By M. Giant
We soon find out the reason Brennen didn't kill Michael when he took the list from him: he wants Michael to kill the people on it. Apparently there's a lot of money in that for Brennen, somehow. It's not enough that Brennen is forcing Michael's cooperation by threatening to send the audio file of Michael's conversations with Marv to Vaughn; Brennen has also hired a partner for Michael: his old pal, Larry. How many past enemies can poor Michael deal with in one hour?
While Larry resumes his old "come back to the dark side" shtick with Michael, Sam and Fi and Jesse go about figuring out where Brennen has hidden the list. Michael and Larry forge a secret alliance against Brennen to take back both the list and the audio file -- but Larry flips the script, killing Brennen to get the list for himself, meaning that Vaughn's going to get a very incriminating auto-sent e-mail early the morning. Unfortunately for Larry, the team steals the list right out from under him, and Michael, too. The good news is the team is back together and the list is back in their hands. But the bad news is that it's only a matter of time before Vaughn and all his minions show up, pissed. Very little time, in fact.
Watch this episode below, and read up on the second half of the two-hour finale here. Then discuss it in our forums, then find out Michael's most useful spy tips!
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Tonight's previouslies remind us of the existence of "Vaughn -- Not Michael's Partner," "Marv -- Guy From The Government," and "Tyler Brennen -- Part-Time Spy/Full-Time Sociopath." And also that Vaughn was in with the people who burned Michael, a list of whom Michael turned over to Marv, only to watch Marv get killed by people working for Brennen. All up to speed now?
At the loft, Jesse's clearly upset about his friend Marv's death, fiddling with his gun while Sam keeps a close eye on him over his Sudoku puzzle. Michael voice-overs about soldiers being taken out of combat if the loss of a friend affects their judgment -- which can get messy in the case of spies with no clear chain of command. Michael enters the loft and says he's going to meet Brennen at the Carlito, per Brennen's request. Sam and Jesse both want to go, Sam for backup, and Jesse for payback. But Michael makes it clear Jesse's not invited -- he needs Jesse to lie low and figure out what kind of lie to tell the people who will be looking into Marv's death. "Sounds like a Michael Westen plan to me," Jesse says bitterly, and storms out. I don't know, it's not really a full-on Michael Westen plan unless it fails the first three times and he's also doing an accent.
At the Carlito, Brennen drops a number on Michael and Sam: "$122,654.37." That's how much he's spent so far to keep tabs on Michael, as the subtitles inform us that he is still "Brennen --Very Invested In Michael." Which is how he found out about Marv and the list, and how he came to his decision to have Michael kill all the people on the list for him. And if Michael says no, Brennen also has recordings of Michael's conversations with Marv, which he's more than ready to send to Vaughn. Brennen unnecessarily says that Vaughn will kill "You, and you, and Fiona. This new guy Jesse, possibly even Mama Westen. Nate. How is Nate? I sent him a Christmas card, I never heard back." Brennen gives Michael a slip of paper with a string of numbers on it: a Federal ID number from the list. It's Michael's job to find out who that person is and then kill that person. During some talk about how Michael's supposed to do that, Brennen mocks Sam for not keeping up, and Sam says he's just trying to kill Brennen with his mind. Brennen says that won't help; he's the only thing stopping that audio file from being automatically sent to Vaughn every morning at 5:00 AM. Also, Brennen brought someone in to help out, and keep an eye on Michael. That would be "Larry -- Michael's Biggest Fan/The Spy With Nine Lives." And, as a wise man once said, the fun just keeps on leaving.
Back at the loft, Larry goes on about what a great opportunity this is for Michael, while Sam mocks Larry. Michael tries to get them back on track by saying they need to figure out how to get into the Federal Courthouse. Sam appears to have had enough and starts to move in on Larry with a piece of rebar. Which, you know, Michael keeps lying around. Larry draws his knife, and when Michael tries to keep them apart, Sam drags him away under the pretense of fighting him, but secretly telling him to get Larry's cell phone number so they can get to Brennen. Michael whispers his agreement and they break the clinch, and Larry mocks Sam the "wet rag" some more before Sam storms out in a pretend snit.
Jesse's being questioned in Madeline's dining room by a couple of agents, and tries to sell them on the idea that Marv was secretly working a case regarding the Sinaloa cartel. They may or may not be buying it, but they don't tell him much about the investigation before leaving. Once they're gone, Madeline wanders in and asks, "Who kicked your dog?" Obviously Jesse's feeling bad about lying to his old agency, and, by extension, Marv's family. Madeline helps him feel better by pointing out that the truth doesn't seem all that safe right now. Who's the spy in this room, anyway?
