In this episode we see Carrie in her past life, 2005 to be exact, in Baghdad. We also get to finally see how Allison became a double agent. In 2005, Carrie and Allison meet for the first time using aliases. Carrie is more than ready to release Allison of her post in Iraq and Allison seems to be over the operation and wants to go on vacation. Before leaving, however, Allison introduces Carrie to Ahmed, the CIA's asset in Baghdad but Ahmed is hesitant about the meeting, and is hiding his love for Allison. He later shows his unknowing love interest a briefcase with $8 million that was stolen from the Iraqi government. He asks Allison to run away with him and she reluctantly agrees.
In order to make a clean escape, Allison tells Carrie that Ahmed was killed in a plane crash when in reality she is trying to have him flown to Geneva with the plan to rendezvous in Saint Lucia. It turns out that the whole thing was a set up by Ivan. Rather than face federal prison, Allison agrees to help Ivan and he even gives her half of the 8 million. He then tells her that the spy game isn't one sided and that they can help each other reach the top.
In the present, Saul is on borrowed time before the CIA figures out that Etai Luskin arranged his kidnapping. Saul is now stalling long enough for Carrie to save the day.
Meanwhile, the plot thickens with Peter Quinn. His jihadi friends make an unexpected stop in Kosovo and Quinn is slowly starting to realize what is really going on. Bibi (Rene Ifrah) and his group stock up on gas masks, weapons, and other explosive items. Quinn then says that they won't be able to get those weapons into Syria, Bibi then admits that they were never going to Syria and knocks Quinn out.
Back in Germany, Allison meets Carrie at a cafe in Reinbeck and agrees to help her as long as no more CIA documents get leaked to the press. Allison tells Carrie to watch her back before taking off. Numen finally breaks into the computer that Carrie took from the apartment in last week’s episode. The first thing that pops up is a screensaver of Ahmed smiling at a bar, the same bar Allison mentioned to Carrie years ago back in 2005. Carrie has Numen do a google search of the bar and she then finally realizes that Allison is the culprit and the episode ends.
Review
I am so relieved that Carrie finally knows that Allison is the one who tried to have her killed. The ball is now in Carrie's hand because Allison doesn't know that Carrie knows about her being a double agent. I liked how the episode transitioned between past and present.
It was also nice to finally see how Allison came about betraying her country. Now all we can do is patiently wait for next week’s episode.
Final Score: 10/10 Power Ups
