“Quantico” Season 2 has turned into a new beast in the second half of its second season, and that couldn’t be more clear than in Monday’s (April 10) politics-heavy episode.
The team’s new mission? To stop the Muslim Registry bill from passing Congress after the collaborators behind the AIC stage a jihadist attack on an American shopping mall to sway the vote. FBI and CIA agents actively interfering in the democratic process might seem controversial, but given that the system was already unfairly messed with, Clay (Hunter Parrish) decides to fight fire with fire.
Thanks to the fake terror attack — for which Raina (Yasmine Al Massri) has been framed — fear and hate are running rampant in the news cycle, providing the perfect excuse for middle-of-the-road Republicans and Democrats to vote yes on the proposed Muslim Registry. It’s a brilliant plan, if you don’t count how gross and evil it is. As Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) so aptly puts it: “It’s hard to vote against fear when fear is so fresh.”
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While Alex (Priyanka Chopra) and Owen (Blair Underwood) searched for a way to exonerate Raina, the rest of the team heads to the Hill to play politics.
This episode wasn’t particularly eventful, but it was a good lesson in politics to an enraptured audience. “Quantico” has been pulling zero punches this year when it comes to educating its audience on current events and political issues, and “ODYOKE” is no exception. We actually got a vibe that reminded us of “The West Wing” from this episode; working votes on the Hill, figuring out which Blue Dog Democrats and RINOs to target as swing votes — it’s a slight departure from the typically immediate “Quantico” life-or-death stakes, but not an unwelcome one.
Unfortunately, turning votes at the last minute isn’t as easy as Aaron Sorkin made it look. The congressional representatives Shelby (Johanna Braddy), Clay and Nimah approach fear more for their own seats than the civil liberties of their constituents, making it pretty hard to turn their “yes’s” into “no’s.”
On the other hand, “Quantico” also took the opportunity to declare how ridiculous this whole song and dance can be sometimes, via Nimah’s own outrage at the predicament her fellow countrymen have yet again found themselves in.
“The real America: Two blonde people arguing the merits of my freedom instead of letting me have it.”
DROP. THE. MIC. NIMAH.
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At least we now know who one of the eight collaborators behind the AIC is: Speaker of the House Henry Roarke (Dennis Boutsikaris).
Thanks to the attack — and some unsuccessful vote swinging — the Muslim Registry passes, forcing President Claire Haas (Marcia Cross) to veto it. Now, the country is one more terrorist attack away from impeaching her for mishandling the “dangerous Muslim threat.” How convenient for Henry Roarke that her candidate for Vice President has been languishing in Senate confirmations, making him her next successor should the worst happen.
Lucky for Claire, both her sons will be around to have her back next week! Caleb Haas (Graham Rogers) returns to “Quantico” for a short arc starting with Monday’s (April 17) episode, and we’re interested to see where in this jigsaw puzzle of spies and politicians he falls. And on the more melodramatic side of the issue, how will he work (or fail to work) with his brother and Shelby?
“Quantico” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
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