Last week, we were left with Finch pondering over whether or not to be brave enough to knock on Agent Harris’ door and hand her the NZT related files on her father. This week, we pick up at that very point and see him pass them over to her. Needless to say, she’s a little dumbfounded over the revelations contained within them, but Finch, being his usual helpful self, offers to assist her investigate the matter.
Finch also has another problem to contend with; the more negative side-effects of NZT which he begins to feel as the inoculation given to him by Morra some weeks ago starts to wear off. Dizziness, memory loss and hallucinations of under-skin bugs (ick!) leave him desperate for a second shot and who does he turn to for help? Why Sands of course! Locating him in a bar and explaining his need for another booster, Sands agrees to help – on one condition; that he gets rid of Rebecca (and we all know what he means by that).
Considering what he and Morra do for a living and are involved with (NZT), Sands explains that they’d prefer as few agents as possible looking into the drug and now Harris is aware of her personal connection, there’s growing concern that she’ll start digging into things they’d rather she didn’t. Sands informs Finch he can remove her from the situation by any means he wishes and if he doesn’t – and this part he delivers with his usual menace – he’ll die in agonising pain with no semblance of who he once was. Yikes.
Back at the FBI offices, Harris finds herself taking part in an inter-agency training exercise. Finding herself on the Red Team, she gets closer to Naz – partly because she has no choice – but it’s not a great bonding exercise. Instead, Harris has just learned that she’s been withholding information pertaining to her dad’s death…
With Harris otherwise occupied, Finch sticks to his promise to help investigate her father’s death. It doesn’t take long for him to discover he checked into a treatment clinic shortly before his death. Curious as to what said clinic files might say, under the guise of an addict named Mike, he finds his way into the clinic and finds what he’s looking for. The file on Harris’ father states he left completely cured, but Finch is mystified by the weekly appointments he had with an individual known as A.E. Four other patients met with this man and all of them, as Harris’ father had, left the clinic, went on to become hugely successful and then vanished. The file also notes that prior to their deaths, they’d all make a trip to Ubient, a neuro-pharmaceutical company. Hmm, any guesses what for?
Further research about Ubient uncovers a man named Andrew Epperly who, prior to his death in a boating accident (hmm…) had run human trials on dementia. The head honchos at the company deny any knowledge of NZT leaving Finch rather unsure of how to pursue the matter further. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately depending on how you look at it, Finch hallucinates, blacks out and wakes to find a note in his pocket informing him Epperly is alive.
Calling Harris to fill her in on what he’s uncovered, she bails on the exercise she’s doing and a requested needing with the director of the FBI – and instead manages to track Epperly down, although their first meeting is memorable for all the wrong reasons, most notably that prior to recognising her as Conrad’s daughter, he shoots at her.
Another black-out occurs and this time Finch wakes to find himself on a rooftop alongside none other than Edward Morra (yay for a full on Bradley Cooper appearance!) Morra informs him that he was testing his morals and whether or not, in order to save himself, he’d alter his standing on them. Further conversation (albeit largely on Morra’s part) leads to the revelation that the Senator isn’t just looking for someone to tell him the FBI’s NZT information, but also that he’s after a partner with whom he can “change the world.” To sweeten the deal – not that one has been made by this point, Morra gives him five NZT pills and declares that the two of them together could be true world leaders. Is this guy deluded?
Back with Harris, Epperly confesses to running clinical NZT trials but admits he didn’t create the drug, or know how to stop the side effects. Instead, he tells Harris that a ‘mysterious someone’ had a compound that could help with his father’s Alzheimer’s; a compound found within NZT. Undertaking further trials in order to try help his patients, he was unaware of the dangers. Post treatment, as Finch discovered, they disappeared. As to why Conrad died, Epperly expresses his belief that he started sharing his NZT with others in the city – and subsequently, may have gotten himself killed as a result.
Heading back to the FBI, Naz admits to Harris that she had planned on showing her father’s file as soon as she gained the clearance to see it. As a result, a little of the tension – though by no means all of it – eases off the pair and the two of them at least close out the episode on somewhat good terms.
The same can’t be said for everyone however and anyone thinking Morra was a good guy on the back of his chat with Finch soon finds themselves forced to change their view. In the closing moments, Sands (who else?) blows up Epperly’s house; giving an explosive end to a gradually building, explosive series.
So, what exactly does Morra want with Finch? What comeback will there be from him taking the five NZT tablets? Comment below with your thoughts and theories and I will see you all again next week!
