Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
Jason returns to Bravo on SEAL Team Season 7 Episode 7, and the situation with Mikey did him no favors regarding his future.
Ray is beginning to worry about his impending retirement, and Lisa may wind up atoning for Sonny’s mistake.
Let’s discuss the hot topics from “Mission Creep.”
Asian Op Cemented Bravo as One of the Best
Bravo is back at the top of the DevGru food chain.
Their work in Asia erased all of the bad will that had been generated from previous ops, and command is prepared to double down on their capabilities.
The next op will allow for more direct action, which is what the team craves, especially Jason, who seems to be throwing caution to the wind now that he thinks he can’t find a work-life balance.
Jason Working the Problem
Damn, Jason. Quit your whining. For a guy who thrives on chaos and is always “working the problem,” he doesn’t have a great handle on life.
Yes, he’s done terrible things during his career, and it would be hard to move past some of it.
But we all struggle with work-life balance. Half of us are home without actually engaging in any family activities because we’re always on the job.
That’s life in 2024.
His attitude and thirst for blood are concerning, especially since he’s been dreaming about his first kill.
We will need more of that story to figure out how he can escape those demons. Hopefully, his reckless attitude won’t get him or someone else killed in the meantime.
Mikey’s Overdose and Cartel Takedowns
And really, can it be a coincidence that Bravo is taking down drug cartels at the same time Mikey ODs? Well, no, since this is a scripted series. Jason is going to work out his anger over that one way or another.
It’s unlikely he’ll be able to take down who is actually responsible, but with his work, he can do some damage to the source.
By setting that stash house on fire, he put a target on their backs. Do you think that some of that money doesn’t make it home in the real world?
Why wouldn’t command demand that money be confiscated and used? It’s probably untraceable. Burning it was dramatic, but man, what a waste!
Is Jason’s Future Behind a Desk?
Brass pushed through a position that will address all of the health issues brought to their attention by Jason’s bold move on SEAL Team Season 6 Episode 10.
So why didn’t he seem more thrilled about it?
He’s jealous of Ray because his future is sorted out with Spencer House. Ray’s got goals and plans. Jason is blowing in the wind. You’d think knowing his actions sparked change and that he was wanted to lead the charge would be welcome.
Not so much.
Whatever is to come, it’s unlikely to include Jason taking on a position that pulls him out of the action. He lives and breathes that stuff, and although he wants changes in how the military addresses their health needs, he doesn’t want to be the one to make it.
Mandy Is On the Edge
It’s beautiful how Mandy is now family. But she’s not willing to watch Jason backpedal.
Jason has been having night terrors for a while, and he finally shared what he’s experiencing. The same guy who can’t wait to raise his gun on another op is also filled with shame for what he’s done.
In particular, he sees an officer take prayer beads off of Jason’s first kill as a momento, and he can’t let it go. But Mandy can’t let go, either.
She doesn’t want Jason to be “that guy” again. Has he grown? Can he live with what he’s done? If he can’t, he may lose the best thing that’s happened to him in a long time.
He sees himself as an executioner, forgetting that he’s got two good kids he helped to raise. Until he addresses his issues, he won’t be fit for anything but Bravo duty.
“The fire is where I belong,” Jason says. “There’s nothing more to say. I gotta do what I gotta do.” We respectfully disagree.
Is Ray Having Second Thoughts About Retirement?
After a life that’s as high-octane as what SEALs experience, it’s no surprise that Ray is having trouble imagining retirement.
What I find fascinating is that he’s more concerned about who will look out for his guys rather than who will look out for his family. He’s still in the fight, putting Bravo first and family second.
We’ve seen his hesitation at taking a leadership role with Spencer House. I don’t know why he’s reluctant, but if it’s not his dream, then he should pursue what will make him happy.
Jason isn’t keen on Ray’s modesty and wants him to be happy he’s got his future sorted out, but Ray doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t want to land at Spencer House; he wants a plan. That’s fair and, after all of his hard work, deserved.
Sonny and Drew — Partners in Crime
Sonny is the kind of guy who needs someone to stand beside him. When he lost Clay, he was drifting. Now, he’s attached himself to Drew. Surprisingly, it works.
Sonny’s Shark Tank Moment
I’m a little confused about Sonny taking his kit on the open market. Didn’t the Navy want to work with him and make it available across the military?
Did I miss something that might have indicated he turned them down to go private?
I had no idea what he was doing during that meeting when he had to go to the bathroom. At first, I thought nerves got the best of him. Nope, he had Drew, who has family wealth, waiting in the wings to give him advice.
That was cute and showed just how much changed in very little time.
Drew Flakes Again
Sonny wasn’t the only one worried when Drew flaked again. Omar was just as concerned as Sonny. But it was Sonny who figured out what was going on with Drew.
Sonny said, “Take yourself off the team so the team can’t be taken from you.” As a girl who spent many years sabotaging relationships so that if they broke it off before me, I would feel comfortable with the breakup, it made total sense.
However, in practice, it’s nonsensical. We all know that.
Omar used his own past to swing Drew around, and Sonny even declared he’d prefer to be Drew’s worst enemy than have Drew be his own worst enemy. Sonny has grown up.
Omar has a story of his own and tries to get Drew to see sense. Sonny wants Drew to be his worst enemy, not his own.
Lisa continued making waves, so much so that the admiral wanted her by his side. That’s a huge honor, but in the back of her mind, she can’t let go of the anvil waiting to drop, ruining things for both her and Sonny.
If her sudden deployment after a closed-door meeting is any indication, the cord may be fraying. Something is up. Her attitude changed from jubilant and confident to mindful and demure (hey, I, too, can use a social media sensation!).
The series isn’t going to end without a resolution for Sonny’s offense. Whether it brings him down or both him and Lisa is the question.
While it’s still hard to imagine how SEAL Team will end, this episode felt like a return to normal. We even got a sudden fade to black mid-scene at the end. I’ve missed that!
It makes sense, though, that when Bravo is king, the pull to the next episode is intense. When they’re faltering, we can even feel it from the couch.
What did you think of this “Mission Creep”? Did it give you a better idea of where the series might end? Share your thoughts in the comments!
