After the Season 2 premiere of The Old Man ended with a gunshot, viewers are eager to find out who was shot. Many combinations are possible.
After weeks of Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) and Harold Harper (John Lithgow) searching for Emily Chase (Alia Shawkat) in Faraz Hamzad’s (Navid Negahban) camp, Emily and Hamzad accidentally find them instead. With everyone reunited and the threat of the Taliban nearby, Episode 3 begins.
The episode starts with the three men in a cave, and Hamzad is about to shoot Chase when a gun goes off unexpectedly.
Hamzad, focused on revenge for losing his wife and daughter, does not see Harper waiting in the shadows. It seems Hamzad is starting to learn how to adapt. Despite their long-standing issues, Chase uses a medical kit to help Hamzad until they are joined by Emily.
Chase Reunites With His Daughter
The emotional reunion is briefly interrupted while Emily helps Hamzad, surprising both Chase and Harper. Once Hamzad is okay, Chase and Emily share a long-overdue hug. Harper warns her about Chase’s injury and explains how Marion (Janet McTeer) got them into Afghanistan and will help them.
Even with a clear escape plan, Emily is hesitant to leave Hamzad, stating the village relies on him and he cannot return alone. Harper argues that he is also needed at home, but Emily criticizes him for trying to rescue her.
Chase tries to reason with her, saying Harper came to help get her back. However, as the excitement of their reunion fades, Emily questions her father about what Harper knows about her. When she finds out he knows everything, it strengthens her determination to help Hamzad.
She believes both men should understand her reasons. Hamzad then encourages her to take the escape route offered. The challenge arises because Emily’s identities—Parwana Hamzad, Emily Chase, and Angela Adams—each have their own father figure, and when they are together, they will try to protect her.
Emily feels responsible for the Taliban’s presence in Hamzad’s village and asks for Chase and Harper’s help to get him home. Chase agrees immediately and explains to Harper that given Emily’s bond with her biological father, refusing to help would mean losing her.
Harper does not see it this way, which is not surprising since Emily is deeply connected to the people in her life, including Harper’s grandson, Henry. Chase’s earlier misunderstanding of Hamzad being a monster seems to have affected everyone.
Khadija Faces New Challenges
Meanwhile, in the village, Khadija (Jacqueline Antarmian) is confronting Omar (Artur Zai Barrera), who is searching for Hamzad. She tries to scare him off, claiming her brother is far more dangerous, but Omar does not back down.
Suddenly, a mysterious helicopter arrives, and instead of more Taliban fighters, a lone man steps out. He speaks to Omar in English, saying he is involved in Hamzad’s dealings with Kabul. He gives Omar the Taliban bribe and claims his presence complicates things.
This seems too smooth to be true, but Omar appears to buy it, at least for now. The man turns out to be Khadija’s son (Amir Malaklou), who tells her they have bigger problems than the Taliban, specifically Morgan Bote (Joel Grey), who froze the village’s assets after they took Emily instead of Dan.
As Omar and his men leave the village, they notice Farouk (Michael Sifain) watching them. Omar tries to question the boy about a strange woman in the village, but Farouk only slaps Omar and runs away.
This frightens his mother, Faruza (Sara Seyed), who breaks free and is shot. The tense situation turns into a full gunfight, with Khadija also shooting to protect Farouk.
Despite the chaos, Chase, Harper, Emily, and Hamzad are doing better. They face many challenges, including injuries, but they are coping.
Chase tries to make Hamzad laugh with a joke, but Hamzad is not amused. When Chase asks what Hamzad told Emily to change her mind, Hamzad refuses to share, saying Chase can wonder about it. Hamzad does reveal he told Emily his side of the story, leaving Chase confused about what that might mean.
Emily Confronts Her Past
Chase and Emily leave their hiding spot to recover horses while avoiding Taliban soldiers. Emily rejects any attempts by Chase to explain himself, wanting to focus on helping Hamzad. With the danger easing and her reunion with Chase and Harper, Emily can show her mixed feelings about her past identity.
