What I’m Watching: Covert Affairs

Covert Affairs: Season 2, Episode 4 “All the Right Friends” (B)

I would definitely say that this show is smart to pair up its lead character with other agents from foreign organizations on a regular basis. I didn’t like Annie all that much last season, and she’s starting to get on my nerves once again now. I think she tends to be most obnoxious when she’s trying to defend her credentials to a challenging entity. It’s better to demonstrate than to defend, and I think that’s one thing Annie does do well, as evidenced by her smooth getaway driving after Carlo told her that she shouldn’t be driving because she’s a woman. Carlo was entertaining, to be sure, and credit is due to actor Ignacio Serricchio, but the character seemed a bit too squeaky-clean in terms of his noble intentions for the treatment that he was being given by the CIA. I do wish that Benito Martinez, who was once so terrific as David Aceveda on “The Shield,” got better roles than the grumpy commissioner from Buenos Aires, though at least he did get to shoot the assassin and save the day at the end of the episode. Arthur consulting Auggie and offering him the opportunity to become one of the public faces of the CIA is certainly intriguing, and I’m wondering if Auggie’s voicemail left for Annie was a red herring or a truthful indication that he accepted the post. Regardless of what Auggie is up to, Jai needs to better utilized on this show since he’s doing nothing at the moment except feeling like the kid picked last for gym class.