RUBICON - "You Never Can Win"

I'm generally a fan of the season finale that takes place after the big event the season has been building towards. When a season ends with the big event (be it a break-up, a confrontation between two adversaries, or an oil tanker blowing up) it tends to feel somewhat anti-climactic, the fallout is always where the real drama lies. So I was very much looking forward to RUBICON's season (series?) finale, which takes place after the bombing in Galveston Bay. And while it was a very good episode, a few lackluster elements kept it from being a great finale.

Before we get to the finale though, let's chat a bit about the show in general. The pilot was intriguing, if far from perfect, but the two episodes that followed it caused me to think I would never be able to truly get into the show. The conspiracy surrounding David's death was front and center, while the rest of API remained in the background. The pacing was slow, sure, but that's not something that's usually an issue for me. It wasn't until the series fourth (excellent) episode that I believe the show and its problems really came into focus. Dealing with the lives of the people that work at API and what it really means to work in the intelligence community immediately gave the show the depth of character it had been so sorely lacking by focusing mostly on Will. From there on out, the characters only deepened more and more and the conspiracy aspect, while still very important, wasn't the only thing the show had going for it. The characters became their own entities, instead of just pieces on a chess board. So when the bombing in Galveston Bay actually happens, we feel the characters sense of failure. It's something that seems easy but most conspiracy shows don't come anywhere close to achieving.

Anyway, onto the finale. The episode was at its strongest when it focused on Spangler and the consequences he faces. Surprisingly, those consequences come from his other conspirators and not Will. They ask him to stop the operation since they've been exposed too much, but he refuses, unwilling to stop what's already been set in motion. Even when Will confronts him at the end he refuses to take any sort of responsibility, blaming what they've done and who've they killed on the nature of humans in general and the tough decisions everyone faces. Only most people's decisions don't kill innocent people, Will reminds him.

Another strong aspect of the finale was Will's decision to pull Miles into the conspiracy at large. It served as a helpful reminder of how horrifying it must be to realize the work you've been doing is being perverted and twisted for others personal gain. His scene with Julia really punctuated what that must feel like and how nothing can really erase that horror. Tanya's quitting API was also good, if not entirely surprising, and Lauren Hodges weary, teary-eyed delivery made me realize how much I'll miss her character if the show does return.

Unfortunately, not everything was handled so deftly. Andy's taped confession to Katherine felt a little broad for the show and didn't fit with the tone. Same goes for the shadowy room where the other heads of Atlas McDowell rendered their verdicts on Spangler's fate. The reveal that Andy has been a part of the conspiracy was a nice twist, but really only raised more questions (and made me wonder about her behavior in past episodes). Katherine's death was also shocking in the swiftness and ease with which it took place, but made me wonder what purpose that character ever ended up serving, besides putting Will on the right track. And while the confrontation between Will and Spangler was something I was dying to see, it didn't serve as a very good end to the season. Will sees the portentous four-leaf clover and that's the end? Since the audience had already seen it, it didn't provide much of an impact for a season-ending moment.

Still, nitpicks aside, I sincerely hope that AMC picks up the series for another season. There's really no other show I can think of that's been able to imbue a conspiracy-type show with so much character while still delivering an engaging plot. There's still a lot to explore in a season 2.

Grade: B+

QUESTIONS FOR SEASON 2
- I have a feeling Spangler does not go gentle into that good night. Will he help Will bring down the others? Is that why he was so dismissive of Will writing his report?
- What happens when Will finds out Andy is involved? Does that bring them together? I know some were annoyed by her character, but I thought their moments together provided more insight into Will's character than most other interactions.
- Did Will get the DVD from Katherine before she died? I don't think so.
- Does Kale become head of API if Spangler dies or goes into hiding? That'd be cool but maybe not provide much drama for the agency.
- Does API even continue to exist? The powers that be may decide to cut ties with the agency.
- God, I hope this show gets a 2nd season.