If you would like to read my review of last week’s episode, click here.
Synopsis: As attorney Ethan West’s investigation begins, he calls upon President Kirkman’s closest advisers and staff. (IMDB)
Writer: Keith Eisner
Director: David Warry-Smith
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 45mins
Airs: Wednesdays at 10pm on CTV (Canada)/ABC (United States)
This episode started with Tom and Kendra getting ready for West’s inquiry. The burden of proof was on Tom’s side. An agitated Wells, fresh from the hospital, stormed in to warn Tom about Dr. Frost but Aaron sent her home. Tom left a note for Darby, should she become president. West later deposed Dr. Louden who defended Tom. Then he confronted Aaron about the war with Kunami.
West was determined to exact revenge against Dr. Frost. She briefed Tom about her investigation and her suspicions about Dr. Frost. However, Tom didn’t believe any of it. Tom was having trouble with a medicare deal that threatened a government shutdown. He asked Minter for advice about Dr. Frost. While she had the capacity to do it, he believed she wouldn’t do it.
West deposed Dr. Frost about her relationship with Tom. Kendra wanted to use Wells dossier against her though Tom ordered her not to. However, she went around him. Wells talked to West and accused him of conspiring with Dr. Frost, however, he presented information indicating otherwise in the form of an anonymous tip. Meanwhile, the White House lost all their leverage for a potential medicare deal because of the hearing and no longer had a choice but to deal.
Wells confronted Dr. Frost in public who warned her against doing it again. West deposed Emily about her loyalty to Tom. Because of her outburst, Aaron removed Wells from the hack investigation. Emily and Aaron talked about their potential future together. West spoke with Moss about potential evidence against Tom. He then deposed him and Moss was not as supportive as the others. It made sense that he would be partly responsible since Tom’s dissenting cabinet were all people that he recommended.
West offered Tom a chance to leave the presidency and reassume the role of HUD secretary but he refused. He then deposed Trey about a potential history of mental illness within the Kirkman family. Trey revealed that he was treated with bi-polar disorder which was new to Tom. He then got the upper hand on the senators that were stalling the medicare deal.
West deposed Tom who revealed that not all the testimony was true. He was a flawed man who made mistakes because he was human. He was fighting for himself but for the integrity of the presidency. Darby informed Tom that after the cabinet deliberated, they believed that he should continue as president. West congratulated him, however, Tom wasn’t exactly grateful. He considered himself a winner because he helped the cabinet make the right decision.
To keep her accountable for her conduct against Dr. Frost, Tom fired Wells.
Overall, this was a good episode that saw Tom get vindicated. The result was inevitable but the fact that it only took one episode to do so was a surprise. The other testimony was kind of irrelevant despite the season building up to that point with plenty of flashbacks to prior events this season. It only took Tom’s testimony to save himself. The reveal that Dr. Frost maybe being the hacker wasn’t a surprise, however, the way the episode went about it wasn’t as strong because of the amount of time dedicated to it. This subplot would have been better served in another episode as it took focus away from the inquiry scenes. With Tom free, hopefully the remaining episodes will start to wrap up all the lingering storylines in a satisfying way.
Score: 8/10
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.