As a seasoned traveler who’s seen more than a few movies and TV shows, let me tell you that the protagonist of Carry-On had quite a learning curve when it comes to dealing with dangerous situations. Now, I’ve been through my fair share of airport dramas, but this one took the cake!
The film titled “Carry-On” is rapidly becoming known as the top thriller of this year. Featuring Taron Egerton as the TSA officer named Ethan and Jason Bateman as a mysterious traveler, the plot unfolds with Ethan being compelled to let a questionable suitcase pass through airport security. Upon discovering from the Traveler that the bag contains a deadly nerve agent called Novichok, Ethan springs into action to protect not just his girlfriend, but everyone else at the airport as well.
Luckily, due to his swift decision-making and agility, Ethan manages to keep the passengers safe from the harmful effects of the nerve agent. Although we appreciate his heroic actions, we believe there might have been less risky methods for him to achieve this outcome.
6
Don’t Put in the Earpiece
Following Ethan assuming his position, a traveler draws his attention to an earpiece hidden within one of the storage containers. As he investigates it, he receives a mysterious text: “Place it in your right ear immediately.” With little pause, Ethan complies, inserting the earpiece and hearing commands through it. Initially, he assumes it’s a prank, but quickly discerns the voice is quite serious.
No Earpiece, No Threat
Regardless if it’s a joke or not, sticking an earbud in at this moment might not be beneficial for Ethan, considering he’s aiming to leave a positive impact on his boss. If Ethan hadn’t worn the earbud, The Traveler wouldn’t have been able to verbally direct him or intimidate Nora. Granted, he could still have harmed her, but with Ethan being unaware of the situation, what would be the purpose?
Indeed, the Traveler might have devised alternative methods to contact Ethan, like texting from the same number, but that approach would have been slower, less intimidating, and potentially easier to miss. Additionally, he could have enlisted another individual to aid in his plan, but Ethan was specifically chosen for particular reasons. It’s likely that other TSA officers would have given him just as much trouble, if not more, and the operation would have fallen apart once again.
5
Some Quick Sleight of Hand
To warn others about the Traveler’s deceitful strategies, Ethan devises some cunning tactics. Initially, he discreetly dials 911, but the Watcher, portrayed by Theo Rossi, spots him and tips off the Traveler. Subsequently, Ethan attempts to send a secret text message using his watch; however, once again, the Watcher becomes aware, and the Traveler orders him to withdraw the message. Later, he pens a note in invisible ink on a boarding pass, which nearly succeeds when his colleague Lionel (played by Curtiss Cook) deciphers it; unfortunately, it results in Lionel’s demise. While these strategies were effective, with better foresight, any one of them might have been successful.
Hindsight is 2020
If Ethan had given the illusion of pressing the power button on his phone but instead pressed the side button, he would have turned off the screen while still allowing the 911 operator to hear him. Similarly, he could have hidden the watch face and sent a message before putting it away, or if he had moved the watch higher up on his arm, it would have been concealed by his sleeve. One of the most crucial options might have been adding an additional note to his message to Lionel like “Call for help, don’t walk away to find it.” While some of these strategies may seem obvious in retrospect, they could all have been executed effortlessly.
4
Kill the Stranger
Not long after attempting to warn Nora about the unfolding events, Ethan hastily rushes towards the bathroom, shocked that she had come close to being hit by gunfire. The Traveler pursues him into the room, leading to a struggle. In the heat of the moment, Ethan seizes the man’s firearm. He demands that he cease firing his sniper, but instead, the Traveler triggers a remote nerve agent, which could have been avoided if Ethan had acted quicker and shot him earlier, potentially bringing an end to everything immediately afterward.
Easy in Action, Not Principle
Without a doubt, taking someone’s life, even if they are suspected to be a terrorist, is not an easy decision. Yet, Ethan has gained firsthand knowledge of the lethal potential of the Traveler, as he witnessed Lionel’s death (which, upon reflection, means he couldn’t have saved everyone at that moment. My apologies, Lionel).
Even if Ethan didn’t shoot him, there was still a risk in trusting the Traveler with his phone, as the Traveler could have manipulated the situation and given orders for Ethan to lower his gun or face being shot by a sniper. At minimum, Ethan should have verified the Traveler’s actions by either watching the screen or taking control of the phone himself.
3
Find the Blind Spots
To monitor Ethan, the Surveillance Operator employs a network of cameras across the airport, yet this surveillance system isn’t infallible. On one occasion, Ethan manages to evade the watcher since the room he entered was a massive blind spot. If he had spent more time in that room or discovered other similar hidden areas, he might have sought assistance more easily, thus possibly preventing further escalation.
Unable to Watch
Indeed, locating every camera may prove challenging, and distinguishing between hijacked ones and those prepositioned by the Watcher and Traveler could be difficult. However, Ethan might have destroyed the cameras within his reach, which could’ve drawn attention as well. Additionally, fewer cameras would make it harder for the Watcher to locate and aim at Nora. In essence, if the Watcher were unable to monitor anything, his ability to carry out his tasks would be significantly impaired.
2
Take Nora Somewhere Sooner
Following the passage of the Traveler’s suspicious luggage through security, Ethan encounters Nora for lunch. The atmosphere is heavy as Ethan ponders his next move. Given the daunting choice between saving Nora and those aboard the plane, it’s natural that he feels fearful about disclosing the situation to her. Yet, they find themselves in a rather advantageous position where Ethan could attempt to extract her from there, thereby potentially rescuing everyone.
A Shot Worth Taking
In a crowd, it would’ve been challenging for the Watcher to take his shot since there were many people nearby. Ethan might have thought of inventing an urgent situation to swiftly remove Nora from the scene. Given that Lionel had passed away (my apologies, Lionel), it seemed appropriate for Ethan to ask Nora to step aside privately so they could discuss and he could grieve. Once alone, Ethan could have shared what was happening, asked to use her phone, and contacted the authorities for help.
Absolutely, Ethan isn’t aware that there’s just one sniper, and he can’t pinpoint the sniper’s location even if he tries. There’s a possibility that the Watcher would have figured things out swiftly and taken his shot. If the Watcher were exceptionally skilled or if more people were involved in the operation, Ethan and Nora were essentially exposed, regardless of compliance. Therefore, it could be beneficial for Ethan to take a shot to potentially protect everyone, and the quicker he could do so, the better the outcome would be.
1
Ground the Plane
Towards the film’s end, Ethan sneaks onto the aircraft to neutralize the Novichok. This results in a thrilling battle between him and the Traveler which concludes with both being enclosed in a refrigerated, airtight compartment containing the deadly nerve agent. Although exciting to observe, this scenario appears excessively complex. A simpler solution might have been to ground the plane, thus sparing everyone from potential danger.
The Traveler’s Selfishness
Ethan gets on the plane because he worries that the Traveler might detonate a nerve agent if the flight doesn’t take off. However, it’s important to note that the Traveler wouldn’t have done such a thing once they were both airborne. Instead, his intention was to jump out with a parachute, abandoning the other passengers to their destiny. Even if he attempted to exit the plane before the others, airport security would likely have prevented him from doing so, allowing the other passengers to disembark safely before him.
Essentially, Bateman delivers an outstanding portrayal of the chilling Traveler, yet his character wasn’t flawless. We’re pleased that Ethan’s strategies worked out, but there were alternative paths he could have chosen. If a follow-up story unfolds, we look forward to seeing the new police officer apply the lessons gleaned from this encounter.
Carry-On is now available to stream on Netflix.
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2024-12-15 02:32