‘SEAL Team’ Season 3, Episode 15 ‘Rules of Engagement’ Review: Fired Upon

SEAL Team goes on missions that take them across the world. This time, their duty takes them to Niger on a strict, special reconnaissance mission. However, much like their previous missions, the situation changes. When a terrorist group threatens a nearby dam constructed by American Engineers, Bravo Team makes a detour. Regardless of the mission change, their orders remain: fired only when fired upon.

On Wednesday’s episode of SEAL Team, Bravo Team heads out to Niger to confirm a high-ranking Boko Haram member’s presence in the area. The mission changes as new intel come in, making Bravo Team defend American Engineers on the dam they constructed from Boko Haram terrorists. Once home, Clay Spenser (Max Theriot) receives possible career opportunities. Upon their return, Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz) deals with the past he cannot leave behind.

Pretenders

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Sonny Quinn (A.J. Buckley) hates pretenders. To him, those who claim to be SEALs dishonors the memory of his fallen brothers and sisters. One can assume that Bravo Team holds this point of view, but has different ways of confronting pretenders. In Sonny’s case, he decides to expose the pretender. A brawl almost ensues up until Clay intervenes. In contrast to Sonny, Clay’s approach is to simply ignore the pretender. They are different people, after all. Clay is more refined compared to Sonny. Still, both of their actions are justified.

The Operation

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Last-minute order changes are not uncommon to SEAL operatives, let alone Bravo Team. A simple recon op quickly turns into a defensive mission as Lt. Cmdr. Eric Blackburn (Judd Lormand) receives new intel on nearby enemy movement. The SEALs are more than happy to accept their orders as a defensive mission sounds like fun compared to a recon one. However, the Rules of Engagement stay the same. Bravo Team cannot fire unless fired upon.

With the help of the engineers working on the dam and the US Army security team, Bravo Team sets up a trap for the terrorists. They bury acetylene cylinders on the road and cover overwatch positions. Despite these advantages, they almost lose the upper hand as the terrorists advance without firing on them. When Bravo Team does draw their fire, the terrorists show u with a tank. Luckily, the SEALs have air support that quickly brings the terrorist advance to a halt. You can leave it to Bravo Team to workaround rules and prevail.

 Making Waves

Captain Lindell (Jamie McShane) initially wanted Clay to step away from the politics of being a SEAL Operative. This was especially hard for Clay as the media shows news that dishonors deceased Ambassador Nicole Marsden (Khandi Marsden), who died during a Bravo Team mission. While Clay was able to brush this issue aside on the battlefield, Lindell has a realization about Clay’s abilities. In the cold open, Clay saves the SEAL demonstration by having Senator Walters (Van Epperson) participate in the drill, saving the deal between him, his associates, and the SEALs.

Upon Clay’s arrival, Lindell has a word with the young operative. At this point, he offers Clay a chance at advancing his career to being Admiral. Clay’s ability to ‘make waves’ proves even more effective if he advances his career, at least according to Lindell. In the next few episodes, we may see Clay considering career advancement, much like Ray Perry (Neil Brown Jr.) once did.

Fear of Loss

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After quite some time, Jason finally decides to visit his therapist, Dr. Conners (Louis Ferreira). As usual, Dr. Conners hands Jason his assessment which Jason ones again denies. Jason is the type of man who does not wish to revisit the past. To him, the past is full of pain that he does not wish to remember anymore. In contrast to him, his girlfriend Natalie Pierce (Emily Swallow) thinks that the past molds a person into who one is at present. Eventually, Jason does open up to Natalie, but he soon has nightmares.

Jason’s nightmares make him cancel his and Natalie’s camping trip, thinking that she deserves better than having to handle his PTSD. Thankfully, his unscheduled talk with Dr. Conners as soon as they return helps him put things into perspective. All his years as a SEAL operative made Jason fear loss. He lost many brothers to the battlefield, had his marriage with Alana Hayes (Michaela McManus) fail and then her unexpected death fuels his fear. Jason tends to push people away from him when he is afraid of losing them. As Dr. Conners points this out, Jason recognizes the pattern. At the end of the episode, he takes Natalie camping anyway. She reaches for his free hand as he drove them to the site.

‘SEAL Team’ Season 3, Episode 15 ‘Rules of Engagement’ Final Verdict

SEAL Team emphasizes the intricacies of maintaining relationships outside of the battlefield. At some point, Jason himself mentions that things are clearer on the field, but no so much so at home. Also, it presents two different characters that deal with these things. We have Ray, who tells his daughter, Jameelah (Kaliayh Rhambo) the truth behind his work and Jason, who struggles to face ghosts of the past that affect his present. Alongside their perfect portrayal is the intensified action (they faced a tank with their hands tied by the rules) that always makes the show never lose its touch.

SEAL Team continues Wednesday, March 25th with ‘Last Known Location’ at 9/8c on CBS.