The dangerous game between U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick and the rogue operative Havlock intensifies in the third episode of The Last Frontier, titled “Country as F**k.” Havlock gains the upper hand by uncovering a secret that Frank has buried in his basement, forcing the marshal into a corner. The episode culminates in a major action sequence on a cliffside and ends with a shocking personal revelation about CIA agent *Sidney Scofield* that changes everything.
Frank’s Personal Demons and a Rescue
The episode begins with a moment of relief for Frank. The box left by Havlock does not contain a gruesome token but his wife Sarah’s car keys, leading to her safe rescue. However, the ordeal confirms that Havlock is playing a deeper game, intentionally returning Sarah to earn a sliver of Frank’s trust. Frank’s protective nature is amplified, driven by a past family tragedy. In a quiet moment, he reveals to Sarah that he still cannot get “her” out of his head, strongly hinting that the couple previously lost a young daughter, a loss for which Frank blames himself and his dangerous job.
Frank’s softer side is shown when a young boy, Caleb, is found after escaping from the convicts who captured his father. Frank comforts the boy with hot chocolate, and their interaction underscores his deep care for children, a trait shaped by his own personal grief. The show suggests that Frank’s motivations are deeply tied to this unresolved pain.
Havlock’s Hostage Situation on the Tundra Buggy
While being pursued, Havlock is captured by the other escaped convicts, led by a domestic terrorist named Spencer. The group then takes hostage a “tundra buggy,” a massive, wheeled snow train full of tourists on a sightseeing tour. This vehicle becomes the centerpiece of the episode’s main action set-piece.
Once inside, Havlock quickly establishes control over the other inmates. He uses the buggy’s satellite connection to hack into the CIA’s system, deliberately alerting the authorities to his location. When Frank makes contact via radio, Havlock demands Sidney’s XenoGate passcode in exchange for the hostages’ safety. Sidney reluctantly provides it, giving Havlock access to her assets and allowing him to locate a man named Armen Zhdanko, who is linked to a stolen file called “Archive 6.”
A Cliffhanger Confrontation and a Hidden Secret
Frank and Sidney race to the tundra buggy via helicopter. In a dramatic and chaotic sequence, the buggy ends up dangling from a cliff, tethered only to the helicopter. Frank boards the vehicle to confront Havlock face-to-face. It is here that Havlock reveals his leverage: he knows about the secret Frank is hiding in his basement. This knowledge causes Frank to hesitate, allowing Havlock to drive the buggy off the cliff and escape into the ravine below.
Immediately after, a rattled Frank rushes to his basement. The episode confirms that Havlock was not bluffing. Frank retrieves a hidden Walter Coates book, revealing a secret compartment containing a gun. Flashbacks indicate this gun is crucial evidence that Frank stole from a past case. This confirms that the marshal, who presents himself as a straightforward lawman, is compromised by his own hidden actions.
Sidney’s Bombshell and Mounting Pressure
The episode also delves deeper into Sidney’s complicated history with Havlock. Through flashbacks, we see the origins of their relationship. She describes herself as his “first victim,” but her superiors at the CIA are increasingly convinced that she actively helped him defect. Her only ally, Jacque Bradford, even suggests that Sidney has brought shame to her late father’s memory, a man who was the original mind behind the Havlock program.
In a moment of vulnerability, Sidney bonds with Frank, sharing the personal cost her father’s spy life had on their family. However, the episode’s final scene delivers a massive twist that redefines her entire mission. Sidney reveals to Frank that she is not just Havlock’s former handler; she is his wife.
Other Story Threads
Elsewhere in Alaska, Frank’s son, Luke, and his girlfriend, Kira, are dealing with their own dangerous situation. The escaped convict they had been nursing back to health wakes up, kills a marshal, and takes the two teenagers hostage. This subplot is set to become a major problem for Frank, who now has even more on his plate.
The third episode of The Last Frontier shifts the dynamics by exposing the hidden flaws of its hero and the profound personal connection of its heroine to the villain. With Frank’s secret now in the open and Sidney’s true relationship to Havlock revealed, the hunt is now more personal and complicated than ever.
Also Read: The Last Frontier Brings a High-Flying Prison Break to Alaska
