This was such an amazing episode, and I'm not just saying that, it really was. It shot right to my #1 favorite episode, and that's because it was just fantastic.
This show really works well when it has just one case like this, and it keeps you hooked right until the end. That's how it should be. Just fantastic.


Since this is just a 1 case episode, I will only run over Cal's scenes/the ones in Afganistan because thats where the whole episode really took place.


--


Now we begin IN Afganistan, the war torn country, and a fantastic scene where 2 marines are captured. It's not fantastic that they were captured...but it was intence.
And over at the Lightman Group, there's a GIANT Christmas tree. I fell off of my seat laughing at this scene, Cal's ackward look at 'Dick--erm, RICK Massey' and how Cal thinks that this tree and the Christmas party is a conspiracy. Wow.
But once Cal and Gillian are dragged over into their office, and confronted with a Top Secret mission...things take a turn.
Gillian doen't want him to go, "You can't go to that place again" ...what does that mean? An actual physical place? Or...a emotional/psychological place...a rush of being caught in the action. Gillian knows about this and fears for him. However, "Fear is healthy." And a cute hug/kiss later (yes, it WAS cute) he's off.
Of course, it gets lighthearted once Secret Santa is mentioned, and once Cal picks a name he bursts out laughing.

--

In Afganistan (where I will remain for the rest of my summary) The Lightman Group is watching over, analyzing his moves
"Say hello." That struck a chord. Cal asks for a gun, uses fear as his motivation for truth from the American traitor. He gets a location out of him, and he was only 70% sure on. While indeed it isn't an exact science, that really wasn't the best time to mention it, in a life or death situation.
And he lead the Platoon into an ambush.

--

This man swears that he didn't know, and refuses to talk. The truth buys truth here, and this man points out that Cal get's a rush in situations like this. He loves it, and that wasn't a surprise. (I mean, Hostage situation, he got shot...several times. Think about it.) But Cal was in Bosnia in '94, and he sent out a man in the middle of snipers, not 4 seconds, 18 feet-ish. He's not an executioner, just a scientist. But he's a damn good one.
Yet when Emily walks in and witnesses her dad in this situation...things really get hot.

--

Bombs are going off, and all hell breaks loose. They hand Cal a gun, "I've had my moments." You think?
Cal worked for British Intelligence in Bosnia, the MI6. (Sweet), but he says he betrayed himself. And for Cal to admit this really shows us how much of himself he's giving away just for one man. (But it makes you wonder how much of it is REALLY true. (Think 'Blinded')) Well they lead the men into the tunnels and they get the men out.
They bounce the truth back and forth, this man admits that he was stabbed while he was in the brig...huh. Cal checks out the scar...and asks him;
"Did you kill an American?"
"No."
"Well that's a bloody lie.
And mounts the man.

--

"We gotta go!"
Wait, Cal has a knife and is digging into this mans wound. It was horribly gruesome to watch, (but watching House surgeries has desenitized me to all of that), but it was horrible with all of the screaming, and the bombs, gunfire...and Cal shouting at people while digging around in a mans back with a knife. But when he pulls out a tracking device, I was thankful that he had a reason.
"Who are you?"
"You're the expert, you tell me."
This guy can do good now, and these guys have got to get out of there. Cal talks to him and flips the situation for him. If he holds the men back for 45 seconds, he's done good. He's done what he wanted to do in the first place.
Cal made it right.

--

He's home now, and goes to tell the soldiers family that he's still alive...but Ed (the guy over in the Lightman Group watching over the case) takes responsibility.

--

At the party...can confronts Emily.
"I was scared."
"Me too. Me too."
They hug, and all's well. It was such a happy ending to such a wicked episode...but wait, there's still the party...
Cal hugs/kisses Gillian...then Ria. "You look nice-ish." (ISH?! WHAT'S WITH THE -ISH'S?? Harsh, Cal...harsh.)

And the secret santa?

He got Eli..........and gave him a paper snowflake.

Hey, it's under $20.00, right?

--

Wow. Just wow. This was such a great episode I LOVED IT! It was amazing, intence, funny as heck, dramatic, cute...it was everything that this show can do well.
It's episodes like this that really stand out, and what make this show great. Just as good, and if not better than Fox's leading drama, House.

--

Characters? Where do I begin? I can't go lesser to Cal...because screentime did not have a factor here. It was all one case, therefore, everyone had a respectful part.

But let's start with Ria..shall we? While nothing amazing happened with her, and nothing important was discovered or found by her...I can safely say that she IS a part of the Lightman Group now. No more initiating tests from Cal anymore...just tests.

Loker? Well it was hilarious to watch him recieve Cal's gift. Priceless.
Loker is a funny guy, and a needed member in the Group. He explains what they're doing to the clueless characters of each episode (and to the audience) so we need him. But I wish that we could see the Loker that we saw in the Pilot episode.
The radically honest Loker.

Gillian? Well she had alot to do here, she really did keep the fact that Cal was in Afganistan a secret from Emily. Something that she's been doing alot for Cal lately, keeping secrets for him...but they work together, and she had a great episode.

Cal.
Where do I honestly start? This episode revolved around him, and he gave out so much that I almost forgot to take notes my eyes were glued to the screen. Each scene, was just amazing, Cal talking about the 'Rush' he gets, and his past. What's done is done.
You know, this guy is amazing. He is such a complex character, and this was a great episode for him. We learned about him, and it was just a great story to go on.
Amazing.


...and don't even get me started on how FRICKEN AMAZING he looked tonight!!
*faint*