Hostages - Episode 1.13 - Fight or Flight - Review

With only two episodes left, Hostages is coming closer and closer to the planned surgery.

There were two main storylines this episode. The first one occured in the Delaney/Carlisle family. After Nina found out the truth about the assassination plan, she demands to be taken to Burton. Because she threatens to go to the police, Duncan has no choice but to lock her up in one of the rooms. While everyone tries to talk to her (Duncan, Burton and Kramer), Nina says she'd rather die than live with her husband being a murderer. Therefore, she has Sawyer lock her out and Nina and her daughter take a flight. However, they are stopped and captured by none other than Blair!

While Nina takes a flight, the Sanders family takes a fight. Ellen, with Brian by her side, tells Duncan that she will not kill the president. While Duncan then threatens her with the consequences, they both know that he's not gonna kill her kids. So they decide to make a deal: Ellen will get the president's bone marrow if Duncan protects her kids from Sandrine and Archer. Whereas Duncan and Kramer are not looking for violent ways and more blood on their hands, that doesn't count for Sandrine and Archer. They call everybody

together, all four hostages and all four hostage takers, and Duncan then loses it and kills Jake. As Morgan totally freaks out, Ellen is way too easy for losing her son even if she could have been prepared for it. And of course, Jake is not really dead: Duncan faked his death. While Ellen assures Morgan Jake is alive and well and she will get her out safely too, Kramer takes Jake to a cabin in the woods where he can stay for a few days.

Not for a moment did I think that Jake really died. It was clearly all a set-up from the beginning. And like I said, Ellen was way too calm when they shot her son. I can't believe Archer and Sandrine believed it to be real, because Ellen's reaction certainly did not convince me.

Various side plots in the episode:
-Archer discovers Sandrine's betrayal when he finds the car bombs hidden inside (Sandrine must have removed them when she felt the other's suspicions).
-Blair discovers Vanessa's betrayal after meeting the vice president.
-Ellen asks the First Lady to smuggle some of the president's blood out after the surgery (telling her that she believes her husband might have more chance to get Alzheimer's).

What did you think of this episode? Were you surprised Jake didn't really die? Are you looking forward to the two-hour conclusion in two weeks? Be sure to come back later as I will do a preview of the season (series) finale and tell you my expectations.