By: Mariah Thomas
Through endless monitoring, the NSA is able to identify a possible lead in Joe’s (Zoe Saldaña) abduction. Previously, Errol (Martin Donovan) and his team had prepared a theory on who was responsible for the abduction. Errol’s marriage to Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) complicates things as for once he is granted information Kaitlyn isn’t. Westfield (Michael Kelly) calls her to speak to Errol and Kaitlyn is requested to wait outside as the information is sensitive. His theory bases double agent Alyssa (Elizabeth Neretin) to potentially be more involved than she’s ever led on. The team begins to act with this information in mind.
Alyssa remains in Ohio under her fake identity despite being located by Kyle (Thad Luckinbill) and the lioness team weeks prior. However, she remains alert at all times. When Cody J (Matt Gerald) returns for her in a sneak attack, she attempts to run off before being overpowered by the agent. He calmly tells her she is being moved once more. Knowing there is no way out, she complies and goes with him without further struggle.
It is clear Joe is dealing with some major PTSD as she wakes up in a panic when Kaitlyn enters the room. Kaitlyn gives her a moment to adjust and lets talk on her own terms. She tells her she isn’t able to come back down and feel safe going home until they find who is responsible for the abduction. Kaitlyn informs Joe they think Alyssa could be involved in trading information that put her in danger. Kaitlyn also presents her with the theory of Ukraine’s involvement and Joe is set on the usage of Russian contact agents not making sense. Kaitlyn reminds her she is the only one with true knowledge on her abduction to know which theories to trust. The CIA intends to return their Russian abductee in hopes of gaining more information about Joe. She is understandably irritated due to how much went into that mission just to end up returning the man. Kaitlyn reminds her the same thing just happened to her.
Westfield and Mullins (Morgan Freeman) meet with Russian ambassador Maxim Petrov (Lev Gorn). The barter his cooperation with the potential return of their Russian abductee. Since the information they want would come from the abductee, they tell Petrov they want nothing in exchange. Petrov agrees but Mullins remains concerned, thinking they are still missing a big piece to this puzzle.
The theory that Ukraine was responsible for her abduction continues not to sit right with Joe. Looking at it from countless ways, she cannot find any logic in the idea. Due to this, she is extremely reluctant to return their abductee to Russia. She can’t get over all the effort and death that went into this man’s capture.However, the information he has could be crucial into tracking down who ordered Joe’s abduction and why.
Kyle, Tex (Jonah Wharton), and Randy (Austin Hebert) keep close tabs on a Russian energy lobbyist named Dimitri Sokolov Gene Farber). They surveil Sokolov through NSA access to the security cameras while Kyle sits inside the restaurant with Tex and Randy outside. On the jet, Joe overhears Bobby (Jill Wagner) and Cruz (Laysla De Oliveria) discussing what Kyle is up to on this apparent random stakeout. During this, Joe is able to identify the man who abducted her as the contact who meets up with Sokolov. This puts them one step closer. Cruz immediately calls the team on site and enacts a new plan with this information. When asked to follow the man or engage, Joe tells them to engage immediately. Knowing who the team is upon the men entering, Joe’s kidnapper shoots his contact before they can question him. A gunfight ensues which leads to many deaths and injuries. This includes both Randy and Tex being shot. Back on the plane, Joe feels immense guilt for sending this into that situation. Innocent people died based on one of her calls and that is the type of stuff that sticks with her.
Joe and the rest of the Lioness team travel to Guantanamo Bay to begin to arrange for Yurimov’s transfer. While there, they decide to also question another contact previously captured during the same operation. He quickly is able to identify Sokolov and Renat as key figures in Joe’s abduction. He continues to spill every drop of information he knows about Joe’s abduction in hopes it would help him in some way. Joe’s abduction was a big deal and offered to many potential suitors to take on the assignment. He personally rejected it due to all of the risks involved. Though he doesn’t know who the commissioner is, he believes it to be done out of revenge.
During their flight back to Washington, Joe questions Yurimov. He seems to share the same sentiment that this was a mission enacted by revenge and not on a Country centered issue. He offers more suggestions on what countries could have a personal reason to target Joe.
Joe reveals to Kaitlyn, Westfield and Kyle that Ukraine definitely was not involved. After a beat of silence, Kaitlyn reveals Alyssa was killed and the day prior. She knew too much information and it was a risk they could no longer take. Joe feels another wave of guilt knowing she was not involved. Up until now, she was the major assumption to be the mole. With her death, the spot is now wide open without much to lead them to the next suspect.
After everything is said and done, Joe returns home and discovers that her family left. The house is being sold and there is a note from Neal waiting for her on the kitchen counter. After getting to this point many times, it is clear Neal (Dave Annable) finally reached a breaking point and wanted to keep the girls safe.
The final scene finally shows viewers who was responsible for Joe’s abduction. After being absent from season two, we finally see the return of Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur). After being told that the latest attempt to abduct Joe has failed, Aaliyah says that she wants to try again. Her intent is to get Joe off of U.S soil so that the Lioness team will follow her. Ultimately, she wants to capture and supposedly kill them all herself.