"Last Resort," ABC's courageous new primetime drama, follows the crew of a United States submarine as they desperately hold on to the highest standards of their country. Unfortunately, the U.S. government is determined to destroy them for failing to fire nuclear missiles at Pakistan.
With only two episodes under its belt, "Last Resort" is emerging as a top-notch ensemble drama. In the midst of a male-dominated cast, two female characters also are standing tall as the breakout stars.
"Blue on Blue," the second episode, shows that the U.S.S. Colorado has become, as Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) puts it, the most popular girl at the dance. Twenty warships have locked on to the magnetic signature of the sub and are moving to within 200 miles of the Colorado.
In a risky move, Chaplin engages the Perseus, an experimental device that's designed to mask that magnetic signature, effectively turning the submarine invisible. Despite being called a nuclear madman in the media, Chaplin launches a disabled torpedo at the U.S.S. Illinois as a non-destructive show of force.
Back home, authorities interrogate Christine Kendal (Jessy Schram), wife of the Colorado's XO, Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman). The agents holding Christine use textbook methods to break her confidence and faith in her husband, but she responds by holding up three fingers and inviting them to "read between the lines."
Perseus creator Kylie Sinclair (Autumn Reeser) learns she may be backing the wrong team. Driven by profit and fame, Sinclair is opposed to Capt. Chaplin's actions and his misappropriation of her technology. When her government contact, Linus Terman (Assaf Cohen), ends up in the hospital, though, she gets the first inkling that the government is using lethal weapons of their own.
Things aren't any easier for Lt. Grace Shepard (Daisy Betts). In the pilot episode, Grace joined with Capt. Chaplin in questioning the United States and their orders to bomb Pakistan. Considered a daddy's girl because of her father's connections, Lt. Shepard killed one soldier to save the life of a comrade. In "Blue on Blue," she continues to bear the brunt of that action.
Shepard becomes part of a team sent to intercept what appears to be a group of Navy Seals. As the Colorado crew engages the invaders, they discover that they are facing Russian soldiers. In the middle of a nuclear civil war, the Russians are trying to claim the Colorado and its new technology for their own.
"Last Resort" is definitely testosterone heavy, but Jessy Schram and Daisy Betts are delivering top-notch performances. Schram is especially impressive in the role of Christine Kendal. While her husband is isolated from his country, she has to remain strong enough for both of them on the home front. Kendal and Betts are two reasons why this show is becoming a must-see.
