The latest episode of The Old Man series continues to follow the struggles of Dan Chase (played by Jeff Bridges) and Harold Harper (played by John Lithgow) as they deal with their complicated pasts. In this episode, things get even more challenging for the two characters.
Dan Chase is in the custody of Suleyman Pavlovich (played by Rade Serbedzija), while Harold Harper starts to realize that his ex-wife Marion (played by Janet McTeer) is involved in the whole situation far more than he initially believed. Moreover, Chase is likely infected by an airborne toxin, making things worse.
As the episode begins, we see that the infection doesn’t seem to be a big concern for Pavlovich. Chase is tied up in an abandoned building, which seems to be one of Pavlovich’s hideouts. While Chase is alone, he is visited by a vision of Emily (played by Alia Shawkat), who tells him that she will see him soon. This appears to be a grim hint at what may happen to him.
The vision vanishes just before Pavlovich arrives. Pavlovich is curious about why someone like Chase, who has managed to avoid capture for so long, would suddenly allow himself to be caught. Chase reveals that he did so in order to get the antidote to the toxin. He also offers to exchange some information for the antidote. Pavlovich agrees to this deal but only if the information meets his expectations.
Dan Chase explains that Pavlovich’s membership in the rare earth minerals cartel depends on killing him and Zoe (played by Amy Brenneman). Pavlovich believes he can catch Zoe quickly, so he is not too concerned about keeping Chase alive. However, Chase argues that by the time Pavlovich gets to Zoe, she will have already ruined his plans. This makes things more complicated for Pavlovich.
During this conversation, the vision of Emily reappears. It could be a result of the mental effects caused by the toxin, as Pavlovich had mentioned earlier. Emily’s vision predicts that Chase will kill Pavlovich but still not get the antidote. However, Chase will feel like he got revenge for Emily’s death. This shows that Chase’s subconscious mind is aware of his own destructive tendencies.
Meanwhile, Zoe arrives at the police station as she promised Chase. She asks the police constable to take her into custody because she is scared for her life after witnessing a murder. The constable is naturally skeptical, especially because Zoe is asking to speak to someone from the CIA instead of the senior constable.
Zoe insists that she needs to speak to the U.S. embassy and the CIA chief of station because the murderers involved killed two important people: Nina Kruger and Morgan Bote. These names mean nothing to the constable, but she makes the call to the embassy as Zoe requested. It seems the constable didn’t want to argue further, probably deciding that her salary wasn’t worth the hassle.
The action then moves to a new city—Hong Kong. We see a young girl asking her mother for some candy, and when her mother refuses, an older woman named Marion secretly gives the candy to the girl. Marion turns out to be the grandmother of the little girl, and she leaves her family for an unexpected meeting.
This meeting is with Harold Harper, who has been following her for some time. He tells her they need to find a private place to talk, and Marion agrees to lead him somewhere quiet.
Back at the police station, someone from the U.S. embassy arrives to meet Zoe. This information is reported back to Pavlovich by his sentry, who is told to remain on standby until the situation between Pavlovich and Chase is resolved. At the police station, Zoe meets Pete (played by Nick Boraine), who is not the chief of station at the embassy but claims he can help her through the situation.
Zoe tells Pete that she wants immunity for any actions she may have taken in the past and a clean slate going forward in exchange for the information she has. Pete warns her that once she reveals the name of the killer, dangerous people from around the world may seek her out for revenge.
He explains that getting immunity from prosecution is possible, but the kind of protection she needs is much more complex. Zoe acknowledges this and asks him to proceed with securing her immunity in exchange for the name of Bote’s killer.
Meanwhile, back at Pavlovich’s hideout, he and Chase continue their tense conversation. Chase informs Pavlovich that Zoe can either tell the CIA the truth, which will cause a lot of trouble for him, or give them a different name to direct the blame elsewhere. Chase warns that if Zoe gives them a name, it won’t just be any name—it’ll be his.
He tells Pavlovich that Zoe will create a story close to the truth, where an estranged associate of Bote’s came back after his daughter was kidnapped and sought revenge. In return for this misdirection, Chase demands the antidote, enough money to start a new life, and the opportunity for them both to walk away.
Additionally, Chase reveals to Pavlovich that Emily was actually Hamzad’s daughter, much to Pavlovich’s shock. As a final request, Chase asks for Emily’s body so he can give her a proper burial.
Pavlovich is visibly shaken by this revelation, and it results in Chase losing control of the situation. Pavlovich becomes less willing to comply with Chase’s demands, fearing that Chase will now focus his anger on him. Chase assures him that he won’t seek revenge this time, despite wanting to, because he promised himself that he would leave Pavlovich’s custody alive at all costs.
Pavlovich is surprised that Chase would give up his desire for vengeance in exchange for a chance at a life with Zoe. However, considering all that Chase has lost, it’s understandable why he would make such a choice. Pavlovich agrees to the deal and unties Chase, telling him to make the necessary phone call.
