Quantico – Yes

By: Alex Steele

To put it simply, “Quantico” Season 1 came, saw and conquered. It had everything from action to emotion, with enough twists and turns to make us feel a little whiplashed. Regardless though, they delivered. An ensemble so dynamic and committed, their chemistry bounces of our screens to a creative team successfully pulling off a flawless two-pronged storyline. This week’s finale was as gripping as ever, with each question being answered and the stage set for a high-octane Season 2. Titled Yes the episode started with a chronological look back at Liam’s (Josh Hopkins) elaborate terrorist plan, which spanned as far back as before Alex’s (Priyanka Chopra) NATs class started at Quantico. We saw the conversation in which Miranda (Aunjanue Ellis) offered him the job at Quantico, how he picked Alex as his mark, the lengths he went to gather Intel on the NATs (bugging their rooms), picking the weak links such as Elias, stealing the train schematics from Simon (Tate Ellington), chipping Alex’s phone, buying an apartment next to Alex’s and planting the bombs at Grand Central…amongst other things. He was methodical and cunning.

After showing us this, we return back to present day as Liam stands over a wounded Miranda who questions “why” with Liam stating that she’ll see and that he wants her to watch it burn with him. Josh Hopkins bad is so subtle yet so haunting. At Quantico this week, the NATs are in their last two days of class and the first point of business is getting their ID photos taken. Alex and Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) continue to talk all thing vacation, while Shelby (Johanna Braddy) can’t seem to shake the feeling of worry she has surrounding Caleb (Graham Rogers), checking in with Clayton once again and the twins (Yasmine Al Massri) are discussing the fact that only one of them is able to attend graduation. Their last class starts with a speech from Liam – ironic, as we as an audience know what he is planning, but the NATs are so unsuspecting it’s a little spine-chilling. Their last class assignment? A night out at the Old Settler.

Present day at FBI headquarters, the team are scrambling with the new possibility of Miranda being the terrorist having completely thrown them. With each member of the team offering steps to move forward, the tensions come to a head when Nimah states that Simon shouldn’t be involved. The tension between these two, you can cut with a knife. The exchange is broken up when Alex says “Thank God you’re here” and as the camera spans out, we see Liam arrive. Excuse me, what? Alex has called Liam in to help track down Miranda. This can’t end well, especially when he talks such a good story and really solidifies Miranda as a reputable suspect in the whole situation. Manipulative is all the right ways. Checking back in at Quantico, the NATs and everyone are letting their hair down as they really start to party. But not everyone is in good spirits. Alex and Ryan get into another argument over the fact he was not honest about a job offer in Texas (a fact Liam let slip) and they are back to square one. Eventually, Ryan leaves, having enough of the constant merry-go-round they are on. Elsewhere, Raina has returned from the celebrations to the dorms much to Nimah’s surprise. She had the revelation that they are about to embark on a mission that will see them separated. Yasmine Al Massri has been incredibly fluid in her portrayal as these women and this moments they share brings to the forefront the undeniable bond these sisters share.

In the future timeline, Miranda is seen waking up in the boot of a car, hands tied, feet tied and gagged. As she successfully maneuvers herself into a strong position, Liam catches her and subdues her once again. In the meantime, Ryan discovered a camera at Miranda’s place while Simon had deduced that Miranda can’t be the terrorist as timelines don’t add up. With all this new information coming to light, the team puts their heads together and within moments, Alex figures out its Liam. And she may be a little late, seeing as Liam has now taken Ryan hostage after they crossed paths in the garage. The next sequence is cut and edited beautifully and the contrast is hauntingly brilliant. In the Quantico timeline, Liam gives the graduation speech while in the present timeline the team work towards tracking down Liam. Alex comes across Liam’s daughter at his house (wasn’t she meant to be…) who states that Liam should be in DC. It’s always been Liam. Putting every piece together, Alex and the team figure out that Liam is headed to Quantico for his last big play.

Breaking into pairs Alex and Raina head to the dorm rooms, Simon and Nimah are off to the graduation hall and Shelby and Caleb run over to the server room. The team seems ready and equipped. Shelby and Caleb share a hopeful moment, in which the love between them is undeniably evident. Simon continues to struggle with the fact that his work and expertise is partly responsible for this elaborate plan of Liam’s. Searching the dorms, Raina and Alex successfully find Ryan and Miranda, who is barely alive. Raina stays behind to make sure she is taken care of while Ryan and Alex set out, once and for all, to find Liam. With an impassioned speech via the speakers, Liam reveals his goal of killing the cancer that is the FBI – the corruption, all of it. Unfortunately, Liam gets Ryan at gunpoint and what follows is a spectacular stand-off between teacher and student. Josh Hopkins work has been shockingly moving; the evolution with Liam from caring, supportive teacher/significant other, to vulnerable recovering alcoholic, to now off-his-hinges terrorist so complex. Priyanka Chopra in this scene, personifies nuance. It’s subtle, but as Liam continues to rant, you see Alex move through a range of emotions from stoic and determined to almost broken at the sound of her Dad’s story and history.

A day after, and my feelings regarding the last ten minutes of this finale are still quite fresh. Tate Ellington has delivered Simon’s evolution spectacularly this season and his final moments are nothing short of emotionally flooring. The NATs are left with the armed nuke after Alex and Ryan shoot Liam, with no one able to disarm it. Every option still leads to casualties and while the team continue to argue about options Simon slips away. The others are too late in realizing as they watch Simon drive way, nuke with him. It doesn’t take us long to figure out that this is Simon’s last stand. Alex makes the call and what follows may be the most soul-crushing moment of the season. Simon is driving the bomb to water, under water, is the only place the bomb won’t do damage. With assurances like, “We’re all here” and “I’d always knew you’d save us” with proclamations of love and friendship, the NATs never seem closer. It’s heartbreaking, especially as we see Raina crumble with emotion. The offer of tea sometime was enough to shatter those final pieces of our hearts. They stay on the line with Simon right until his final moments.

At Simon’s funeral, Will (Jay Alexander Johnson) returns, Shelby is reinstated to the FBI and Miranda is now the highest ranking female in the FBI landing the position of Deputy Director. The feeling is dark, but hopeful. Alex remains outside for a little while longer, as none other than the newly appointed Madame Vice President, Claire Haas (Marcia Cross) arrives. This confrontation, let’s be honest, we could not have seen coming. But when Alex reveals that Claire Haas doesn’t in fact take blood pressure medication, she questions just how involved she was with Liam O’Connor? Did she in fact collude with a terrorist? She responds by saying, “Even if I did it, you have no proof.” Yet, Alex doesn’t need proof since we all know she’s solved cases with less. And just this exchange finishes, we discover a silent Caleb listening in, as a witness. And so the stage is set for another conspiracy investigation next season perhaps? Two weeks later the team is seen packing up Alex’s apartment as she and Ryan finally decide to take that vacation. And again, two months later, Alex is cornered by a silver SUV. Inside, she meets Walter Keys (Henry Czerny). This unknown individual offers her a job, with the CIA.

I could go on, but to close, the entire ensemble had individual moments of greatness. Johanna Braddy and how she inhabited the story of Shelby and her parents was enough to leave our souls searching for refuge. Graham Rogers took Caleb to two ends of the emotional spectrum, delivering a layered character completing endearing to us, the audience. Priyanka Chopra, as the leader, was flawless. Yasmine Al Massri succeeded in illustrating two vastly different characters. Josh Hopkins did bad so well. Bravo “Quantico” team, you took us on a heart-stopping ride for justice, gave us stories of passion, commitment and continuous moments of grey. We cannot wait for Season Two.