Whiskey Cavalier Review: The Czech List (Season 1 Episode 2)
If Whiskey Cavalier Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” is the loops and corkscrews of the roller coaster, Whiskey Cavalier Season 1 Episode 2, “The Czech List,” is the hills. The episode contains all of the fun from its debut but also gives a better idea of what each episode will look like week-to-week.
Much like the boilerplate language of a contract, there are two basic pieces of canon the show asks us to accept as fact. First, this is not your average squad. Will and Frankie have presumably known each other for the same amount of time we’ve known them – one week – and already bicker like an old married couple.
Second, Europe is really ugly. Who wants to see Austria with its picturesque, snow-capped mountains, or Prague with its beautiful, historic architecture?
Jai makes a solid effort to win the first action sequence as a fully-formed team with his “Miniature Assault Vehicle,” but Edgar takes the victory. Hacking the bad guy’s car to lock everyone in is Trolling 101, but blasting the stereo as it plays “What Is Love” is advanced level. Tip of the hat to you, Mr. Standish. Well played.
Honorable mention goes to the assassin we later identify as Hana Novak, because just as Frankie says, “I like her hair.” It makes her look badass. The shotgun she wields makes her look badass already, but still.
BELLAMY YOUNG, NANSI NSUE
Right when you think the Batcave is the coolest superhero hideout there is, home base for this team is a hollowed-out bar in New York City. Could they get any cooler? They need a cool, catchy team name to match. Suggestions welcome.
Inside the bar, we see the team dynamics. Susan has multiple roles as Will’s BFF/therapist, and the blunt friend who calls everyone out on their crap but gets away with it because it’s both funny and true.
Edgar continues to be the genius comedian, Will is the butt of everyone’s jokes, Frankie is the adult in the room and I’m not quite sure about Jai just yet. The interactions in the bar are amusing and establish the formula for all interactions going forward.
One formula we see is that the team never misses a chance to roast Will. A highlight of the episode is Edgar’s aside after Frankie accuses Will of botching the undercover operation: “have you ever spoken to a woman before?”
There may also a potential something developing between Susan and Edgar. Edgar spends the entire episode lying to Susan, which means we still don’t know much about these characters. I will suspend judgment until we do, but the chemistry between them is definitely there.
SCOTT FOLEY, BELLAMY YOUNG, ANDREJ POLAK, LAUREN COHAN
Where the chemistry is unclear is in Will and Frankie’s relationship. Frankie spends the first half of the episode taking numerous jabs at her FBI counterpart, but then takes charge the closer Will gets to Karen.
Susan suggests jealousy, but it looks more like balance. The last scene with Ray shows that because Will is our textbook “nice guy,” Frankie is there to be his tough side.
The long-awaited Scandal reunion between Scott Foley and Bellamy Young is perfect as their history makes Will’s feelings for Karen believable. In fact, Karen Pappas is right on Mellie Grant’s level in terms of intensity. The way the show uses Will’s emotions as a plot point is impressive; we learn here that his sensitive nature is both his biggest strength and weakness.
Sure, suggesting dessert first as Karen laments her husband’s death is smooth, but Will’s subsequent blindness by heart-eyes is anything but.
SCOTT FOLEY, VIR DAS, BELLAMY YOUNG, TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, LAUREN COHAN, ANA ORTIZ
If Susan is indeed correct concerning Frankie’s jealousy, she is jealous of Will’s emotional openness. Confessing that she actually admires the quality she just roasted him for – while potentially drowning to death — is a textbook Frankie move.
Once again, Whiskey Cavalier does a perfect job of balancing comedy and action. Only on this show can Will sling a chair in an assassin’s face and evoke a reaction akin to your favorite sports team scoring a goal.
Another standout in this episode is the spy gadgets. Sure, Jai has a remote-controlled car and Will has a watch filled with explosives, but the coolest toy of the night belongs to the contact lens that duplicates the deceased target’s retina scan. If Jai’s role is the team’s equipment manager, he may have the coolest job on the show.
LAUREN COHAN
The one weak point in an otherwise strong sophomore episode is Ray’s return.
Yes, Will’s cheating ex-bestie is back, but his return only lends itself to two good jokes. Will’s note that Gigi is turning thirty “sometime” is laughable. Plus, you can’t fault the guy for the gesture with the $900 scotch.
Expensive booze or not, Ray is there to watch over the team. Even if he says we can trust him, the pilot episode coupled with Frankie’s verbal warning indicates that we shouldn’t.
What did you think of this episode of Whiskey Cavalier? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Whiskey Cavalier airs Thursday 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.