Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT O Brother, Where Art Thou?
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 5 | Aired on 01.21.2007
Milo flags down Buchanan to report that the FBI is feeding them live audio from the Anacostia Detention Facility. Buchanan tells him to assign Chloe to it as a priority, but it's really just another excuse for an unnecessarily slick scene transition. We now see Walid sitting alone in the schoolyard, looking sad and worried with his new bruises. Across the yard, Salim has taken up Walid's case with one of his buddies, and the two debate in Arabic as to whether Walid can be trusted. "He's one of us," Salim insists. Only nerdier.
Actually, I've been trying to figure out why I get such a nerd-vibe from Walid, and I think it's because the first time I ever saw Harry Lennix in anything, he was on ER as a doctor who got dumped by Gloria Reuben in favor of her ex-husband who had cheated on her and given her AIDS. That kind of loser-stink don't scrub off.
Anyway, Sandra's been watching a video feed of Walid sitting there, and she gets worked up enough to go over to Agent Blond to complain once again about what a bad idea this is. They argue some more, and Agent Blond says Walid "might be able to find something out within hours." Well, I hope so, or this plotline is kind of going to sputter out. Still, Sandra is being an obnoxious, shrill pain about it, to the point that Agent Blond says that she probably shouldn't even be there. "Let's be honest," he says. "The only reason you're here is that you're the President's sister." Sandra warns him to remember that. "You don't have any trouble bending the rules when it's to your advantage, do you?" Agent Blond snarks. Oh, just fuck already. But before they can get to it, they're interrupted by new developments on the Walid-feed.
Salim approaches Walid and sits down next to him, wondering what the Feds wanted from him. Walid acts all reluctant to get his new friend in trouble, but of course he's just playing out line like an old pro. Of course, it's just motivating Salim to try harder to win Walid's trust. Finally, Walid "confesses" that the Feds found a phone number in his wallet belonging to Abu Fayed. Salim's face closes off, but the hook is set. He invites Walid to join his circle, and the two get up and walk across the yard together. I'm expecting Salim's buddies to shank Walid the second he gets close enough, but it looks like they're saving that for next week.
"He did that well," Agent Blond comments to Sandra. Now all Walid has left to do is "sell himself to the others before they'll open up," he adds. I'm sure he knows how to do that, having been fully trained on the relevant methods and techniques while getting thumped in the bathroom.