Agent of Year Zero

Pretender Episode Review

In which Miss Parker knows Lyle is up to something.

What Happened

Jarod watches Lyle guiding an Asian man to a swearing-in ceremony for new American citizens. In the middle of everything, a young woman begins shouting at Lyle's new friend, Than, before being hustled away by INS. Jarod goes to INS to see the girl, but is interrupted by Centre agents, so he takes Kim and vanishes. A friend of Kim tells Jarod that Kim witnessed Than murder her family; he then fled and became a drug-lord selling heroin.

Jarod examines Kim, concluding that she is suffering from a version of "terror silence," blindness caused by a reaction to trauma. He calls Sydney for advice, and Sydney tips him off to the news that Than is being sworn in as a Port Authority inspector.Broots finds an old newspaper article, detailing how Lyle was arrested for murdering a pair of prostitutes and then freed by Than.

Lyle is having a bad day: he gets caught by Jarod, who guesses that Lyle is planning to use Than to get heroin past customs. After distracting Miss Parker with Lyle's capture, Jarod crashes Than's hearing at the Port Authority. When Than insists that there is no proof, Kim steps forward, her blindness gone and identifies him. Than is arrested.

Broots tells Miss Parker that the tattoo on Than's hand is the Cambodian symbol for cannibalism. She recalls seeing the same tattoo on Lyle's arm. She intends to cut a deal with Than for the evidence against Lyle, but Than has already died under mysterious circumstances.

What We Learned

• Miss Parker knows Lyle is up to something.
• Underestimating the meek has brought more than one army to its knees.
• The Centre has no 'on paper' ties to Venezuela.
• Lyle can not get a little privacy.
• Anybody would be bummed out being trapped for a night with Lyle.
• If Lyle is thinking of jumping, Miss Parker suggests he goes up on the roof and do it right.

What Did I Think?

I know Lyle is scum, but cannibalism is a little much.