Episode Report Card M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Small Consulation
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 12 | Aired on 03.04.2007
Inside the Consul's office, Logan greets Markov by his first name and says that he's well and trying to do his best for his country. "As much as circumstances will allow, of course," he adds, gesturing to the barely-visible device on his wrist. Markov politely offers his regrets about the bomb explosion from earlier today, and as he invites Logan to sit, he asks how he can help. Logan gets right to it, saying that the bomb that hit Valencia was a Russian suitcase nuke that was supplied to terrorists by Dmitri Gredenko. Before answering, Markov guillotines the tip off a cigar and offers it to Logan, who politely declines. Not wanting to smoke alone, Markov sinks into his seat and declares that the suitcase nukes were destroyed by the Russian government in accordance with some treaty. Well, we have nothing to worry about, then. Those 12,000 dead people in Valencia will be so relieved to find themselves alive again. Still, Logan asks Markov where Gredenko is. He alludes to the Russians' shared history in Afghanistan, but Markov claims that he doesn't know where Gredenko is now. Sounds believable to me. I saw people today and don't know exactly where they are now. As Markov speaks, we get to see a brief little splitscreen of Gredenko with his boys, assembling the stolen drones in the airplane junkyard. So at least we know where he is. Logan says that he not only disbelieves Markov, but is willing to force the issue by turning over evidence of Markov's involvement in giving Sentox nerve gas to separatists in Season 5. His face twitching in anger, Markov says that Logan promised to keep Markov's role in all that secret. Logan says that in light of the fact that he's now got three loose nukes to help find, that's just hard cheese. Markov tells Logan to do what he wants; he still doesn't know where Gredenko is. Logan watches his old crony's face for a moment, and then backs off. He apologizes and takes his leave, as Markov offers to make some calls. "But as far as I know, everyone else has cut off contact with him as well," he warns. They part company amicably enough, with a handshake. Make it count, Anatoly.
Logan exits into the front lobby at 5:22:52, where a waiting Kiefer opens the front door for him. I expected Logan to be wired for sound so that Kiefer would already know what happened, but on their way to the car, Logan gives a report. He's truthful with Kiefer about what Markov said, but adds that he thinks that Markov is lying: "And he knows enough about what's going on to want to deny that." Opening the car door for Logan, Kiefer asks how Logan knows that. "Because I've done enough lying myself to be familiar with the signs," Logan replies. Wow, what if Logan is lying now? I think it would be cool if the show explored this further, going into what's at stake and what Kiefer and CTU risk by not believing Logan, and what they have to lose by believing him. There's probably some interesting discussions to be had about Logan's motives, and we could all go back and forth until we find out whether Markov is lying or telling the truth. What if Logan thinks he's lying but turns out to be right? What if he's being candid, but is only mistaken? There are any number of possibilities here.