Sitting in the Charger outside a Federal courthouse somewhere, Michael tweaks Larry about working for Brennen, but Larry hints that Brennen isn't going to be the owner of the list forever. In the more immediate term, Larry's ready to bust into the courthouse with a gun, but Michael says it's not necessary to shoot anyone. "My way's fun, too," he says, and shorthands, "St. Petersburg in '94." Larry agrees, especially since Michael's going to let him be the boss, and Michael offhandedly asks for Larry's cell number to call later.
As they walk into the building, Michael secretly texts Larry's number to Sam and Fi, who are sitting in her Hyundai parked across the street. Sam's got his laptop up and running. The two ex-spies split up inside the courthouse and Larry walks into an office to demand some court documents from a clerk -- which, of course he doesn't really want, he's only trying to get the clerk to leave the room. When it doesn't work and Larry deploys a glare that's even more frightening than his smile, he's interrupted by a cell phone call from Michael, roaring into his ear in a judge-voice loud enough for the clerk to hear. Michael comes rushing in a second later, acting all desperate so they can double-team the kid. When he finally scampers off, Michael and Larry head into the file room, where they'll have 90 seconds before the alarm goes off. Michael goes to a terminal, types in the ID number Brennen gave him, and comes up with the name Albert Machado, who works for the IMF. Larry is already calling Brennen, while Sam uses his laptop to try to trace where Larry's call is going. The problem is that Brennen is bouncing and disguising the call in a way Sam can't even begin to crack. Michael wants to take time to cover his tracks, until the alarm goes off. He and Larry head for the service elevator, and when guards come spilling out of it, they pretend to be lawyers arguing over who's in charge of the case. That, plus more bluster from Larry, fools the guards into letting them go, but Larry can't let his point go as the elevator closes on them. "You're the boss, Larry, "Michael sighs.
Back to the Carlito, where Michael's being a big grumpy-pants while Larry and Brennen celebrate the upcoming murder of Albert Machado. Brennen's already got a dossier on Machado, and a plan to frame someone for his murder. Neither Michael nor Larry is cool with that (Michael for what I presume are karmic reasons, and Larry because he insists on having the details he needs to look good), and Brennen "reluctantly" reveals, "We're framing a Filipino separatist group. Points for originality, no?" Michael suggests abduction instead, claiming it's more profitable to hold Machado for interrogation and ransom. Larry and Brennen both go for it, but before leaving, Brennen threatens Michael not to try following him to the list: "If I pick up even the slightest hint of the vaguest whiff that I've got a tail, I'm dropping Vaughn and his entire organization on your head." Okay, ta! Larry chuckles appreciatively, "That guy, heh heh. He's kind of a dick."
Fi has brought Sam to the crappy-looking storefront of some electronics dealer named Alfredo, to whom she's tracked Brennen's phone-scrambling equipment (and with surprising speed, too!) Rather than simply ringing the doorbell, Sam and Fi blow out the skylight and drop in, threatening him with their shotguns. All Alfredo will say is he sold a guy a scrambler and a wall safe with a biometric lock. Fi demands the client's address while Sam calls Jesse for backup.
Michael and Larry are ostensibly staking out their first victim's compound (complete with its iron fences and iron guards, per usual), but what Larry really wants to know is how Michael plans to steal the list back from Brennen. Michael turns the question around on Larry, and it turns out they both have the same plan -- keep Brennen comfortable so he doesn't go to ground with the list. They get back on task as a chauffeured SUV drives up to the house, and out steps "Albert Machado -- Dirty IMF Official/Part Of The Organization That Burned Michael." Michael notices the Army Ranger tattoos on Machado's guards, and Larry calls Brennen to let him know Machado has arrived. After hanging up, Larry says Brennen wants to hear their plan. "So remember, very comfortable." They smile at each other in a way that would make any normal person very uncomfortable.
Brennen shows up at a rendezvous point in the woods somewhere and Michael lays out their plan: blow up the front of the fence, take out the power to the cameras and motion sensors, then sneak in through the back and grab Machado, all in the two minutes it'll take before the backup generators kick in. Michael wants to "observe shift changes" for a couple of days, but as usual, Brennen isn't fooled; he knows Michael will just use that time to figure out how to screw him. "Why don't both you ladies put on your game faces right now? Because you're going in right now."
