Rachel and Chandler ask for six volunteers to participate in human trials of her vaccine, but the tests could be a living hell as the virus and the vaccine do battle inside their bodies. Meanwhile, back in the States, Chandler's wife and father are doing everything they can to keep their family alive.
The Last Ship has taken the turn to being a genuinely decent show in the final third of its season. It makes this shift despite the structure of last week's episode and "Trials" being so drastically different. A week ago the crew was battling the Russians and trying to rescue Captain Chandler. It was big and intense and filled with action. "Trials" is very intimate. So much of the action happens in Rachel's lab as six volunteers are injected with her vaccine prototype. But the narrative is still very much intense. The show is dealing with life-and-death stakes and it's presenting its story as simple as it can and then it just executes it well.Sure, there were several moments of melodrama that I could do without. Kara is one of the subjects in Rachel's human trials and over the course of treatment we learn that she is pregnant with Danny's child. That reveal was entirely designed as a shocking and surprising reveal. There's simply no way she would have made it to the trial stage pregnant. Rachel and the other doctors were doing blood sampling to determine who was the best to serve as participants in these trials. At that point in time, wouldn't they have discovered she was pregnant? And not when she was almost dying of the virus? The show wrote itself into that situation. Logic be damned! I just can't get invested in that couple. The show desperately wants us to care but it has never presented a reason as to why these two people are great for each other.
Similarly, the hour ends with Rachel being victorious and not only creating the vaccine to the virus but the actual cure! That is a major victory. But it comes at the exact point in time when we actually see what Chandler's family back home are up to and we see his wife become exposed to the virus. That sets the stage for the finale where he rushes to save her life - even though it won't feel emotionally earned at all. We're not invested in that character on a personal level. We know of her because of her relation to the Captain. But that almost puts too much weight on Chandler's personal story. Every person on this crew has a family and people they desperately want to know if they are alive or not. Instead the crew will likely rush to save the Captain's family because he's the man in charge. But that's a critique best served for the finale - if that's the route the show will take.
But those are all just minor quibbles throughout the hour - and concerns about what's to come. "Trials" was a very well executed episode. It was particularly great seeing Chandler and Rachel in the end just embrace as they've successful created the cure. Everything that they've been working towards all season long has come to fruition. They can now do immense good throughout the world. It's because of them that the human race will survive this plague. And to see them breathe a huge sigh of relief was just completely enjoyable. He hasn't always trusted her judgment but in that moment he's proud of her for what she has done.
Some more thoughts:
- "Trials" was written by Onalee Hunter Hughes and directed by Jack Bender.
- Joining the cast this week are Bill Smitrovich and Titus Welliver as Chandler's father and the leader of a group of survivors respectively. They will likely play larger roles in the finale.
- Also, how was the Chief Engineer allowed to participate in the trials considering she was bedridden a few episodes ago when the engines shut down?
- So is Quincy just free to roam about the ship now considering the Russians are no longer a threat and he has been reunited with his family? Or was he just released to help with the trials?
- The backstory for the one patient who died did feel a bit rushed and heavy-handed. However, I enjoyed the natural progression when it came to the Master Chief's story.
- Rachel treated a patient with ice water. Hmmm, how very timely.
