David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. "The Unit's" green initiative: Save energy by having fewer characters
As you may have heard, tonight’s episode of “The Unit” kills off one of the series’ regulars. Naturally, it’s a supporting player, not Jonas (Dennis Haysbert) or Bob (Scott Foley), and it involves a fair amount of misdirection that makes it obvious that it’s not the obvious character who’s going to bite it.
Jonas and Gang are in Beirut, attempting to rescue a reporter who was held and beaten for four months and who, they learn belatedly (and inconveniently), is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.
They find the chopper that was supposed to transport them to safety in flames. When one of their number is shot, they barge into a family’s apartment uninvited to perform to perform a makeshift operation. Surrounded by Hezbollah members searching for them, it makes for a tense situation all around.
Of course, there’s the requisite subplot involving the men’s significant others, and given the urgency of the A-story, this one feels more of a time killer than usual – the wives unite to try to help one of their number whose car was wrongfully towed. Oh, well, at least that plot takes a violent turn, as well.
Next week examines with all due solemnity the preparation for the downed soldier’s memorial service. But because this is “The Unit” and not some PBS documentary, it’s not all somber sorrow; They still have to include some of the show’s trademark macho swagger.
Hence, a White House NSC wuss investigating the Beirut incident gets a proper dressing down, and Jonas goes on a one-man mission to kill a terrorist who goes by the moniker “The Butcher,” managing a little butchering of his own along the way.
- “The Unit:” 9 tonight; CBS (Channel 2 in L.A.).