McKenas Cole, the Man Behind the Man
McKenas Cole - The Man Behind the Man
Who is McKenas Cole?
In order to understand why McKenas Cole was chosen to front Irina Derevko’s organization(s), we need to first understand where he came from. How did he become a spy? What are his motives? What is his training?
Like Sydney Bristow, McKenas Cole was trained as a field agent for the criminal organization known as SD-6. He, too, believed that he was working for the Central Intelligence Agency. He was, however, a freelancer. In 1996, Cole was on a mission in Chechnya and his SD-6 team was captured by Russian intelligence. The objective of the team was to destroy the Shelhemil pipeline. They succeeded on their fist night in Chechnya, but were compromised shortly after.
The team was taken to a Russian base and interrogated for 38 days. Cole told the officers that he was an American citizen and an officer for the CIA. Fearful of retaliation, the Russians attempted to verify this information. Of course, SD-6 wasn’t really a part of the CIA and Cole was left on his own to be tortured by Russian intelligence.
Somehow, he managed to escape, though we’re never actually told how he did it. Presumably for five years he remained in hiding or worked as a freelance agent. He became involved with the international underworld and ended up back at home sweet home, good old SD-6. He was ordered to infiltrate the Credit Dauphine building with a multi-faceted mission:
- Obtain the ancient Rambaldi artifact (a vial of “magic ink” solution) and return it to “the man”.
- Disable the functioning capability of SD-6 through any means necessary
- Any casualties are collateral damage.
- Extra brownie points if Sloane bites it in the process.
Why was Cole an effective go-to man to represent a criminal organization?
- Experience with the key players
- Ability to withstand torture
- Shared Irina’s contempt for Sloane
- Ability to inflict torture
- Knowledge of the logistics of the building including, but not limited to, layout, security response, weapon capabilities, and personnel
- Ability to compartmentalize
- Killer fashion sense necessary to be a high ranking member of criminal organization
McKenas Cole, Kinky Secret Agent or Desperate Guy With a Pontiac?
Despite being on a very important mission for “the man”, Cole still makes an effort to bring a sexual element into the siege of SD-6. Not only does he discuss his feelings for Sydney, but he also makes out with Toni, his second in command.
Does have some kind of spy fetish? Is he just hypersexual? When discussing McKenas Cole, we should always remember that he likes taking things to the extreme. He likes the game to be on his terms, injecting caustic wit when he sees fit. Translate this to his sex life and well - let’s just say maybe Sydney was missing out? He knows how to dress, has good taste in champagne, and you know he’d be into her bringing her Aliases home… to the bedroom, if you know what I’m saying.
Conversely, we also hear about another side of Cole. This is the side that can’t get a date and has such low expectations for his love life.
Cole: You don't remember, do you? I didn't at first either. We've met before. It was about five years ago, here at SD-6. Which was really rare for me, 'cause I was a freelancer but I was here. And I saw you in the coffee room. You were wearing pigtails and I asked you out. Now, I know I'm not the subtlest guy when it comes to women and I probably said something insanely inappropriate because you told me if I ever talked to you again, you'd break my kneecaps. (beat) Which just made me love you. I've thought about you these last five years. I have. Uh, just every once in a while I'd think, "I wonder whatever happened to Pigtails." And, um, what I took away from that encounter in the coffee room was the fact that you didn't want to go see some mediocre romantic comedy with me, sit in my Pontiac in the parking lot, while we talked for an hour before I made my move. You didn't want to kiss me. Remember?
What happened to the thrillseeking debonair Cole? He went from super swank spy to high school band geek in .03 seconds. Perhaps it was the torture in Russia that changed him. Whatever it was, he’s now got a killer wardrobe, a team to do his bidding, and a job as a high ranking official in a very powerful crime syndicate. He’s doing pretty well for himself if you don’t count the fact that he shot his spylover in the head. Oh well, she was British Intelligence anyways.
McKenas Cole, Twisted Psycopath
Cole likes pushing buttons. He especially likes doing this when the end result works in his favor. This is where his penchant for torture comes into play. He takes immense pleasure in causing others pain. This is extremely evident in “The Box”. Even if Sloane hadn’t left him for dead in Chechnya, Cole would still get excited to pull out the box. He’s the kind of guy that likes kicking people when they’re down, if only to watch them squirm.
In the 3rd season, Cole is giving Lauren and Sark instructions on their next move. He tells Lauren that she’d better figure out a way to “put the kibosh” on her husband’s “extracurricular sextivites”. He hands her an envelope, presumably of Sydney and Vaughn.
