Episode One of The Terminal List commences with a somber funeral scene, as guns blaze into the sky, their echoes resonating. The camera rewinds two weeks, revealing a covert operation mere kilometers off the Syrian coast. Lieutenant Commander James Reece, at the helm, guides a squadron of troops towards a critical mission. Their point of entry: a treacherous sewer system, laden with tripwires, Semtex explosives, and a murky veil of water.
As they cautiously inch forward, the silence is abruptly shattered by enemy fire. The contact is unexpected, and twelve Navy Seals fall, casualties of a hasty move that inadvertently tripped a wire, igniting a blast. Amidst the chaos, James Reece and a few survivors scramble to safety, the mission a dismal failure.
Back at base, James is grilled about the details, but the audio recording diverges from his vivid recollection. The doctor's concern for potential memory loss and a warning to abstain from alcohol only fuels James' desire for a drink. Unsurprisingly, the next scene finds him at a bar, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
James eventually makes his way home, where his friend Bed Edwards awaits. James confides in him, revealing that the entire event was a well-orchestrated ambush, and the audio files his superiors possess could be fabrications. Ben agrees to investigate on his behalf.
Returning to his family, James reunites with his wife Lauren and their cherubic daughter Lucy. As he tucks Lucy into bed, she proudly displays a drawing of them together. Yet, James is perplexed, as he doesn't recall her creating it. Whether it's a symptom of his PTSD and concussion or another instance of his mind erasing crucial mission details remains a mystery.
In the wee hours of the morning, James' phone rang urgently, shattering the silence. The news was devastating: Ernest "Boozer" Vickers, a close colleague, had taken his own life in his apartment, using the team's pistol. Reece was bewildered and enraged, remembering their boisterous night out in the bar the previous day. Moreover, Boozer had always expressed his disdain for that particular firearm.
However, Reece's turmoil intensified when he discovered that Vickers had actually been dead for two days, not just one. This revelation added another perplexing layer to the mystery, compelling James to rush back to the base in search of answers. Deeply convinced that the audio files had been manipulated and the intelligence he had received was flawed from the start, James felt they had walked into a cunning trap.
Alone in his suspicions, Reece reached out to Katie Buranek, a reporter who had met him earlier in the bar with Vickers. She had voiced her suspicions of a conspiracy, but he had dismissed her then. Now, however, he sent her an email, and she promptly appeared at his doorstep.
Katie was equally convinced that something sinister was at play, though she refrained from labeling it a conspiracy. She argued that their team had endured less downtime than anyone else, which might have led to exhaustion and clouded judgment.
After Katie's departure, James confessed to his wife that he felt the need to consult a doctor for a thorough check-up. Inside the MRI machine, his mind replayed snippets of the operation. But upon emerging, he sensed a malevolent presence.
Suddenly, a group of assassins burst into the room, intent on harming James. With quick reflexes, Reece wrestled a pistol from one of the assailants and fired, killing him instantly. The other assailant managed to flee, but not without Reece catching a glimpse of his face. Upon examining the pistol, however, he realized it was his own—the one he had carefully concealed at home.
Realizing his home might no longer be safe, James raced back, fearing the worst. And indeed, his worst nightmare had materialized. His wife and precious daughter lay lifeless, victims of a cold and calculated attack.
