Blood & Treasure: Observations From “Mystery at Poison Island”

The sixth episode of the long-awaited second season of Blood & Treasure aired on Paramount+ on Sunday night, moving forward with the story of Danny McNamara and Lexi Vaziri as they are on the hunt for the latest antiquity that is also desired by a dangerous terrorist and his vicious team of killers.

Episode six found our brave trio following the clues to Dr. Orloff’s creepy, secretive lab that ended in a fiery ending.

The synopsis for the sixth episode, entitled “Mystery at Poison Island,” is “Danny, Lexi and Violet travel across a dangerous chemical wasteland in Kazakhstan to an abandoned bio-weapons facility. Meanwhile, Chuck begins his investigation about how the Vatican and the Spirit Banner are connected.”

The Good:

As creepy as that research laboratory was to witness, it was another great lead for the team to hopefully get closer to finding the Spirit Banner; and to have a crazy, knock-down fight inside that horrific facility.

It was great to see how much Lexi freaked out over those cockroaches (who wouldn’t?) while Violet calmly dealt with the situation, especially her effort to get Danny out of that contamination room before it was too late.

Watching Chuck deal with his CIA mission at the Vatican was both hysterical and a little disconcerting. He clearly was unsure what he could do until Danny gave him some advice that really pushed him forward. Chuck didn’t even let his meeting with the Cardinal get in the way. He sought out Sister Lisa, got that secret key to the hidden crypt of the unknown Saint Victoria, which led to their next clue. He even avoided that security guard. It was a little like watching a priest version of Jack Ryan.

For once, Simon was looking out for Danny and Lexi (go figure?!) by cracking open that bullet, pouring it inside the gun held by the Great Khan’s hitwoman, and saving Danny’s life.

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The Bad:

I missed Shaw in this episode, although it was funny to hear Danny ask whether Lexi and Violet watched the documentary that Shaw supposedly sent to them, and both ladies empathically answering, “No!” as if that would have been a complete waste of their time. I have a feeling that each episode is going to alternate between Chuck and Shaw. I just want to see our full team back in action together.

Those horrible specimens in that lab were unsettling to say the least, but that gross goo that was dripping into that contamination vault was even worse. But the hardest part to watch was Violet getting pulled inside that vault as the doors locked; then the gunfire, during Violet’s fistfight with one of the Great Khan’s hitmen, that caused that fire, which – in turn – caused the facility to explode just as Danny and Lexi raced outside. That was heartbreaking, as Lexi had to, once again, leave Violet behind. I could feel her momentary grief in that grungy bathroom at the outpost. I have a feeling if she doesn’t deal with that grief, it will eat her up.

Additional Thoughts:

How does Simon keep surviving these explosions? And who was the person pulling him out of the remains of that facility? Was it one of the Great Khan’s hitmen or someone else? Given that Violet was trapped inside that contamination vault when it went up in flames, it’s very unlikely that she survived, which is sad as she was becoming a great addition to the team.

So, let’s get this straight? Danny’s dad has a watch just like the one that the guy at the outpost received as a trade from the Americans who were in Kazakhstan all those years ago? And, Danny and Lexi determine that those Americans were more than likely from the CIA; in fact, they were part of (another) covert operation group called Ravens. How is Danny’s dad tied in with this group?

Make sure to tune in to Paramount+ next Sunday, August 21 for the next new episode.

A new episode of Blood & Treasure will air each Sunday on the streaming service.

You can also rewatch season 1 of Blood & Treasure on Paramount+.