Episode 1 of "The Terminal List: Dark Wolf" opens on a poignant scene: the funerals of the Alpha Platoon, where sorrow hangs thick in the air. Ben's thoughts drift, pondering the very essence of their struggle. For these operators, each engagement is a sacred mission to return their comrades safely home. Yet, abandoning one's own can leave a burdensome guilt that crushes the soul.
The narrative shifts to Mosul, Iraq, in 2015, where Ben's platoon is deployed to confront ISIS, who are perilously close to seizing control of two cities. Boozer and Raife stand alongside him, ready for battle. Despite Ben's misgivings about their orders, Reece reminds him that obedience is non-negotiable in wartime.
A tense hostage exchange unfolds at a bridge. ISIS holds 18 hostages, while the soldiers captive their leader, Hamid Al-Jabouri. Ben and Colonel Mohammed Farooq of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are reluctant to set Jabouri free, but they have no alternative. Ben shares a close bond with Daran, an ISF interpreter whose family is among the ISIS hostages.
As anticipated, the exchange descends into chaos. Upon reuniting with his men, Jabouri flees to Syria. Eight hostages halt mid-bridge, refusing to move towards the soldiers. ISIS threatens to execute them if they don't continue. Boozer realizes, with a chilling clarity, that the hostages are strapped with bombs. Gunfire erupts, filling the air with panic and danger.
Daran's sister perishes in the crossfire, and he desperately attempts to reclaim her body, only to be shot in the leg. Ben races to his aid, their escape narrowly preceding the detonation of the bombs strapped to the hostages.
Three months later, the scene changes to base camp. The SEALs are entrusted with the task of training ISF soldiers, instilling discipline and efficiency within their ranks. Ben, Raife, Ramirez, Boozer, and Cortese are among those charged with this responsibility. Reece finally arrives, poised to gradually assume command from Ben and Raife upon their discharge.
Daran, having lost his leg, is discharged from the hospital. Ben, who has formed a friendship with Daran's children, bids them a heartfelt farewell as they prepare to return home. He suggests relocating Daran to the United States, but Daran declines. Instead, he plans to send his family to safety in the US while he re-enlists, determined to continue his fight alongside his brothers-in-arms.
That evening, the SEALs gathered for some downtime, their camaraderie thick in the air. Reece, thoughtful as ever, had thoughtfully prepared gifts for each of his comrades. For Raife, he presented his father's wrist compass, a keepsake brimming with heritage; Ben received a tome on military leadership, a book designed to inspire; and for a lighter moment, he shared a cheerful snapshot of Ben's wife Amy, Lucy, and Liz, engaging in a whimsical fishing expedition with Boozer. With a resolute promise, Reece assured Alpha Platoon that they would ensnare Jabouri.
The scene shifts to Daran's return, marking his first day back on duty. Marwa, his wife, was eager to see him off, her love and concern evident. Just as he prepared to depart, his doctor arrived, accompanied by a figure that stirred unease—Massoud Danawi, a name synonymous with treachery. The doctor handed Daran his metal leg prosthesis, a silent reminder of his sacrifice.
At the base, CIA officer Fuller briefed the SEALs on a new adversary in their midst: Danawi, a mastermind behind IED bombs, a private arms dealer with no scruples, catering to the highest bidder. Now in Mosul, the team needed to reconnoiter his operations.
The mission commenced, with the first hurdle being the ISIS checkpoint guarding the entrance to Mosul. Farooq took the wheel, while the SEALs, cleverly disguised as locals, blended seamlessly into the passenger seats. With a strategic bribe, they slipped past a rigorous inspection.
Concurrently, Daran arrived at the base, only to be halted by the metal detector's piercing beep. He nonchalantly attributed it to his prosthetic leg, but his trepidation was palpable. As his comrades welcomed him back with warm embraces, an ominous realization dawned—there was an IED concealed within his artificial limb.
Back to the reconnaissance, the soldiers tracked Danawi, their prey, into a fortified compound equipped with signal jammers, severing communication with the base. Fuller, wise and cautious, ordered a retreat, but Commander Cox, fiery with determination, refused to abandon their quest for intelligence. Reece, aligned in resolve, echoed Cox's stance, defying the withdrawal order. At this critical juncture, Daran's call to Ben interrupted the tension, his voice laden with regret. In a heartfelt apology, he entrusted Ben with the care of his child before abruptly ending the call. Ben's heart raced, instinctively recognizing the gravity of the situation. As they rushed back to the base, Ben imparted to Cox the distressing news of Daran's compromise.
Landry, Fuller's trusted operative, is dispatched with the mission to halt Daran's deadly plans. We witness Daran in the mess hall, his sorrow etched across his face as his comrades ignore the military dogs barking menacingly at him. In a heart-wrenching gesture, he utters an apology before detonating the bomb, outpacing Landry and Ben's efforts to intervene. Tragedy strikes as seven lives are snuffed out by Daran's bomb, amid the revelation that his wife has been slain and his children kidnapped.
Cox, undeterred, rallies his troops with a fiery speech, insisting that this setback will not dampen their resolve. Their mission, Operation Inherent Resolve, presses on with renewed vigor – in six months' time, they aim to train a formidable contingent of ISF fighters, sufficient to eradicate ISIS from Mosul.
Intelligence reaches Farooq's men, implicating Jabouri in orchestrating the hit and using Danawi to procure the deceptive fake leg bomb. Raife, swift in action, orders his platoon to stand by, ready to pursue Jabouri once the intel is confirmed. However, an unexpected obstacle arises in the forms of Fuller and Cox. They contend that Daran is a jihadi extremist, and the bombing bears no relation to Jabouri. Their singular focus is Danawi.
Ben's anger boils over as he realizes Jabari has betrayed them, turning into a CIA spy, and that the SEALs were misled with false intelligence about his escape to Syria. Cox's guilt is palpable, yet Fuller remains unyielding in his adherence to orders. Raife, commanding Ben to stand down, only fuels his frustration further.
Venting his frustration to Reece, who concurs that Daran was the victim of blackmail, Raife steps in to assure Ben that he stands by his side. However, caution dictates a smarter approach. They hatch a new plan – to piggyback on the next mission, split off, and expose Jabouri as a CIA asset, thereby manipulating ISIS into eliminating him for them.
Farooq joins their ranks, signaling the operation's commencement. Landry catches on to their true intent as they steer towards Jabouri's lair, but it's too late to halt their course. Gunfire erupts within Jabouri's compound as the SEALs seize control. As anticipated, Jabouri protests his CIA affiliation, to no avail, as the SEALs secure him. Ben's fury reaches its zenith when he spots Daran's daughter, Zaynab, ensnared within Jabouri's harem. In a fit of rage, Ben ends Jabouri's life. The SEALs are taken aback, but Reece swiftly conjures a cover story of self-defense.
