HBO's 'The Brink' Recap: Episode 2: 'Half-Cocked': Will Tim Robbins, Aasif Mandvi Save Jack Black?

From the man who brought you Austin Powers movies, director Jay Roach brings viewers a political satire The Brink on HBO. In Episode 2, Half-Cocked, can Walter Larson (Tim Robbins) and Rafiq Massoud (Aasif Mandvi) somehow stop World War III before Alex Talbot (Jack Black) gets tortured to death?

After mixing the drugs, Zeke (Pablo Schreiber) is already making a mess to on his mission. His co-pilot manages to puke up everything he had in his stomach. Trying to clean up the vomit, the co-pilot accidentally pulls the trigger and launches a missile, striking at a drone. 

With the military in his parents home, Rafiq is being held at gunpoint until Alex gives himself up. After stating that he has diplomatic immunity, the military tears up Alex's passport and takes him away.  Before he's out the door, Alex begs Rafiq to contact the embassy and save him.

Walter gets a call from his wife Mrs. Larson (Carla Gugino), who is having an affair with her trainer. Mrs. Larson has plans to step up the political ladder and needs Walter to speak with the President. Though the President is preoccupied with something else, Walter will try to mention his wife to him. 

In the bathroom, Walter manages to drop his cell in the urinal and offend his contact at the same time. Back at the War Room, President Julian Navarro (Esai Morales) gets a threatening call from General Umair Zaman (Iqbal Theba). Umair is basically making prank calls because he has the power to do so. The next people on the list to prank are Putin and Bono.

Knowing everybody wants to strike back at General Umair Zaman, Walter convinces the President to give him 24 hours to solve this matter. Unfortunately, Walter manages to screw things over with his contact even more. Walter realizes he needs to get on a plane and fly to foreign soil to get things done.  

With soldiers posted around the house, Rafiq asks his folks to distract them while he makes his way back to the embassy. He then meets  Robert Kittredge (John Larroquette), who has no intentions of saving Alex. Since Alex was already going to get fired, he's God's problem now. 

Still reeling from the drugs, Zeke almost crashes his jet plane when he's back onboard the ship. When Zeke and his co-pilot face the bad news, they're going to be reprimanded for their stunt and for blowing up the drone. 

After being waterboarded, Alex gives up that he's Walter's pimp and that he gives him girls. Now the enemy has info they really want. 

Readers, what did you think of Half-Cocked?