When the Levee Breaks

Season 1, Episode 11, Aired
go
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy

Episode Summary

EDIT
7.4
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Good
152 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate Now!
Ben Mercer walks into the CIA Headquarters to confront Annie about her past.
WRITE A REVIEW FAN RECAP

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Watch Online

Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

See All

  • A mediocre finale for a mediocre season

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By entil2001, Apr 08, 2011
    I haven't felt much need to comment on this series since its premiere. While I think the premise holds potential, and the cast is all very pleasant, it simply hasn't done much to grab my attention. The first season finale did bring its introductory arc to a neat conclusion, bringing Agent Walker's unusual "on the job training" to an end, but it also had all the same problems that I've had with the series.

    I really don't care if Ben lives. It just doesn't stir any emotions for me. I get that his fate is important to Annie, but to be honest, his mysterious role has been so far removed from the gist of the story so far that he feels like an annoying intrusion. If it were up to me, I'd have Annie pursue the budding relationship with Auggie, as they have been getting progressively more flirtatious with one another over the course of the past few episodes. (And we already know he must be a great lover, right?)

    Equally, I really don't care much about Joan and Arthur and the politics threatening to place more strain on their marriage. As the bickering power couple in the background of Annie's professional life, they work well enough to keep me entertained. But I honestly don't care about them and their subplots. I just haven't been able to invest myself enough in their characters for it to matter.

    It all comes down to my opinion that Annie hasn't established herself as a strong enough character for me to care about her life, professional or otherwise. Her adventures are entertaining, but she keeps repeating the same type of mistakes, over and over again. Piper Perabo is certainly a watchable lead, but that only carries a series so far.

    Even before the series began, "Covert Affairs" was being compared to "Alias". I think now there are obvious differences. Even when one sets the mythology aside, "Alias" benefited from the dynamic and intriguing challenges in Sydney Bristow's life, professional and private. It was a fleshed-out universe from the very beginning. Jennifer Garner was certainly attractive, but that only added to the package, as the sex appeal was part and parcel to the story.

    "Covert Affairs", on the other hand, struggles with the action and the espionage, and they don't even use the lead actress' sex appeal to their advantage as often as they could (or, perhaps, should). For instance, in this finale, they had a lot of problems with the action sequences. The green screen work was so poorly done that it became distracting, even in the most tense moments of the episode.

    At the same time, I must admit that the show has been quite successful; it was picked up for a second season very early in this summer's run. And this is a USA show; they have to work within a budget. Perhaps the second season will take what worked best in the first season and expand on it. If not, this will be a pleasant enough summer show, but never anything more than a pleasant diversion.moreless

  • Very good finale! Also some decent suspense was created until netx season!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By amazing_race, Dec 26, 2010
    This awesome season of Covert Affars was fittingly capped off with an amazing season finale! This episode introduced Sri Lanka, and all the buried secrets and memories were unearthed, as annie returned there for the first tiem since her fateful encounter with Ben Mercer.

    There were some really great action scenes, with the fight s and the caR chases, and that did bucketloads to help out the season and the finale!

    Just when everything seemed resolved, the case took a tumbling tunr right at the end, and this will be very nailbiting to anticipate what will happen next!

    Can't wait till next season! This was an excellent one, and I'd highly recommend this show!moreless

  • Ben Mercer just walks right into CIA HQ and its not for Annie. He needs CIA help to recover a man, the question is will he right the wrong or just use the CIA to get what he needs and leave again.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By rmaria809, Oct 21, 2010
    Breath taking episode im still in shock. Ben Mercer walks into CIA HQ because he needs some of there assests to rescue a man who he put in danger 2 years ago. He was in Sri Lanka on a mission with Jay as his handler when he met Annie. So he returns because he needs there help just connections and a few loads of cash. They agree to help because its for the better and send Annie as his handler. I found it a bit odd because its where they meet and fell inlove but for Joan to put her in that situation smh. After a few actions scenes and the continuation of the cat and mouse game with Auggie, Langler and the reporter chick,(FYI the snitch is none other than a former CIA worker. I thought it was Jay but it turns out to be his father.) the season concluded with Ben getting shot. I'm higly upset with USA do they really think that I can wait until the next summer to see what will happen next. Since the CIA needed Annie to get to Mercer now that he is dead (or is he) what are they going to do with her.moreless

  • Auggie shows how much he cares about Annie, he risks getting everything to protect her. Annie faces her past when she returns to the beach with Ben on a mission.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Angel_Athariel, Oct 21, 2010
    Annie sees how badly it hurts Ben to have left her on the beach two years before and how much he has missed her. Ben loved her enough to give up his position in the CIA and go rogue, thus risking his life.

    Jay risks everything to be there for Annie when she is on a dangerous mission with Ben, he goes to great lengths to insure her safety and bring her home to Langley.

    Annie risks her life to save Ben rather than run to safety with Jay, only to have Ben shot during their escape attempt. Annie faces losing Ben and their deep seeded emotions for one another are reveiled in their reactions to his injury.moreless

  • 111

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By thefanof, Oct 21, 2010
    They should have ended the show's first season with the last hour as this was just below average action. When the show has the one-off storylines, that is when it is at its best, but the one recurring arc this show has with Ben Mercer and his mysterious past, I just do not have any interest in it. The show does not need this and I hope that Covert Affairs changes things in season 2 and abandons this worthless character.

    Not a horrible episode, but as I said, I just could not care less about Ben Mercer and do not see that changing.moreless
WRITE A REVIEW
 

Photos

See All

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

Covert Affairs Forums


Add a Topic See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Covert Affairs Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 1 Episodes

See All
Ep 11
When the Levee Breaks
Ep 10
I Can't Quit You, Baby
Ep 9
Fool in the Rain
Ep 8
What Is and What Should Ne...
Ep 7
Communication Breakdown
Ep 6
Houses of the Holy
Ep 5
In the Light
Ep 4
No Quarter
Ep 3
South Bound Suarez
Ep 2
Walter's Walk
Ep 1
Pilot

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
TV.com Properties | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use