The Last Ship Season 4 Finale Recap: Bugging Out — Plus, Season 5 Trailer
TNT‘s The Last Ship wrapped Season 4 on Sunday night with a one-hour crash course in naval strategy, followed by an hour that was a bit more “hands-on.” In the end, which sides suffered which casualties?
At first facing off against three ships that they knew of — and in the dark about which had The Seeds/could not be sunk — Chandler, Slattery and Meylan got to strategizing, slowly but surely winnowing Team Vellek’s ranks by using the helo to trick one ship into revealing itself as being seedless; sending out Wolf, Green and Azima on a RHIB to trick another ship into mistaking a trawler for the James, and then dropping bombs in its path; shooting a torpedo low enough that it would miss any fishing vessels and instead sink a hostile; and then launching a volley of missiles at Lucia’s ship, including one that went straight down the middle and blasted its bridge, fatally wounding Giorgio.
Alas, the James also suffered losses, when both Sunshine and Razor got shot up mid-sortie. Katie Nolan, freshly (and finally) bestowed with a call sign (“Cupid”), was urged by a dying Sunshine to bail into the water below before the bird crashed.
During all of this, the James came to realize that Vellek and the seeds were on a fourth ship, and despite the destruction of its three protectors and its destination known, it stayed on course — especially when an anxious Vellek, suffering nostos withdrawal, ordered the captain to reveal their location by gunning the engines. On land in Malta, Wolf and Azima scouted out some of the “cure” plants ready for transport and found them crawling with bugs, at which point Sasha realized that Vellek’s plan is to spread his nostos-infused cure via insects, and thus quickly. Vulture team’s mission then became one of torching the crop, during which they took a lot of fire, wounding Green and Miller. (Azima meanwhile saved Wolf’s bacon at one point, in the wake of the two badasses sharing their first kiss.) The James itself pitched in at one point, dangerously blowing its whiskey in order to target and shoot down the final cargo plane.
With Vulture team busy and or banged up, Chandler volunteered to sneak up on and board Vellek’s ship, with Sasha joining him on the sabotage/seed-seeking mission. There, Chandler overheated the radar/targeting system while Sasha gummed up the engine. When they then confronted Vellek in his lab, the mad man babbled some before setting the place on fire, his research included. Chandler gave chase after Vellek fled, while Sasha scrambled to snuff the flames and find the seeds (taking a bullet from Lucia along the way). With Vellek’s ship now a sitting duck, Slattery rammed the James alongside it, after which he and a ragtag team (surprise marksman Gator included!) boarded, while Kara dusted off her own gunnery skills to take out the baddies manning the ship’s rails.
In the end, it came down to Chandler confronting Vellek on the ship’s deck — but Lucia blindsided the captain with a bullet. But before she could put one in his bean “for Giorgio,” Sasha sneaked up on and perforated Lucia with several shots. Chandler kept Sasha (still steamed over the Fletcher thing) from targeting Vellek next, since they need his know-how to manufacture a nostos-free cure. Alas, getting the mad scientist to flip was not meant to be. Instead, Vellek monologued about how he had a plan to cure the world of its evil — “I offered you peace, you choose war” — before sauntering off the edge of the deck, into the waters below… where no one thought to jump in and keep him from drowning?
In the epilogue, we saw that Green and Miller weren’t any worse for the wear after being shot, and that enough of Vellek’s research was salvaged to create a cure for the Red Rust. Looking out onto the horizon from the James‘ bow, Chandler spoke to Sasha of what Vellek said, the fact that there will always be threats. Nonetheless, he is committed to embracing this “fresh start,” in various ways — which sounds like a plenty good plan to Sasha.
Watch a Season 5 sneak peek, and vote on the finale below:
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Isn’t crashing a US Destroyer into another ship a really bad idea?
I would think so. I am glad this season is over. There was little point to it. I know it’s too late for season 5 but the character development of the main characters was non existent this season. The new characters this season got most of the air time. Chandler going to get his family anytime soon?
I was pretty disappointed with this season. The story never really captured my attention. I thought it was an okay finale to a lackluster season. I hope next season is better, which is the final season right?
Could be the final season, not confirmed to be yet.
TNT will make the decision soon.
Oh, have you heard something…? Because I just asked the other day.
hahaha. I hope you can give yourself Power User points for that one.
I give the two hour season finale an A but Season 4 as a whole was lackluster and give credit to Peter Weller for playing yet another dark role on TV like he did in the past. Who knows if next season is going to be the end for Tom Chandler and his crew of the Nathan James.
Agree, but I am a little jaundiced since I still miss Rhona Mitra. Oh well, I can handle another season, I still like the show, and if 5 is better than 4, I will be disappointed if there is not a 6th season.
While reading some of the comments and how it’s felt this season was a bit lackluster, I felt it had to tell the story as to what Chandler was up to. Sure, there could’ve been more telling on the goings on of the Nathan James and crew, but all in all the build up to the finale was great. I surely hope Season 5 is not the end. After all, the world, in its current condition in The Last Ship’s “world” still needs to be saved. Love this show, all the actors and characters!
No matter how I vote, it always says that 100% of voters agree with me. How can this be?
Glitch! Oh well. Vote counts accurately regardless.
Peter Weller deserves all the kudos for his work this season. He was fantastic per usual and was what kept me engaged. I had to stretch my belief factor A LOT with Lucia somehow “commanding” 3 ( make that 4?) Greek warships. How did she get develop that strategy skill set from what seemed like a fairly spoiled and protected life beforehand. It was a different season and while I enjoyed it, I wanted to know SOMETHING about what was going on back in the USA. I couldn’t help but say “I sunk your battleship” last night when the James took out the Greek ships.
I love this series and hope it gets more seasons.It is action but clean for everyone to watch.I have really enjoyed all seasons and really can not wait for next summer for it to begin again
Hmmmm. I must have missed the answer to this. But, what did the golden coin on what appeared to be a white marble base represent?
Vellek carries it around with him. Saw it a lot in this seasons finale. Did it have something to do with Christos??
The symbol XP are Greek letters for the first two letters in the name “Jesus” or Christos like Vellek’s son’s name.
Great review Did 100% justice to The Last Ship’s S4 Finale Anyone who missed the show could be sated from reading Matt Webb Mitovich’s words. i wonder if we really have seen the last of Vellek. Just because he jumped into the sea doesn’t necessarily mean he’s drowned. That nut job may have even had something under the ship like a single occupant submarine to make a covert getaway. i’m just musing but it would be nice to see more of Peter Weller. Such a good baddie. PS to Mr Mitovich: i looked for you on twitter but couldn’t find you. Are you there and if yes please what’s your twitter name?
Although the season had some ups and downs I personally quite enjoyed it. Every show has a bit of a bow wave now and then but a true fan is in for the long haul, and thats me!
I wish the show was just a bit less clean – I am dying to see Bridget Regan show off her attributes just a bit more – what an attractive woman.
I think we have a few to many captains on board, and it is a large ensemble cast making it difficult to sort out some personal storylines, and I agree this season was less a succes then prior ones in that regards.
And I think the show is a shoe-in for renewal unless a lot of principals decide to walk away. Its still a strong show rating wise.
Luv the show!! However,it might be ending after season 5
My favorite show from the beggening hope they keep it going it looks like seoson 5 will be awesome thanks for hearing our voices. Enlighten of the so call reality crap. The Last Ship is action and very interntening.
an awesome season indeed.good job guys.
Seriously this is my best movie so far,the movie entirely is awesome,people like Tom Chandler,Burk,Danny green,Mike Slattery and master chief a big shout out to you,you people have done well & cobra team also,in fat every has done perfectly well.