After the Season 2 premiere of The Old Man ended with a gunshot, viewers are eager to find out who was shot. Many combinations are possible.
After weeks of Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) and Harold Harper (John Lithgow) searching for Emily Chase (Alia Shawkat) in Faraz Hamzad’s (Navid Negahban) camp, Emily and Hamzad accidentally find them instead. With everyone reunited and the threat of the Taliban nearby, Episode 3 begins.
The episode starts with the three men in a cave, and Hamzad is about to shoot Chase when a gun goes off unexpectedly.
Hamzad, focused on revenge for losing his wife and daughter, does not see Harper waiting in the shadows. It seems Hamzad is starting to learn how to adapt. Despite their long-standing issues, Chase uses a medical kit to help Hamzad until they are joined by Emily.
Chase Reunites With His Daughter
The emotional reunion is briefly interrupted while Emily helps Hamzad, surprising both Chase and Harper. Once Hamzad is okay, Chase and Emily share a long-overdue hug. Harper warns her about Chase’s injury and explains how Marion (Janet McTeer) got them into Afghanistan and will help them.
Even with a clear escape plan, Emily is hesitant to leave Hamzad, stating the village relies on him and he cannot return alone. Harper argues that he is also needed at home, but Emily criticizes him for trying to rescue her.
Chase tries to reason with her, saying Harper came to help get her back. However, as the excitement of their reunion fades, Emily questions her father about what Harper knows about her. When she finds out he knows everything, it strengthens her determination to help Hamzad.
She believes both men should understand her reasons. Hamzad then encourages her to take the escape route offered. The challenge arises because Emily’s identities—Parwana Hamzad, Emily Chase, and Angela Adams—each have their own father figure, and when they are together, they will try to protect her.
Emily feels responsible for the Taliban’s presence in Hamzad’s village and asks for Chase and Harper’s help to get him home. Chase agrees immediately and explains to Harper that given Emily’s bond with her biological father, refusing to help would mean losing her.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: FX)
Harper does not see it this way, which is not surprising since Emily is deeply connected to the people in her life, including Harper’s grandson, Henry. Chase’s earlier misunderstanding of Hamzad being a monster seems to have affected everyone.
Khadija Faces New Challenges
Meanwhile, in the village, Khadija (Jacqueline Antarmian) is confronting Omar (Artur Zai Barrera), who is searching for Hamzad. She tries to scare him off, claiming her brother is far more dangerous, but Omar does not back down.
Suddenly, a mysterious helicopter arrives, and instead of more Taliban fighters, a lone man steps out. He speaks to Omar in English, saying he is involved in Hamzad’s dealings with Kabul. He gives Omar the Taliban bribe and claims his presence complicates things.
This seems too smooth to be true, but Omar appears to buy it, at least for now. The man turns out to be Khadija’s son (Amir Malaklou), who tells her they have bigger problems than the Taliban, specifically Morgan Bote (Joel Grey), who froze the village’s assets after they took Emily instead of Dan.
As Omar and his men leave the village, they notice Farouk (Michael Sifain) watching them. Omar tries to question the boy about a strange woman in the village, but Farouk only slaps Omar and runs away.
This frightens his mother, Faruza (Sara Seyed), who breaks free and is shot. The tense situation turns into a full gunfight, with Khadija also shooting to protect Farouk.
Despite the chaos, Chase, Harper, Emily, and Hamzad are doing better. They face many challenges, including injuries, but they are coping.
Chase tries to make Hamzad laugh with a joke, but Hamzad is not amused. When Chase asks what Hamzad told Emily to change her mind, Hamzad refuses to share, saying Chase can wonder about it. Hamzad does reveal he told Emily his side of the story, leaving Chase confused about what that might mean.
Emily Confronts Her Past
Chase and Emily leave their hiding spot to recover horses while avoiding Taliban soldiers. Emily rejects any attempts by Chase to explain himself, wanting to focus on helping Hamzad. With the danger easing and her reunion with Chase and Harper, Emily can show her mixed feelings about her past identity.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: FX)
Chase agrees to let it go as long as Emily follows his lead. Their father-daughter dynamic is strong in this episode, especially since their previous interactions were limited. The mystery has been revealed, and it is refreshing to see them connect.
