It took all of one episode to go from Parker accepting Auggie’s marriage proposal to deciding that his work with the CIA was a deal-breaker.
Auggie, as predicted, was left utterly heartbroken after Parker, while lying beside him in bed, returned his engagement ring and then slipping away to a waiting cab, Auggie pleading with her to stay. “I can’t marry you Auggie,” she told him. She added, “I don’t know you.”
The smart, savvy, strong guy then took the unusual step (for his character anyway) of getting into a drunken brawl at a bar, smashing a bottle over a loud mouthed jerk’s head, landing Auggie a ticket to a jail cell as the episode concluded. The breakup left Auggie vulnerable, ripe for Annie to swoop in and makes things all better in her doe-eyed Annie way.
But Annie’s too busy to tend to Auggie now that she’s decided to wade into dangerous territory of her own. Ironically, as Parker was telling Auggie that she really didn’t know him at all, Annie was trying to persuade her CIA asset Simon that the two were growing authentically, emotionally closer, with Simon declaring that he felt as though he did indeed know her … while they were standing in the middle of her faux, CIA-created apartment. Whether Annie is developing authentic feelings for Simon — she’s doing a convincing job of seeming as though she cares — remains an open question (as does the identity of the person who was tailing Annie) but it would be in character for Annie to gradually become protective of Simon over time, particularly if he opens up to her about the meaning of that tattoo and if he treats her with care.
Meanwhile, I was intrigued by this new direction in Annie’s story, having her get canned by Lena and sent back to Joan because Lena believes Annie’s been made by Simon. Yet as Simon — who may or may not have discerned Annie’s motives — rolled up alongside her and said he was tired of playing games, Annie’s decision to hop into his car was a step into uncharted waters. By embarking on an unauthorized op, Annie’ll get no backup from Lena, but Annie’s stubbornly determined to prove that she can uncover who’s behind Simon. Regardless of whether this move ultimately works out, I’m expecting that she’ll inevitably have to call on Auggie for help, provided Auggie hasn’t turned into an embittered alcoholic by then. (There’s been a lot made as of late of the shortcomings of Auggie’s sight loss, wonder if that’ll contribute to any embitterment.) If Annie prevails, Joan will be able to gloat that her operative is better than Lena thought she was.
As for the “Jai Inquest,” this investigation gets a passing mention in each episode but isn’t building any real momentum yet. You’d think that since the season started with an unexpected bomb blast that killed Jai after he suggested that something big was awry at the CIA, there would’ve been more attention paid to it. (The “big” reveal this week: Arthur told Joan that Jai was gunning for her job. So what? That doesn’t mean Joan murdered Jai.) Instead, the story’s like a trail of breadcrumbs that we’re following, unclear as to where it’ll lead.
I’m really liking the prospect of a rogue Covert Affairs Annie, you? Are you frustrated with how slow the “Jai Inquest” is going?
Clacked by Meredith O'Brien 
on Aug 01, 2012 @ 12:32 EST5EDT
