Taken Season 1: Episode 2 Recap – Ready For The Unknown

During the premiere of Taken last week, audiences find themselves acquainted with the main character before the hit films take place. Bryan Mills exhibits the brooding, calculated personality similarly found in the film series but grounded further in the real world. This week, Bryan faces various challenges with his new team.

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Above all, Taken serves the audience a cerebral and quick paced hour of television each week. Moreover, the protagonist Bryan exists as a vessel of the narrative told. While Bryan’s journey of revenge for the death of his sister is the catalyst for the plot, his journey takes him elsewhere. Continuously, it’s his inherent nature to do the right thing that lands him in trouble every so often.

Be that as it may, episode 2 of Taken finds Bryan in the middle of the woods hunting terrorists. Shot by calculated shot he takes the terrorists down. Putting his skills to work to get a clear picture of the hostage situation provides the audience with the knowledge of some of Bryan’s skills. However, the hallucinations/flashbacks Bryan sees of his dead sister cloud his judgment and he unloads on a terrorist. Low and behold, the terrorist and the entire scenario is a training exercise. Bryan is not ready to be in the field so quickly after the death of his sister.

Elsewhere, a gentleman at a bar clutches his chest after taking a drink and the dead man is identified as Senator Wilkes. It is assumed the Sentator’s death is more than a heart attack. The death of the senator will be important later in the show.

Unfortunately for Brian, Christina Hart benches him from the upcoming mission due to his violent and uncontrollable outburst. Bryan sits watching a mission ongoing in Ukraine. Unbeknownst to him, he uncovers the location of Carlos Mejia, the man responsible for his sister’s death.

Elsewhere, an operative in Kansas City steals a cell phone in a diner and dials Christina. She tells Christina to meet her at another location and time. As a result for the sneaky tactics, the operative is compromised by a stranger.Furthermore, the operative dumps her burner phone in the trash.

Ultimately, Bryan finds himself on a plane to Louisville, Kentucky searching for this mysterious operative. Christina informs Bryan and the rest of the team the threat is Clara Barton. Clara Barton is an intelligence officer. She is located at an old dead ltter drop needing attention.

All things considered, Clara is not paranoid. There is a man chasing after her. She asks Christina to get in the car with her or else she’s leaving. However, Bryan spots an unknown man in the building and chases after the man. This causes Clara to take off in the car with Christina. Clara tells Christina that Senator Wilkes was murdered. Senator Wilke’s death is a result of poison, not a heart attack. Clara is extremely paranoid. She doesn’t believe anyone. She can’t trust anyone. Unfortunately, Clara is shot in the head before she says anything else. Clara’s last word is “fort” which means nothing to the group.

A visit from Asha helps Bryan remember his purpose. Furthermore, Bryan is humanized further, letting Asha kn0w that talking is not his strong suit. He appreciates her help though. That relationship is continuing to blossom into something more.

The team gather enough information about the shooter. The shooter’s name is William Davis. He’s an ex-Special Forces soldier now working freelance. The team needs a motive for his actions. This leads them to Charlotte, NC and their hunt for Davis.

Of course the chase for Davis turns sour and forces Bryan to involve himself in the chase. Mills is not the kind of man who sits around and waits for action to pass him by. Fortunately enough, Bryan is a complete daredevil and stares down Davis long enough to knock him off his motorcycle. No doubt the physical altercation between the two leads Davis over a balcony of the parking struture. It does not kill him however.

At the hospital, Bryan saves the day once again. He notices on the security cameras there are men arriving to eliminate Davis. Using his knowledge of the power grid and tactical skills, he eliminates two of the mercenaries. Lastly, he outsmarts the other two killers and is the one lying in the bed they’re sneaking up on. He jumps out of bed, stabbing one assailant and pointing a gun at the other. He’s caught them right where he wants them.

Moving forward, the team is on board the floating holding cell for special criminals. After some good cop/bad cop, the team convince the suspected mercenaries to snitch on their boss. Before we find out who the mastermind is, the audience learns that they work for NGO (non-governmental organizations) aiding them in human trafficking.

Lastly, Christina and Bryan arrive in Washington, D.C. ready to confront the mastermind. As it turns out, it was the man seen earlier with Senator Wilkes. Consequently, they threaten him with the same fate as Wilkes unless he tells them everything. The poison belongs to his private military company that is weaponizing the poison.

Strangely enough, the couple of missions the team partook in brought them together. They understand they need Bryan as a part of the team. Bryan explains that he is messed up because of his sister, and he is welcomed with open arms. Everyone has their ghosts, and that is what makes them stronger.

Taken airs every Monday at 10pm EST on NBC.

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