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Creating TV programs since the early ’90s, screenwriterShawn Ryanadmittedly took a while to make his way into the streaming world. The first step when it came to traversing digital platforms was when he madeMad Dogsfor Prime Video in 2016, thenThe Get Downfor Netflix a year later, and finally,The Night Agentfor the same subscription service in 2023. This ongoing thriller about a night operator uncovering a conspiracy at the White House, starring Gabriel Basso in the lead role, seems to have hit the best of strides for Ryan. The first season was not only nominated by numerous recognizable award associations (such as the Critics' Choice Super Awards and the People’s Choice Awards) but has also already breached Netflix’s most-watched list of all time.
While the second season ofThe Night Agentis now streaming on Netflix, you’d be surprised to know that the third season was greenlit even before the second premiered! Even so, Ryan’s other screenwriting accomplishments should not be overshadowed. For those that have already binged their way through the new episodes ofThe Night Agentand are looking for the same type of suspense, there is a military drama that was made back in 2012 for ABC that just might satisfy that small screen itch. Even thoughLast Resortwas canceled after one season, Ryan and the others behind the making of this show made sure to bring it to an epic and conclusive finale.
A Single Submarine Crew and a National Conspiracy in ‘Last Resort’
Last Resort
Yahoo EntertainmentquicklycomparedLast Resortto a “big-screen summer blockbuster"in their Fall TV preview report from that year. Surprisingly, this impressive quote for the naval thriller still holds very strong 13 years later — the series has acertified fresh ratingon Rotten Tomatoes.
Thisepic TV collaborationbetween Ryan and the would-be showrunner ofStranger Thingswas nestled at the beginning of the Thursday night lineup (which included long-running series likeGrey’s AnatomyandScandal).Last Resortpresented viewers with a U.S. Navy submarine called the U.S.S Colorado rescuing a Navy SEAL team off the coast of Pakistan. This task sounds pretty routine, right? Hold on just a second.
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The crew then receives an alarming order — and through a channel only used if Washington D.C is destroyed — which is to launchgigantic nuclear missilesat the same country from where they just rescued the seals. When Captain Marcus Chaplin (played by Andre Braugher) and Lieutenant Commander Sam Kendal (played by Scott Speedman) both question and refuse the command, all chaos breaks loose. They are not only suddenly fired upon by other submarines in the vicinity, but the devastating missile mission is actually completed by other vessels. Now marooned and hiding on the island of Sainte Marina,a worldwide conspiracy begins to unravel regarding who or what is behind this attack on Pakistan and why they tried to frame the crew of the Colorado.
A Great Cast Elevates ‘Last Resort’
It goes without saying that everybody on this showdelivers amazing performances. From the leading names, including Daisy Betts, Robert Patrick, Sahr Ngaujah, Dichen Lachman (and those named above), to the smaller roles held by Jessica Camacho, Chin Han, and Jessy Shram,the tension from the conspiracy itself and the relationships involved never stops. Braugher (as Chaplin) delivers a valiant performance as a leader who never flinches in the face of adversity until he makes a grand sacrifice at the very end. Aside from the stacked cast, many of the faces seen here are familiar to other shows as well, such asSeverance,Peacemaker,The Expanse,Blacklist,andChicago Fire. There’s a prior and notable connection for just about everybody inLast Resort.
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Besidesthe overarching mystery, conflict comes from so many other angles as well. The drug lord on the island is trying to keep his power in all of this, some of Chaplin’s own crew are growing restless and various countries are vying to be the Colorado’s savior. Meanwhile, there is corruption in the United States involving the president, and it’s all seen from the perspective of Kylie Sinclair (who belongs to the family behind the making of Colorado’s latest cloaking technology). Even though she gets more involved as the season progresses, her subplot is equally entertaining as our stranded squadron.
‘Last Resort,’ ‘The Night Agent,’ and ‘Lost’?
Speaking about the location,Last Resortwas filmed in the beautiful outdoors of Oahu, Hawaii.This show not only connects toThe Night Agentbut, after a while of watching, also feels eerilysimilar to 2004’sLost, thanks to all the mystery and intrigue. They were both filmed on the same island and at any moment, it feels like the characters in this show could come across the same hatch in the ground. All jokes aside, this specific Shawn Ryan production was gone too quickly.
One look at the ratings, and technically, you’ll see why ABCdecided to cancel: the show lost more than half its audience by the 10th entry. But on the other hand, there was a reason whyThe New York Timescalled it “an action-adventure mystery slickly coated with suspense,” and why E! Online states, in regard to the series: “Everything we always say we want network TV to strive for.” Even though it was, unfortunately, a one-season wonder,Last Resortis streaming onFubo TV.