Luckily, Brennen has come prepared with explosives and detonators. While Larry's off doing recon, Michael whines to Brennen about how dangerous it is to do it now, even though Brennen also brought them flak jackets. Larry returns, all ready to go, and Brennen hands Michael a diagram of the bomb construction methods used by the Filipino separatists, pointing out that Michael's inability to read Tagalog is Michael's problem. Seriously, Michael, way to do your homework. Brennen takes off, and they get to work. Michael VOs about how you need to use a group's plans and materials if you want to frame them for a bombing, while he and Larry construct the bombs right out there in the woods. Better hope no one wanders by.
At the loft, Sam and Fi are explaining to Jesse how they can't get into the safe (with its biometric lock, remember) in time without tipping off Brennen, who will then e-mail that pesky audio file to Vaughn. Jesse's all ready to go over there, "stick a gun in his mouth, and tell him we're gonna decorate the walls with his big-ass brain if he doesn't hand over Mike's debrief. Problem solved." Of course Fi likes that idea, but there's the issue of finding Brennen without giving themselves away. Jesse's got that solved: "go invisible." Well, that sounds easy. Why don't they just do that all the time?
While Michael VOs about how bursting real estate bubbles provide plenty of abandoned properties to spy from -- as well as, unfortunately, criminals to hang out in -- Fi, Sam, and Jesse are all in one empty downtown high-rise condo staking out another one. That would be the place where Brennen installed the safe -- which, unfortunately, is riddled with cameras. So much for going invisible. Damn, I was looking forward to learning how to do that.
Larry and Michael have the bombs all set outside Machado's place: a big, diversionary fireball out front, another one to knock out the transformer, and a shaped charge to perforate the concrete wall in back relatively quietly. Larry hits the detonators and all three go off, at which point Michael and Larry burst into the compounds and split up. While Larry is off flushing out Machado, Michael uses this rare opportunity to call Sam for an update on where the list is stashed. He's pretty impressed at their progress, and as for that audio file, Michael says Larry might be able to help them grab it. But for now, Machado is coming out of his house, so Michael has to go. As soon as the guy's in his SUV, Michael draws on him. Machado is all, "do you now who I am?" That question has more impact on Machado when Michael turns it around. Larry pops up, tosses a bomb into the truck and gives himself and Michael just enough time to get clear before he blows Machado up. Wait, that wasn't the plan!
Back at the Charger, Michael and Larry yell at each other, as you and your friends do when one of you kills a dude you were only planning to kidnap. Larry reminds Michael, "He helped burn you. He deserved to die!" This is all part of Larry's latest campaign to bring Michael back over to the dark side, which never ever works. But as usual, Michael is pretending it is. "No kids, no families," he says. Larry agrees, but when Michael refuses to work with Brennen, Larry reminds him he has the list. "For the moment," Michael reminds him, and tells Larry that Sam and Fi have already found the stash and the biometric safe. But first Michael needs Larry's help double-crossing Brennen. This should go well.
Michael and Larry meet Brennen at the marina for a champagne toast. He wonders where Machado is, and Larry suddenly grabs Michael's gun and points it at him, confusing both Michael and Brennen. "You know, the interesting thing about a biometric lock," Larry says, sinking his knife into Brennen's chest, "Is the owner can still open it even after he's dead." Aw, there goes one of the show's most reliable villains, dead at the hands of the other one. Larry's still got his gun on a very upset Michael as Brennen chokes out that they don't know where the list is. Larry corrects that Michael does. Larry tells Brennen his problem -- other than the knife in his chest -- is that "you are so busy thinking ten moves ahead, you don't see the move that's right in front of you." He twists the knife, and Brennen uses his last breath to say, "You didn't beat me, Michael." "No, I did," Larry agrees, and dumps Brennen on the pavement. Michael angrily tells Larry that Vaughn's going to be coming after him now, which of course was Larry's plan all along: "You need me to survive." He tells Michael to call Sam and Fi and cut them loose. Michael does, and stiffly tells Fi, "Larry and I are going into business together...I need you, Sam, and Jesse to take my mom and get out of town. Take everything you need for a long trip. Call you in a few weeks, honey!" That done, Larry says the three of them -- counting "big mouth body" -- are going for a ride.
After the ads, Fi tells Sam and Jesse about Michael's call, particularly the part where he called her "honey" -- a distress code that dates back to their time in Belfast. As for the rest of his call, they can't be sure whether Michael was actually telling them to get the list. "A hunch is as good as we're gonna get," Fi says. I think we know which way she's leaning.
