Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Jack Carr and David DiGilio, Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’ is a prequel to ‘The Terminal List,’ and follows the life of Ben Edwards, a former Navy SEAL icon who joins the CIA. While the original show is centered around James Reece’s wrong journey, where Ben serves as his ally, this season brings the focus on the latter’s psyche, and how a life of violence and conspiracy gradually begins to eat him from the inside. With every new step, the protagonist realizes that the world is several shades grayer than he thought, and difficult choices have to be made for good to persevere. He is joined in this endeavour by a host of his trusted friends and teammates, and while Raife Hastings is his primary support system, Ben also makes new friends. One of them is Ish Hart, a master of the craft in his own right, who helps the protagonist find his footing amidst the mounting risk factors. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Ish Has a Tragic Conclusion at the Hands of Assassins
Ish is introduced to the story as a CIA field agent who joins the task force led by Jed Haverford, a spymaster for the agency. Ish is joined by the protagonist, Ben Edwards, and his team of professionals, and together they lead an investigation into a professor named Balazs Molnar, who is suspected of dealing with terrorists. From the very beginning, Ish establishes himself as a calm, collected veteran of the craft, being familiar with its darker sides as well. We learn that he was at one point Jed’s partner, and his proven expertise is why he’s chosen for such a high-profile mission. While things have a smooth start, the team is soon ambushed by a group of assassins who gradually begin to surround them. While Jed’s crew initially manages to escape safely, Ben later finds Ish lying motionless in a subway station and realizes that he has been killed.
Ish’s demise shocks the crew, forcing them to realize that their enemy is more powerful than they anticipated. The fact that he is taken out discreetly and then made to look inconspicuous further enhances their stealth abilities. While Ben declares his teammate killed in action, retrieving his body is still a problem, as they are surrounded by people in a busy setting. Additionally, this fiasco is made possible by the assailants having intimate knowledge of the operation as well as the camera placements. This level of planning could mean that they have a mole within, but with Ish out of the picture, the pool of suspects has narrowed down. This can trigger a chain reaction of interpersonal conflicts, with the desire for avenging his death at the heart of it.
Ben Ensures that Ish’s Killer is Brought to Justice
Despite his passing, Ish still tells the story of ‘The Terminal List: Dar Wolf’ on both a plot and thematic level. During one of his exchanges with Mo, he talks about his experience in the job and how he often has to take innocent lives for the sake of the greater good. This, coupled with his general weariness throughout his appearances, suggests that he is psychologically tormented because of his actions. This draws parallels with Mo, who is similarly suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, where Ish does not give up on the integrity of the mission and shows a readiness to get his hands dirty, Mo’s path diverges in that he lets the innocents live. Ironically, it appears that Ish’s life of extremes finally takes a toll on him, culminating in his assassination.
Ish’s death sends ripples through his team, with Jed Haverford being the most affected of them all. The duo’s shared history is potent enough for him to shed tears, and as a result, he does not stop Ben from hunting down the murderer. On the contrary, the protagonist’s cause sees assistance, as Jed orders all CCTV footage to be cut down. Following this, Ben finally comes face-to-face with the person responsible and quickly cuts their confrontation short by gunning him down. With Ish avenged, the team finally returns to the original mission, but the gap left behind by his absence is bound to leave a mark on their proceedings going forward. With his death comes the loss of one of the most experienced agents on board, and as such, their intelligence and offensive capabilities are slashed. However, this loss is made up for by their renewed thirst for revenge, in keeping with the show’s central idea of solidarity.
Read More: Who is Daran Amiri? Who Plays Him in The Terminal List Dark Wolf?
