WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Agency episode 9.
Episode 9 of the Paramount+ political thriller seriesThe Agency"The Rubicon" establishes Martian’s endgame plan to extract Coyote from Russian-occupied Ukraine by redeploying Operation Felix. Created for American television by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow,Ford v Ferrari),The Agencyis an adaptation of the 2015 critically acclaimed French thriller seriesThe Bureaucreated by Eric Rochant. Michael Fassbender leads thecast ofThe Agencyalongside Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Katherine Waterson, John Magaro, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and Jodie Turner-Smith.
DuringThe Agencyepisodes 1 & 2, Fassbender’s “Paul Lewis” gets pulled out of a six-year undercover mission to help locate a missing Belarusian CIA operative named Coyote.The Agencyepisode 3followed three undercover"Felix" operatives trying to escape Russian-occupied Ukraine, who have returned to play in season 1’s penultimate episode. Martian meets a KGB operative named Mikhail inThe Agencyepisode 4who helps the CIA find their missing “bike” inThe Agencyepisode 5.The Agencyepisode 6dives deeper into the CIA’s hunt for Agent Coyote whileThe Agencyepisode 7brings Samia into Martian’s inner CIA circle, only to backfire inThe Agencyepisode 8leading to a “crystal ball” effort in episode 9.
Did Martian Cause Samia’s Death?
Osman says that he did but he could be bluffing
At the end ofThe Agencyepisode 9, Osman texts Martian and tells him that his inaction ended up killing Samia. Osman has held her captive after she was meant to fly back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the end of episode 8 following Martian’s failed attempt to turn her into a CIA operative. Osman reaches out to “Paul Lewis”, whose phone is in storage at the CIA. Simon offers Martian the phone, who cleverly extracts the SIM card and uses it to contact Osman at a nearby London bridge.Osman delivers his ultimatum to “Paul” face to face, who nearly kills Osman in a bout of rage.
It certainly appears that Osman plans to kill Samia after Martian fails to show up with the intel that Osman demands in exchange for Samia’s life. Osman had requested all the names of the people who Martian recruited in Ethiopia, which would have been an irrecoverable breach of protocol by Martian. Even though Osman showed Martian a video of Samia chained and locked in a prison cell, it’s not out of the question that it was staged to get Martian to respond. Martian could believe that Osman is bluffing and decides not to act as a result.Osman’s text to Martian at the end of episode 9 could turn out to be nothing but an empty threat.
Martian’s Plan To Use Felix Ops To Rescue Coyote Explained
Martian turned Felix’s kill op into a rescue op
Martian promises to come up with a “crystal ball” plan for the CIA Director, pissing off Bosko and Henry in the process. Martian, however, discovers a genius Hail Mary play that would involve redeploying three Felix operatives on a rescue mission to save Coyote, who is currently in transit with Volchok. After Martian enters Belarus through an illegal bounce dive, he quickly turns his “white rabbit"Leo, a disgruntled subordinate of Volchok who jumps at the opportunity to sell him out. Leo offers up the Russian Deputy Defense Minister’s itinerary as he tours the Ukrainian front with FSB Colonel Oleg Dimushenko, a former Valhalla member and trusted ally of Volchok.
Volchok plans to hand over Coyote to Dimishenko to gain a political advantage in Moscow. As part of Martian’s blackmailing scheme on Leo, he hasLeo establish the Coyote handoff location at a Ukrainian medical clinic, which was already part of the Minister’s itineraryfor a planned photo op. That clinic just so happened to be where the three Felix operatives have been working undercover, waiting for their opportunity to strike on their top-secret mission. Martian plans to use the three Felix operatives as a rescue team to extract Coyote and return to the London Embassy or the United States safely.
What The Original Objective Of Operation Felix Was
They were ordered to kill Russian Comrade Minister Chekov
The top-secret objective of Operation Felix is finally revealed inThe Agencyepisode 9. They’re a kill team comprised of one American – who just so happens to be Henry’s brother-in-law – and two Ukrainian Special Forces sent to kill the Comrade Minister. After they learn of their redeployment, the Ukrainian Felix operatives reluctantly agree to follow their new orders even though they will have a prime opportunity to complete their original Felix mission once the Minister arrives at their health clinic.One of the Ukrainians appears to take the news quite hard, which could hint at him taking a shot at Comrade Minister Chekhovand abandoning the Coyote rescue mission altogether.
How Martian Knew Leo Would Betray Volchok
Leo sent texts about his dislike of Volchok
Martian and his team had discovered Leo’s text messages revealing his contempt for General Volchok, having been one of his most trusted aides for years and never getting a promotion or adequate recognition. Since there was evidence that Leo felt slighted by Volchok, which likely built a deep resentment, Martian concluded that it was their best shot to get a Valhalla operative to switch sides. Martian naturally blackmailed Leo to sweeten the deal. Leo set up Volchok by telling him to head to the clinic where Chekhov and Dimishenko were going to have a one-hour meeting with the Minister.
Where Is Osman Keeping Samia?
She is likely in a Sudanese black site prison
Henry tasks a CIA employee to gather intel on Samia Zahir, who speaks with the Horn of Africa Combined Joint Task Force. Henry discovers that although the Embassy announced Samia was touring East Asia for the Center of Cultural Heritage, the U.S.’s National Security Council tracked Dalgada’s (Samia’s husband) private jet to a runway atKhartoum Airport in Sudan, where she arrived after leaving London.
A cell phone cluster originated at the airport and traveled toKober prison in Sudan, which is controlled by RSF-Janjaweed militias. Connecting this with Osman’s video footage, Samia is likely in that Sudanese prison, which is currently being used as a black site, where prisoners are held without due process.
What To Expect In The Agency Season 1 Finale
Martian could go rogue & Volchok may not take Leo’s bait
It’s already established that Martian will be interrogated by the end ofThe Agencyseason 1, which suggests that either his “crystal ball” mission failed or, more likley, he went rogue and tried to kill Osman, especially if Samia is actually dead.Martian may find out Sami is still alive, go after her, and potentially walk into a trap. Either way, Martian is set to crash out inThe Agencyepisode 10, whether Coyote is successfully saved by Felix operatives or not. The Felix Ukrainians may not hesitate at a clear shot of the minister, since it was their original objective and they have way more skin in the game defending their home turf.
The overarching theme ofThe Agencyis Martian’s vulnerability when it comes to Samia, proving that love is one of the few ways to get an intelligence operative to turn or crumble. Danny is off to Tehran and is very separated from the main action, although she will be put to the test now that things are getting real for her.Coyote will probably either be recused or killed and hopefully reveal some additional informationon what exactly happened the night he was arrested. As stated inThe Agencyepisode 9, Volchok’s superpower is paranoia, so he may not take Leo’s bait and could ignite a catastrophe at the Ukranian clinic.
The Agency
Cast
The Agency is a 2024 espionage thriller following covert CIA agent Martian, who is recalled to London Station, disrupting his undercover life. As a former romance rekindles, Martian’s career and true identity are jeopardized, leading him into a high-stakes world of international intrigue and deception.
