Thoughts on the Season Finale of Terminal List: Dark Wolf
There’s a lingering hope for a second season of Terminal List: Dark Wolf. Taylor Kitsch’s portrayal of Ben Edwards has so much life left in it, even though he’s aware of how his character met his end. The Chief’s choice to distance himself from the team for personal beliefs drew us in, didn’t it? We were captivated by his journey, especially since his code seemed to guide him despite the chaos he encountered, filled with betrayals and needless losses after aligning with Jed Haverford’s Black Bag Act in Germany. Eliza Perash’s unfortunate fate was particularly poignant. Yet, Ben’s connections with Mossad agents provided him with a deeper understanding of his identity—”In this life, this is the only job we know.” It kept us engaged as we followed him through these twists and turns.
In the finale of Dark Wolf, he finds himself again facing off against decision-makers like Haverford, who’s always viewed Ben as merely a tool. The urgency is palpable—does Ben become the scapegoat for some crazy nuclear scheme? The atmosphere is intense; after all, the threats are still very much real.
After being labeled a traitor, Ben didn’t just lie low. A few months post the chaos at the airfield, he’s adapted to life in a remote farmhouse in Germany, fortified behind a wall of electronic encryption while plotting with Tal Valon against Haverford. When he appears back on the radar, Haverford and his Iranian associate, Cyrus, dispatch hitmen to eliminate him and seize control. It’s all part of their strategy. Tal works with dark arts to intercept communications, yet Ben manages to unleash chaos on the incoming assassins. He’s rigged the house with traps—propane tank IEDs, makeshift mines, and more—all while escaping through a tunnel he painstakingly mapped out.
Somehow, amidst the chaos, we find humor in his actions—he’s managed to hold on to his copies of Marlboro Red and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Ben grapples with his duality as a warrior. In a touching moment, he sends a message to Amy, his estranged wife, saying, “I’m sorry, but I’ve never made it home.” It underlines the internal battle he faces: one side embraces chaos, while the other attempts to navigate through it all. Meanwhile, he needs to buy time for Tal to gather evidence against Haverford, all while injuries threaten him.
Will the Chief allow himself to be taken down like this? Surely, James Reese and some of the Alpha team must have something to contribute. As Mohammed Farooq warns “Reecey” about Ben’s actions, an unofficial ally appears to aid him. It felt reminiscent of earlier plot points in Terminal List, like when Reese faced his own critical moments.
The finale of Dark Wolf shifts between various global locations—Germany, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, and CIA headquarters in Virginia—all gradually unveiling Jed’s treachery. Ben pays homage to Eliza’s memory, offering a wrist charm to her daughter along with poet Wilfred Owen’s works. A fitting tribute, perhaps? Additionally, he orchestrates another tribute by planting a bomb on Cyrus Rahimi’s car. And as Haverford enjoys his leisurely lifestyle playing golf, a familiar face confronts him, gun drawn.
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Haverford remarks, revealing his persistent manipulation throughout American history in the Middle East. Despite Ben presenting undeniable evidence of deceit, Haverford remains obstinate in his endeavours.
Fast forward two months, Ben finds himself at the Norfolk port, a pivotal moment leading to future developments in the series. He’s approached by Dasher, another operative who now works at the CIA Ground Branch. Their conversation reveals a shared conviction. “People like us aren’t meant to just walk this Earth; we’re here to clear the way for something better.” While one aspect of Ben longs for peace, he’s gained a clarity about his darker side through these trials.
As the first season comes to a close, Ben takes a polygraph as part of his application to join the Ground Branch. He reflects on his extensive journey, from Iraq to Europe and with various teams, forever aware that this is where he truly belongs.
There’s a curiosity about whether another season of Dark Wolf looms on the horizon or if a spinoff from Carr’s writings might emerge. Nonetheless, it feels like Ben has truly begun to understand himself, just as we’ve come to know him.
