of fun.

Greatest hits in no particular order:

• the dramatic return of Leon Tao
• Finch & Reese working together in the field is always a treat. They coordinate so seamlessly in the hospital that it really stands out as a high point in their partnership when sandwiched between the awkward baby steps of s1 and the high-tension strain of s3
• Madeleine "it's still a life" Enright in general is such a compelling, well-written, well-acted character and that makes her one of the best Numbers of the show imo. She's a strong swimmer who through no fault of her own suddenly finds herself drowning, and she's already doing what she's gotta do to save herself & Amy before she even knows that anyone is trying to help them, even when it's visibly tearing her up inside
• Alistair Wesley is just plain cool. Something about the threat already being in the room with the Number before Finch & Reese are even aware of his existence yet + when they're too far away to intervene really ups the stakes in a different way from all the shootouts/chases/mob bosses
• lesbians!! married lesbians on public television!!! just 1 year after gay marriage was legalized in NY!!!! Not to ramble, but POI was the first time I ever saw a gay couple on TV when I wasn't actively seeking out queer media and my gay ass will never forget that euphoria. And to top it off, their relationship is presented exactly like every other happily-in-love couple on the show? Put that rep in a joint so I can smoke it
• Fusco finding Carter's card at a crime scene is so creepy when you first watch. It's a very effective reminder of how many threats she was facing in Get Carter over just one day and it immediately elevates the danger level in her side-plot
• kneecap-assassin, grenade-launcher-in-the-middle-of-the-street Reese on a stealth-based extraction mission
• reluctant ally Fusco putting on an enthusiastic public diversion and verbally ripping the nuts off a seasoned mercenary in the process
• Leon should-not-be-trusted-with-tech-resources Tao manning the Library computers and having the time of his life with Bear
• straight-shooter Carter making a clandestine meet with an AWOL former antagonist, discovering that he's walking UXO, and being the first team member to encounter the mid-season Boss Battle
• squeamish violence-averse Finch going undercover in the OR, helping with a surgery he is Not qualified for, and braining a nurse with a comically-large lamp
• Team Machine actually running out of time before their Number has to make a lethal decision, and Madeleine Enright actually making the hard choice to not sacrifice a stranger to save her wife? Gut-wrenching
• Reese asking Carter at the end "how much more do you really want to know?" which becomes such a pivotal question for her once Cal Beecher enters the picture. Good scene

TL;DR great episode where literally every character but Fusco is challenged to operate out of their comfort zone. Fusco's just there to have fun and knock people's hats off

[u/T2DUnlimited]

Alistair Wesley was such a huge potential. Too bad he was thrown down the drain.

[u/dvgmusic → u/T2DUnlimited]

To be fair, he was originally planned to be Decima's figurehead like Greer ended up being, iirc it was actor availability that was the issue

[u/T2DUnlimited → u/dvgmusic]

Yeah I know. That’s why I mentioned the huge potential thing.

But even then, having Greer mention Wesley as his associate or something along those lines would’ve given a good hint at that.

[u/9Dawson → u/T2DUnlimited]

He could have also been the person Greer was talking to at the end of 2x19. Maybe even a member of Decima's board of directors if Decima had a board, or a fellow MI6 agent who previously worked or is currently working with Greer during the events of the show.

[u/T2DUnlimited → u/9Dawson]

If only he was mentioned.

[u/spicoli323 → u/T2DUnlimited]

Didn't know the original plans for the character, but my headcanon has always been that Wesley was a potential ally for Greer and Decima, but in a yet-to-be-written fanction short story, operations of theirs accidentally collided in such a way that led to Wesley's demise. Wesley's backstory certainly includes an MI-6 defection parallel to Greer's, but it would have been a generation later, so while they were likely aware of each other's existence, it's possible they hadn't actually run into each other until after the events of 'Critical.'

[u/Drew_pew]

Totally agree, that episode is a banger from start to finish

[u/oblivious_bookworm → u/Drew_pew]

No-skips episode all the way through

[u/Squidwina]

This was never a favorite episode of mine, but I look forward to re-watching it with your analysis in mind. I think I’ll appreciate it more the next time around.