Episode 3 of "The Agency" kicks off with Martian stealthily slipping into his bathroom, where he expertly retrieves his phone from a hidden vent. He wraps it tightly in tinfoil, ingeniously concealing its signal, before setting out with the intent of evading his pursuers. His maneuver seems to pay off as his tail remains engrossed in a heated semantic dispute, allowing Martian to slip away unnoticed. He makes his way to the hotel, where he's set to meet Sami.
Martian's distrust is palpable, especially considering Sami's absence from the lectures. As she passionately shares her dreams and aspirations, the phone suddenly rings. It's Henry, and his tone is urgent, demanding Martian come down to the lobby immediately. Martian hastily invents a lie, telling Sami it's his publisher, though the late hour casts doubts on her belief.
Downstairs, Henry confronts Martian in the hotel lobby, his concern evident. Martian has signed in under his covert Agency alias, Paul Lewis, a detail that doesn't escape Henry's notice. Henry sternly warns Martian to cease his actions and simply leave, without the need for a farewell. In the world of the Agency, nothing is personal, and despite the potential suspicion this might raise in Sami's eyes, Martian obeys without hesitation.
Elsewhere, Blair engages in a conversation with Alexi, who's far from cooperative. After enduring a torturous ordeal to ensure his cleanliness, he's reluctant to work with the Agency again.
Back at the office, Martian's demeanor towards Henry is icy. Henry attempts to lighten the mood by sharing a personal mistake from his past, but Martian remains uninterested in this bonding attempt. They proceed to a meeting where they're briefed on the drama that unfolded in Ukraine in the previous chapter.
This directly ties into Operation Felix, which is currently on hold. The top priority is retrieving the three AWOL agents. If they fall into enemy hands, it could trigger a geopolitical disaster. Their covert activities must remain concealed, and now, they must use any means necessary to bring the agents back safely.
In the wake of the intense firefight, Charlie and his companions frantically sought to evade the relentless pursuit of the authorities. Meanwhile, the agency scrambled for a method to track their elusive prey. Martian harbored a belief that infrared technology might offer a viable solution, yet his thoughts were continually interrupted by messages from Sami. She persistently pinged him on his disposable phone, inquiring about his whereabouts, until finally, that very night, he relented and called her, arranging to meet the following afternoon.
However, Martian's domestic troubles loomed large. His daughter Poppy had embarked on an ill-advised journey of experimenting with weed. While hastily attempting to conceal her paraphernalia, she stumbled upon Martian's concealed wallet and alias, uncovering his secrets. Confronting him, Poppy's accusation filled the air. Martian, realizing the gravity of the situation, silently ushered her into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and issued a grave warning: the apartment was bugged. Poppy, shaken by the forceful shakes of Martian's words and the echoing water, immediately retreated into her room, locking herself in fear.
Back at the agency, the team faced additional obstacles as they navigated through a labyrinth of intelligence on Ukraine. The revelation that Coyote might be rogue cast a shadow of doubt on their Ukraine operations, hinting at corruption within. The gang speculated on Coyote's potential motives for flipping - ideology, money, or love. This contemplation sparked Martian's ingenuity - they should search for isolated car-sized heat signatures within a 20-kilometer radius. This plan stood out as their beacon of hope amidst the haystack of information.
The plan was indeed promising, as the fugitives continued to dodge the IR drones hovering menacingly over the wilderness. Knowing the drones' capability to track heat signatures, the men hastily cooled their vehicle's engine with water. Nevertheless, their cover was nearly blown when an incoming vehicle signaled the arrival of the "resistance."
While Martian was under constant surveillance, he attended his therapy sessions with the intention of merely enduring them. Yet, his sessions with Dr. Blake were anything but easy. The doctor attempted to delve into Martian's fractured psyche. Through Michael Fassbender's exceptional portrayal, Martian elaborated on the relentless insanity inherent in being an agent. Following this chilling confession, he departed to meet Samia.
A fleeting peck on the lips and a handful of seconds exchanged in greeting swiftly paved the way for a heart-to-heart conversation. Martian inquired about the conference, prompting Samia to confess that her sole motivation behind signing up had been to secure a grant that would whisk her off to London. Lectures? They held no fascination for her.
With the pretenses stripped away, Martian delved deeper, probing into her daily routines and striving to uncover the truth. Yet, she cleverly deflected the inquiry, turning the tables by inquisitively asking about his day. Ultimately, their paths diverged, and Samia relayed, with a tone of finality, that their relationship was not meant to be.
As if orchestrated by serendipity, their encounter was unexpectedly captured on camera by a man named Osman. He picked her up, and as they departed, Samia fought back the tears, struggling to maintain composure.
