Tag Archives: Locke strike back

Strike Back “Shadow Warfare, Episode 8” Review (3×08/4×08)

5 Oct

Strike-Back-Season-3-Episode-8-Preview-Scene

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR MY SEASON FINALE (EPISODE 10) REVIEW, HERE IT IS: https://polarbearstv.com/2013/10/19/strike-back-shadow-warfare-episode-10-review-3x104x10/

Let’s talk about Leo Kamali. Is he a traitor? Is he a hero? The answer is no.

What Kamali is is a man that just wants to survive. Yes, he’s working with Section 20, but he sells Scott and Stonebridge out to save himself. Yes, he sells them out, but it’s out of necessity. He isn’t exactly loyal to anyone but his daughter, and while he does have a set of morals, what ultimately trumps all is his need to live. It’s completely understandable, and it’s what makes his character more interesting, more human, amidst all the chaotic action and cartoonish villains. Don’t get me wrong, Scott and Stonebridge are two of the most entertaining characters on television, but Leo Kamali portrays what it is to be human in an inhumane world.

This inhumanity is in full force tonight. Kamali is shot in the head at episode’s close as a necessary, yet tragic, end for his character. Stonebridge finds out that his captors are weaponizing a Smallpox variant for Al-Zuhari. Richmond and Martinez grapple with the inhumanity of allowing a woman get murdered in front of them. All contribute to the theme, one that lends itself to the bigger idea of escape: escape from Section 20, escape from our moral blinders, escape from our lives.

Stonebridge talks about this when he remarks that he wished it would all just end. Yes, there’s no doubt that he’ll make it out alive, but the poison really allows him to reflect on his life, allowing us more insight into his character. Last week, the prison lent itself to the constricting situation, and this week, the mysterious lab does the same. It really brings him to the breaking point.

A breaking point is where we’re at this season. Locke makes an impassioned speech about avenging Kamali’s death, one that is an exciting lead in to the final two episodes of the season. It’s hard to believe we’re already here, but here’s hoping to an exciting finish.

GRADE: B+

OTHER THOUGHTS:

-“I feel better already.” “Really?” “No.”

-That shot of the guard falling off the guard tower is strangely beautiful.

-Stonebridge’s ass makes an appearance.

-Scott gets it on with Nina.

-I’ll miss Zubin Varla as Kamali. That final conversation with the daughter is, although cliched, heartbreaking in retrospect. I fully expect Scott to remedy the situation.

-I wonder what the chances are that the show would kill off one of its leads. It’d be a gutsy move, but I’m not sure it would work.

Credit to Cinemax and Strike Back for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strike Back “Shadow Warfare, Episode 7” Review (3×07/4×07)

28 Sep

Strike-Back-Season-3-Episode-7-Preview

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR MY SEASON FINALE (EPISODE 10) REVIEW, HERE IT IS: https://polarbearstv.com/2013/10/19/strike-back-shadow-warfare-episode-10-review-3x104x10/

“No taking this personally, but your plan could’ve used a little more finesse.”

The back half of this episode is a non-stop thrill ride, with the confines of the prison being used to deliver heart-pounding action sequences that culminate in an excellent cliffhanger. Stonebridge is captured along with Andersson, and Scott and Nina are captured in the prison.

Let’s back up. The entire premise of the episode involves Scott and Stonebridge infiltrating a Russian prison to break out a British computer hacker, and the aforementioned Nina is a Russian double agent working with Locke. Obviously, the prison break plot has been a staple of countless action shows and movies, but Strike Back is able to inject its own humor and twists that help it stay fresh.

Prison, though, is a place of confinement, and Scott and Stonebridge have never been more confined, both literally and figuratively. We continue to see the desire to leave Section 20 in both the leads, and the prison scenes contain some nice character development. Scott receives results that say that Stonebridge has been exposed to a lethal poison, therefore confirming the fact that it isn’t a mental problem. Scott decides to tell his partner, which is an excellent decision on his part; he can’t keep avoiding the truth. Stonebridge is the kind of guy who’d rather be subject to a poison than a mental problem.

Another interesting development in this episode arises with Kamali, who seems to be going off the rails in a situation that emulates Dalton’s. His suspicion that he’s been exposed as a double agent strike deep into his mind, and he kills a bank guard and Kamali’s bodyguard whilst closing Al-Zuhari’s bank accounts. The parallels between him and Dalton are coming more into focus now, and it’ll be interesting to see where it all heads.

Grade: B+

-The first scene is classic Strike Back.

-I’ll be back with more later. I just wanted to get this up quickly.

Credit to Cinemax and Strike Back for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strike Back “Shadow Warfare, Episode 6” Review (3×06/4×06)

22 Sep

Strike-Back-306IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR MY SEASON FINALE (EPISODE 10) REVIEW, HERE IT IS: https://polarbearstv.com/2013/10/19/strike-back-shadow-warfare-episode-10-review-3x104x10/

Just a couple quick bullet points coming up…

-There seems to be a sense of finality with Scott and Stonebridge, and although I’m sure they won’t exit the show, they’re contemplating a life outside of Section 20. Their conversation in the car, Stonebridge’s injury, Scott’s seeking out of an ex…all are telling signs of fatigue. The diamonds represent their way out.

-Of course, Stonebridge seems to be fine at episode’s end. I feel like they hit the thematic elements a bit too on the nose in this episode, as he’s the one to take out the bad guy in a scene reminiscent of last week’s cliffhanger. His affliction was probably a mental problem, but I wish the storyline gained some more traction.

-Locke’s character seems to be getting explored more, as this episode reveals a deeper connection between him and McKenna’s brother. The episode does a nice job of reflecting Locke’s dangerous position, and we always have that feeling that the show might just kill him off. That won’t happen, at least for a couple of episodes.

-The conversation at the end between Stonebridge and Locke continues the season’s theme of past tragedy, as Locke asks whether killing Hanson satisfied Stonebridge in any way.

-McKenna dies, leaving the show without a formidable Big Bad. Al-Zuhari is waiting in the wings, but it seems like the show is reverting back to its pre-Conrad Knox times by waiting until the end to reveal him.

-The mortar attack on the embassy is really creative, and one of the better action sequences they’ve done.

-I’m extremely intrigued by Kamali’s character, and he’s inherently interesting no matter what side he’s on. However, I love the fact that the show is playing with standard conventions and having him work with Section 20. It’s obvious he has something hidden, and it’s always possible he’s playing the long con. His short-lived dynamic with Dalton was well done, though, and his interactions with the team right now are great.

-Stonebridge turns down Martinez!

-I apologize for the delay in posting.

Grade: B

Credit to Cinemax and Strike Back for all pictures. I own nothing.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

%d bloggers like this: