The case of Aaron’s murder took a backseat on State of Affairs Season 1 Episode 3, as Charleston Tucker and company remained focused on rescuing girls in Nigeria who had been kidnapped by a terrorist organization.
Overall, State of Affairs is lacking in interesting characters (most remain one-dimensional), but at least we witnessed some solid chemistry this week between Charlie and Ray Navarro, the new director of the CIA; and also between President Payton and her husband.
About halfway through the hour, we flashed back five years ago, to the first time Charlie met Nick.
This introduction took place when Tucker boarded a floating American black site (Midnight City) where Fatah was being held captive.
It’s worth noting that this Charlie wasn’t the confident, self-assured woman viewers know in present day; it was her first trip to a black site and she clearly was uneasy with her surrounding, especially the way in which Nick used torture.
She eventually steps in when Nick starts pouring gasoline on Fatah.
In present day, we watched as the series depicted its take on the real-life #BringBackOurGirls situation from a few months ago.
At the outset of the episode, militant Islamist group Boko Haram took hostage a bus full of Nigerian girls on the way to a soccer game, holding them for ransom.
Charlie (clashing with Ray throughout) is set on pinpointing the location of the hostages, asking Nick at one point to see if he can track down any private outfits stationed in Africa that would be open to rescue the girls … off the books.
According to the President, the U.S. must find leverage to make China alright with the rescue efforts. So Nick suggests a private outfit named Controlled Outcomes.
This gave us a chance to see President Payton as a diplomat, negotiating with President Chu; In order to ensure China secures its oil interests, Payton offers to loan the nation Controlled Outcomes.
In the end, despite Syd saying he’s worried about Nick knowing Controlled Outcomes because they are WAY off the books, the group successfully rescues the girls and takes out its main target.
We conclude with Charlie partying and Nick pulling out a gun in his hotel room after he hears someone at the door.
What did everyone else think of this installment? Click on the above video to watch State of Affairs online and sound off now!