Network: NBC
Episodes: 13 (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: April 5, 2015 — June 28, 2015
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Anna Friel, Peter Facinelli, Jake Robinson, Jim True-Frost, Sadie Sink, Omar Ghazaoui, Nate Mooney, Elena Kampouris, Daniella Pineda, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Treat Williams.
TV show description:
This action drama series is a journey through global politics, corporate espionage, and military secrets. It revolves around three strangers who have one thing in common — the truth. An international cover-up explodes when the lives of a female Special Forces soldier, a disillusioned corporate lawyer, and a political activist from a privileged family unexpectedly collide.
After a team of American soldiers battles jihadists in North Africa, they’re shocked to learn that they’ve stumbled upon and killed Al Qaeda’s top commander. Sergeant Odelle Ballard (Anna Friel) — a soldier, mother, wife and the unit’s only female member — discovers computer files that prove a major United States corporation is funding the jihadists.
But before Odelle can tell anyone, her team is attacked and killed. The world is told that the unit was wiped out by enemy militants, but the truth is that Odelle survived and must now find a way to get home. She is the only witness to her unit’s true assassins: private military contractors named Osela.
In New York, former United States attorney turned corporate litigator Peter Decker (Peter Facinelli) finds himself embroiled in a merger with the same company that funded the jihadists. He soon begins to connect the corrupt dots of this company’s terrorist involvement.
Meanwhile, political activist and trust fund kid Harrison Walters (Jake Robinson) meets a hacker named Bob Offer (Nate Mooney). Bob claims to have unearthed a massive military-industrial-complex cover-up. It turns out that he’s stumbled onto the same cover-up that Odelle discovered, which will soon become a national headline with lethal implications.
The only way they’ll ever save their country, their families and themselves is by joining forces and exposing the people behind it.
Other characters include Ron Ballard (Jim True-Frost), Suzanne Ballard (Sadie Sink), Aslam (Omar Ghazaoui), Maya Decker (Elena Kampouris), Ruby Simms (Daniella Pineda), Frank Majors (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and Colonel Stephen Glen (Treat Williams).
Episode #13 — Real World
With news about Odelle’s survival sweeping the nation, Peter begs Tsaldari not to strike a deal with Societel, confident that Odelle’s story will lead to a conviction of Alex Baker. She fears the risk is too high for her country and rejects his pleas. After a quick conversation with Harrison, Peter learns the troubled activist wrote an article detailing the links between Osela, Black Sands, Odelle and Yusuf Qasim – and the New York Times agreed to publish it with his byline. Peter confronts the same writer at the Times and takes a major risk of his own – he gives him the flash drive full of stolen data from Societel. He emphasizes that it will support all of Odelle’s claims.
Meanwhile, Bob shows Harrison evidence that proves Ruby and Osela’s role in the conspiracy – a trove of emails from Michael Banks, all left in draft mode. Harrison seethes at the detailed account of his father’s murder and Ruby’s string of other misdeeds. Bob sends the trove of emails to contacts at the FBI who join Harrison at a cemetery to arrest Banks. However, as they cart away the tainted Osela agent, Banks accuses Harrison of killing Ruby, which triggers a sudden flashback for Harrison… whose memory suggests he did kill Ruby. The revelation sends him into a spiral…
Odelle and Aslam arrive in Barcelona where they find safety with Luc’s ex-wife, Christina. Odelle quickly connects with Isabel (the New York Times reporter), reaffirms their meeting and learns Ron and Suzanne will soon join them in Spain. Her overwhelming joy at the prospect of seeing her family carries through to the next day as she makes her way to see Isabel – until a familiar face stops her head-on. It’s Colonel Glen, the man she once viewed as a father and now considers an enemy. He forces her to meet and bombards her with threats about her reputation and the potential loss of her family. Both Glen and Odelle fight through tears as he details how the government will spin her story and turn her into a calculating traitor – unless she walks away from the interview. Shaken by the intense encounter, Odelle meets Isabel at a café… and chooses to tell the truth.
Her move sends ripples across the world – Tsaldari decides not to sign the deal with Societel, and Jennifer Wachtel lambasts Alex Baker for his failure. With his career and reputation in jeopardy, Baker exits the building in a haze and, as Peter watches from across the street, walks deliberately in front of a bus – and commits suicide. Moments later, Tsaldari informs Peter that the IMF wrote off Greece’s debt, and now the only person she owes is Peter for all his help. They reaffirm their friendship, and Peter sighs in relief, finally validated for all his work. But Jennifer Wachtel further complicates Peter’s life with a job offer. He rejects her outright at first, then appears to consider when she counters with a connection at the Justice Department. Perhaps it’s time to return to the DOJ…
In Spain, Ron and Suzanne arrive at the Barcelona airport and enjoy a long-awaited, emotional reunion with Odelle. A photographer captures the moment as a tearful Odelle shocks her family with another unexpected move – she can’t stay and they can’t go with her. She pleads with Ron and Suzanne to believe the forthcoming story from Isabel and to ignore the propaganda that will refute it. And then, as Colonel Glen and his men rush into the airport, Odelle flees – and escapes out the back with Isabel. Ron, irate at the turn of events, confronts Glen and punches him in the face for his lies.
When news travels back to Aslam and he learns that he will not join Odelle in America, he exits Christina’s house, both confused and worried for Odelle. A different kind of confusion envelops Harrison, though, despite the update that supports all his claims. Both Bob and Harrison’s ex-girlfriend Anna try to lend their support, but he pushes them both away, almost catatonic, clearly devastated by his earlier revelation.
Much later, at the Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., Odelle walks through customs… only something’s changed. Her hair’s a new color, her clothes different – and her passport says Isabel Rainey. The customs agent clears her through, and Odelle – undercover and under the radar – re-enters America. Home at last. (Courtesy NBC.)
First aired: June 28, 2015.
What do you think? Do you like the American Odyssey TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Absolutely deserved another season. As the events of the past two years (2016-2018), any show with this kind of relevance needs full exposure and resolution.
Good show, never given much a chance. like other comments, maybe don’t get into another show till it has at least a few seasons
Loved the show it ended far to soon
Far too many loose ends… Note to self: check to see if NBC cancelled seasoned two of any series before attempting to watch anything…
I love this series hard to believe something so good was on a network, hope HBO or Amazon or someone pick it up and continue, to many unanswered questions
Seems like Networks always cancel the good shows, and they keep the ones on that are silly or don’t make sense. The Unit was another good series that got canceled, but at least it ran 4 seasons.
Best series I have watched. Just purchased Netflix and the first show I watched was American Odyssey. Could not stop watching it was so captivating. I think someone should continue this series as it is a smash hit.
What a cool show the network made an error here in judgement
I loved this show and am very disappointed it was cancelled. I watched on Netflix. Great writing. My favorite character was Gregory Fitoussi. I loved his storyline with Odelle. Could go on with this. Why was it cancelled?
Best series I have seen since “Homeland”. Network TV must have such high renewal rates for advertisers per show that it Kills most of their new series. What about loyalty to viewers. In my opinion ABC and NBC are the worst. We invest our personal time, which is limited. I’m finished with network investment. Here’s to you great show, American Odyssey!