“Covert Affairs,” Season 2, Episode 12, “Uberlin” is a fascinating Arthur-centric tale that shines a light on his murky, Cold War past as a young operative in Berlin just before the Wall fell. The old spy and Annie, the young spy, work well together.
Spoilers follow.
Annie is on the track of a money launderer named Issak Von Hagen, who has expanded his customer base from tax cheats to terrorists. She believes that the way to get to Von Hagen is through his wife, Elsa. Elsa agrees, suddenly confronting Annie and demanding a meeting with Arthur.
It seems that Arthur, while a young operative in Cold War Berlin, had recruited Elsa, then a Stasi agent, as an asset. As sometimes happens, especially in fictional espionage, their relationship became a little deeper than that. But an apparent betrayal on the part of Elsa and then the fall of the Wall caused them to be estranged.
In any event, Elsa wants a deal. In exchange for a new life in London, she will help take down Von Hagen. His new clients are a little too rich for her blood. Arthur, using his public troubles at the Agency as a back story, pretends to solicit Von Hagen’s services. Joan is rather dubious about this, as it involves $3 million and her husband interacting with a woman she realizes is an old lover. Poor Annie is caught in the middle.
The twists and turns of the story are classic spy drama, complete with an autobahn car chase punctuated with gunfire. Arthur’s experience and cunning combined with Annie’s youth and skill combine to win the day. Despite Von Hagen finding them out, they manage to rescue Elsa and take the money launderer down. And, as it turns out, Elsa did not betray Arthur all those years ago. She had been taken by her Stasi cohorts and tortured.
In the meantime, Annie’s sister proves to be more annoying than ever. What is her daughter’s artwork stack against the fact that Annie is risking her life? She should really reexamine her priorities.
There is also a subplot between Auggie and the girlfriend of a dead buddy of his. This serves only to display the beginnings of a torrid sex scene and a good look at Auggie’s chest for the ladies.