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?
I loved this show, well written and interesting. I hate these stupid reality shows and dumb shows that try so hard to be funny, this was fascinating, why why why??
Why was this cancelled!!!? We LOVE this show!!!! Please bring it back!!!!!
I loved this show. It had high drama/tech in a modern mil/intel setting and great plot lines well interconnected. I think it was very illustrative of Eisenhower’s warning about the military and American industry getting too cozy. I wonder if the powers at be didn’t want people to see the parallels.
Why on earth was this show cancelled? It was tense and very interesting. Also thought provoking. A great pity. It was a unique show.
I guess I’ll never know how this ends. That’s so sad.
We loved the show and thought it might come back mid season. Please bring this back.
Renewed. I loved the show.
So disappointed this show was cancelled. It was a great show and always looked forward to the next episode. Please bring it back.
Loved the show. Get so discussed when I start watching a series and then it is cancelled. Please bring it.
So many moronic t.v. shows & they cancel AMERICAN ODYSSEY ?! What a shame. Why wasn’t a finale aired? It didn’t show up on my series recordings. I am very disappointed.
BRING BACK AMERICAN ODYSSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This show opens the eyes to the ignorant about what is really going on in the world. If I had 1 wish that would automatically come true, it would be for American Odyssey to keep going on season after season. Please I am BEGGING you people. I applaud the producers, directors, writers and everyone else involved in this show. i don’t want to see all their hard work go to waste.
I really don’t understand the (morons) people that decide to cancel shows that are very very good and worth watching?! Why on earth wouldn’t you give this show at least 2 seasons to even let viewers have a chance to see if it’s worth watching, but for some reason they cancel it after just 1 short season, I mean who are these idiots? I think that was one of the best shows on television and deserves a second chance! I would say, please bring it back, but obviously the decision was made on this channel anyways, but I will beg… Read more »
I agree with you Marissa. In the UK Homeland finished a few weeks back and I doubt if it will come back. It had been on for several years- and very good too. If you watched it was Just as political as Odyssey(that’s what we call it in the UK) After 13 episodes we were left seeing Odell walking through the airport in disguise ( blonde hair)…….(?) now what?. Then I heard they were cancelling it after the first series’ actually thought it was made by the BBC as it was shown on BBC2( at a stupid hour of 10pm.on… Read more »
Loved this series! Please bring it back!
I loved this show!! I hope they reconsider their decision.
Just bring the show back without delay.