Whiskey Cavalier Review: Five Spies and a Baby (Season 1 Episode 6)
Kidnapping babies is not a good look, but it’s the reason the team takes down a Bulgarian human trafficking ring in Whiskey Cavalier Season 1 Episode 6, “Five Spies and a Baby.”
It looks like Will’s MI6 buddy, Emma, is sticking around. Yay? Forgive my abundance of enthusiasm, but a spy dating a spy is a recipe for disaster. Think about it. Spies are emotionally guarded, have major attachment issues and a really good knack for lying.
None of that screams “relationship material.”
This also seems like a perfect time to discuss Emma and Ray. It’s great that Emma is able to zero in on Ray’s emotional issues, but I’m still pretty “meh” about both characters. Until Ray makes proactive steps to mend his relationship with Will, the former’s role on the show is going to be a boring distraction from the action overseas.
Said action overseas also begs this burning question: if everything occurs in Europe, why is their dead drop in New York City? Don’t get me wrong, I love that all they do at home base is drink, but surely the United States government could stand to save some money on airfare.
I’m torn regarding Ray’s critique of Emma’s birthday gift for Will. On one hand, Ray is acting like a jealous ex-girlfriend and it’s none of his business. On the other, however, he does have a point.
Will and Emma have been dating a whopping six days. They’re like that middle school couple that buys each other gifts for their two-week anniversary. The watch itself I have no problem with, but the engraving is a little extra.
If there is a positive to Wemma—yeah, I just gave them their ship name—it’s that their being together allows us to see a new side of Frankie. She is so much more relaxed after addressing she and Will’s “connection.” Seeing her smile, laugh and crack jokes with the group is refreshing.
Frankie responding to Will’s snap via merciless trolling also marks substantial character growth on her part. Where she would previously shut down, she is now not letting it phase her. This easier going version of Frankie makes the show more enjoyable as we now don’t have to worry about the boss seeing us laugh or have fun.
Focusing on the case, who would think that simply inserting a baby into an episode would make that much of a difference? “Baby Will,” as the team dubs him, softens each character just enough for us to see another side of them—especially Jai. In past weeks, Jai would come off as a jerk, but simply giving him one scene to explain himself changes any and all preconceived notions. More of that, please.
Will and Susan are naturals, of course, but does it surprise anyone else that Frankie and Standish are both really good with the baby? Neither of them strikes me as “baby” types, so to see them cuddling and cooing with him is a pleasant surprise. Standish even knows how to change a diaper!
Another awesome character insertion is CIA Agent Tina Marek, played by actress Marika Dominczyk. She knocks Jai out in a sleeper hold WITH HER LEG. Not her arm, arms plural, or legs. Just one leg. I didn’t even know that was a thing. You can never have too many badass females—so I hope Standish is right when he says that she’ll be back. I think she will be, because Dominczyk also happens to be Scott Foley’s real-life wife.
She is also part of the final shootout at the end of the episode that is so smoothly orchestrated that it belongs on World of Dance. Jennifer Lopez would lose her mind if she could see Will, Frankie and the gang engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Speaking of shootouts and combat—how about that Standish? He went from dancing around making “pow!” noises to firing two shots at point blank range with a silencer. AND he saved Jai’s life this time instead of shooting him, and not the perp. NICE!
What is lost on me is why this Vlad guy kidnaps the babies to begin with. It’s sick, isn’t it? This plus the final scene with Susan, Jai and Standish securing the hostage-filled truck drives home the reason why the group does what they do. More episodes should end this way as we all need periodic reminders that there is still an abundance of good in the world.
Overall, the hour is an enjoyable one. We will see what happens with Will and Emma, but I don’t expect to be going down with that ship anytime soon.
What did you think of this episode of Whiskey Cavalier? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Whiskey Cavalier airs Wednesday at 10/9c on ABC.
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Gina Zippilli
Gina is the co-host of Meet Us At Molly’s, the first-ever Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. podcast. Outside of One Chicago, she has never met an ensemble-driven cop show, post-apocalyptic drama or true crime whodunit she has not liked.