Last Resort- Pilot

Justin Hoch [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The USS Colorado is a nuclear submarine with a crew of 150 men and women, even though it seems like there are fewer people onboard. It’s led by Captain Marcus Chaplin, the older black man, and his second-in-command, Sam Kendal (Felicity’s Scott Speedman). The Chief of the Boat is Joseph Prosser, and he’s a dick. Also, there is Karofsky from Glee. He never gets to play a nice character, does he?

The main strong woman is Lieutenant Grace Shepard (NICE NAME. Man, TV can be so on-the-nose with names). Her father is an Admiral. The other crew members include another pretty girl who is the same shade as Michelle Rodriguez. We see what they are doing there. Of course, the female crew members look like models. JUST LIKE EVERY MILITARY WOMAN. 

The show opens with the sub rescuing a Navy SEAL team in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Sam is about to get a desk job where he can be with his wife when the sub gets orders to fire a nuke at Pakistan. The order is sketchy though, so Sam and Marcus question it. Marcus calls the Pentagon and is relieved of command. Sam is in charge now, but he goes with Marcus’s prior decision to delay launch until they know the whole story. These people have consciences. Grace backs the decision; Joseph does not.

The United States sends a missile to the USS Colorado, almost directly hitting it. That’s right, the sub’s own country tried to kill everyone aboard. The sub makes to an island occupied by some NATO people. The U.S. bombs Pakistan. Things are pretty up in the air at the end of the episode, but our good guys and bad guys are easily identifiable, so at least that part’s not confusing.

This pilot was completely solid. While its political and social themes are way too familiar and not that intelligent, its story should be exciting. It needs to put more of a focus on character development in subsequent hours, but there will be time for that. This show will appeal to fans of 24. It’s not as smart as Homeland, but what is? Scott Speedman is still hot.

Overall, we like this show so far and will continue watching. It’s ambitious, it has oodles of potential, and the show could go in a lot of directions from here and last a long time.

Episode grade: B+