[rating=6.00] “Sticky Wicket”
This week’s Brink was basically a set-up for America’s general buffoonery when it comes to big decisions. Serving in the form of a huge blunder by the President (and or Walter depending on how you look at it), though beginning with Alex as he tries his best to save the world from inside the embassy. It’s a tough job, being the one to shoot first, but somebody has to do it.
One of the main issues we were presented with this week was getting the girls out of the embassy before they were “released” from their imagined prison. Realistically, no matter who gets them out, they will be paraded about as heroes, altering their lives as they know it and ultimately putting them at risk for the rest of their days. Alex knows this, and yet when the time comes to help (and he’s reminded of the facts by his only remaining allies) he sides with Walter. The thing is, Alex has sucked as both a person and a character thus far. He’s only been played as “Jack Black as an embassy worker” up until this episode. There was a general tone shift that really played well for him. Because of this, it’s easier to empathize with his situation, though on that same token it’s also easier to criticize his decisions.
The other problem we faced was the ascension of Horoon Raja into power. In a twist you could see coming from miles away, Raja and Walter go back. Way back in fact, the two attended University together. Since we know of Walter’s propensity for drugs and various women, it seems safe to assume Raja was the same sort of student. Obviously they attended a school dedicated to the rich, and future politicians of the world. Since Raja is nothing like his brother, it makes sense that Walter has been putting all of his eggs into the one basket. Raja is the only one who can successfully usurp his brother with no muss no fuss. Instead of divulging this bit of information to the President, or even Alex, Walter keeps it to himself to use as leverage later. Not only has this endangered the people of Pakistan, but it’s putting the world at risk because Walter feels like he’s the only one capable of making the right moves.
Now, this is actually accurate. So far Walter had been the one making all the right decisions. But I use had in the past tense, as ultimately it all backfired on him. Going back to the beginning, with my comments on America’s faux paus I want to point out that again, Walter had every opportunity to tell the President about his relationship with Raja. Instead, he gallivanted about the skies, fucking his way through the world, while attempting to fix something that was never in the cards in the first place. However, placing blame in this case is a tricky game.
If Walter had made it back sooner, there would have been a chance the President could have called off the air strike. This would have meant Walter would have not only explained the plan in detail, but also his friendship and comaraderie with Raja. The President would have been pissed at Walter’s insubordination, but would have likely been more apt to accept the circumstances and allow Raja to take power. On the other hand, if Walter had made it back as instructed, and not pulled his dick out in a power play, the General would have been obliterated in the house as intended and Raja could have come to power later anyway. Less messy, all around. Either way, the trigger (literally and figuratively) happy Americans have managed to fumble their way into more problems than ever anticipated.
So after all the strife, we’re right back where we started episode one. Nothing has been resolved, and now there’s no one to take power once the General is taken down. For next week anticipate the backlash against America for not only attempting to destroy the General, but also murdering his brother. As Raja had pointed out to Walter during their meeting, the Americans keep handing these perfect situations to the General that make him look like a war hero. He has had it easy thus far, and now he can spin the death of his brother (though a traitor) as another strike against Pakistan from the Americans. I’m calling it now, someone just let Carla Gugino take power. She’s magical (and doesn’t age), her character is something of a bad bitch and who doesn’t take much shit. Walter’s assistant could be her second in command, and this nonsense will be wrapped up quickly.
