Recap: THE LAST SHIP – Devil May Care

Episode 304: “Devil May Care”
Written by Nic Van Zeebroeck
Directed by Paul Holahan

Straight to the action and continuing where they left off, Slattery (Adam Baldwin) and hostage crew are broadcasting that they are prisoners of war. As Chandler (Eric Dane) watches from the USS Nathan James, President Michener (Mark Moses) watches from St. Louis, Takehaya (Hiroyuki Sanada) makes his demands. He wants the US destroyers to move out of Asian waters or he continues to kill hostages. He’s already killed one, he claims. Now, we never saw Mason’s (Chris Sheffield) dead body, and for that matter, we never saw Rachel Scott’s (Rhona Mitra) dead body, so I’m holding out these people aren’t dead. Turns out Slattery and Jeter (Charles Parnell) were not giving their serial numbers after their names in the video stream. They were giving reference points. Chandler and Co. set course to head in that direction.

The crew hostages look awful. They must be shooting on location because that jungle scene looks hot and I can almost smell the body odor and blood stench, EW! Miller (Kevin Michael Martin) and Diaz (Adam Irigoyen) are beaten for last week’s outdoor excursion, but Miller manages to keep his sense of humor. That maid reference was laugh out loud funny even though he paid for it. What I like most is that they are working the problem, every chance they get. When Slattery, Jeter, and crew think it out and discuss it, they cut to Chandler and Burk (LaMonica Garrett) on the ship who (you would have thought) heard the conversation and react to it. They are still one crew, separated, but still working together.

The pirates refer to Slattery as “O Negative”, so that answers the question, they are typing the blood! Now how? I didn’t see any type of equipment to do that in that nasty place, but I guess I’ll take the pirate’s word for it. Takehaya takes a direct transfusion from Slattery and we finally get some answers. The cure didn’t work for them. Only blood from a cured person keeps them “well” and they were taken hostage because the crew needed to pay for what happened to Takehaya’s people.

Now, the USS Nathan James needs fuel. This just gets really busy, so keep up. They still don’t know Peng’s (Fernando Chien) involvement with the pirates. Chandler has to figure all this out, before Takehaya’s deadline. So Chandler decides he’s going to go find some answers and ask for fuel from Peng. No conference call, he’s not going to call ahead, no state dinner, and no permission from POTUS, well … he told him, just in case this all goes bad, POTUS can just say Chandler went rogue. POTUS didn’t like the idea, but he went with it. Chandler’s idea is to sneak into Peng’s mansion, and talk to the guy. I immediately think, oh crap … take Wolf!! You better take Wolf (Bren Foster)! Chandler does take him and Chandler finds Peng swimming in his pool. BTW, Peng, nice tats! I did not see that coming when his shirt came off.

In conversation with Peng, we find out that Peng did blow up the plane that had Valerie (Tania Raymonde) and was supposed to have Chandler on it. He was trying to kill Chandler, but there is no connection to Takehaya. As it turns out, they find a map in Peng’s office that looks as though Peng is hunting for Takehaya himself. Peng verifies this with such disdain in his voice that I believe him! Chandler still doesn’t. At this point Lau Hu (Stephen Oyoung) comes to the door and I almost want to scream “Let him in!” I want to see round two of him and Wolf! Peng manages to get rid of him while Wolf holds a gun to his head. I’m disappointed, no round two. The exchange between Peng and Chandler was enough to satisfy me, though. Peng gave Chandler of list of reasons why he wanted him dead, but the main one, “just because”. Awe, testosterone, gotta love it.

Takehaya confronts Slattery. He’s figured out that Slattery and Jeter sent out coordinates. He tells Slatterey that with that act, he’s brought his friends to their death.This is the first time I see that Slattery is actually afraid. Before this, they came in to drag off Garnett (Fay Masterson), to take her blood I’m sure. She’s the only female hostage and her character has been pretty quiet with mainly head nods. I’m disappointed they aren’t giving her more.

With the USS Nathan James full of fuel, the crew decides to leave the mansion and is caught. Peng calls off his men and allows them to leave. They return to the USS Nathan James and head to the first island they believe hold the hostage crew, but on their way there they are stopped short. Mines are in the water. The episode ends.

This episode was action packed without a whole lot of action, if that makes sense. The episode moved along quickly and I really enjoy the great confrontation between Chandler and Peng. When Chandler threatens to release his “Wolf” on Peng, the look on Peng’s face is priceless. He orders up that fuel quick! I do miss Kara Foster Green (Marissa Neitling) on the ship, but she did have a baby. Did she resign from the Navy altogether though? I’m not sure; I’ll need to look into that. I’m still looking forward to Chandler vs. Takehaya … maybe next week.

The Last Ship airs Sunday nights at 9/8c on TNT.