While they retrieve the horses, Harper and Hamzad stay behind on a ridge, with Hamzad still bleeding and Harper coordinating their escape from Afghanistan. Marion informs Harper that a helicopter will come for them, and when Harper asks about the cost, she says only dinner. Harper seems unsure if this is all she wants, and it leaves him wondering what else she may desire.
Back in Hamzad’s village, Omar and his men surround Khadija. She asks her son if they can call for help, but he says it is too late, especially after they fired on his soldiers. The main issue is that Bote has frozen their assets, leaving them with limited options. He expresses frustration that Hamzad did not ask for help in getting Emily back, which could have prevented the current situation.
Omar Issues an Ultimatum
Down by the horses, Chase takes out one soldier, with Emily assisting in taking out the second. As the adrenaline fades, Chase remembers his serious injury.
The dead soldier’s satellite phone is still connected, and Omar demands a report. Instead of the expected response, Hamzad answers the call. Omar gives him an ultimatum: return to the village with Omar to explain everything about Emily, or do nothing and let the situation worsen.
Hamzad decides to comply and go to Kabul, but Emily warns him that it is unsafe. Chase agrees, saying Omar might just kill Hamzad. Hamzad is angry that Chase would interfere, telling him he is not in a position to make demands. Their conversations carry weight, reminding everyone of their past friendship and the damage done over the years.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: FX)
Emily offers to go with Hamzad to explain the truth to Omar, arguing that revealing the truth will weaken Omar’s position. Harper and Chase warn her that Omar may kill her instead of listening, and Hamzad agrees. He emphasizes that he will handle the situation himself.
While the family drama unfolds between Chase, Hamzad, and Emily, Harper feels left out. On the way back to the village, he expresses how this ordeal affects him, especially with “Angela Adams” no longer existing.
Losing the side of Emily he knew feels personal, even as Chase reassures him it is not about him. Harper admits that knowing Emily would abandon her identity would not have stopped him from rescuing her, making this moment essential for his character development.
A Showdown at the Village
The group arrives at the village, and Hamzad refuses Chase’s suggestion to sneak in. He instead decides to confront the Taliban at the front gates. He says goodbye to Emily and rides down, while Chase tells Harper to contact the helicopter and instruct it where to meet them.
As Hamzad approaches Omar, he stumbles, prompting Emily to rush down before Chase or Harper can stop her. Now, it is her turn to face Omar, who wants to know who she is. He states he will take Hamzad to Kabul as part of a deal to leave the village alone and asks if she is the abducted FBI agent.
Emily does not confirm this but introduces herself as Parwana Hamzad. This unexpected revelation leads to a gunfight as Chase fires to protect Emily and Hamzad while they move toward the village. Harper works on arranging their helicopter escape.
The helicopter arrives soon after, guns blazing, resolving the immediate Taliban threat. Omar, somehow still alive, tries to escape, but the episode concludes with another gunshot, leaving no doubt about who shot whom.
The Old Man Season 2 Episode 3 continues the intense storyline as Dan Chase, Harold Harper, and Emily Chase show dangerous territory. After a surprising reunion, Chase and Emily grapple with their complicated family ties and the looming threat of the Taliban.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: FX)
Hamzad faces an ultimatum from Omar, who demands his return to the village to explain Emily’s identity. Despite the risk, Emily insists on helping Hamzad, feeling responsible for the Taliban’s presence in his village. As the group deals with various challenges, including injuries and emotional turmoil, Chase and Emily’s father-daughter bond deepens.
Meanwhile, Khadija confronts Omar while her son attempts to help. The episode culminates in a dramatic showdown at the village gates, leading to another gunshot that leaves viewers questioning the fate of the characters. The episode blends family drama with high-stakes action, setting the stage for more tension ahead.
The first three episodes of The Old Man Season 2 are available now. New episodes air on FX every Thursday and stream the next day on Hulu.
With Transformers One now in theaters, excitement about the Autobots, especially Orion Pax, is high. The trailers gave us hints before the movie’s release. “Before he was Optimus Prime, he was Orion Pax.” This line from the first trailer is a clever choice.
Chris Hemsworth plays Orion Pax, who eventually becomes Optimus Prime. Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus, has voiced the character for many years.
This line helps the audience understand that we are seeing a younger character who has not yet taken on the heavy responsibilities of being a Prime. This clarity helps manage expectations and reduces backlash about the casting.
