The idea of double cross as a matter of a principle seems a little antagonistic for the kind of elements coming down on Tony’s character in Episode 7 of "American Hostage". At the end of the previous episode, Fred (Jon Hamm) had to come to terms with the fact that he has been pushed into a corner but ends up having to defy his ethics in a place where he has completely lost control. Tony on the other end thinks that he has played everything masterfully. What is the most unusual angle here is the lawyers led by Alan Arkin in that they are more pawns of the government than the man they are meant to protect. This all comes back to the forensic profiler who seems to have more power than he should. The idea of what they are doing does seem to strain credibility. Some people are in the dark. Others are not.
Fred’s Head of News and an intern uncover a certain play that makes them understand what is going on but not why. The only aspect is that the head of the financing corporation is involved in something a little more deep cover hence not trying to help his son . Meanwhile Fred’s wife is sidling up with the hostage’s wife Mireille Enos plays it well. You can see she is longing for a different life but stick in the one she has not knowing if it is right or not. One great scene has Jon Hamm and Adam Arkin having a discussion in the latrine. It is terse but also primal (and humorous in a specific way) but it does show, even in a small town, that it is all about pecking order. Another scene also plays the subterfuge in plain sight as Tony’s brother, who is just trying to get a foothold running for sheriff, seems woefully unaware of what actually might be happening. Fred sees this and how he adjusts one of the players whose loyalty is hanging on by a thread might change the course of what is being shown or at least the trajectory of what is being planned. In this way, it might impact a sense of guilt for all. 82%/B/B-
By Tim Wassberg
