The Irrational – Collateral Damage

Tonight’s episode of The Irrational picks up where it left off last season. Alec is waiting for Rose at the restaurant, but she never shows up and messages to her are not being delivered. Calls are also going straight to voicemail leaving Alec very concerned. He goes to her place and sees that her car is also missing which prompts him to call Marissa to tell her that Rose is missing. 

Security footage shows that Rose has been taken; confirming Alec’s concerns. He, along with the FBI, try to figure out who could be behind this and if her involvement with MI6 could be the reason. Marissa wants to sideline Alec, telling him he’s too close to this case, but he won’t have it. Kylie and Marissa reassures him that Rose is no damsel in distress and that he shouldn’t worry. “Why risk kidnapping one of the world’s leading experts on kidnapping?” – great question, Alec. 

“Collateral Damage” – THE IRRATIONAL – Pictured: Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer. Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Marissa, Alec, and the FBI team arrive at the scene where Rose was last to investigate. They conclude that two vehicles were there which means Rose might’ve been transferred. There was an item left behind with Rose’s ring inside, but the fingerprints on the can weren’t hers. Turns out they belonged to Calvin Ellis. When he’s brought in for questioning, Marissa tries to get him to talk, but he wouldn’t budge. Now it’s Alec’s turn doing what he does best; change the mindset (that didn’t take long). Calvin just starts running his mouth (wow, talk about a weak link). He even lets it slip that Rose wasn’t the only one taken. 

A former colleague of Rose’s, Harry, was kidnapped as well and he’s the reason they went for Rose. We come to find out that Harry wrote a book, “My Life in MI6”, and I couldn’t help but laugh because, Harry, you might as well have put out an ad saying “I might’ve killed someone you loved, come find me” which, from what’s unfolding is exactly what happened. This is why Gavin came after them. 

“Collateral Damage” – THE IRRATIONAL – Pictured: Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer, Travina Springer as Kylie. Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Details from Harry’s novel implicated his involvement in the death of Gavin’s wife, Fiona, and now? He’s out for revenge. Harry is a mess though; why would you bring Rose into this? He didn’t know much and thought throwing Rose under the bus was the best solution? This makes as much sense as writing that book of his. When Rose tells Gavin all she knows, he confirms it’s what Harry said as well and it’s all Harry knew which means, he is no longer needed and BAM! Gavin takes him out (and that’s why we don’t write books about secret missions, Harry). 

As Alec is talking to one of his students, Rizwan, about a theory he had him testing pertaining to revenge, he notices a suspicious van and realizes quickly that he’s about to be taken. Knowing this, I figure he’d try to escape them, but no, he believes letting them take him is his best chance to find Rose. He tells Rizwan to let Marissa know what’s about to go down. Mission accomplished: Alec is taken. Gavin threatens to kill Alec if Rose doesn’t answer his questions. She’s really playing a dangerous game here; her idea was to take the blame and get herself killed. No ma’am — 

“Collateral Damage” – THE IRRATIONAL – Pictured: Garfield Wilson as Agent Quinn, Maahra Hill as Marisa. Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC © 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The FBI is able to get Gavin’s number but because the phone is off, they’re unable to track it. Marissa is hoping Alec is able to get the phone turned on, knowing it’s their only chance of being found and possibly coming out of this alive. Of course he manages this; he convinces Gavin that Rose will confess and he should record it (BINGO! The phone is on). At the start of the episode, Alec discusses “Hot State” with his students and how when in a hot state, it’s easy to make mistakes and be less careful. It’s what we see with Gavin here; driven by his emotions for revenge on what MI6, specifically Rose, did to his wife, he slipped. Good on Rose to drag that story out long enough for the FBI to track them and take Gavin out. 

This had the potential to end badly, but thankfully that isn’t the case here. With Rose now heading out on a red eye for work, I wonder if any of this will affect her work moving forward, but most importantly her relationship with Alec. 

What’d you think of the season premiere of The Irrational? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs