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'Covert Affairs': Have mercy, Ben Mercer
"What kind of cryptic nonsense is that?," asks Annie (Piper Perabo) on Tuesday night's (Aug. 31) "Covert Affairs."Yeah, that's what we'd like to know.
Spoiler alert! Watch the episode "What is and What Should Never Be" before proceeding further.
As "Covert's" summer run begins to wind up, we turn from Auggie (Christopher Gorham) to Annie, delving into her character more. While there's still a bit of that "operation of the week" feel, there's one major change in her life: Ben Mercer (Eion Bailey) is back.
Well, we always knew he was around. Joan (Kari Matchett) and Arthur (Peter Gallager) knew he was around. Shoot, maybe Annie's sister (Anne Dudek) even knew it. The difference is, Annie only found out for certain last night that he was alive and meddling.
We have to say, we wish he stayed away. Well ... okay, we're going to amend that. Part of us is happy that Ben is back. We're not thrilled with these unattainable off-screen loves (like Neal and Kate on "White Collar"). They just serve to put the protagonist in limbo. So yeah, it's good they didn't keep him off to the shadows that long.
What's sad is that Ben comes back and doesn't live up to that romantic vision we had of him. Don't get us wrong. Bailey is an attractive guy, but for some reason, seeing him wearing non-tropical civvies sans cowrie shell necklace, Ben seems to be lacking.
And then he comes back and lays all this mystery crap on Annie? Look Ben, you either stay gone or you come back with some definitive answers, declarative statements. Don't sphinx it up for the CIA's greenest recruit.
Also, we wanted to punch the screen at this cheesetastic point:
Ben: "Do not trust Joan and Arthur. Trust the man you fell in love with in Sri Lanka."
(Cue music. They gaze at the goddamned cowrie shell necklace.)
Argh! Incredibly frustrating, right? Why should she trust you? At this point, we'd be happy if Annie just kept her friendship with Auggie and swore off all other men, including Jai (Sendhil Ramamurthy), for a while.
Okay, not to be too negative. We'll see how this Ben thing plays out in the last two episodes.
What we did like about the episode:- Auggie of course. His advice about the speakers, avoiding felonies and then admitting that he'll always cover for Annie was just too sweet.
- Joan's people skills are hilarious. Threatening Annie with "I'd hang you out to dry" is a sure way to build up that employee trust and loyalty.
- You can tell Annie means business this episode. Not only does her hair get mussed, but she's wearing Chucks!
- Sophie (Sienna Guillory ) gets killed. Okay, we're not happy she died, but that killing took us totally by surprise. That was gutsy.
- Annie's stubborn streak: She doesn't bow to the CIA nor Ben (much).
What did you think of the episode? Did you like Ben's involvement this week?
Photo credit: USA
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Frankly, I wish Annie had told Joan everything. Ben disappeared on her. Joan has never done anything (as far as I can remember) to make Annie mistrust her. Why take Ben's word for it?
I liked that she at least called him on his mysterious message crap!
I agree w/ Donna... Ben disappeared and why should she trust his word over Joan's. It would be a stronger story to have her uncover the CIAs need to use her as bait. Joan's lines sounded like a guy, not a female division head. Her communication skills need a clearer voice, otherwise she looks like she was there only because of her husband (Peter Gallagher's character), and that would be a disappointment.
Ben ep felt like a misstep, but I'm sure it will be better looking back as a setup to the next episodes.
I have to disagree. Ben may have disappeared on Annie, but Annie knows Joan lied to her on at least one occasion (remember Joan said that it was a CIA agent, I forget which one, who saved Annie) and Annie also has had her misgivings about how business is conducted at the CIA (In the Light). She also did those searches on Ben and his contact before talking to Joan, and those files were restricted. Why prevent Annie from accessing those files, especially the one on Ben's contact since she was pertinent to the money laundering case, unless you're hiding something? So she does have reasons to mistrust Joan.
Yes, the "Do not trust Joan and Arthur. Trust the man you fell in love with in Sri Lanka" line from Ben was cheesy. But there aren't many ways to convey that sentiment. I've heard similar things before.
So what if Joan's lines sounded masculine. She is running a division in the CIA. She's a tough woman, a former field agent. To me she sounded confident, bossy, in charge. She didn't sound masculine or feminine.
So far I like Ben and I enjoy the mystery behind why he left the CIA. The producers are keeping him off camera to keep our interest piqued. Annie still loves Ben. She can't let go of him. While I wish she would have told Joan sooner what was going on because it was pointless to lie and rather stupid of Annie to think she could, I like that Annie was stubborn, confident, and held her own for a while. But since she does love Ben, and since he was trying to do right by his former contact, she was trying to protect him, especially since she now doesn't trust Joan regarding Ben.
I guess part of me doesn't want to see a grey's anatomy soap start between Annie, Auggie and Jai. Annie also needs closure if she moves on from Ben. But I'm not sure I'm ready for her to do that yet. She's been hanging on to him for over 2 years. From the way they've portrayed the romance, it's not one people can move on from easily.
i disagree there usin her i think she should trust him plus he has more info
I love this show. I think Eion Bailey/Ben Mercer is drop dead
GORGEOUS! I must admit I have a school girl crush on him.
I love this show. I think Eion Bailey/Ben Mercer is drop dead
GORGEOUS! I must admit I have a school girl crush on him.
In my opinion Covert Affairs only survived after the pilot episode for the grace of Auggie, Chris Gorham. He really has talent and saves the show. Sendhil Ramamurthy as Jai is at least good to look at, but even that doesn't really help when paired with Piper Perabo's standard "dumb-like" facial expression. If the show were at least billed as a comedy/spook maybe the actors could remember their learned trade and actually act. And who cares about Ben anyway?
Really like having Ben Mercer in the show - like him with Annie, too.
I think Ben Mercer is so important to the series. Things jump when he is there. which episodes will he appear on this season (besides #1}"