Quantico – Lipstick

By: Alex Steele

The second episode of the season picks up right where we left off. It opens on the present day, immediately after the execution with Alex (Priyanka Chopra) struggling to get service. Elsewhere, Miranda (Aujanue Ellis) is sitting in a car with an unknown male discussing how the situation is so much more than a nightmare. And it is; cut with scenes from the hostage zone where they are being fitted with wire collars that will tighten remotely if any of the hostages act out of line. Raina (Yasmine Al Massri) and Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) are this week trying to figure out why the rest of CIA training class is there, too. This exchange offers up the names of the two recruits who we did not meet last week, Dayana Mampasi (Pearl Thusi) and Sebastian Chen (David Lim).

Back to a year earlier and all the #Ralex (Ryan and Alex shippers) fans are given a sexy and very sensual scene. Alex and Ryan are enjoying their downtime from their undercover work maybe a little too much. Interrupting them is her cell phone buzzing, their delivery will arrive in 10 minutes (which is code for Miranda will arrive). Shortly after Miranda’s appearance she wants to know who they think Owen (Blair Underwood) is grooming for his rebel team. They both agree it will be Harry Doyle (Russell Tovey) as Sebastian is too straight laced while Dayana, Alex’s roommate, is too tightly wound. Alex figures out that Miranda wants them to build profiles as it is because this is the last time Miranda will be meeting them. They will each be assigned their own handlers. She encourages them both to take care of themselves and not get caught up is caring for each other. This meeting, unfortunately, leaves them arriving late to Yoga class at the Farm – not suspect at all. Lydia (Tracy Ifeachor) isn’t having any of it, still giving Alex loads of sass. Ryan, on the other hand, struggles with Yoga especially when Owen makes a point of telling Ryan how curious he is about our beloved FBI agent. Ryan is wary that Owen is intrigued. Also, it seems as though both Alex and Ryan are having trouble making friends with Dayana. Moving on, the class convenes to discover that they all are being followed at all times, sparking a concerned look between Alex and Ryan.

Back to present day, Alex has come across a wounded police officer who informs her that if they get to the secret NYPD bunker in the basement they may just be able to get service and access to the outside. Meanwhile, Shelby (Johanna Braddy) is frantically trying to contact her friend at the same time Miranda is leading a meeting to discuss action-reaction options. This scene is where we are formally introduced to the guy in the car, holding Miranda’s hand. Everyone, meet Deputy Paul Burke (Aaron Lazar) of the National Chief Counsel. We all know workplace relationships come with their own type of baggage and Miranda doesn’t want to call any action to save the lives of those inside, while everyone else thinks a strong force reaction is what’s needed.

We’re back at The Farm and the class has learned that this week’s assignment involves Surveillance Detection Routes – how to surveil an individual or mark without getting caught is their assignment. It will be teams of five playing the role of either the trigger, the rabbit or the eye’s. The catch is the surveillance team must not be caught by their mark or noticed by the residents of Williamsburg. With class dismissed, Alex heads to town to open up a bank account while Lydia gives Dayana a much needed pep talk. She’s distracted with her work as a lawyer and can’t seem to figure out why exactly she was recruited. Before Alex can get going, smooth talking Harry flirts his way into accompanying her to town. Could Alex really find this guy charming? Elsewhere, Ryan continues his attempt to connect with Leon (Aaron Diaz), whose Nat Geo profile Ryan stalked. With all this effort, Leon still refuses to give nothing away.

