Episode 3 of "The Terminal List: Dark Wolf" kicks off with an exhilarating training session between Ben and Raife. Ben, swift as a hawk, dashes through drills, while Raife, a mountain of strength, matches him stride for stride. Elsewhere, Geneva hosts a pivotal conference for the Iranian Nuclear Stability Agreement. Director Cyrus Rahimi, fielding inquisitive questions, subtly hints at an impending breakthrough in negotiations. His brother, Vahid, appears visibly agitated, haunted by the silence of Danawi, a crucial figure in this delicate accord. Cyrus, sensing his brother's distress, sternly cautions him to keep this concern to himself.
In Vienna, Tal introduces Mo Farooq to the fold, their bond forged through shared nightmares. Mo, a veteran of previous collaborations with Haverford, returns out of a sense of duty and a promise kept. He also reveals himself as the one who recommended Ben and Raife to Haverford, rounding out the team with Ish Reinhart and Landry. With Jabouri's absence leaving a void, Landry, though jobless at the moment, insists there are no lingering grudges as the squad catches up.
Mo imparts some heartening news to Ben: Daran's children have safely reached American shores. Meanwhile, probing Danawi's phone, Tal uncovers a clue – Danawi was set to procure something from Balazs Molnar, a geology professor based in Budapest. The team hatches a daring plan: Mo will pose as Danawi while the rest orchestrate a meeting between him and Molnar.
As night descends, Ben takes up his post on security duty, catching sight of Eliza tinkering with bikes in preparation for their mission. He offers a helping hand, only to be politely but firmly declined. Inside, Tal hones his shooting skills as Danawi's phone buzzes incessantly with messages hinting at an urgent meet-up. Mo and Ish take over, deciphering that the texts originate from Thana, a young refugee woman.
Elsewhere, Landry and Raife embark on reconnaissance of the designated meeting spot. Despite his initial reluctance, Raife calls a temporary truce, amusement flickering across his face at Landry's endless stream of lighthearted queries. However, the mood shifts abruptly when Raife's skepticism about the team's trustworthiness triggers a defensive response from Landry, who stands his ground firmly.
Elsewhere, Ben and Eliza find themselves on Molnar's premises, anticipation hanging in the air as they await his next move. Eliza, her eyes scanning the shelves, searches for a heartfelt farewell gift for her soon-to-be-enlisted daughter, Noa. Though she conceals her apprehensions, her worry is palpable, like a storm brewing beneath a calm surface. Ben, noticing her dilemma, selects a poetry collection by Wilfred Owen, an anti-war poet-soldier whose life was tragically cut short mere days before the 1918 armistice. The verses within speak of war's cruelty and the absence of glory in its midst, resonating deeply.
Their reverie is abruptly shattered by Molnar, who hurries off to his laboratory within a nuclear technology facility, leaving them to ponder the weight of their thoughts.
That fateful night, Haverford dispatches Ish and Mo with the task of dealing with Thana. Ish, ruthless and resolute, suggests terminating her, while Mo grapples with indecision. However, it is Mo who ultimately stands before her apartment door. Inside, Thana reveals her identity as Danawi's daughter and her awareness of her father's dark deeds. She embraces her impending fate with a strange sense of acceptance, causing Mo's mind to race withphantom screams before he takes the fateful step.
Yet, under the cover of darkness, Tal approaches Mo. She possesses knowledge that exonerates him—CCTV footage captured Thana leaving the scene alive. A haunting flashback reveals Mo's bullet whistling harmlessly past her. Realizing her innocence, he issues a chilling warning: involvement in her father's affairs will spell doom for her family. Unburdening his soul, Mo confesses the horror of witnessing his own family raped and murdered, leading him to enlist in the American forces, believing in the necessity of violence at times. Yet, he concedes, Thana should not suffer for her father's sins. Tal understands, vowing silence, driven more by her thorough background check on both Thana and Mo than by sympathy.
Outside, Ben is entangled in a tense conversation with Amy, his third wife. Her voice, laced with desperation, reveals her concern for his well-being. Since his discharge, he has kept her in the dark, a veil of secrecy that has strained their bond. Frustrated beyond measure, she declares her inability to continue their relationship. Overhearing this, Haverford steps in, offering solace by reassuring Ben that prioritizing the greater good does not render him a monster.
The meeting has officially commenced, and the atmosphere is charged. Events unfold seamlessly as Molnar, under the assumption that Mo is Danawi, demands a sum of 5 million for a product sample. He delves into a disturbing revelation, asserting that Iran possesses sufficient uranium to elevate their arsenal to nuclear capability, sending shockwaves through the team. Suddenly, a van materializes, prompting Eliza to urge Mo to expedite the conclusion of their business.
Once the deal is sealed, Mo bolts, drawing the attention of the van's occupants who swiftly converge upon him. They display an eerie awareness of the surveillance cameras, strategically compromising two of Mo’s potential escape routes. Their ranks swell, and within moments, Mo finds himself encircled by six menacing adversaries.
Deviating from the premeditated plan, Landry intervenes at the eleventh hour, rescuing Mo from impending peril. Spotting an opportunity, the team identifies a stray hostile wandering too far from his comrades and decides to apprehend him. Tragedy strikes as Ish falls, and Raife instructs Ben to await his signal. However, egged on by Haverford's urgings, Ben acts impulsively, boarding the same subway carriage as the adversary.
The climax of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Episode 3 unfolds with Tal deftly disabling the subway's CCTV. Ben acts swiftly, eliminating the hostile in a heartbeat. The deed is done without witnesses, leaving Ben scott-free and the tension dissolved in an instant.
