SEAL TEAM: TIP OF THE SPEAR {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this action-adventure series about an elite group of United States Navy "Sea, Air and Land" service members. In this episode, Tier One team leader Jason Hayes is sent to mandatory psychological counseling after one of his soldiers, Nate, is killed in a firefight during an operation. He refuses to discuss his feelings on the matter, though he soon attends Nate's son's First Communion, where he briefly encounters his own estranged wife. The Tier One team is soon called into action by CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who explains that they have an opportunity to capture elusive high-ranking ISIL leader Abu Samir Al-Masri alive. Jason is annoyed when a new soldier, cocky young Clay Spenser, is added to his team, though Jason's right-hand man Ray argues in his favor. The team examines a model of Al-Masri's hideout, debating how best to enter and exit with minimal casualties, and Ray bids farewell to his pregnant wife before heading out on the mission.
On the plane, the team discusses Clay's father, a fellow SEAL who was declared "persona non grata" after writing a book about his military experiences. Mandy informs Clay that he is a "strap," meaning that his low rank earns him only the least comfortable sleeping arrangements during the mission, and team member Sonny educates the others on interacting with his bomb-sniffing dog. They then discover that they cannot confirm Al-Masri's location, thanks to some well-placed fires, and despite Mandy's concerns, Jason opts for some dangerous ground recon to locate their target. As the team waits to spot him, Clay tries to broach the subject of his father, though the others seem unconcerned. They are soon pleased to spot Al-Masri, though Clay wonders why the notoriously evasive terrorist has ventured out into the open, and they realize that he is transporting an American hostage, Stacey Marshall. Mandy tells her superiors that Al-Masri must remain the primary objective, but she is overruled when Jason casually suggests that they can both recover Stacey safely and capture the criminal at the same time.
Mandy confides to Jason that she has had several near-misses with Al-Masri before and is determined to bring him in. On the way to the hideout, however, one of the helicopters malfunctions, and with fewer team members present, Mandy regretfully realizes that they must abandon their plans to capture Al-Masri and focus on Stacey. The team bursts into the home and recovers a traumatized Stacey, but when the dog makes a disturbing discovery, Jason realizes that they may have an opportunity to grab Al-Masri after all. He orders Clay to keep back and ventures into an underground tunnel, where he discovers Al-Masri armed with a bomb vest. Jason and Ray attempt to talk him down, but Clay appears and shoots him dead. Later, Jason furiously scolds him for disobeying orders and placing them all in greater danger, but Clay argues that he made the most efficient choice in the moment. Ray agrees and warns Jason that he will ruin Clay's career if he deems it a "bad shoot," suggesting that Jason is overreacting because of Clay's similarities to Nate, and Jason eventually tells his superiors that the mission was a "clean" one. He apologizes to Mandy for not bringing Al-Masri in alive, but she thanks him for eliminating the threat and safely recovering the hostage. Ray returns to his wife as Jason hurries to his daughter's recital, though he struggles to shake off the trauma of his latest mission. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 130903
- GENRE: Drama, action/adventure
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, action/adventure; United States Navy; Military; Post-traumatic stress disorder
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 2017-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ed Redlich … Executive Producer
- Sarah Timberman … Executive Producer
- Carl Beverly … Executive Producer
- Christopher Chulack … Executive Producer, Director
- Benjamin Cavell … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Joe Zolfo … Co-Executive Producer
- Todd Lewis … Producer
- Kate DiMento … Producer
- Chris Leanza … Producer
- David Boreanaz … Producer
- Steve Heth … Co-Producer
- W.G. Snuffy Walden … Music by
- A. Patrick Rose … Music by
- David Boreanaz … Cast, Jason Hayes
- Max Thieriot … Cast, Clay Spenser
- Jessica Paré … Cast, Mandy Ellis
- Neil Brown Jr. … Cast, Ray
- A.J. Buckley … Cast, Sonny
- Toni Trucks … Cast, Diaz
- Michaela McManus … Cast, Alana Hayes
- Daniel Gillies … Cast, Nate Massey
- Reiko Aylesworth … Cast, Dr. Julie Kruger
- Parisa Fakhri … Cast, Naima
- Kerri Medders … Cast, Emma Hayes
- Ron Rogge … Cast, Captain Bryce
- Michael Rooker … Cast, Big Chief
- Judd Lormand … Cast, Lt. Commander Eric Blackburn
- Hunter Wilson … Cast, Randy
- Ahmed Lucan … Cast, Abu Samir Al-Masri
- Donald Paul … Cast, General Lionheart
- Michael Scott … Cast, CIA Tech Tim
- Zailand Adams … Cast, Child Soldier
- Alexis Genya … Cast, Nate's Mom
- Julie Michaels … Cast, Stacey Marshall
- Kelton Dumont … Cast, Michael Hayes
- Darcie Isabella Cottrell … Cast, Jameelah
- Tim Hendrick … Cast, First Communion Priest
- Philip Fornah … Cast, Fake Terrorist