The Last Ship Season 2 Episode 13 Review: A More Perfect Union

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Mission accomplished. So what's next?

The second season came to an end on The Last Ship Season 2 Episode 13, but we were left with the promise of a new set of challenges for the crew to face when the show returns. In fact, enough time was spent looking forward that at times it felt more like a premiere episode than a finale. The episode did finish with a true finale staple: a beloved character is shot, with her fate unknown for another nine months or so. 

Delivering the Cure - The Last Ship

The plot of "A More Perfect Union" centered around the actions of a character we haven't seen in quite a while -- Kevin McDowell. Remember him? One of the Ramsey's underlings, and the man who recruited Michener to the Immunes, McDowell shares his late boss' twisted genius for genocide,and for taunting his adversary.

Using the surplus navy uniforms to trick people was a stroke of (evil) genius, and capturing the sick and forcing them to infect others is right up there with sending infected blankets on the scale of twisted ways to commit mass murder. But it also didn't seem entirely well considered.

Hear me out. Yes, it would strike a PR blow against Michener and the Nathan James for people to think the Navy was spreading the flu. But with the ship less than an hour away, and able to send out communications verifying that it wasn't actually them, and with a viable cure... I mean, the crowd was large, but was the aerosol even necessary?

There were at least six crew members, plus Tex's daughter, in that crowd, already infected with the contagious cure. Even if they didn't touch every person, those they did would be spreading the cure. In fact, wouldn't some of the crowd already have been inoculated by Tex? When symptoms failed to develop, or reversed, the Nathan James would have been vindicated.

Now we're all immune, asshole.

Miller

I get where the writers were trying to go with that whole thing, but it was so obviously illogical that I found myself scoffing out loud. Suspension of belief is one thing, but if you want me to suspend my common sense as well, you have to give me a little bit more. I mean, I'm still not sold on the cure only being contagious for a week. 

For a show that spends so much time on expository dialogue (thanks for telling us exactly how under stocked the ship is, Cruz), there are times, like with the cure, where the audience is not offered a plausible explanation. The communication app was another such failure -- I was confused why they needed an app to ID McDowell until Tex was able to call the ship, and then it made sense.

Outside of these (admittedly nitpicking) complaints, I enjoyed the finale. Sure a few things were predictable, but they made the story work. Of course Jeter's comment was going to be overheard (they mentioned it was an open line 2 or three times), and Rachel was always going to be pardoned by Michener.

The three stops allowed for the story to build to a satisfying conclusion in St. Louis, with the obligatory montage of the crew. It's one of the pillars of the show after all. My personal hope for season three is that Miller ends up dating the girl that planted one on him in the park. 

Tex: I guess kissing would work, too. You didn't mention that.
Dr. Rachel Scott: Oh, for sure. Kissing could be a way to go, if you're up for it and can get written consent.

I really enjoyed that several crew members got some personal resolution. Jeter's reunion with his in-laws was touching, but Tex stole the show as always. His daughter definitely takes after him, heading to Memphis all on her own, and then jumping in to help with the crowd. She's got some moxie, and I really hope that she's featured next season.

Side note: would anybody else watch a web series with the teenagers that Ray was leading, Kat, and Bertrise?

It was also nice to see the crew able to unwind at the Inaugural Ball. The toasts to all of the shipmates who had fallen was touching. Danny's proposal was adorably bumbling and Foster's reaction was priceless. But the best part had to be the sea shanty! 

People need to celebrate, even in the worst of times.

CDR Tom Chandler

There's a lot to look forward to for season three. Michener discussed some of the obvious law and order challenges his administration is going to face with Chandler, but there will also be the challenge of how to put a government back together. New characters will have to be brought in, because you can't run a country with just a President and a Chief Naval Officer. 

I have a feeling that Rachel will pull through (perhaps after a short coma) for a few reasons. You can just go killing your female lead who is have flirtations with two of you male leads. Not to mention that she's apparently the only genius scientist who can make the cure. 

I'm really interested in how hand to hand combat, gunfights, and massive explosions are going to be integrated into stories about building civilian coalitions, and clearing roads. Frankly, I assume that there will mostly be a focus on those warlords Michener mentioned and on knocking the Immune out of power in other parts of the world since those stories offer the highest likelihood for C-4 to be used. 

President Michener: We have a nation to build and a world to repair, and there's no one I trust more.
CDR Tom Chandler: Sounds like an order.
President Michener: It is. Tonight, we rest and enjoy our success. Tomorrow, the fight for America and the rest of the world begins.

Watch The Last Ship online and let us know what you thought of the season two finale in the comments. Can't wait to see you back here in Summer 2016 for The Last Ship Season 3!

A More Perfect Union Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (50 Votes)

Elizabeth Harlow was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She left the organization in October 2018.

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The Last Ship Season 2 Episode 13 Quotes

President Michener: We have a nation to build and a world to repair, and there's no one I trust more.
CDR Tom Chandler: Sounds like an order.
President Michener: It is. Tonight, we rest and enjoy our success. Tomorrow, the fight for America and the rest of the world begins.

People need to celebrate, even in the worst of times.

CDR Tom Chandler