Sleepover takes The Endgame to New Places, and Reinvigorates the Series with Some Shocking Events
I’ve been waiting a couple weeks to cover the latest episode of The Endgame, titled Sleepover. And not only is it an tense and exciting episode that totally upends the usually predictable formula of the series, but it’s one that helps me visualize where the story might be going. Plus, thanks to NBC kindly giving us access to this episode in advance, I will be altering my coverage somewhat to avoid any huge spoilers. With that out of the way, let’s talk about Sleepover.
Though the episode starts pretty much where last week’s ended, it’s juxtaposed with scenes of someone in the woods outside Fort Totten. They set off an EMP device, and all the lights are turned off, other than some generator lights installed during the Cold War. Understandably, Val thinks this is the latest attack by Snow White, but Elena assures her that’s not the case. As Director Réal starts to try and retrieve his and Val’s weapons from the lockers, the whole picture starts to come into focus. The electronic locks have been shut for most of the facility, meaning they can’t reach the weapon locker nor traipse about the facility with ease. Worse, there’s only a skeleton crew protecting the base, and that’s not nearly enough to deal with the latest problem, nicknamed The Ghost.
The drama isn’t all at Fort Totten. Peekskill is in chaos after someone lit a fire in B wing, and they’re moving all the inmates away from the affected area. Owen and Sergey are very suspicious, since last week the little weasel they poisoned teamed up with a known arsonist. And things don’t improve after all the prisoners are milling around in one place. Owen and Sergey are very much in danger, possibly as much as Val, Elena and Rogelio.
Because Elena is Elena, she starts talking to Val about how it all reminds her of a sleepover, and she has some adorably twisted one-liners. When Val counters she must not have had many friends, Elena tells a story about one named Natalia. She was there for Elena after her pregnancy, and helped her deal with a fussy baby Sofia. It’s the first time we’ve seen the criminal mastermind as anything other than poised and confident, and it does a great job of showing off Baccarin’s acting chops. And like most stories told by her, it serves a purpose that isn’t immediately apparent.
As for the assault on Fort Totten, the man behind it is the last one in the picture, who conveniently isn’t showing his face. He’s ex CIA and he’s dangerous. He cuts through the skeleton crew like a hot knife through butter, and seems able to get about with supernatural ease. Worse, his career was known for his dangerous wet work in other countries, meaning he has a real chance of killing Elena and anyone else in his way.
One of the most exciting elements of the episode is how it forces some unusual team-ups. Thanks to a faulty lock, both of the captured Snow White lieutenants escape their cells, and I actually was rooting for Louie as he fought with The Ghost. Rogelio steps up and uses his experience as a Marine corpsman to help said lieutenants when one is injured. And Val and Elena actually work shockingly well together, despite Val’s lack of trust in the other woman.
Though the episode is mostly about the assault on Fort Totten and the strange happenings at Peekskill, Doak and Flowers also have a role to play. And as far as Doak, let’s just say my earlier speculation about him becoming a villain in his own right is looking dead on. As for Anthony, he is investigating a cryptic communication sent to Elena about a potato. When he tries asking Val for help deciphering it, he realizes something’s wrong, since the EMP not only shut down power at the Fort, but also all communication, including cell phones.
The episode has some chaotic fight scenes, including the weasel riling up the prisoners to make an attempt on Sergey’s life. Val and Elena join forces against The Ghost, and manage to finally put an end to his rampage using some lucky recon and timely use of a landmine. And finally, by the end of the episode we can put a face on the Beloch family, as well as worry how long Réal will remain in charge of the FBI.
Overall, Sleepover was my favorite episode of The Endgame yet, and has me excited again for where the story may take us. Stay tuned to The Workprint for continuing coverage of the latest crime drama from NBC!
This episode lost me when they said the director was a Corpsman in the Marines. You’re not a corpsman in the Marines. You are a United States Navy Corpsman who serves with the Marines. It’s amazing that these shows try to be so “tactical” but fail to do their research. Reminds me of when Designated Survivor said the girls brother was a Navy Seal but he was clearly an Army Ranger. It just destroys the whole universe as being believable.