Recap / JAGS 02 E 10 The Game Of Go

"The Game of Go" is an episode of JAG that first aired on February 28, 1997. Directed by Ray Austin. Written by Tom Towler.

Agent Webb (Steven Culp), operating in Colombia, tries using Marines to capture Carlos Estruga (Tony Perez), a notorious drug lord and a big fan of the game Go (hence the title of the episode). But the operation goes sideways and Sergeant Silva ends up dead. Webb blames the failure on the alleged cowardice of Corporal Cordoba (Eddie Frias), whose weapon supposedly jammed at a crucial moment.

Admiral Chegwidden sends Lt. Commander Rabb, Major MacKenzie and Lt. Roberts to Colombia to investigate. Mac inspects Cordoba's rifle and finds that it is in perfect working order, firing a couple of bullets in close grouping with no problem.

Estruga's men kidnap Webb, and Cordoba once again fails to fire. He tells his excuse, that there were too many people, to Roberts, who seems not to believe him.

Estruga will return Webb in exchange for his brother, who's currently rotting in a federal prison in Miami. Alfredo Rincon (George del Hoyo), a local lawman, strongly urges Ambassador Witherspoon (Michael Tomlinson) not to negotiate with Estruga.

Rabb figures out that someone at the embassy is passing information to Estruga. He has Roberts feed details of a rescue operation to the two suspects: Rincon and the ambassador's secretary. Rabb deliberately gets himself captured so that he can talk to Estruga, while MacKenzie and the marines watch for the traitor to expose themselves.

The traitor is Rincon, who leaves for Estruga's compound; Mac radios Rabb to let him know, and Rabb tells Estruga that Rincon is actually a triple agent. Rincon and Estruga meet up at Webb's prison cell; Estruga accuses Rincon of betraying him, and Rincon figures out that Rabb's played both of them. Just in time, Mac arrives with the marines to mount a rescue - and this time Cordoba doesn't hesitate in taking out Estruga's guards. Estruga and Rincon are both taken into custody.

Back at the embassy, Rabb encourages Webb to apologize to Cordoba, but the CIA agent can't quite bring himself to do it...

Tropes

• Bluff the Eavesdropper: Rabb has Roberts call the ambassador and tell him that Rabb has gone to rescue Webb. But the main purpose is to flush out the mole, and if Webb is rescued that's just an added bonus. It turns out that Rincon was feeding Estruga information. Also, Cordoba redeems himself in Webb's estimation.
• The Cartel: Estruga's organization.
• I Never Said It Was Poison, zigzagged: Someone at the embassy is feeding Estruga information. Mac says it's the only way Estruga could have known Sergeant Silva's name, since Silva and the other Marines carried no identification for the mission. However, it turns out that Silva was captured alive, and did at least give his name and rank to Estruga.
• With All Due Respect: Said twice by Mac in this episode.
  • First when Chegwidden explains the parameters of the investigation.
    Mac: But the dead Marine, sir?
    Chegwidden: Retrieving bodies is not a JAG mission, major.
    Mac: Sir, with all due respect—
    Chegwidden: But, if all you return with is a report, consider your mission a failure.
    Mac: Thank you, sir.
  • Later when trying to explain the vicissitudes of combat to Webb.
    Mac: With all due respect, Mr. Webb, have you ever been in combat?
    Webb: I was in the Gulf War, major.
    Roberts: Does that qualify? Doing what, sir?
    Webb: That's classified, lieutenant.