Brennan's back. So is Larry (yes, dead Larry). Together, they're going to make a lot of money forcing Michael to kill the people on the list. Michael tries to manage Brennan and Larry while Sam, Fi, and Jesse do work in the background to try and find the list and eliminate his blackmail hold on Mike.
- Batman Gambit: Sam makes like he's about to club Larry, which prompts Michael to try to restrain him. Sam then throws Michael up against the wall, only to whisper to get Larry's cellphone number. He's already got an idea in the works, and he needed to relay that to Mike quietly.
- Blackmail: Brennen ensures Michael's loyalty with an audio message designed to be emailed to Vaughn every day at 5:00 a.m., unless he cancels it. Unfortunately for all concerned, Larry opts to kill Brennen, which means there's nothing to stop the Organization from learning about the list and what Michael's been up to.
- Cliffhanger: Larry is dealt with, but Brennen's message will soon reach Vaughn, leaving Michael and company in for a world of hurt.
- Continuity Nod: Brennen asks how Nate is, saying he sent him a Christmas card.
- Crazy-Prepared: Brennan not only has plans for Larry and Mike to murder everyone on the list, he has plans to frame various people for their murders. He makes money on the murder, he sets up more money with the frame.
- Death Glare: The second Larry runs into the smallest obstacle, he shoots one at a young man working in the records room at the court house. The young man notices and is so unnerved he freezes, just about aware he's moments away from brutal death.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Brennen happily blackmails Michael into killing those on the list, but he also seems to genuinely believe that Mike would love the chance for some revenge.
- Fatal Flaw: Being The Chessmaster for Brennen. This ability certainly allows him to achieve a lot, but as Larry points out while killing him, it also blinds him to the obvious actions.Larry: You are so busy looking 10 moves ahead that you don't see the move that is right in front of you.
- Framing the Guilty Party: To keep investigators from blundering into the situation, Jesse fakes documentation that Marv was looking into a local cartel off the books before he died. Jesse's not happy about it because, even if the cartel gets the blame for Marv's death, an off the books case means a black mark on a dead friend's record.
- Heroic BSoD: Jesse struggles with Marv's death, wanting payback against the one responsible for his death and feeling guilt over not being able to explain to investigators or the man's family what really happened. He later tells Maddie how thinking about Marv's loved ones grieving makes him reflect on how he felt when his own mother died and others kept him from the truth for months.
- Hypocritical Humor: Larry observes that Brennen is "kind of a dick."
- Irony: Jesse bemoans how he not only can't confront the man responsible for Marv's death, but that he has to lie to investigators looking into it.
- It's Personal: Jesse wanting to avenge Marv is why Michael and Sam won't let him anywhere near Brennen. When Jesse says it was his friend that got killed, they retort that's exactly why he has to be left out of an already volatile situation.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Working with Larry is a very bad idea. Brennan learns that the stabbed in the chest way.
- Oh, Crap!: It must have been very satisfying for Michael to see the look on Machado's face when he introduced himself.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Inverted. As he dies, Brennan gloats to Michael that Mike never beat him.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: In the face of Larry threatening to shoot him and ranting about what they could've been as a team.Michael: You're not gonna do it, Larry, because if you shoot me, Sam will kill you where you stand. And while I'd give my life for something I believe in, there's not a thing in this world that you'd die for. You wanna know the difference between you and me? I really do know you. You only think you know me.
- Say My Name: Left to be arrested for Brennen's murder, Larry screams Michael's name in frustration.
- Taught by Experience: The reason Brennen brought in Larry is because he learned from last time about the dangers of leaving Michael unattended. This particular choice, however, severely backfires on him.
- This Is Gonna Suck: With the Organization poised to learn about the list, the closing lines have Michael advise everyone get some sleep.Michael: Tomorrow's gonna be a long day.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Jesse can't contact Marv's family and tell them what really happened for assorted safety reasons. Maddie takes it upon herself to make the call, simply telling one of Marv's daughters that the guy died a hero.
- Victorious Loser: In the process of being stabbed to death, Brennen uses his last moments to gloat that it wasn't Michael who beat him this time.
- Wham Shot: Brennen introducing Michael to his new handler: Larry.
- Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Larry is as Ax-Crazy as usual.
- You Wouldn't Shoot Me:
- Even with a sniper rifle trained on him, Larry openly doubts that Sam will open fire. A warning shot quickly convinces him otherwise.
- Conversely, Larry threatens to shoot Michael dead if he tries to leave the room and him to be arrested for Brennen's murder. Michael is unintimidated because he knows Larry is intimidated by the threat of Sam killing him in response.
