‘Litvinenko’ Recap: ‘Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Litvinenko’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating Sundance Now series, Litvinenko, we talked at length about how the death of Alexander ‘Sasha’ Litvinenko rocked the world and left so many feeling unsafe. For his passing was stunning for certain, and unprecedented in nature, and had it not been for the quick and keen work of British Law Enforcement, who knows what kind of fear would have paralyzed London over the thought that evil could act at will from the shadows. If anything, it’s important to remember the unique nature of the previous episode, simply because the unprecedented nature of this case, didn’t end with the identification of the suspects, as evidenced by the next episode in this tale.
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For standard procedure for law enforcement when a suspect or suspects are identified, is to bring them in for questioning. If they’re local, that’s a quick and easy and process once they are found and if they aren’t nearby, that’s what interagency agreements and extradition exists for. Which is quite easy to abide by in most of the modern world. Since most nations are able to move suspects and criminals wherever they need to go within their borders and if by chance that person isn’t in country, extradition treaties exist between most nations. To ensure that justice is served. But what happens… when the criminal in question isn’t in a country friendly to such ideas and for that matter, that same nation is working to protect them?

Well, the answer to that question is simple. Law enforcement suffers and justice is not easily served. If it all. As Clive’s team came to learn in this tale. For a team was sent to Moscow to interview the two key suspects and well, that went poorly. In part because both men were supposedly ‘poisoned’ by Sasha and were not ‘doing well.’ In fact, one of them was buried under gauze, making it impossible to verify his identity and the other… was just a jerk that was uncooperative and arrogant, also… clearly not sick. Not in the manner that Sasha was. Not to mention, the evidence collected was either fabricated or a waste, since the copies of the tapes of the interviews, were blank. Making it clear that Russia had no interest in helping out here and was eager more to put on a show and protect its citizens, regardless of the crime they committed and terror they instigated. 

Which in turn, pushed Clive to get Brent back on the case in London, to try something vastly different here. Because there was no central focus on the case. For everyone was swinging for the fences and trying to just land the big fish and make this about Queen and Country. When in fact, this was a murder investigation and sticking to those fundamentals would do more from an impact standpoint. And the best way to move this case in the right direction, was to find the murder weapon. Which in this instance was the teapot that the Polonium was served in. A long shot for certain, since the pots had been washed for ages on end, which was a terrifying reality and revelation. But Brent and Clive agreed, they had to try, and well… that push paid off in the end, since one of those teapots, had residual alpha waves.

If anything, this was just… another engaging tale from this magnificent series. For it really is taking us through every single moment in the case and exploring how difficult this whole matter was and the stunning and unprecedented roadblocks that came into play regarding justice. Because truly, these men were being protected by untouchable forces, and that protection helped them greatly and well, that sets the stage for what should be quite the complex finale of this show. For if the Russian propaganda machine and the supremely shady and disgusting leader of that nation decide to leave the matter at that… how on earth will justice be served? And it will be interesting to see/revisit what lie ahead for Clive and Brent and all parties involved, now that they are ready to present the necessary evidence to press charges against a pair of men, that are tucked away inside Putin’s pocket. Until next time.

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