Abhiroop Das
In Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf,’ conspiracy and camaraderie come together to create an epic that traverses the depths of the criminal underworld. This idea is embodied foremost by the dynamic between the protagonist, Ben Edwards, a former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative, and Eliza Perash, a Mossad operative. While the two come together under the leadership of Jed Haverford for a top-secret mission, the bond they develop goes far beyond its bounds, and puts their trust in each other, as well as their underlying motivations, to the test. At every step of the way, Eliza proves herself to be on level footing with the protagonist, going as far as to outplay him on several occasions. However, the journey at hand is full of hidden gaps, which eventually shake their known understanding of exactly who, or what, they are fighting. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Eliza is Killed Moments Before Uncovering the Truth
Eliza Perash’s team-up with Ben Edwards is cut short in the final moments of episode 5, titled ‘E & E,’ as she gets caught up in a car bomb explosion and meets a tragic end. Her death is the result of a targeted assassination attempt, and while the protagonist manages to escape in the nick of time, his partner isn’t as lucky. When Ben tries to reach out to help her, all he sees are her bloodied remains, with the bag containing nuclear bearings pulled out of harm’s reach. As such, even in her dying moments, Eliza courageously fulfills her duty as a soldier and passes the torch to her newfound confidante. Although her death isn’t explicitly shown, it is strongly implied in the way Ben walks away from the scene with a broken heart and a renewed sense of vengeance.
Eliza’s death ripples through the rest of the narrative in large part due to everything we know about her character. Her primary motive is a deeply emotional one: the protection of her daughter, who is all set for a life in the military herself. Although Eliza isn’t exactly pleased with this development, she understands it on some level, and instead makes it her life’s goal to create a world free of as much evil as possible. Her desire to make things safer for her daughter pulls her into a journey from hell and back, but that does not deter her from putting her skills to good use. However, with a life of service comes the risk of an untimely death, and Eliza fully accepts that fact. In a conversation with Ben, she emphasizes that the soldiers as individuals are merely cogs in a larger machinery, which makes it their duty to keep the balance together.
While Eliza’s mission is largely in sync with Ben’s, there comes a point of divergence that reveals her hidden motivations. As a Mossad operative, one of her primary goals is to smoke out the real identity of the CIA source and asset known as the “Shepherd.” Although the taskmaster, Jed Haverford, completely trusts his source’s intelligence, several characters, such as Raife, are suspicious. This includes Eliza and Tal, and prompts them to carry out an independent mission of putting the Shepherd’s potentially nefarious motivations to a stop. As she is unable to discuss her reasons out in the open, her initial act of betrayal looks like the work of an enemy, and causes Ben to nearly lash out at her. However, the two soon decide to join hands in the face of a mutual enemy and set out to confront the source. The fact that Eliza is killed before she digs any further confirms the presence of traitors within the system.
Rona-Lee Shimon’s Active Role in the Narrative Has Likely Come to an End
Rona-Lee Shimon’s portrayal of Eliza brings an additional depth to her role, giving meaning to her complicated decisions and the subsequent highs and lows. However, with the character dead, the actor is unlikely to reprise her role in the show. Given that all the major deaths in the story so far have been the final moments for their respective characters, with no flashbacks or visual imagery bringing them back into the equation, the same will likely hold true for Shimon. However, that does not outright eliminate the possibility, making a brief reappearance possible. At the same time, it is possible that the idea of her character will become the defining presence in the show in the following episodes, as exemplified by Ben Edwards taking hold of her bracelet as a final memory to connect with.
Throughout the show, Ben makes it his life’s mission to fight not as much for a greater cause as he does for his comrades in arms. This bond goes beyond fellow SEAL soldiers and extends to his dynamic with the new members of the team. Following Ish’s death, Ben immediately takes his revenge by narrowing down the assassin and killing them in broad daylight. As such, the same can be expected for Eliza, who held an even greater importance in his life. The fact that he is not even able to honor her body fuels his rage and despair, coupled with the responsibility he feels about Eliza’s daughter. As such, it is entirely in the realm of possibility that Ben’s mission from hereon out will see a significant pivot, focused on taking down the Shephed, and along with him, the system that has been hiding behind the shadows all along.
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