Article first published as COVERT AFFAIRS Review Season 4 Premiere on Seat42F.
Grade: 86%
Grade: 86%
USA’s COVERT AFFAIRS is back t0night
with “Vamos.” Annie (Piper Perabo) and Auggie (Christopher Gorham), now a
couple, try to figure out what Henry Wilcox (Gregory Itzen) knows about
Arthur (Peter Gallagher) that will bring him down. It’s a race against
time, as Henry promises action will be taken by the end of the week. And
it’s a challenge to see if Annie and Auggie can be romantic and still
work together.
COVERT AFFAIRS is the latest drama in
television to defy the old fear, often referred to as ‘The Moonlight
Curse,’ and stick their leading guy and gal in a relationship before
series’ end. As this is only the start of season four, COVERT AFFAIRS
could potentially have a lot of life in it, going by the standard run of
a USA show, and so it’s risking a lot to get rid of that “will they,
won’t they?” tension and commit to them being together.
Yet, now that it’s become the popular
trend to do it, and by and large this trend is proving the fate of the
curse is the exception, rather than the rule, it could be risky not
to have them together. Fans are growing frustrated of television
writers who stretch out the chemistry for years, never letting it boil
too hot, lest the characters might actually face their own emotion.
This is the era of character-driven
stories, and in order for a show to fulfill its potential, the people on
screen must grow and develop and change. Love is a powerful, driving
emotion, one of the most important, and so it cannot be ignored,
especially by a central protagonist. Thus, it is not only time, but
necessary, to see if Annie and Auggie can work as a pair.
The primary problem between them,
already evident in “Vamos,” is that Annie doesn’t listen to anyone or
consider their opinions. She is head strong and rebellious. This is fine
(sort of) when she is disobeying Joan (Kari Matchett) and the CIA
because it’s not personal, and as long as she gets the job done well,
they forgive her. But when feelings are involved, as they are with
Auggie, it may present a problem.
Auggie likes Annie for her confidence
and determination, but he hasn’t had that betray him so directly until
now. He has faced it as part of his job, but not as a boyfriend. Being
left alone in a foreign city or having her reluctantly agree with him,
only for her to do the opposite that second he isn’t looking, isn’t the
makings for a long-term bond. These are things they will have to work to
overcome.
That being said, it’s great to see them
out in the field together. Auggie doesn’t get out of the office enough,
and in their current arrangement, it’s more believable that he will
accompany her, especially when it’s not a stated mission. He is valuable
support , and if she can learn to rely on him a little more, they will
be a dynamic duo.
Annie is now working for Henry Wilcox,
and that will be a problem, both for her, and for her friends. Henry has
never been shown to be anything but up to no good. He is essentially
threatening Arthur in “Vamos.” Who knows what he’ll ask Annie to do to
help him take down his enemies? This is the makings for a difficult road
for Annie, one where she will be torn in her actions between doing the
right thing and fulfilling her obligations and protecting herself and
others.
Of course, Annie put herself in this
situation. She may have done it for the right reasons, but this is a
decision she has made. Unfortunately, that makes everything a little
contrived and a little predictable, which is what keeps COVERT AFFAIRS a
bit inferior to, say, SUITS, which has more complicated characters. But
it’ll still be fun to watch Annie run around and kick butt, the main
draw of the show.
I’m not sure I completely buy Annie’s
helping Arthur so vehemently. Is she doing it just out of loyalty to
Joan or because of the guilt she feels for not always doing right by
Joan? If so, this isn’t something we really see in this episode, which
is a shame. Maybe Annie just wants to uphold justice, and that’s fine,
but again, motivation isn’t really explored, and I feel like that’s a
wasted opportunity.
There are a couple of other things that
happen in “Vamos,” including a big “surprise” development for two main
characters, and a step backwards for the good guys. I feel like this
premiere is in keeping with the established quality of the show, and
fans should be pleased, even if one can justifiably wish it kicked it up
just another notch, such as not making who is bad and who is good so
obvious, playing more in the shades of grey.
COVERT AFFAIRS airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.
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