Catch-22 – Episode 4 Review

After the focused story of the previous episode, Catch-22‘s fourth episode is a return to a more sporadic story.

After the deaths of McWatt and Kid Sampson, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) decides he is going to do his reminding 11 missions as fast as he can. After completing those missions in six days Yossarian has to wait for clearance to leave, so Milo (Daniel David Stewart) takes the airman on a tour of his business operation – taking him to Sicily, Malta, and Algeria.

The bulk of the episode is focused on Milo’s business and how it spans across the Mediterranean. It was a fairly faithful adaptation of the storyline in the novel. It has his confusing business dealings like being able to buy eggs 7¢, sell them for 5¢ and somehow makes a profit, and is able to turn Sicily into one of biggest Scotch exporters in the world. Due to Milo bringing prosperity to war-torn places he gets elevated to ceremonial positions and adored by civilians and people in power.

The main aim of the trip was due to Milo needing Yossarian to help him with a business deal. Yossarian has to masquerade as Nelson Rockefeller and the pair have to bullshit their way through a meeting. Yossarian was like a student who didn’t do any homework so nearly gets caught out when quizzed by the Caliph of Oran (Anthony Skordi.)

Yet Milo’s Mediterranean tour was more of a diversion from the main story. The better parts of the episode were when it was connected to Yossarian’s attempt to get out of the Air Force. The episode picks up right where Episode 3 left off, with the deaths of McWatt and Sampson and the military question Yossarian. This early scene had some pointing commentary since the military asks point-blank questions to exonerate themselves. It’s blunt but this situation could be transferred to any institution looking to avoid blame.

The montage of Yossarian blitzing through his missions was effective. It got through this part of the story quickly – it was filled with energy and it showed Yossarian getting more worn out by the mission. When Yossarian finally gets all his paperwork and submits it Colonel Korn (Kevin J. O’Connor) reveals himself to be an utter weasel of a man. This is the first time in the series where Korn does a major action in the series. The character has a more major role in the novel – acting as the brains the officer core.

In the episode Nately (Austin Stowell) states that he wants to marry Clarina (Valentina Bellè). Yossarian tries to bring him back to reality because he’s 24, he has his whole life ahead of him and most importantly, she’s a prostitute.

The episode also makes Orr (Graham Patrick Martin) a more prominent character. Orr for the first time announces that he deliberately clashes his planes and he joins Yossarian and Milo on the business tour. Anyone who has read the novel will know he will become more important.

Out of all the episodes so far Episode 4 acts more like a filler episode – which is particularly remarkable because the miniseries is only six episodes long. This episode has the least impact so far.