‘The Ipcress File’ Recap: ‘Episode 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The Ipcress File’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the AMC+ series, The Ipcress File, has been a wonderful homage to the classic era of spy themed storytelling. For its exotic locations and grand mystery involving nuclear espionage, alongside wonderful action and adventure and a romance thrown in, to boot, really has introduced a new generation of fans to the majesty and magic of that particular era of storytelling and brought joy to those who grew up immersing themselves within these tales. And this series has been so focused on recreating this era on the small screen, that it has left all of us wondering… what other old school concept it is going to bring back to life when we tune into a new episode, and well… that’s why this week’s journey was so downright shocking.

Because ‘Episode 4’ of this series, took the story in an incredibly new direction, by injecting a downright incredible twist into the genre. One so unique that this writer is hard pressed to think of another spy tale that has even remotely introduced such an idea. Specifically… what if… the Americans were the bad guys in a spy story? For that is just... unheard of in these tales. Sure, the United States plays a part, but often as observers or partners, as they’ve been here. And of course, since America was the hero of the hour in the 1950s and 1960s because of their role in removing the Nazi threat from the world, there’s no way they can be the bad guy. For these stories often focused on British Agents handling Russian threats, since they too were known as the quintessential bad guy of that same time period.

But the discovery that American dental work was performed on the man that Harry was forced to put down in the last episode, posed the very real possibility that Professor Dawson was in the hands of the Americans and that forced Henry and Jean to head down to a neutron bomb testing site to confront and confirm this particular possibility, and that led to quite the stunning story. One where Harry and Jean were put to the test like never before, since they were forced to play both sides and keep each other at a distance while they worked the mission to find the real truth. And well, as time went on and this duo went deeper into the mission… their worst fears were shockingly confirmed through and through. In that, the Americans were indeed the bad guys here and that changed everything.

After all, the United States of America are as powerful in this story as they were in reality, in the 50s and 60s, putting Harry and Jean at a difficult crossroads. For the British government in no way had the resources to mount a rescue operation against an American base. Which meant that our heroes were going to have to take the loss here and use this information to regroup and well… in order do that, a fallen hero had to come into play. So that someone else could get away to accomplish that latter goal. Which Harry basically volunteered for. So that his love would be safe and able to speak to what America was up to and well… that led to quite the harrowing ending. One where Harry was captured on base by U.S. forces and where an uncertain future in this alliance and the whole mess with Professor Dawson awaits.

For this move pits the British Government against the ally that stepped in to help them in a desperate time of need, and well, how does one stand up to America and demand a citizen back? Especially when one is allied with them and shares resources with them and is working toward the same goal? If anything, this was just… an incredible tale through and through. One that oddly ponders upon the possibility that there might be more at play here since it doesn’t make sense for an ally to steal from another ally and well… in the end, this twist just leaves us desperate for more of this story. So, we can learn exactly why the Americans did this and of course… what will become of Harry. But most important of all, to enjoy this bold new direction the series is headed in and see where it will take us. For we are in undiscovered country now, and anything can happen after a twist like this one. Until next time.

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