Chase agrees to let it go as long as Emily follows his lead. Their father-daughter dynamic is strong in this episode, especially since their previous interactions were limited. The mystery has been revealed, and it is refreshing to see them connect.
While they retrieve the horses, Harper and Hamzad stay behind on a ridge, with Hamzad still bleeding and Harper coordinating their escape from Afghanistan. Marion informs Harper that a helicopter will come for them, and when Harper asks about the cost, she says only dinner. Harper seems unsure if this is all she wants, and it leaves him wondering what else she may desire.
Back in Hamzad’s village, Omar and his men surround Khadija. She asks her son if they can call for help, but he says it is too late, especially after they fired on his soldiers. The main issue is that Bote has frozen their assets, leaving them with limited options. He expresses frustration that Hamzad did not ask for help in getting Emily back, which could have prevented the current situation.
Omar Issues an Ultimatum
Down by the horses, Chase takes out one soldier, with Emily assisting in taking out the second. As the adrenaline fades, Chase remembers his serious injury.
The dead soldier’s satellite phone is still connected, and Omar demands a report. Instead of the expected response, Hamzad answers the call. Omar gives him an ultimatum: return to the village with Omar to explain everything about Emily, or do nothing and let the situation worsen.
Hamzad decides to comply and go to Kabul, but Emily warns him that it is unsafe. Chase agrees, saying Omar might just kill Hamzad. Hamzad is angry that Chase would interfere, telling him he is not in a position to make demands. Their conversations carry weight, reminding everyone of their past friendship and the damage done over the years.
Emily offers to go with Hamzad to explain the truth to Omar, arguing that revealing the truth will weaken Omar’s position. Harper and Chase warn her that Omar may kill her instead of listening, and Hamzad agrees. He emphasizes that he will handle the situation himself.
While the family drama unfolds between Chase, Hamzad, and Emily, Harper feels left out. On the way back to the village, he expresses how this ordeal affects him, especially with “Angela Adams” no longer existing.
Losing the side of Emily he knew feels personal, even as Chase reassures him it is not about him. Harper admits that knowing Emily would abandon her identity would not have stopped him from rescuing her, making this moment essential for his character development.
A Showdown at the Village
The group arrives at the village, and Hamzad refuses Chase’s suggestion to sneak in. He instead decides to confront the Taliban at the front gates. He says goodbye to Emily and rides down, while Chase tells Harper to contact the helicopter and instruct it where to meet them.
As Hamzad approaches Omar, he stumbles, prompting Emily to rush down before Chase or Harper can stop her. Now, it is her turn to face Omar, who wants to know who she is. He states he will take Hamzad to Kabul as part of a deal to leave the village alone and asks if she is the abducted FBI agent.
Emily does not confirm this but introduces herself as Parwana Hamzad. This unexpected revelation leads to a gunfight as Chase fires to protect Emily and Hamzad while they move toward the village. Harper works on arranging their helicopter escape.
The helicopter arrives soon after, guns blazing, resolving the immediate Taliban threat. Omar, somehow still alive, tries to escape, but the episode concludes with another gunshot, leaving no doubt about who shot whom.
The Old Man Season 2 Episode 3 continues the intense storyline as Dan Chase, Harold Harper, and Emily Chase show dangerous territory. After a surprising reunion, Chase and Emily grapple with their complicated family ties and the looming threat of the Taliban.
Hamzad faces an ultimatum from Omar, who demands his return to the village to explain Emily’s identity. Despite the risk, Emily insists on helping Hamzad, feeling responsible for the Taliban’s presence in his village. As the group deals with various challenges, including injuries and emotional turmoil, Chase and Emily’s father-daughter bond deepens.
Meanwhile, Khadija confronts Omar while her son attempts to help. The episode culminates in a dramatic showdown at the village gates, leading to another gunshot that leaves viewers questioning the fate of the characters. The episode blends family drama with high-stakes action, setting the stage for more tension ahead.
The first three episodes of The Old Man Season 2 are available now. New episodes air on FX every Thursday and stream the next day on Hulu.
