Remus Lupin
Adventurer
I have to admit, the twist with Sam was rather welcome. I didn't like the way they had him turn all psycho several episodes back. But it was still a cruel thing for Ryan to do.
The Unit (Season 4)
- Thread starter Goodsport
- Start date
coyote6
Adventurer
I thought the twist made what happened almost worse; Bridgette apparently wasn't in on it (otherwise, she wouldn't have been quietly trying to find Sam on her own), which means Ryan had Sam attempt to rape her. That's sick, on both Sam and Ryan's parts.
What would have happened if those guys hadn't been there to "scare" Sam off? Were they somehow part of the plan? Or would the "attempted" part of the crime just been redacted?
What would have happened if those guys hadn't been there to "scare" Sam off? Were they somehow part of the plan? Or would the "attempted" part of the crime just been redacted?
Remus Lupin
Adventurer
Point taken. One thing that keeps bubbling to the surface on this show is the innate moral ambiguity of what the Unit does. It's not all noble. In fact, much of it is IGNOBLE. The implicit argument is that these things are justified by the greater good, but that doesn't eliminate the ambiguity.
In some ways, it's a more thoughtful, humanistic attempt to address the themes of 24.
In some ways, it's a more thoughtful, humanistic attempt to address the themes of 24.
Goodsport
Explorer
Last Sunday's season finale involved the undercover Sam discovering the three targets for Leon Drake's drivers carrying nuclear bombs (Dallas, Philadelphia and St. Louis). The Unit then successfully chased all three cars down, only to discover that they were all simply decoys.
With the unwitting help of ex-KGB Armen Kochenko (who was snatched by U.S. authorities just as he was boarding a train at Grand Central Station in New York City) in Washington, D.C., it was revealed that the one real nuclear bomb was part of Leon Drake's car in D.C., though not before Kochenko explained that it was Venezuelan President Ortiz (whom the Unit had failed to assassinate some time beforehand) that ordered the events that kicked off this season and purchased the uranium. More prodding revealed the exact location of the car, where Jonas and Sam took down Drake and successfully diffused the bomb.
Afterward, Colonel Ryan was promoted to Brigadier General but apparently lost the trust of the other Unit members, Sam apologized to Bridget though things remain tense between the two, Molly left while the other Unit wives moved back to Fort Griffith with Kim and Bob reunited with their children, and everyone except Molly and Ryan attended Grey's and Joss's wedding.
Now we wait to see whether or not CBS renews this series for next season. Hopefully, it will.
-G
With the unwitting help of ex-KGB Armen Kochenko (who was snatched by U.S. authorities just as he was boarding a train at Grand Central Station in New York City) in Washington, D.C., it was revealed that the one real nuclear bomb was part of Leon Drake's car in D.C., though not before Kochenko explained that it was Venezuelan President Ortiz (whom the Unit had failed to assassinate some time beforehand) that ordered the events that kicked off this season and purchased the uranium. More prodding revealed the exact location of the car, where Jonas and Sam took down Drake and successfully diffused the bomb.
Afterward, Colonel Ryan was promoted to Brigadier General but apparently lost the trust of the other Unit members, Sam apologized to Bridget though things remain tense between the two, Molly left while the other Unit wives moved back to Fort Griffith with Kim and Bob reunited with their children, and everyone except Molly and Ryan attended Grey's and Joss's wedding.
Now we wait to see whether or not CBS renews this series for next season. Hopefully, it will.
-G
Remus Lupin
Adventurer
It was a good episode that kept me intrigued for the most part, though I guess the destination of the real bomb pretty early.
I've always wondered though: Are the Unit's activities on U.S. soil legal? Does the Posse Comitatus act prevent U.S. military action on U.S. soil? This kind of thing would be better handled by Homeland Security.
I also have to chuckle over their description of Venezuela's president as a "madman," but can't go into detail for fear of offending Eric's grandma.
Overall, I enjoy the show. I hope it gets picked up next year.
I've always wondered though: Are the Unit's activities on U.S. soil legal? Does the Posse Comitatus act prevent U.S. military action on U.S. soil? This kind of thing would be better handled by Homeland Security.
I also have to chuckle over their description of Venezuela's president as a "madman," but can't go into detail for fear of offending Eric's grandma.
Overall, I enjoy the show. I hope it gets picked up next year.
Goodsport
Explorer
Perhaps the events of the season premiere was a special enough case that allowed the Unit to operate on U.S. soil? Colonel Ryan certainly convinced the President to not call Homeland Security in the season finale, though the President (who started the season as the President-elect) didn't seem very enamored with Ryan and his secrets. In any case, it's a good question.
And I too hope that the series gets picked up next year.
-G
coyote6
Adventurer
I believe they've indicated that the Unit needs to not be caught doing things in the US; OTOH, they're black ops & don't officially exist anyways, so they best not be caught anywhere.
OTOH, in this particular case, they may've been legal, if Wikipedia is to be believed. To quote, "the Attorney General may request that the Secretary of Defense provide emergency assistance if civilian law enforcement is inadequate to address certain types of threats involving the release of nuclear materials, such as potential use of a nuclear or radiological weapon" -- there was definitely that kind of threat, so President not-Acevedo might've had the AG make the request, knowing that the Unit would be used.
Oh, as for Venezuela -- the president in the show isn't the RL president, no more than the show's president is Obama (or Bush, even). So I don't know that it's a good idea to ascribe the description of the fictional president as having any relation to reality. IIRC, the assassination attempt they mention was the plot of an episode from a couple of years ago, wasn't it?
OTOH, in this particular case, they may've been legal, if Wikipedia is to be believed. To quote, "the Attorney General may request that the Secretary of Defense provide emergency assistance if civilian law enforcement is inadequate to address certain types of threats involving the release of nuclear materials, such as potential use of a nuclear or radiological weapon" -- there was definitely that kind of threat, so President not-Acevedo might've had the AG make the request, knowing that the Unit would be used.
Oh, as for Venezuela -- the president in the show isn't the RL president, no more than the show's president is Obama (or Bush, even). So I don't know that it's a good idea to ascribe the description of the fictional president as having any relation to reality. IIRC, the assassination attempt they mention was the plot of an episode from a couple of years ago, wasn't it?
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Remus Lupin
Adventurer
Of course you're right about Venezuela not being "Venezuela" and the President not being "The President," but I note that they do seem to try to make the parallels identifiably parallel.
Not that it affects my enjoyment of the show for the most part, but it does reflect, albeit dimly, the writers' take on some RL issues. But at least it does it in, as I said above, an intelligent and humanistic way, as opposed to the bombast and ridiculousness of a "24."
Not that it affects my enjoyment of the show for the most part, but it does reflect, albeit dimly, the writers' take on some RL issues. But at least it does it in, as I said above, an intelligent and humanistic way, as opposed to the bombast and ridiculousness of a "24."
coyote6
Adventurer
Dang, CBS cancelled the show. This article says they're selling it into syndication, though, so it will live on in reruns.
Hmm, with only four seasons, and one of those strike-shortened, it seems like they'd have less than the optimal number of episodes for syndication. I wonder if someone else will pick it up for another season?
Hmm, with only four seasons, and one of those strike-shortened, it seems like they'd have less than the optimal number of episodes for syndication. I wonder if someone else will pick it up for another season?
Taelorn76
First Post
Well that sucks.
I find it funny that according to the article CBS blasts NBC for canceling Medium, even though it had high ratings and yet it cancels The Unit which had higher ratings than Medium.
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