The Black ops team does not waste any time in getting back to business. After Celine’s death in the previous episode, we see the squad in the midst of its next mission.
No briefing. No easing the viewers in. It’s a relief to see no expository dialogue like ‘What do you see’? The episode instead lets the audience use its intellect to connect the dots. But it is merciless in moving on without adequately addressing her loss or ‘mourning’ as Deep points out. The show makes an attempt at portraying grief.
But character development has not exactly been the strong suit of Quantico and a procedural can’t be bogged down by emotional meltdowns. The episode does manage to cleverly weave in its lack of regard for the arbitrarily axed squad member - more on that later.
The Bullet Train ticked a lot of boxes. Emotional core - Check. Appealing visuals - Check (the episode partly unfolds in a train). Twist - Check. But one revelation that comes towards the end about a squad member sounds hella implausible. ( Mind the spoilers in the last paragraph).
Like most episodes, in this one too, the bright ironic sparks of humour come from Harry.
“Us Brits are very good at hiding things, joy, sadness, impure thoughts. I mean I hid myself in the closet for 19 years.”Harry
A new, feisty and entertaining character comes our way in this episode - Leslie. Alex and Leslie share some easy camaraderie that lights up the scenes. Leslie does to the episode what Jocelyn does to the squad - lends it spunk.
Leslie’s sass infuses the show with some buoyancy. The episode only teases a twist around Leslie. That alternative ending would have definitely cranked up the savage meter of the episode and the show!
Most of the episode plays out in a snug moving train, enhancing the visual appeal of the episode and giving it the Murder on the Orient Express and cabin drama vibe.
And just like that this episode gets rid of another newbie. Deep’s parting is emotionally rife unlike Celine’s ouster from the show. His stormy resignation-walkout may not work like a gut-punch but it touches upon everything that a crime show like Quantico can’t spend time exploring. But some of the lines would have amped up the irony and the resonance if they were mouthed by one of the seasoned crew members - the ‘cold souls’.
“I don’t want to lose my humanity. I don’t want to have to put a knife in one of you to survive some day. I don’t want to live in the shadows or with secrets or beyond the law. Don’t any of you ever stop to wonder who you are anymore? Well I don’t want to wonder who I am. I want to stay me.”Deep
The most relatable bits of advice come from Owen when he tries to tell Deep that blame games are endless and forgiveness is the only redeeming virtue.
The Big Reveal
Alex’s pregnancy definitely blows to smithereens all the theories about a possible reigniting of the old flame. We found out that Andrea is the father. But is it even rational? Hasn’t the team been on enough missions to warrant a long passage of time in the plot? Is it even possible for her to wonder about a pregnancy at this stage after parting with Andrea? How many months has it been since the Black Ops team started functioning?
The reveal will baffle you but then it douses the show in enough intrigue for the fans to keep coming back for their fix.
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