As Michael and Larry dump Brennen's corpse into the trunk of the Charger, Michael's still pissed about Vaughn coming after him -- but Larry says they'll use the list to get rid of Vaughn and his people first. It's just too bad they have to lug all of Brennen around instead of just the parts they need. "Jeez, I would kill for a bone saw." I have no doubt that's true, even if he changed the preposition in that sentence to "with."
Jesse and Fi bust into Brennen's safe-condo and find the safe embedded, naturally, in a cinder-block wall, not making it any easier. As Fi tapes detcord around it, Michael VOs about the many advances in safe technology in the past thirty years. "Walls, on the other hand, haven't really changed much since the Middle Ages. So if you can't get into a safe fast enough, you can always pull it out of the wall and take it with you." Fi's about ready to do that as Larry drives Michael in the Charger up to the building so they can find something to put "our host" in. Fi blows the wall around the safe, as Michael and Larry are wheeling Brennan down a hall in a trash bin. Answering the question of how they're going to get out of there undetected, Jesse and Fi toss the safe off the balcony (causing it no visible damage) and then rappel down after it. They're gone (but not long gone) by the time Michael and Larry arrive, and Larry's pretty pissed to see it gone, blaming Michael for its disappearance and demanding at gunpoint to know where it is. Michael tries the old, "You got something on your..." trick, which Larry doesn't buy. Which is too bad for Larry, because it's the red dot of a laser sight. Finally Larry sees it, just when his cell phone rings. He answers. "Hello, Larry, It's your favorite wet rag, Sam Axe, calling," Sam says, peering at Larry through the laser scope of his sniper rifle. He tells Larry to put him on speaker, adding, "Jerk." Larry refuses, so Sam shoots out the window. "The one makes you dead and me smile. And I want to smile, Larry. I really, really want to smile." Larry complies, so now Michael can also hear as Sam instructs Larry to let Michael walk out while Larry waits for the cops. Michael heads for the door, even as Larry continues to threaten him. Michael's not buying it: "While I'd give my life for something I believe in, there's not a thing in this world that you'd die for... I really do know you. You only think you know me." Big talk for someone who just watched Larry double-cross both him and Brennen in the same moment. Larry cocks his gun as the police sirens draw closer, and I'm still not sure Michael should be turning his back on this Chaotic Evil motherfucker, but Larry lets Michael walk out. Although he does scream, "Michael!" in an impotent rage that reminds me of nothing so much as Gob Bluth.
That night at the loft, Michael and Fi are packing up. Not the furniture and linens, of course, but the guns and explosives. Michael figures they can turn the list over to the government in return for help with Vaughn. Fi, who always gets so emotionally high-maintenance at the beginning and the end of every season, wonders what happens after that. "One thing at a time, Fi," he says. Which just makes her all wistful about how they used to talk about their future, and they only do that now "when someone's coming to end it." Whiner. When is someone not?
Later, the whole team -- Jesse and Madeline included -- are hanging out in some machine shop waiting for Fi to finish the tedious job of drilling through the front of the safe. Madeline talks to Jesse, who's still feeling guilty about not calling Marv's family and telling them the truth. Madeline tells him not to worry about it, because she did. Apparently she got a hold of Marv's daughter at home. "I couldn't say much, but I told her that her daddy died a hero." She touches his face, saying that a little lie to help a family sleep easier at night is not such a bad thing. Like how she presumably used to tell Michael's dad, "No, I didn't drug your drink."
Right on cue, Fi gets the safe open. They retrieve the flash drive from inside. "Try to hold onto it this time," Fi advises. Too bad it doesn't also contain whatever device Brennen was going to use to have the audio file sent to Vaughn. Michael checks his watch and says they have four hours before Vaughn gets the audio file. Sure, but who gets up at 5:00 AM to check their e-mail? Michael sums up the episode: "His organization has never faced this kind of exposure before. I imagine he'll marshal all his forces and send them this way." "So the gates of Hell will open," Sam drama-queens. "The apocalypse will be upon us," Jesse adds. "And everyone we know and love will be in danger of becoming very dead," Fi one-ups. "So what else is new?" Madeline wonders. Good old Madeline. Michael suggests getting some sleep. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day." Joke's on him, though -- the last episode starts right now. Man, this reminds me of when I used to have to cover two hours of TV in a night of 24. Glad I don't have to do that any more.
Watch this episode below, and read up on the second half of the two-hour finale here. Then discuss it in our forums, then find out Michael's most useful spy tips!