Landing back in present time, Miranda and Paul have somewhat of a lovers spat over how to handle the terrorist situation. He’s informed her the military option is on the table and seems to have taken the lead, especially when he’s asked for specifically by the VP. Straight after this conversation, Miranda receives news from Shelby that she is sure Alex is still within the crisis zone and having not told anyone else, Miranda instructs her not to and to keep looking. Speaking of the crisis zone, Alex continues her search for the NYPD bunker while Ryan and Raina make a breakthrough of how the terrorists are working. They’ve worked out that they are cycling the terrorists out for hostages so that no one can know who is who. It’s smart and savvy, but our FBI agents are smarter. In past days, Harry and Alex are enjoying a drink or two at the bar, talking about their history (more so hers) while he talks endlessly about his music taste. As they exit the bar, they immediately figure out they’re being followed. One by one, Alex spots them all and with Harry’s help they decide to break up in the hopes of evading them. And she does, thanks to another mistake from Dayana who again gets distracted with work stuff. Ryan loses his cool with her, but not before being informed by a civilian that he himself is being followed. And by who you ask? None other than Owen Hall. This starts a cat and mouse kind of game that sees Ryan try and track Owen, but all the while Ryan is being followed by Owen.

Having figured out the terrorists’ plan, Raina thinks furiously on how they can beat them. She suggests marking them in some way allowing Ryan and her the ability to sort the terrorists from the hostages. Back in training, Harry alerts Alex’s attention to her possible trigger during the assignment. Surprise, surprise! It’s Shelby (note the beautiful southern accent she has going on). Obviously, there part of the drill – meaning Alex must act completely oblivious. Back at The Farm, Ryan confronts Owen over the surveillance to which Owen states that he’s figured out Ryan has a hard time trusting authority. Ryan doesn’t quite respond as this observation may be somewhat true. Speaking of triggers, Alex seems confident that she’s successfully evaded her tails as well as identified her triggers, but when she’s done at the bank Harry reveals that it was him all along. He was the trigger and she lead him right to her drop. Touché, Harry. Touché.

The episode begins to wind down with Raina in present time being cycled out as she pretends to fall, inadvertently scratching a terrorist with her newly sharpened nails. It seems they may have the upper hand. Meanwhile, Alex has made it to the bunker with the help of the officer who sacrifices himself to save her. The recruits have reconvened on The Farm where Owen and Lydia uncover that they’ll be running SDR’s for the entirety of their training, as they are one of the most integral parts of being a spy. The end of the day, bad and good for some, sees Ryan and Dayana share a sweet moment in which he offers her support and encouragement. Speaking of sweet moments, Lydia and Alex finally come face to face. Lydia offers Alex a compliment saying that most first time recruits never pick out their surveillance team. She also goes on to commend Alex’s efforts with the Grand Central bombing. She says that Alex pushes through when most people give up, that and her best work is often done under pressure. Paralleled with a scene of Alex in the bunker, that ability is being put to the rest.

At the safe house that night, Alex discovers that her handler is none other than her best friend, Shelby Wyatt. Shelby reminds Alex that her job here is finding the next Liam before it’s too late. Alex; however, is struggling with the ways of the CIA, specifically the manipulating, the lying and the deceiving. Elsewhere, as he’s buying a bottle of wine to share with Alex, Ryan meets his handler. It’s Nimah. And she’s doesn’t waste anytime by instructing him to call Alex and cancel as they’ve got new intel from Miranda. Ryan and Alex are disappointed that this is how it has to go, but assure each other that they’ll make it work. Shelby, as coyly as ever, watches on from the window. Throughout The Farm we see Harry discover that Shelby and Alex know each other – could they be found out? Back to present day, we see Leo (yikes) with the scratch on his wrist and for a moment believe him to be a terrorist. But when the camera pans out and shows everyone’s wrist, they all have a cut on them. It seems the terrorists truly are smarter than they think. This sparks something in Raina though as she questions why it is they haven’t killed her. Downstairs, Alex finally gets through to Miranda who seems relatively calm about the whole thing. Miranda instructs Alex to infiltrate and continue searching for information as it is needed. As Alex hangs up, we see a solider discover the shattered window where Jeremy Miller went flying out. Shortly after, that same solider receives a message saying “Alex Parrish is inside.” What happens next is the camera reveals a key player in this entire situation. It’s Miranda. She is the one that sent that message about Alex. What? Talk about twist.

Other key notes:

• Lydia and Owen talk about something “that he missed.” Could he be sick?
• Leon framed an important photo. What’s the deal with this guy?