Throughout this episode, we see how much Chase is still grieving the loss of Emily. The vision of Emily continues to play a significant role in his emotional state. The scene in which Chase faces Emily’s vision is powerful, with both Jeff Bridges and Alia Shawkat delivering intense performances. Shawkat’s portrayal of Emily is louder and more confrontational, while Bridges’ performance is quieter but no less impactful.
The quiet intensity in his portrayal makes Chase’s grief hit harder, as we see him struggle to move on while still feeling guilty for letting go of Emily. The episode does an excellent job of highlighting the emotional depth of the series, showing that it’s not just about action, politics, or drama, but also about deep personal struggles.
As the episode progresses, we are taken back to a flashback of a young Zoe (played by Caitlin Duffy) on her wedding day. Zoe is sitting alone, feeling uncertain about her future as a married woman. Her future father-in-law finds her and assures her that love isn’t always the magical feeling people expect.
Instead, it’s more about trust and vulnerability. Zoe’s reflection on this conversation mirrors her current situation with Chase. Both Zoe and Chase are making dangerous choices in order to be together, reflecting the complexities of their relationship.
This man destroys the vials containing the antidote, revealing that he is the son of one of the men Chase killed in Afghanistan. Now, he seeks revenge on Chase. Pavlovich also gives the order to take care of Zoe, as he has lost contact with the facility in Meshbahar, where the lithium deposit is located. Pavlovich drives off to meet with the cartel leaders.
Outside the police station, a gunman arrives and kills Pete and the constable on duty. Zoe hides, but as the gunman approaches, she remembers a skill from her past—firing a rifle. She uses this memory to her advantage and shoots the gunman, killing him with a single shot. As she runs outside, she meets Julian Carson (played by Gbenga Akinnagbe), who has arrived to take her to Harper.
Back in Hong Kong, Harper confronts Marion with a photo of her and Pavlovich. He tells her that he knows she is involved with the rare earth minerals cartel and accuses her of having a role in Morgan Bote’s death and the attack on the Hamzad village.
Marion denies being involved in Bote’s murder but admits to working with Pavlovich at the lithium deposit. She claims that she no longer has any ties to Pavlovich now that he controls the deposit. However, she admits that she was the one who initially brought him into the cartel.
Marion explains that she had originally intended for Parwana Hamzad, or Emily, to be her partner in the cartel. Emily, being Hamzad’s daughter with connections to both the U.S. and the local area, seemed like the perfect candidate. Harper is horrified that Marion would even consider involving Emily in such a dangerous scheme. However, Marion doesn’t see it that way.
Her loyalties have shifted, and she now aligns herself with the Chinese government. She claims that since she was born in Hong Kong, she considers it her home. Harper, on the other hand, reminds her that she was once a British spy and that she shouldn’t expect a clean slate so easily.
At the abandoned building, Chase is fighting to survive. He manages to overpower the man holding him and kill him. Chase then reaches the case containing the antidote vials, only to discover that all of them have been destroyed. His hope of receiving the antidote is gone, but he still needs to find a way to escape.
Meanwhile, Pavlovich is meeting with other cartel leaders. They are concerned about the reports they’ve received regarding the situation at the lithium deposit in Meshbahar. Pavlovich dismisses these concerns, reassuring them that the deposit is under control.
However, it is revealed that the facility has been taken over by a local militia, led by none other than Parwana Hamzad, also known as Emily Chase. This shocking twist changes everything. Emily is still alive and playing an important role in the ongoing conflict.
This revelation sets the stage for an explosive finale, as the characters are drawn deeper into a web of lies, deceit, and revenge. With Emily alive and controlling the lithium deposit, the stakes are higher than ever before.
The episode ends with Chase, Zoe, and Harper all facing impossible decisions, while Emily emerges as a powerful figure. The Old Man continues to deliver a unique blend of action, drama, and emotional complexity. The show masterfully balances thrilling plot twists with deep character development, making this episode another standout in the series.
In this episode of The Old Man, the intricate layers of the narrative reveal more than just a tale of action and espionage. The emotional struggles of Dan Chase, the calculated manipulations of Pavlovich, and the growing relationships between the central characters bring forth a deep search of loyalty, vengeance, and personal sacrifice.
The episode goes into the complexities of human connections, emphasizing how the past continues to haunt those involved in political conflicts and familial ties. Dan Chase’s personal journey is one of survival, but it is equally about confronting the emotional weight of loss and redemption.
The sudden revelation that Emily is still alive throws a wrench into the anticipated outcomes, suggesting that the show is steering towards a grand, high-stakes conclusion where family, loyalty, and betrayal will clash.
The combination of suspense, emotional intensity, and moral dilemmas sets this episode apart, ensuring that viewers are fully invested in the fate of the characters. As we head toward the finale, the future of the characters—especially with Emily’s reemergence—promises explosive confrontations.
The groundwork laid in this episode solidifies The Old Man as a series that goes beyond traditional action thrillers, focusing on the emotional and psychological tolls of life-long conflicts.
