Ep 3. Something Borrowed

Howard Silk (J.K. Simmons) is back in "Something Borrowed," episode three of the second season of the sci-fi espionage thriller series Counterpart. As he adjusts to life on the other side of the crossing, living in a world identical to his own but with some key differences, both personal and political, Silk finds himself navigating new relationships and trust issues.

As the title suggests, "Something Borrowed" centers around the notion of borrowing, or taking something that doesn't rightfully belong to oneself. Several characters, including Silk, his other-reality doppelganger Howard Prime, and former spy Clare (Nazanin Boniadi), are all grappling with the consequences of borrowed actions.

Silk, for instance, is still reeling from the betrayal of his wife Emily (Olivia Williams), who revealed herself to be part of a terrorist cell at the end of season one. In "Something Borrowed," he turns to his other-world ex-wife (played by Sarah Bolger) for comfort and companionship, and the two share a tentative, intimate moment. But as past and present collide, it becomes clear that Silk's relationships, and even his identity, are not as stable as he once thought.

Meanwhile, Howard Prime (also played by Simmons) is busy hiding his true identity and intentions as he works with Clare to gather intel from the other side. But when one of Clare's risky missions goes awry, Prime finds himself in a precarious situation that could expose his secrets and undermine his entire mission.

As the characters' actions continue to overlap and intersect, "Something Borrowed" questions the morality of borrowing and the idea that there are consequences to every choice we make, whether we borrow from others or ourselves. And as the show continues to push its characters and audiences into uncharted territories, it's clear that nothing is ever quite as it seems.