When Hondo is framed for killing two cops, 20 Squad must find a way to prove his innocence, as an old enemy with a score to settle works to destroy Hondo's world.
Tropes
- Avenging the Villain: Arthur makes it clear everything he's doing to destroy Hondo's life is revenge for Hondo killing his son in Mexico.Arthur Novak: You killed my son, Daniel. This was how it was always going to end. I didn't come all this way not to avenge my boy.
- Bad Boss: Novak shoots one of his goons that Hondo was using as a Human Shield.
- Batman Gambit: 20 Squad exploits Novak's unremitting desire to killing Hondo to predict what he will do.Hondo: Street, you said Novak would expect me to take off on my own, so let's give him what he wants.
- The Bus Came Back: Arthur Novak returns, having last been seen at the start of the season.
- Buy Them Off: Arthur outright tells Hondo this is how he got out of prison in Mexico: after 6 months in jail, one of his associates smuggled him a phone, allowing Arthur to access his finances to bribe whichever Mexican officials needed to secure his release from prison.Hondo: You're supposed to be in prison.Arthur: Money and connections go a long way in Mexico. You left me with both.Hondo: No, I checked on you, you were serving real time!Arthur: (seething) I spent six months in a filthy cell, fighting to stay alive every day, mourning my boy every night, but eventually I got my hands on a phone and from there, access to my accounts. After that, it was just a matter of time until I bought the right people off.
- Clear My Name: Hondo and 20 Squad must find a way to prove he's being framed for murdering two cops.
- Did You Actually Believe...?: Hondo invokes this when seemingly trapped by Novak, pointing out that he never expected Novak to hold up his end of their bargain and planned accordingly.Hondo: And you call me predictable, Novak? I knew there was no way you were gonna leave without your pound of flesh and I also knew about this airstrip. It took some digging, but did you know your boy Pasha used to run drugs out of here? So I figured if you were gonna kill me and bounce, this is where it would be. But that's why my team headed here right after our phone call. All they needed to move in was those missing officers.Novak: Well that's- [cue Chris shooting Novak in the shoulder and the rest of 20 Squad arriving in Black Betty]
- Hostage Situation: After it becomes clear the cops Hondo supposedly killed are still alive, it's a race against time to rescue them before Novak kills them to cover his tracks.
- It's Personal: Hondo killing his son, wrecking his plans and getting him thrown in a Mexican prison have left Novak with an unremitting desire to destroy Hondo.Arthur Novak: You took my son and my freedom away from me, and I won't stop until I've taken away everything you love.
- Know When to Fold Them: When finally cornered, Novak holds Hondo at gunpoint, noting that even with his plans wrecked, he could still shoot Hondo and satisfy his desire for revenge. Luca and Street then appear and make it clear they'll gun down Novak if he tries, and he grudgingly surrenders.
- Take Me Instead: After Hicks gets a warrant out for Novak's arrest anywhere on U.S. soil, Hondo offers him a deal; release the two officers he's holding hostage and Hondo will personally drive him back across the border into Mexico.
- True Companions: Street and Deacon assert to Hondo that they and the rest of 20 Squad are this in regards to having his back against Novak.Deacon: I told you, we'd always have your back. We were there for you this morning, and we're still here for you now.Street: You can't stop 20 Squad, and Novak is about to find that out the hard way.
- Wham Shot: Hondo spotting Arthur Novak sitting in the restaurant of a lavish LA hotel with A Glass of Chianti.Arthur Novak: Sit, have a drink with me. You won't find wine like this in prison, I promise you.
