Dark Wolf: Episode 4

Well, that took a turn.

From Amazon:

As pressure builds to stop the Khalid Network’s delivery of Molnar’s bearings, Ben’s team begins to crack. In Geneva, Haverford’s Iranian asset struggles to juggle family, country, and a double life working with U.S. Intelligence.

Picked up Jack Carr’s Terminal List series yet? GO NOW!

The Sound of the Guns

Episode 4 starts with Raife backed into a corner, on the phone with someone who is a past friend of Raife’s father, who drops some serious revelations about Jed Haverford. Even better, Raife already had questions about Haverford that went unanswered, creating tension between him, Haverford, and Ben.

And that was the first mention (that I recall) of the Hastings family in the series (and hopefully not the last!).

While this series focuses on the plot of Iran revitalizing its nuclear program, which is not really new news, the take on it is interesting. It’s not so much about the program itself, but the lengths Iran and the U.S. government would go to ensure it does, and doesn’t, take off the ground again. To make nuclear material is one thing; to build a weapon is another. It takes a lot, and I mean a lot, to develop and build such technologies despite their existence in the world for decades.

Single Source Intel

The U.S. started a war on single-source intel, and Raife rightfully questions Haverford’s Iranian single source. As a SEAL, intel is everything, especially if it can be verified. That’s why Raife doesn’t like single-source intel, but Haverford has no problem with it.

The dynamic of Haverford-Ben-Raife is electric. Haverford is the old trusty spy, Ben is the loose-cannon SEAL with a loud mouth, and Raife trusts no one until he has a reason (or two).

Breacher 101

Ben breaches a tunnel with Eliza and catches himself caught up when Eliza kisses him in the tunnel to distract a maintenance worker from blowing their cover. Raife meets the man who has the fake bearings, but upon returning back to the house, Raife catches wind of how well Ben and Eliza are working together.

Flag One, Two, and Three

Raife is on to Ben’s antics, and an emotional conversation proves he’s seen the red flags front and center. In fact, he lays out three in a quick exchange to put his former Chief in place. Ben is on one side, while Raife questions their intent in staying on the mission against a backdrop of the band Tool, which was perfect. The convoy hit is a go, and the team loads up against a backdrop of music from the band Tool.

Also, Landry is a piece of s#!t. No spoilers. Watch the episode, and you will understand his standing with both Raife and Ben, neither of whom trusts him as far as they can throw him. But they’ll have to.

Summary

I first wondered why they chose the title “Dark Wolf”, but I’m starting to see it now. This is a series about trust. About seeing people for who they are. Trusting your gut, your instincts, and making the right calls the first time.

The relationship between Ben and Raife is rocky, at best, ever since Ben popped off to their commander in Mosul. Raife is a planner who trusts his gut to keep him and his men alive. Ben is more of a panster, someone who trusts his initial gut and doesn’t do much digging after that. And I have to say, they are nailing the Raife character with Tom Hopper, his mannerisms, trust issues, and that desire to see things through the right way. Hopper’s portrayal of Raife Hastings in Dark Wolf is going to pay massive dividends in The Terminal List Season 2 and beyond (Can we get a Raife spinoff, please, Jack Carr? Or even better, a Hastings family spinoff?)

If you didn’t question Eliza before this episode, you will afterwards. Landry is shady, and I’ve got questions about Mo, but the real question mark is Haverford. Is he in this to win, or in this to prove something?

The hit on the convoy was fast, and if you blinked, you missed a pretty good cameo. The gunfight scene at the end reminds me of the shootout in Heat, well executed and rushed for all the right reasons. The consequences, however, are backstabbing, and it is bound to be the pivotal moment of the entire season.

What did you think of episode 4? Drop a comment!