‘The Terminal List’ Recap: ‘Extinction’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘The Terminal List’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One universal truth that we often forget in this life, is that people will show you precisely who they are when tough times arrive. Because tough times test us in ways, we never thought possible, and they will hurt us emotionally and take us to task and well, the best people out there will rise to the occasion and answer the call that is before them, and support others as needed during this tough time. Whereas rotten people, will run and hide and do whatever they must to not have to deal with the unfortunate reality surrounding them and well… what makes this particular truth quite fascinating, is the sheer fact that we never quite know how a person will respond when that happens. Because time and time again, we’ve seen people we think will be there… run hard, while those we thought might not be able to handle it… do so in an epic manner.

But truly what surprises us the most regarding this strange little quirk of life, is that sometimes… the ones who are trained to be brave and be heroic in a time of great need and strife… fold and hide when their day comes. Which should never be the case, but it happens, and we oft wonder why this happens and well… it just so happens that the why is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of The Terminal List on Prime Video explored just that. For ‘Extinction’ is a story that should have seen three men trained for bravery, stand tall in the face of adversity, but instead… they did nothing but quarrel and hide, in part because Lieutenant Commander James Reece was coming for them, and they really had no idea what they should do.

Of course, what they should have done… was the right thing and be open about the fact that they helped to deploy RD 4895 to Reece’s unit. But instead, Captain Howard opted to make plans to run, while Commander Cox gently pondered upon responding in kind when the moment arrived and of course, Admiral Pillar was defiant and willing to do whatever he had to, to be seen in the right. Which means that when men in power enjoy their power and enjoy the yielding of it, they will be the first to crumble and surprise when their power is challenged or threatened. Because their time in that position, away from seeing the impact of their decisions, and the reality of war in this instance, has made them weak and detached and well… it didn’t take long for Reece to remind them of how they should have stood tall from the get-go and held to their oath.

For he did indeed come for them, and he made them pay in powerful, powerful ways. For Commander Cox not only suffered from a broken limb at the hands of Reece, because he somehow thought he could overpower a man with nothing to lose, but he drowned horribly when Reece made him try to lift a massive log that he was tied to in the ocean as penance for his cowardice. As for Howard… well Howard was forced to handle a truly devastating act. In that, he had to strap a homemade bomb to his chest and walk into the Admiral’s office to detonate it as penance for betraying his oath. But not before giving a phone to Pillar, so that Reece could instill a taste of genuine fear into a man that felt safe often by hiding behind a comfortable desk, and well… once that act was done… the Terminal List it appeared, was finally complete. 

But alas, it was not. For while this education and act of revenge was taking place, Kelly was working with Agent Layun on the truth regarding this whole mess. For Secretary Hartley stepped in, and of course… had her people begin an investigation, sidelining Layun and the San Diego FBI office and well… by having Kelly step in and look at the files, because this interjection seemed suspicious, she uncovered the true mastermind of this whole nightmare… Secretary Hartley herself. Giving James Reece a new and final target to go after, setting the stage for a powerhouse finale. One where a Navy Seal with limited resources will take on the Secretary of Defense, which may be an impossibility. But while we wait for that showdown, we can bask in the wonder of a powerhouse tale. One that reminded us that morals and sterner stuff is what makes a noble hero, not training… and a boatload of pins. Until next time.

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