Season 6, Episode 20 of The Oval doesn’t waste a single moment reminding viewers why this show thrives on chaos. The episode feels like a pressure cooker finally starting to crack, though, frustratingly, not quite exploding yet.
We open with the most disturbing visual of the hour: Hunter, Victoria, and Jason trapped together in the bunker. Jason and Victoria are both bleeding badly, slumped on the floor, while Hunter remains the only one still standing. Instead of panicking, Hunter oscillates between shouting for help and commanding the others to stay quiet, insisting they conserve energy as if he’s suddenly the calmest person in the room. The irony is impossible to ignore; the most unhinged character is the only one still upright.
What’s even more unsettling is the complete absence of security! No guards. No cameras. No Secret Service rushing in. Blood literally seeps through the ventilation system before anyone reacts. When help finally arrives near the end of the episode, Max simply stands there, frozen, as if unsure whether to intervene or just observe the damage. The negligence feels intentional, and it’s clear this disaster will land squarely on Eli’s shoulders since he was the one who approved putting these volatile people in the same cell.
Victoria, even while wounded, continues whispering poison into Jason’s ear, insisting Hunter doesn’t care about him. The scene is eerie; a psychotic family dynamic playing out while they bleed out together. Victoria, being central to the series, feels likely to survive. Jason’s fate, however, feels far more uncertain.
Meanwhile, Eli’s storyline reveals a man increasingly corrupted by authority. His interactions with Priscilla start off cordial; he thanks her for her role in taking down enemies, but quickly turn manipulative. He probes her about Sam, Simone, Bobby, and Constance, trying to piece together loyalties while pretending it’s all casual conversation. At this point, nearly everyone is lying, especially Eli, who continues to justify sleeping with Victoria as “strategy,” despite evidence that the affair predates his presidency.
Sam confronts Eli about the legal reality of detaining suspects indefinitely. They have rights, attorneys, and due process, concepts Eli now seems happy to ignore. Like Allan, he’s letting power override reason. The tension spikes when Eli casually brings up Sam’s affair with Victoria, triggering a wave of flashbacks that underscore unresolved jealousy. Sam’s reaction makes it clear: he’s not as emotionally detached as he claims.
Allan, now officially Chief of Staff, proves just how quickly authority can inflate an ego. When Sam meets him, Allan immediately begins issuing orders, demanding help accessing a laptop that cannot leave his office. He claims sensitive information is stored there and hints at involving an FBI agent, though insists the agent come to him. The implication is chilling: whatever is on that laptop could bury someone, and Allan may be digging his own grave. Once Donald finds out about this power grab, the fallout could be explosive.
Back in the civilian chaos, Nancy, Dale, and Sharon continue proving they’ve learned absolutely nothing. They argue over stolen money, a car Nancy insists is hers, and whose fault their lives have become a disaster. Sharon blames Dale for everything, ignoring the fact that their nightmare began long before he entered the picture. The constant bickering is interrupted when Richard unexpectedly shows up at the house.
Richard’s arrival turns dangerous fast. Nancy, incapable of reading the room, admits she burned his belongings and continues provoking him with cruel remarks about his father, the same father Richard murdered. Despite clear warnings from Dale and Sharon, Nancy keeps talking, poking at trauma like it’s a sport. Richard snaps, calling her names and revealing he’s moved everyone around, suggesting this situation is far from over. Only after intense pressure does he finally leave, but his exit feels temporary, not final.
As if that isn’t enough, Allan later calls Dale and orders him to be gone by the time he returns, raising suspicions about Allan’s secret meeting with Lily. With Donald looming in the background, Allan’s confidence feels dangerously misplaced.
Simone’s emotional arc circles back to her inability to move past Eli sleeping with Victoria. Despite Priscilla’s attempts to reason with her, Simone remains hurt and distant. Eventually, she agrees to return to the White House but immediately calls Bobby, another questionable decision. When Max questions Bobby about his motives, jealousy becomes painfully obvious. Simone, once again, seems drawn to the wrong person at exactly the wrong time.
The episode circles back to the bunker for its most intense moments. Donna and Kyle (or Cal) realise Hunter has flipped the narrative, blaming them entirely to save himself. As blood pours from the vents, they wrongly assume Hunter is already dead and begin plotting their next move. They’re partially right — a fixer has been brought in, but completely wrong about who’s truly in control.
Constance finally returns, insisting on speaking to the detainees alone. She refuses Eli and Sam’s presence, requesting only Max accompany her. While she claims distrust, her insistence raises red flags. Being “vetted” clearly means nothing in a White House already drowning in betrayal.
When Max finally opens the bunker cell, Hunter immediately begins reminding him who he works for, pleading for Victoria’s life. The episode ends on a haunting note, help has arrived far too late, and the damage is already done. The question isn’t just who survives, but who will be blamed when the truth comes out.
With the season finale looming, power has corrupted nearly everyone; loyalty is meaningless, and consequences are finally closing in. Whether The Oval continues beyond this season or not, this mess can’t stay buried much longer.
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