Long before The Night Agent became a Netflix sensation, its creator Shawn Ryan, alongside Karl Gajdusek, crafted a different kind of conspiracy thriller for network television. That series was Last Resort, a 13-episode military drama that premiered on ABC. While it had a short run, its bold narrative and powerhouse performances have cemented it as a cult favorite, one that feels strikingly prescient in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions.
A Submarine Crew Against the World
The series opens with a chilling premise. Captain Marcus Chaplin (the late, great Andre Braugher) of the USS Colorado receives an unverified order to launch a nuclear missile at Pakistan. Deeming the command illegitimate, he refuses, only to be relieved of duty. When his second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman), also stands firm, their own country turns on them. The submarine is attacked, forcing Chaplin, Kendal, and their crew to flee and become fugitives. Stranded on the remote island of Sainte Marina, they must unravel a shadowy conspiracy within the U.S. government to clear their names and prevent a global war.
This setup creates a relentless pressure cooker, not unlike the scenarios in binge-worthy legal thrillers, but with world-ending stakes. The crew's isolation on the island adds another layer of drama, as they must navigate relations with locals like bar owner Tani Tumrenjack (Dichen Lachman), whose connection with crew member James King introduces personal stakes amidst the political chaos.
Andre Braugher's Commanding, Complex Captain
The soul of Last Resort is Andre Braugher's mesmerizing performance as Captain Chaplin. Braugher, a master of his craft, portrays a leader pushed to the absolute brink. He begins as a principled officer making a desperate stand, but as the series progresses, a haunting question emerges: Is Chaplin's radical strategy a calculated bluff, or is the pressure fracturing his sanity?
In a legendary scene from the pilot, a cornered Chaplin fires a warning shot near Washington D.C., declaring, "Test us, and we will all burn together." Braugher delivers the line with a terrifying blend of righteous fury and palpable fear, his character sweating and shaking in the transmitted video. He makes you believe this is not the act of a villain, but of a good man forced into an impossible corner. It's a performance that anchors the series' wildest twists in raw, human emotion.
The Tense Dynamic at the Heart of the Crisis
The core relationship is between Braugher's Chaplin and Speedman's Kendal. Speedman brings a grounded urgency to the role of the executive officer, whose loyalty is constantly tested. The deep mutual respect between the two men is evident, even as Kendal begins to seriously doubt his captain's stability. Their scenes together are electric, fueled by the agonizing possibility that Kendal may have to lead a mutiny against the man he admires most for the survival of their crew.
This internal conflict, set against the backdrop of a global military crisis, gives the show a gripping, dual-layered tension. It's a dynamic that explores leadership and morality under fire, themes that resonate in many of the most chilling stories about societal collapse.
A Thriller That Pulls No Punches
Last Resort is a series that operates at a breakneck pace, embracing its high-concept premise fully. From political assassinations to hostage situations, the plot delivers constant, escalating stakes. Because the characters are already exiled with seemingly nothing left to lose, the narrative has a dangerous, unpredictable energy where anything can happen. The show maintains the intense momentum of its explosive premiere right through its 13-episode arc, delivering a complete, if condensed, story.
For fans of tightly-wound, character-driven action, Last Resort remains a hidden gem in the thriller genre. It showcases Shawn Ryan's talent for crafting intelligent suspense, a skill he would later perfect with The Night Agent. More than a decade after its release, the series' exploration of mistrust, patriotism, and the fog of war feels less like fiction and more like a reflection of our anxious world. It stands as a powerful testament to the talents of Andre Braugher and a reminder of the compelling, binge-ready drama that can be found in the archives of streaming libraries and watchlists.
