‘The Irrational’ Recap: ‘Bombshell’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE IRRATIONAL -- "Bombshell" Episode 110 -- Pictured: (l-r) Molly Kunz as Phoebe, Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan, Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer, Ben Cotton as Wes Banning -- (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Ten of ‘The Irrational’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular promise we all make when we are asked what we would do if we were in a room with the one person that hurt us deeply in this life, is that we will make them properly pay for the pain they imparted upon us. Because the deep wounds they created either took forever to heal or never healed at all, and we would love nothing more than to either sit them down and offer cutting words that devastate them forever or respond in kind to make them understand how awful a person they are and the damage they caused. But while those words are indeed powerful and truly express the pain that person caused, they are often just that… words. Because the chance we will ever see that person again is slim and truth be told… we’re not sure we are truly capable of eye for an eye.

Because we undoubtedly put in a lot of self-work after that darkness, to be better, to rise above, so perhaps… if that day were to come, we would do something vastly different. Something positive in fact, and that real possibility is top of mind today, simply because it was explored in the next episode of The Irrational on NBC. A feat that ‘Bombshell’ accomplished by having a worst-case scenario play out for Alec and Marisa. For while Wes Banning was on the road, since he was being moved to a Supermax prison facility, he was confronted by another prisoner on his ride. One who was eager to cause real harm to Wes and that brought about quite the fight. One that ended with Wes escaping the clutches of law enforcement and that… created a panic.

After all, a man involved in an act of terror was now on the loose and well, that prompted Alec to think deeply upon what his next move might be, and the first thought was… Wes would go after law enforcement. More specifically… the FBI. So, he quickly alerted Marisa to the very real possibility that Wes was on his way, only to discover… that Wes wanted some face time with Alec all along. All of which pointed to unfinished business, and a chance for Alec, to face the man that harmed him. To the point where he could finally say what he needed to say or take whatever action out of anger that he needed to. But instead, Alec immediately saw this, as an opportunity to do something different. To approach an evil with kindness and perhaps learn something along the way about motivations and decisions and perhaps the true identity of Mathias.

Which prompted Alec to really work to understand Wes through and through and know his journey. To finally have answers, to finally understand the decisions made to cause harm and to… bring real evil to justice. Because by going this route, and not giving into notions of revenge and settling scores, Alec was indeed able to learn so much about Mathias, and the control he had over people… including Wes. For his family was on the line if he didn’t do as asked and getting to that point allowed for trust to be built, and for Rizwan and Phoebe to find a little peace since they were caught up in this… and for Alec to instead, offer heroism to a man that caused so much harm. To instead pay everything forward, by saving Wes’ daughter and her family from harm, from Mathias’ special brand of evil. Which he did, despite the fact that Wes didn’t make it out of this mess alive.

But what mattered more here, was that Alec really did offer up a different journey for an age-old idea that we tend to understandably associate with revenge and negative actions. Because that’s really what we think we want. But what we truly want, is what Alec wanted here. Understanding, peace and a true sense of closure to move on. For that is how we find the catharsis and peace we carve and kudos to this episode expressing a better way to confront our past and… for setting the stage at last for true hunt for Mathias. Because despite the good vibes here, that cliffhanger, with Jace dying and Mathias still out there on the hunt, was powerful to say the least and leaves us hungry for more. Hungry for justice for Jace and hungry to finally see Alec close the books on the darkest chapter in his life, and it will be fascinating to see how the case comes to a close, in the season one finale of this amazing show. Until next time.

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