First Impressions: "The Brink"

Written by Scotty

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

I don’t know why making fun of the government is so hilarious in my eyes, but HBO has found a great way to make light of many dark situations.  As The Brink has hit the airwaves, it has brought something to the small screen that might be more true to life than we could ever know.  Filled with humor about what could be happening behind closed doors, it seems like they have got their story straight.

Alex Talbot, a low-level State Department bureaucrat working in Pakistan loves his role and even though he is close to being fired, he could care less.  Wanting to make the most out of his position, he is looking to hook up with all of the other young female bureaucrats that surround his embassy.  Heading out to get some weed from the streets of Islamabad, a riot breaks out and being the only American in the area, he is in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Having to depend on his driver, Rafiq to get him to safety, Alex is taken to a rich suburb of the region and meets a family that might be able to save his life.  But while Alex watches the television as an insane general takes to the airways, he finds out that he might be able to shine some light on the situation for his embassy.  Faxing off medical documents to his superiors, Alex is confronted by the family, but is able to convince them that he is not a spy, just a man trying to do the right thing.

Back in America, Secretary of State Walter Larson has found love in his job that he never thought could have existed. Being interrupted while with his mistress, the hungover Larson is notified that the world could be on the brink of war and is summed to the war room.  As all of the political leaders are meeting about what to about the coup that has taken place in Pakistan, Larson is hesitant to speak up until he gets a drink into his system. When he receives his power juice, he shows up at the top of his game and is able to gain a little bit of extra time before the button is pressed and bombs start raining over the region.  When receiving a partial fax from the Pakistan embassy, the President finds out who he is up against and will give Larson more leeway then he deserves.  With everyone looking to him for answers, Larson has to find a way to talk to his man on the ground to figure out who is really behind the coup and put a stop to it before war breaks out.

There is also a storyline that is following a fighter pilot who has been dealing speed on his aircraft carrier and is now running into hard times.  With his supply diminishing, his supplier and ex-wife who is refusing to help and getting a woman aboard the carrier pregnant, he is called into action to start a bombing run of military targets. Giving his bomber a pill, along with slipping one himself, the finds out midflight that he has taken the wrong one and that the flight will be more interesting for them both. 

It took a little while before I could decide if I wanted to keep watching this show or not.  But when Tim Robbins appeared on the screen getting suffocated by his mistress, I was sold.  Not taking anything away from Jack Black who is just balls to the wall hilarious, I think Robbins will be the one I like the most in this show.  I am pretty sure that with the way the series kicked off, there is bound to be some slow episodes, but I will not complain until they appear, but overall, I enjoyed the kickoff and am sure that I can stick with it for the duration.  A fine job done by all and I only hope it continues to get better and better.

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