‘Tehran’ Recap: ‘The Other Iran’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Episode Five of ‘Tehran’.
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If there is one particular lesson that is always wonderful to find embedded within the framework of a spy story, it would have to be that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Because a good spy story understands that both the hero and the villain are working toward vastly different goals in the story, and that when one side pushes, the other one is going to push back. Because that’s what creates drama and tension and a worthwhile showdown between the spy and the monster and thankfully this is a lesson that the next episode of Tehran made sure to put on display. For ‘The Other Iran’ is an episode that was filled to the brim with action and reaction. But as this series is wont to do, it made certain that this lesson was catered to the unique style and design of this series.
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Which means that this particular lesson was handled in a subtle manner in addition to the more direct approach by way of Tamar’s journey in this tale. Because she was on the road with Sickboy (whose real name is Milad) and his buddies in an attempt to get close to the substation head so that Tamar could complete her mission. But alas, Tamar’s lack of knowledge about everyday customs in Iran, is what brought about some unfortunate causality. For an inappropriate gesture at an IRGC checkpoint, forced Milad’s friend Karim to bribe the guards to get out of trouble, and that in turn pulled Tamar into a world she didn’t understand. Because it turns out that Milad and Karim run drugs from time to time to pay the bills and survive and since she cost him so much cash, she was recruited into the cause in order to pay Karim back. And while she was quick to go along with it to keep her cover and keep the mission going, she has clearly caught Karim’s eye and his distrust and no good can come out of that.

But while Tamar’s journey in this episode offered up a more low-key analysis of the consequences we face for our actions, the more direct lesson came about by way of Tabrizi and Fariz. Because the Mossad wasted zero time in revealing to Fariz that his wife was in their care now, and that the only way he was ever going to see her again; was to release Tabrizi and get him into Istanbul. A revelation that rattled the IRGC agent in a manner we’ve never seen before, since he is always calm and cool and collected regardless of the problems surrounding him. But his beloved wife is indeed his weakness and that motivated him to do exactly as the Mossad instructed. But giving in to the demands of the Mossad is something that left Fariz feeling quite filthy, and the fact that his boss had questions about his decision to release a prisoner, regardless of the reasons; reminded Fariz that he let his enemy get the better of him.

Which in turn motivated him to go back on the deal with the Mossad and demand that Tabrizi stay in Iran and work for the IRGC, since he could likely deliver Tamar to Fariz on a silver platter, and that is quite the stunning pushback for certain. For now, it means that his wife, in a slightly fragile state, will be in Mossad hands for the foreseeable future and that wasn’t the only consequence to come about from the decision to kidnap Fariz’s wife. For Tabrizi came to realize that he was nothing more than a pawn in this whole mess, and that he’d risked his safety and the safety of his family for very little in life and that motivated him to stay in Tehran. A decision that in turn, had its own set of consequences. In that, there was no way that the Mossad would let a compromised agent just do his own thing, and that brought about an assassination order. And in the closing minutes of this tale; Fariz was forced to watch Tabrizi die.

Which is a stunning way to end this particular tale. Because just like that, a man that was seemingly trying to do something good in the world is wiped out, thanks to the horrible games that both sides play and really the only positive to come out of this whole sorted mess; is that Tamar is safe and sound and still under the IRGC’s radar. But all shock aside, this really was quite the magnificent episode. Because this one raised the stakes to all kinds of new heights and what’s truly wild about this story, is everything that happened in this particular tale, is only going to inspire further consequences. For Tabrizi’s death will only motivate Fariz further in his no-holds barred approach to finding Tamar, and her actions in this tale are undoubtedly going to push Kamir to cause more trouble for her and well, that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode downright unbearable. Because we simply have to know where this grand setup is going to take us next. Until next time.

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