Salvation: Coup de Grace Showed No Mercy – Just Lots of Treachery!

Killing the president of the United States is a literal final blow – she was definitely murdered.  It seems likely that her entire mental illness was brought on deliberately via some substance in order to control her.

Still, in the more tradition sense of a coup de grace, it isn’t the phrase I’d use to describe what happened to Madam President.   Taking out the president wasn’t done out of mercy or kindness.  It was the final move in a coup d’état!

The Coup d’Etat

It was shocking to realize General Calhoun wasn’t running the show.  In the beginning we didn’t know who the guy was threatening him at the pool.  What it told us though was that Project Atlas may not have been his idea.  It’s not the swearing in ceremony of vice president Mason Dunkirk (Sasha Roiz) that we see that he’s the same guy from the pool!

General Calhoun did warn Harris that it was someone on the inside that was really running things.  The VP certainly fits the bill.  That being said, I’m still not convinced that he’s the person who’s dreamed all this up.  Claire is way too entangled in things.  Did you see the look on her face when POTUS told Harris she was firing Calhoun and naming Harris the Acting Secretary of Defense?

This is not a look of surprise or happiness.  It’s a look of devious satisfaction that something planned is working out. Claire is the least trustworthy person on the show.  It wouldn’t surprise me if she were sleeping with the married VP and is, at the very least, a part of how this was all set all in motion.  She was even more gleeful when the former VP was being sworn in as President.  Harris did notice this – but will it put him on alert, or will he just continue to go along with things?

Ripped from the Headlines?

I’d love to know when the concepts and scripts for Salvation were written – especially this one! We know CBS ordered the series before the 2016 elections, but the production started later.  How much of this is coincidence and how much is about deliberately reflecting on the state of nation?

In real life articles questioning the sanity of the real 45th President of the of United States started in February.  The real-world POTUS loyalty issue first came up in May.   At least someone else was in the room when the Salvation POTUS did so! Also, that POTUS did rethink her words and asks for “transparency.”

Still, there’s a definite theme going on about what people are willing to do for power, and what people do just because it’s what those above want.  Even if it Project Atlas wasn’t Claire’s idea, she’s certainly gone along with it – as has Harris.  The fact that he feels guilty about it does not exonerate him.

Project Atlas isn’t just morally wrong – it’s insane. Who’s willing to risk destroying the entire planet to take out a country and its people?  Likewise, even Claire ends up being somewhat innocent, she still covered for The President knowing full well that POTUS wasn’t mentally stable.  Worse is deliberately exploiting that to advance your agenda.  This unfolding story gives us all much to think about.

Only Liam & Jillian Escape Total Misery

With all the things going wrong for the various protagonists in Salvation there had to be at least one storyline that ended with a scrap of hope.  We watched Jillian pal around with the former project leader she couldn’t stand and saw it eating away at Liam.  Worse was the total condescension that guy had towards Liam.  Nevertheless, by the end of Salvation: Coup de Grace, it’s Liam and Jillian whom seem the most likely to come out okay from it all.

Liam is a sweet drunk.  Who can resist those big brown eyes?  He’s so earnest in declaring Jillian is the only woman he’ll ever love – and not because the world is set to end.

First love, young love, love at first sight…it does on occasion lead to happily ever after.   More importantly, Liam truly believes he could never love anyone else.  In the scheme of things that’s really what matters.

Aside from the relationship drama in this scene there was some ominous foreshadowing by Liam! Since Jillian doesn’t know what’s actually happened today she likely doesn’t realizes why Liam said her work is “the only thing that matters now.”   Nor does she know Liam started drinking before the President’s speech was to start.

Jillian thinks Liam’s reacting to something the President said.  Meanwhile, he’s really thinking about how the EM-Drive is going to crash the gravity tractor into Sampson and how those pieces will destroy at least half the planet.  For Liam, it seems inevitable that the rocket with 160 people will be taking off.  Hence the importance of Jillian’s work. (It seems that way to me as well!)

Salvation: Coup de Grace – Final Thoughts

Did you catch the flip-flop by Harris when he and Claire first talked to the president?  In earlier episodes of Salvation  he wanted the president to own the truth about Altas when reporter Amanda Neel (Shazi Raja).  At the time he cited similar reasons that she did about regaining integrity.  Now though he was set against it?

This is why they say beware of the company you keep.  Harris is so in the dark on a number of things.  Unfortunately for him, ignorance of the law is no excuse.  Let’s hope he starts trusting his instincts instead of going with the status quo of following orders and trusting those in power.

Shady Characters

It’s obvious that Claire is not one of the white hats of the series.  Likewise, we’ve known since we met Nicholas that he’s  an awful man.  As for the new POTUS, he’s as dirty as a mob boss.   However, here are some questions about a couple of other people.   I’m not convinced they will turn out to be benign either.

The Editor

My first concern is the editor of the online newspaper Buzzfeed “Private Eyes.”  He, Amanda, and the staff at the paper all watched the the president’s speech and subsequent swearing in of the new POTUS.

The editor’s reaction to all of this?

Guess this shuts the door on your story.

What?! No editor with the information he’s gotten from Amanda would think that!  This isn’t the first time he’s tried to keep Amanda from investigating this story either.  It’s starting to feel suspicious.

The Ex-girlfriend

Another character that’s set my radar off is Tess.  She seems to be on Darius’s side, but isn’t it convenient that she’s stopped wearing her wedding ring?  Also, the writers haven’t given Tess a last name yet.  We have no idea who’s she’s married to.

What if Tess is married to the VP who is now POTUS?  He would want the EM-Drive and gravity tractor firmly in his control.  You know what they say about a woman scorned.  If anyone has a reason to shaft Darius, it’s Tess.  Right now she feels too good to be true.

Salvation: Coup d Grace – The Wrap Up

The best thing about Salvation: Coup de Grace is that while we suspect Claire is as awful as Edmund in King Lear,  it doesn’t have the feel of a total tragedy.   Emotionally this felt more like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.  With that movie ending things did look bleak, but you knew Return of Jedi was set to clean things up.

I am concerned that there’s only three episodes left for Salvation though.  We don’t know if  the series will get renewed or not!  Let’s hope so.  This being stuck in a forever cliffhanger is a sad thought.