Numb3rs

[paraka]

Ok, first off, I want to wish geeklite a belated birthday. I so meant to make this post last night, but I fell asleep. :-/ I hope you had an amazing day!

Next, I know I'm totally late on this, but I want to talk about Colby and the Janus list.


Gah! This was such an amazing episode! When I finished watching that episode I realized that that was one of the most effective season finales I've ever seen. I can only think of one other season finale like it (The Buffy one where she killed Angel). It wasn't quite a cliffhanger, because the problem was resolved, but it just left everything so broken. I can't wait until the new season starts. *whines* I'm going to be spending waaayyyy too much time thinking about this ep. Also I was really impressed by this ender, because the finale for season 2 sucked so, so much. I'm glad they were able o make this one much more interesting.

The thing is, not for one minute did I actually believe Colby's been a spy for 2 years. I have a feeling he was probably pulled in by the Americans when they discovered Dwayne, because:
1) What are the chances they both happened to work for the Chinese. I mean of all the governments out there... It would be more likely if it were a Middle Eastern government, because at least they both fought over there, but the Chinese? I mean we know how Dwayne got involved, but Colby? His only connection is Dwayne.

2) If Colby was a spy on the same side as Dwayne they had some mighty weird private conversations. And Colby's must be a pretty good actor to look so surprised and hurt over Dwayne being a traitor. I mean honestly, if they both knew (and if it were true I can't believe they wouldn't at the very least have suspicions) they might not have come right out with their secret traitor hand shake, but I think they probably would have spoken in a few more double entendre's.

3) If Dwayne *knew* that Colby was a turn coat, I think he would have turned him in when Colby cornered him. He was so upset and angry when it happened I can't believe he wouldn't lash out. I mean, I know he knew by this episode, but I bet he probably learned while imprisoned and decided to sit on it, because he was calmer and already caught, he knew he'd have to use that info to his advantage, but I doubt he'd be thinking that clearly when he was first arrested.


Edit: Obviously there are spoilers in this post and the comments for Janus List. In the comments though we now have some vague cast spoilers for season 4 (of both Numb3rs and SGA). Please don't spoil me people. I can't handle it! (Ok, I *can* but it'll piss me off). If you *are* looking for spoilers for season 4 there's a link in the comments to somewhere where you can find more info.

Comments

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

This is the danger of saying "I'd love to hear more of your thoughts!" :P

Don't worry about me! I'm up to the challenge... *g*

So, you've seen the casting spoilers (which I will not mention here) but no story spoilers. Same as me. I love to speculate, but want no confirmation if I'm right or wrong! I want to enjoy it for myself when the episodes start! That goes for Numb3rs and SGA.

I agree with you that Colby was sicced onto Dwayne, but I'm not sure I agree with when. Mainly because I'm certain that Ashby has been working on the Janus List for some time, and that Colby was already on that list. Where I probably differ from most fans at present, is that I think the Janus List is not a list of traitors, but a list of deep cover agents pretending to be traitors in order to influence enemy spy networks.

(cut and pasted from my comment in spikedluv's journal)
Ashby (calls to Don): If you find the Janus list, trust it!

McClair: (snip the Charlie references) A Janus list is not some random collection of spies, it’s a carefully selected group of pressure points, designed to cripple intelligence operations.

I think that everything went to hell when Ashby, who was compiling the Janus List as a sort of narcissistic 'neener neener' to the intelligence community for writing him off, suddenly realised that the list he was compiling, of deep cover agents put in place to direct and control information going to foreign powers, had a rogue on it: Dwayne Carter. And Dwayne realised he had been discovered. So the episode became a battle of wills between Dwayne and Ashby, with Don, Charlie and Colby caught in the middle.

Oh, bugger it! I'm just going to cut and paste the gist of my argument here, and you can regret opening this conversation! *g*

(extract from my latest comment to spikedluv)
So, where am I at present? The list is a who's who of agents other countries 'think' they own. Ashby compiled the list as a final 'neener neener' to the intelligence community who had all written him off. I'm not speculating in depth as to whether Ashby intended to do anything treasonous with the list (but am not writing it off, if Megan's opinion of him as a psychopath is correct, although I'm leaning more toward sociapath). At some stage, while buying and selling information with Carter, Ashby came to the realisation that Carter was compromised (actually, Ashby was probably surprised Carter hadn't already been caught!). Carter, on the other hand, realised how close Ashby was to having a working Janus List, and that scrutiny of all the names on the list (by anyone) could expose his double-dealing. But he couldn't just kill Ashby and hope the list would never surface. He had to flush it out in a way that only he could find it. Or ensure that no-one found it. He knew that a slow death for Ashby would prompt him (in his narcissistic way) to go out with a bang, and hopefully point the way toward the Janus List while he was at it. Which is exactly what Ashby did... *g*
Now, of course, with Don and Charlie on the case, Carter had to sit back, watch what they did (his military prison leaked like a sieve) and hopefully have his people there to pick up the pieces... with each different person in the loop having a different story. Colby thought they were there to kill Naomi, the killers thought they were there to kill the FBI agents watching her, and Colby dying would have suited Carter's purposes, as he wouldn't be around to argue that he was actually a mole against the Chinese, and the US intelligence community would ensure that Carter would disappear (as was happening when Don arrived to arrest him) so everything would have been cleaned up nicely. Carter would have a new, much nicer cell and no death sentence hanging over him as long as he talked, and Don, David, Megan and Charlie would be left to pick up the pieces, thinking one of their own had turned. Or had never been theirs to begin with.

But the whole thing went to hell in a handbasket because of two things that the two minds conspiring against each other - Carter and Ashby - could not control. Ashby not dying on the bridge, and Colby not dying in the shootout at the safe house.

pt 2 *g*

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

I also agree with you that they are likely to wrap up the arc in one to two episodes, and then touch upon the fallout here and there throughout the season, as they have been doing with Don and his therapy.

For now, at least, I trust TPTB to at least make a good stab at pulling the story off. They did such a good job of shocking the hell out of us in the last couple of episodes - especially with the foreshadowing of trust issues - that they'd really have to suck big time not to pull it off in season 4. Or at least that is what I'm telling myself! *g*

Re: pt 2 *g*

[paraka]

Ok, I've been thinking a lot about what you said in part one, but I'm still processing it, so I'll reply to it later, but for now...

I also agree with you that they are likely to wrap up the arc in one to two episodes, and then touch upon the fallout here and there throughout the season, as they have been doing with Don and his therapy.
I hope so, they've been handling Don's therapy *so*well*. I mean a lot of shows would make an entire episode just about the therapy, or let the therapy overwhelm, but the writers have done a great job of having it there, but not having it overwhelm, not forgetting to still have the crime aspect.

For now, at least, I trust TPTB to at least make a good stab at pulling the story off. They did such a good job of shocking the hell out of us in the last couple of episodes - especially with the foreshadowing of trust issues - that they'd really have to suck big time not to pull it off in season 4. Or at least that is what I'm telling myself! *g*
*hearts the Numb3rs writers*
I do actually trust them to pull it off. Like I said, I probably wouldn't trust the SGA writers, but with very few exceptions, the Numb3rs writers don't disappoint.