There's actually a bit more to get out this episode then meets the eye.
I have always pondered how often those in power do 'negotiate' with terrorists? As an old man I see the wisdom in maintaining the principle of negotiations but in practice I bet this type of compromise happens all the time. In this episode saving a handful of hostages by arming two opposing sides results in the escalation of hostilities and millions of lives lost. The blame of this cannot be placed squarely on Jamieson but he holds the burden of the decision and the weight of the lost lives and I found it interesting to watch his wrestling with these demons throughout the episode. Would this episode still have worked fine without the de-aging plot line? I believe so. The main message the episodes thinks the viewer should takeaway is that unnatural to fight the laws of the ageing process. My takeaway is that this is an episode about unintended consequences and regret staining a person's life. If I was in the writers room at the time I would have suggested that Jamieson just lay down his life in sacrifice for the hostages ----- it would be been a nice tie-in with the exposition about the previous negotiators dying attempting to make peace.
Well, Jamieson ---- You died trying to make it right. Next time give them guns that fire confetti.
I have always pondered how often those in power do 'negotiate' with terrorists? As an old man I see the wisdom in maintaining the principle of negotiations but in practice I bet this type of compromise happens all the time. In this episode saving a handful of hostages by arming two opposing sides results in the escalation of hostilities and millions of lives lost. The blame of this cannot be placed squarely on Jamieson but he holds the burden of the decision and the weight of the lost lives and I found it interesting to watch his wrestling with these demons throughout the episode. Would this episode still have worked fine without the de-aging plot line? I believe so. The main message the episodes thinks the viewer should takeaway is that unnatural to fight the laws of the ageing process. My takeaway is that this is an episode about unintended consequences and regret staining a person's life. If I was in the writers room at the time I would have suggested that Jamieson just lay down his life in sacrifice for the hostages ----- it would be been a nice tie-in with the exposition about the previous negotiators dying attempting to make peace.
Well, Jamieson ---- You died trying to make it right. Next time give them guns that fire confetti.