The race for the Soul of Genghis Khan cuts a swath across holy lands.

Blood & Treasure barrels ahead in Mongolia, albeit this time with a few distracting sidebars and a bit of ‘assistance’ from the eternally annoying ‘stupidity plot’. Namely, for the conflict to continue, someone (either the good guy or bad guy) makes the stupidest decision possible, otherwise story over – one way or the other. Normally the show avoids this flaw, so seeing it now grates, however slightly.

In one scene, Lexi spots potential trouble and investigates without alerting anyone else in the group. People stride out into the middle of hails of gunfire. Of course, the bad guys also miss almost everything they shoot at. The sudden inexplicable stupidity temporarily afflicts André to various degrees. Danny and Lexi give him a pass at first due to his grief over Claudine. That only goes so far, however, as Lexi notes when she calls him an ass.

Lexi and Danny’s relationship continues to deepen. Usually this comes across as charming and sweet. Occasionally it veers closer to melodrama in this episode. The show handles it better as undertones or background than when it brings it to the forefront. At one point it stops just short of one of those they-want-to-hash-things-out-now? scenes.  Blood & Treasure falters when it pauses or attempts to dive deep, likewise during two scenes that included a teardrop tracking down a cheek.

Chuck continues his tentative partnership with Kate back in Hanoi. This interaction also teeters on the brink of silliness. Comic relief never hurts, especially in a light fun show like Blood & Thunder. Neither a spy nor an edgy hard-bitten character, Chuck often evokes humor. In a nice bit, he plays a conversation with a little old man to garner laughs. However, he turns suddenly, inexplicably clueless and expects valuable current data via microfilm – instead of on a flash drive. This comedy comes at the expense of the character instead of emerging organically from the situation and the personality – unlike the genuinely funny bit when Lexi admonishes Danny about not giving a history lesson, or the expression of pain, even some longing and a tinge of anger, on her face when André hurtles an expensive piece of jewelry into the distance.

The episode doesn’t contain any real surprises but sets up a few things quite nicely without being too obvious. In addition, two major baddies join forces, boding ill for our heroes. In a bit of clumsy writing one of them blithely claims he can handle them, then in the next breath calls them a formidable pair. He needs to make up his mind although the scene likely intends to showcase his arrogance. His new cohort – appropriately – points out he failed thus far every time he went up against them.

Danny shows off his tenaciousness and deductive skills; Lexi, ironically and amusingly, plays diplomat more than once. A running gag of Russia doing no wrong quickly gets old and misses the mark more often than it hits it.

Verdict: At its best going at top speed, Blood & Treasure lost steam a couple times this week but remains great fun. 7/10

Rigel Ailur