Episode 4 kicks off with a flashback to a young Ray coming home from school after getting into trouble. His dad lays down the law: “Discipline is your anchor,” setting the stage for Ray’s lifelong struggle with authority and expectations.
Back in the present, the recruits are in the pool practicing breathing exercises. Cameron can’t help but daydream about sipping Mai Tais beachfront with Nash, a brief, sweet escape from the chaos around him. Meanwhile, Captain Fajardo checks in with Sullivan, who’s still staring down the uncertainty of his reenlistment papers—he hasn’t gotten around to submitting them yet. Sullivan’s distraction bleeds into the pool, and he lashes out at Ray, telling him he fails. Ray, spiraling, starts counting breaths to calm his panic attack but is called out by the sergeants, highlighting just how high-pressure this environment is.
Ray then heads to the doctor’s office for an evaluation, where he meets a new female recruit. Chemistry sparks, and the playful banter offers a rare light moment. Back at the pool, Ray requests a do-over, but Sullivan shuts him down: “There are no do-overs in combat.” Later, Cameron gets dragged into Sullivan’s scrutiny when Ray is pulled off fire watch, Sullivan berates him, making it clear mistakes aren’t tolerated.
Meanwhile, Sullivan is off base, contemplating life over coffee with a lawyer. He’s weighing whether to reenlist, haunted by whatever happened in Guam. Cameron and Hicks hatch a prank to start a rivalry with Sergeant Knox’s platoon: steal toilet paper while Cameron’s on fire watch, making it look like he’s responsible. When Cameron tells Ray the plan, it ignites his anger and competitive streak.
Inspection day arrives, and Cameron’s platoon does well, though Ochoa struggles. A snake appears, and Captain Fajardo kills it, while Sergeant McKinnon later flies into a rage, throwing everyone’s gear around for cleanup. McKinnon also finds Nash’s journal, forcing him to read aloud his unfiltered thoughts about the platoon, calling Cameron “Not Marines material, kind of faggy, but at least he’s read a book,” humiliating but revealing character tensions.
Sullivan has his office moment with Fajardo: he’s decided not to reenlist, leaving her disappointed. Another flashback with Ray and his dad reinforces the theme of resilience: “Lock any shit in your head up and overcome.” That night, the platoon sneaks out to reclaim their stolen toilet paper. Cameron, hidden in a dumpster with the loot, confesses his loyalty to Ray, he’d rather fail than see his friend fail. The moment forces Sullivan to confront himself: “You don’t think you belong here?” he asks Cameron, and himself.
In the end, Sullivan chooses to reenlist, and Ray passes swim week. But the final shot hints at trouble, as an NCIS agent sits in a diner, a file on Sullivan in hand, suggesting an investigation is quietly brewing.
Continue the mission and see what happens next in Episode 5 here.
