Quantico – Answer

By: Alex Steele

The fast-paced dynamic of “Quantico” does not seem to be slowing down whatsoever and there is no complaints here. It does seem with every episode we are given answers to questions, just to be left with more questions. It is safe to say that, by now, we’ve suspected each member of NAT team to be the one behind the Grand Central bombing yet we are no closer to working out the real culprit. After her hysterical breakdown in the closing moments of last week’s episode, Alex (Priyanka Chopra) seemed cool, calm and collected in this week’s installment titled Answer. Before we get to that, the episode begins at Quantico where the NATs assignment this week involves defensive driving. They are paired up – Twins (Yasmine Al Massri), Olsen and Caleb (Graham Rogers) are a team and so are Shelby (Johanna Braddy) and Iris (Li Jun Li) and Alex and Drew (Lenny Platt) – taking turns to manoeuvre through the course, trying not to crash. Adding to the difficulty of the exercise is the fact that each pairing is currently at each other’s throat, one way or another.

The other element to this week’s NAT training is suspect interviews, combining the same pairs from the defensive driving class. After revealing to Drew that she may have information regarding the death of his girlfriend Alycia and being shut down immediately, he eventually comes around to the idea. Drew states that it may be just what he needs to get closure and with that Alex promises to get him those answers. Shelby and Iris continue to butt heads about simple differences of opinions while Olsen (Jay Armstrong Johnson) is hotly on the trail of Caleb’s shady behaviour, of which we discover a very elaborate plan that involves a possible alter ego “Mark Raymond.” Nimah continues her mission to uncover just what Raina has been hiding, going as far to snoop through her cell phone when she leaves it unattended. Cut to future days and we are in snowy Vermont where we meet a bearded, dishevelled looking Simon. As he sits at his table, he pulls out a gun and holds it in his mouth. Tate Ellington continues to excel as Simon, adding layer upon layer to this complicated character. And as Alex shows up to his cabin in the woods, we know the showdown is going to be anything, but cordial.

We learn that Simon, after all the events of New York, lost his house and two jobs so now finds himself in Vermont. Alex attempts to make nice, catching him up on the whereabouts of everyone else, but that doesn’t last long. He has no time or desire to hear about what everyone else is doing. No sooner had she arrived than Simon is asking her to leave. As he grabs his gun, he is off to hunt for his dinner, Alex offers her previous experience in hunting by stating that hunting in pairs always works better. As they set off into the woods, (talk about method acting, Tate and Priyanka both tweeting that these scenes were shot right where they look like they were shot) there is an undeniable tension between the two. Tate Ellington does tormented and traumatised in a way I have no seen so visceral before. With every word, as an audience member we can feel his pain and anguish over being partly responsible for the deaths in the FBI Command Centre. Alex continues to push, continues to ask for help and continues to attempt to break through to Simon – telling him Natalie was killed and that there is a another terrorist out there. Sadly, he doesn’t budge. Priyanka and Tate deliver a gripping scene when the gun is pointed right at Alex. With yells of anger and possible exhaustion, these two characters are at their wits end. The chemistry these two have, to pull off such shocking levels of PTSD, is stellar.

Back at Quantico, after putting pieces together about Raina’s whereabouts, Nimah goes undercover herself to investigate. She explores the house, coming upon a den of ammunition and guns. What has her sister gotten herself into? The whole being twins thing is working out perfectly for her when she runs into a member of the terrorist cell, but as she leaves Raina messages the member apologising for not being able to make it today. Uh, oh, did Nimah just inadvertently break Raina’s cover?

Alex approaches Liam, batting her eyelids a little to get him to simmer down and open up about Chicago. When he does, the information (there were no casualties from the raid) is positive. Passing this onto Drew, believing it as somewhat good news, Alex is shocked to see Drew’s response. His face turns pale and his eyes narrow. It is his turn to give testimony as part of the class’s assignment. The scene that follows, in which Drew confronts Liam about everything Chicago, was heart-stopping and powerful. Unleashing all the information gathered from Alex on Liam, in front of the class I might add, served up a pretty soul-crushing moment for Drew. We learn that not only was Alycia his girlfriend, but his pregnant fiancé that was killed by the exact guns Liam had sold and then lost track of.

As the episode winds down (if that’s even a possibility), Olsen confronts Caleb about his undercover operations as “Mark Raymond.” I’ve got to give it to Olsen, he’s ruthless when it comes to collecting intel, but after a very real threat from Caleb (no personal bubble problems there), his resolve is shaken (or so we are lead to believe). Miranda (Aunjanue Ellis) confronts Liam (Josh Hopkins) after overhearing his heated discussion with Alex, learning the truth about New Year’s (Alex and Liam did sleep together). Miranda insists that this time she isn’t going to protect him. He is to have his resignation ready in the morning. Cutting back and forth from current Quantico to future days, Simon is seen lighting his beaten down Vermont shack on fir. Did he finally work up the courage to end his life?

When Shelby calls Caleb to apologise for taking him for granted he says he can’t talk right now, it isn’t a good time. And as the camera spans out, we see Caleb sitting across from none other than con-sister Samar. What? They discuss about the money and more things very cryptically before he is handed an envelope. I, for one, am so intrigued as to what is going on. What is Caleb is planning? Could he be the mastermind? It is most certainly plausible especially after witnessing the ease at which he jumps from Caleb or Mark. He isn’t alone though – watching from outside in his car, Olsen has tailed him and continues to a stellar job of being sleuth like.

After returning from her trip to Vermont, Alex calls Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) and they share a simple, but very genuine exchange. She apologises to him and thanks him for his constant belief. As they say their goodnight’s there is a knock on the door – who could it be? It’s Simon. After some thought and a little soul-searching, Simon is now with Alex and just in time might I add for her to receive another phone call from the masked terrorist. As Simon pulls out a little device, (one I’m sure can do a whole lot of technological magic) he plugs it in to Alex’s phone and urges her to answer.

Other key notes:

• Will the other eventually find out that Natalie is dead?
• Olsen’s “face cross” system is intriguing – any theories?
• Nimah discovers that Miranda knows about Raina’s undercover operation
• Nimah and Ryan finding Alex – talk about teamwork. I think Alex may have more allies than she truly knows.