In Legends episode 4, “The War on Drugs,” the stakes are raised as Carter’s criminal empire is challenged by rival gangs, undercover operations and personal betrayals.
The episode begins with Carter’s rivals, the O’Connells, escaping from the police with the help of their associates. When Carter finds out they escaped, he tells Eddie to move their headquarters and to secure the rest of the drug supply until the Turks come back. He tells Eddie to hide the drugs in the hands of trusted customers, a lot of them addicts.
Elsewhere, Angus discovers that Shaun has had his house burnt down and vents his frustration to Kate and Bailey over the failed operation. Bailey tells him that Shaun and his family have been moved safely to Manchester and are not in immediate danger.
Guy told Don in London that another shipment of drugs was coming through Felixstowe and to be ready for trouble. Don tells Kate the investigation is entering a more dangerous phase and orders her team to gather more evidence against Carter.
Shaun is no longer any use as an informant, so Kate decides to take things further. However, Bailey decides to get close to Carter on a personal level by posing as a resident in his apartment building, in the hope of finding his vulnerabilities.
Still mourning Tommy’s death, Eddie secretly contacts Customs and tells them where Carter intends to stash part of the drug shipment. Bailey provides the information to Don, who arranges a successful raid. The police seize the drugs, a big break in the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Turkish organization is getting more tense. Hakan begins to doubt Guy’s leadership and considers replacing him with Zeki. Aziz defends Guy, but Hakan insists they can no longer put their faith in outsiders.
Hakan is insulted and ignored, and meets secretly with traders from Istanbul, offering to have Hakan killed in exchange for their backing.
Back in Liverpool, Carter sees Kate after she deliberately drops letters into his mailbox. The meeting leads to conversation in which Kate asserts that she works in property development. Carter is instantly intrigued and even offers to invest in her business, but Kate politely refuses.
Meanwhile Eddie tails the O’Connells and discovers that they killed Jed as a warning. He quickly tells Carter who decides it’s time for the two of them to go missing for a while.
In London, Guy’s hold on the Turkish operation is slipping as Hakan publicly backs Zeki’s new security plan. Suspicious of the changes, Guy starts his own investigation.
Later Eddie gives Bailey another location tied to Carter’s operation. Bailey begs Eddie to work closely with Customs but Eddie says his goal is simply to keep drugs from destroying Liverpool’s communities.
While hiding out in a luxury hotel, Carter and Eddie contemplate how far they have come from their humble beginnings. But their moment of comfort is short-lived as the O’Connells continue their pursuit.
Guy later calls his family and is concerned for his daughter’s safety, while Hakan learns of Zeki’s treachery. Hakan survives Zeki’s attack, but doesn’t kill him immediately. He spares him, for now.
The investigation is drawing to a close, and Don presses Angus for more time, promising him that Customs is about to bust both criminal networks.
Later Carter and Eddie are caught in traffic because of anti-drug protests. The O’ Connells try to ambush them but both men get out of their vehicle and disappear into the crowd. Eddie is able to negotiate a temporary truce but Carter privately admits that he has no intention of paying them.
Kate makes another breakthrough when she sees a part of a government issued license plate connected to Carter. Erin follows the vehicle. Kate thinks maybe Carter has protection from someone in law enforcement.
There are multiple betrayals happening at the end of the episode. Bailey knows Eddie is turning against Carter. Guy moves on to more dangerous political alliances in London. Zeki is killed under bizarre circumstances, perhaps on Hakan’s orders.
In a final gesture of brutal ruthlessness, Carter refuses to pay the O’Connells and has them killed instead. And to show just how dangerous Carter has become, the episode ends with him personally shooting a man who criticized him on television.
Episode Synopsis
The episode does a great job of showing Carter’s empire beginning to crumble from the inside. Eddie’s choice to work behind the scenes with Customs creates a fascinating internal threat and makes Carter more vulnerable than he has ever been.
Kate’s undercover approach also creates an interesting dynamic. If she can keep her cover, her blossoming personal relationship with Carter could become one of the investigation’s most powerful weapons.
Equally compelling is the power struggle in the Turkish organization. Hakan, Guy and Zeki have different ambitions, and Zeki’s death only adds to the mystery over who is really in charge.
Don still has some of the episode’s most memorable moments. His witty dialogue and well-placed humor help lighten the darker themes without lessening the tension.
Overall, “The War on Drugs” is one of the best episodes of the season so far, full of betrayals, strategic moves, and huge developments that set up an explosive second half of the season.