Directed by Frederick EO Toye
Written by David Guggenheim
Agent Hannah Wells rushes to avert an assassination attempt on the President as Peter MacLeish's swearing-in as Vice-President approaches. President Kirkman and Emily Rhodes work to identify a suspected traitor within the White House
Tropes in this episode:
- Assassination Attempt: The episode builds up to The Conspiracy trying to take out Kirkman mere moments after MacLeish is sworn in as Vice-President outside the Capitol.
- The Bus Came Back: General Harris Cochrane makes his first reappearance after being fired earlier in the season. Even better, it seems that he Took a Level in Kindness in his absence.
- Chekhov's Gunman:
- General Harris Cochrane explains that he was the last person who the Capitol simulation file passed to before it was reclassified.
- President Richmond's Chief of Staff, Charles Langdon, is revealed to have survived the Capitol bombing and gone into hiding.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends on one as Catalan takes his shot. Who was hit?
- Determinator: Hannah does not let a series of severe injuries slow her down from following up on her investigation into The Conspiracy.
- Faking the Dead: Charles Langdon has been doing this ever since the Capitol attack.
- Five Rounds Rapid: Agent Wells takes out her pursuer this way, after he catches up to her outside Langdon's hideout.
- Lady Macbeth: Peter's wife Beth MacLeish proves to be one of these, as she reassures him that he was chosen to make America into "the empire it once was".
- Monumental Damage: Beginning to be averted, as the Capitol is shown under extensive reconstruction.
- Only a Flesh Wound: Agent Wells should, by all rights, be having serious trouble with her injuries, but she just pushes through them. Somewhat helped by Chuck improvising some first-aid in a timely manner.
- Ramming Always Works: Downplayed. Wells' car is totalled by the hitman's truck slamming into it, but she survives and is ultimately able to escape.
- The Reveal: It was Aaron Shore who ordered that the Capitol ordinance specification file was reclassified, as Langdon was out of the White House that day.
- Would Hit a Girl: Agent Wells' assailant promptly tries to choke her to death, before she is able to escape.
- Yank the Dog's Chain/Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: Agent Wells' file of evidence gets stolen from her wrecked car, forcing her to go on the run to avert MacLeish's plans.
