‘The Terminal List’ Recap: ‘Detachment’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The Terminal List’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we tend to glorify the notion of revenge in popular media. Especially when it comes to stories involving a solider or someone that is trained to kill, that feels a need to exact it. For we seem to believe that when one signs up to serve their country or when one immerses themselves in the darker aspects of life… that one becomes immune to the dangers of revenge. Which in turn makes it easy for them to right wrongs in the world or in their lives with a simple decision to go for broke and shed blood no matter the cost to them or the villain and we do of course… eat that up. Because it leads to powerful stories that take us on a visceral and angry ride, one that provides catharsis and escapism. 

But as popular media continues to evolve and audiences demand a little depth from their stories, even the age-old concept of enjoyable revenge is starting to evolve. Where it is in fact, being presented as a last resort and a difficult one at that. One that comes with a lasting impact, as evidenced by the next episode of The Terminal List on Prime Video. For when we catch up with Lieutenant Commander James Reece in ‘Detachment’, he’s started his revenge tour against the men that hurt his family, and after quickly taking out the money man that arranged for the actual assassins to come after his family, he quickly finds his way back to Mexico, to prepare for the next phase in this vengeful mission.

However, as he waited for intelligence through the network down there… he was presented with a bevy of questions regarding his quest. For those that care about him the most were gravely concerned not only about his health, since the truth about his tumor was revealed… but also because of what he had planned. Because everyone knew that James was badly broken by the death of his family and committing to revenge here, might harm his fragile mental state further. Which is why just about everyone worked to talk him out of this and also tried to convince him to perhaps let someone else handle such matters. Since they understood, this would only re-open old wounds and haunt a good man and it was both powerful and wonderful to see this show ponder upon the negative impact of revenge, rather than just let James immediately go to town.

But despite everyone’s best efforts to get Reece to stand down and save himself from pain, he wanted this, and he wanted it bad and committed to the mission. Which led to a brutal and visceral sequence of events. Wherein Reece and his team brutally assaulted the compound their target was hiding within and well, once James found him… he went the extra mile to punish him. Even going so far as to wound him just badly enough to keep him conscious and alive so he could truly make him pay. All by gently removing his intestines and making use of them to inflict maximum pain and maximum terror before he died. An act that served to remind us… that revenge is indeed a dark act that requires the worst of us, while hinting that a great deal might change for us when we commit to it through and through.

That is most certainly going to be the case for James in the moments following this act. For he is no longer welcome in Mexico after going this route since it showed those closest to him a level of cruelty, they didn’t think he was capable of and he will likely be a changed man as well, having used his skills to inflict harm when he was taught to use them for honor. Either way this was just… a powerful land intense tale for certain, one that went to some supremely dark and ugly places and well… it deserves praise for that. Since it truly did add a spin to the revenge trope that permeates this type of story and set the stage for a crossroads for James. Wherein he can let the darkness consume him or where he might find value in living without his loves, and it will be fascinating to see where this story takes us next now that only Steve Horn is the last name left on Reece’s terminal list. Until next time.

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