If you are new to Transformers or have only seen some cartoons or films, you may wonder how Orion Pax fits into the Transformers story. Is this a new version of the tale or just a fresh take on the original? How does Orion Pax become the Optimus Prime we recognize?
Orion Pax Has Been Around Since the Beginning of Transformers
When the franchise started 40 years ago, Orion Pax first appeared in the second season of the 1984 Transformers cartoon. In this series, Orion Pax works at an energy factory. He is a fun-loving and easygoing character who enjoys his job, loves his girlfriend, and jokes with his friends.
A few Autobots travel back in time and see what started the war between Optimus Prime and Megatron (voiced by Frank Welker). Orion actually admires Megatron, especially because he can fly.
He feels excited when Megatron visits the factory and talks to him. However, this excitement is short-lived, as Megatron attacks the factory to steal energy and severely injures Orion.
After his injury, Orion is taken to Alpha Trion (voiced by John Stephenson), who rebuilds him into Optimus Prime. Since that moment, Optimus and Megatron have been enemies. It is important to note that Orion once admired Megatron, which adds depth to their story.
Transformers: Prime Shows a Different Orion Pax
In another animated series, Transformers: Prime, we see a different version of Orion and his connection with Megatron. In this show, Orion works as a quiet, organized clerk in The Hall of Records (Iacon Archives). He spends his time learning about Cybertron’s history.
As he reads, he realizes the corruption of Cybertron’s leaders and the mistreatment of other classes of bots. He is inspired by Megatronus, a gladiator with powerful ideas.
Over time, Megatronus (now Megatron) becomes more violent, wanting to take down the ruling class by force. When they stand before the High Council, people are moved by Orion’s words instead of Megatron’s. This pushes Megatron further down a dark path.
Still from Transformers (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
With war breaking out and Cybertron suffering from Dark Energon, Orion seeks the Core of Cybertron. When he finds it, he receives the Matrix of Leadership, which transforms him into Optimus Prime.
Transformers: Prime does not just provide a backstory. At the start of the second season, we see Orion in the present. After giving up the Matrix of leadership to defeat Unicron (voiced by John Noble), Optimus loses his memories and becomes Orion Pax again.
Megatron takes advantage of this, convincing Orion that Autobots are the real problem on Cybertron. Orion is then branded as a Decepticon and must decode Iacon records. He only realizes something is wrong when he encounters Starscream (voiced by Steve Blum), who he thought was dead.
This series shows that Orion has a serious side, but Ratchet (voiced by Jeffery Combs) mentions that Orion is somewhat like Jack (voiced by Josh Keaton)—responsible, reliable, and occasionally a troublemaker. Once again, we see Orion inspired by Megatron.
Orion Pax Doesn’t Make an Appearance in the Bayvers
If you have only seen Michael Bay’s Transformers films, you might not have noticed the quick mentions of Orion Pax. These films focus more on the present and the action between robots.
That is fine, as there is room for all stories in the Transformers universe! In the Bayverse films, we learn that Orion was a data clerk who became Optimus Prime with the Matrix of Leadership.
However, the IDW Transformers comics go deeper into the story of Orion Pax. In this version, Orion is a police officer who quickly becomes a captain. He frees Megatron after clearing his name from an assault charge.
Orion becomes interested in Megatron’s ideas about non-violent resistance and makes sure the officer who used excessive force against Megatron is punished. Over time, both Megatron and Orion change. Eventually, Orion sheds his identity to take on the Matrix of Leadership and fight for the people of Cybertron. Again, Orion is inspired by Megatron.
Transformers has always played with the idea that a single belief can change, leading to different and sometimes conflicting views. That is why we often see Orion and Megatron as friends before they become enemies. They share similar hopes for the future, but Megatron’s beliefs become more extreme.
Still from Transformers (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
When his methods fail, he resorts to violence, while Orion remains calm and steady. This difference is what defines Orion Pax. He is the foundation of Optimus Prime, a symbol of hope for a war-torn world.
He shows that even Optimus Prime was once someone small, possibly seen as a “nobody.” However, his bravery and desire to improve the world are unwavering, and he gains the power to create change.
It is exciting to see Orion Pax fully developed in Transformers One and show the changes in his relationship with Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry). It will be interesting to discover who Orion Pax is in this film and how it builds on all the past versions of Orion. The changes in his relationship with Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry).
Transformers One is now playing in theaters in the U.S.