McKenas Cole, Covenant Badguy
While Sydney is undergoing the transformation from Bristow to Julia Thorne, she is presented with a test. A disembodied voice instructs her to kill an unimportant man. Wait. Wait just a second! That’s McKenas Cole! JJ, that was pretty sneaky. Did you think we wouldn’t notice?
Cole’s back and he’s, once again, in a high ranking position. It must be the Armani suits. He has a nice little meeting with Sark and I’ll admit, I was secretly hoping Sydney would bust in the room and there would be a… well nevermind. Let’s just say it reverts back to the idea of the kinky McKenas Cole.
There you have it. He's McKenas Cole, spy renaissance man - bad guy, leader, kinky bastard, torturer extraordinaire, sadist. He does it all.
Who is McKenas Cole?
In order to understand why McKenas Cole was chosen to front Irina Derevko’s organization(s), we need to first understand where he came from. How did he become a spy? What are his motives? What is his training?
Like Sydney Bristow, McKenas Cole was trained as a field agent for the criminal organization known as SD-6. He, too, believed that he was working for the Central Intelligence Agency. He was, however, a freelancer. In 1996, Cole was on a mission in Chechnya and his SD-6 team was captured by Russian intelligence. The objective of the team was to destroy the Shelhemil pipeline. They succeeded on their fist night in Chechnya, but were compromised shortly after.
The team was taken to a Russian base and interrogated for 38 days. Cole told the officers that he was an American citizen and an officer for the CIA. Fearful of retaliation, the Russians attempted to verify this information. Of course, SD-6 wasn’t really a part of the CIA and Cole was left on his own to be tortured by Russian intelligence.
Somehow, he managed to escape, though we’re never actually told how he did it. Presumably for five years he remained in hiding or worked as a freelance agent. He became involved with the international underworld and ended up back at home sweet home, good old SD-6. He was ordered to infiltrate the Credit Dauphine building with a multi-faceted mission:
- Obtain the ancient Rambaldi artifact (a vial of “magic ink” solution) and return it to “the man”.
- Disable the functioning capability of SD-6 through any means necessary
- Any casualties are collateral damage.
- Extra brownie points if Sloane bites it in the process.
Why was Cole an effective go-to man to represent a criminal organization?
- Experience with the key players
- Ability to withstand torture
- Shared Irina’s contempt for Sloane
- Ability to inflict torture
- Knowledge of the logistics of the building including, but not limited to, layout, security response, weapon capabilities, and personnel
- Ability to compartmentalize
- Killer fashion sense necessary to be a high ranking member of criminal organization
McKenas Cole, Kinky Secret Agent or Desperate Guy With a Pontiac?
Despite being on a very important mission for “the man”, Cole still makes an effort to bring a sexual element into the siege of SD-6. Not only does he discuss his feelings for Sydney, but he also makes out with Toni, his second in command.
Does have some kind of spy fetish? Is he just hypersexual? When discussing McKenas Cole, we should always remember that he likes taking things to the extreme. He likes the game to be on his terms, injecting caustic wit when he sees fit. Translate this to his sex life and well - let’s just say maybe Sydney was missing out? He knows how to dress, has good taste in champagne, and you know he’d be into her bringing her Aliases home… to the bedroom, if you know what I’m saying.
Conversely, we also hear about another side of Cole. This is the side that can’t get a date and has such low expectations for his love life.
Cole: You don't remember, do you? I didn't at first either. We've met before. It was about five years ago, here at SD-6. Which was really rare for me, 'cause I was a freelancer but I was here. And I saw you in the coffee room. You were wearing pigtails and I asked you out. Now, I know I'm not the subtlest guy when it comes to women and I probably said something insanely inappropriate because you told me if I ever talked to you again, you'd break my kneecaps. (beat) Which just made me love you. I've thought about you these last five years. I have. Uh, just every once in a while I'd think, "I wonder whatever happened to Pigtails." And, um, what I took away from that encounter in the coffee room was the fact that you didn't want to go see some mediocre romantic comedy with me, sit in my Pontiac in the parking lot, while we talked for an hour before I made my move. You didn't want to kiss me. Remember?
What happened to the thrillseeking debonair Cole? He went from super swank spy to high school band geek in .03 seconds. Perhaps it was the torture in Russia that changed him. Whatever it was, he’s now got a killer wardrobe, a team to do his bidding, and a job as a high ranking official in a very powerful crime syndicate. He’s doing pretty well for himself if you don’t count the fact that he shot his spylover in the head. Oh well, she was British Intelligence anyways.
McKenas Cole, Twisted Psycopath
Cole likes pushing buttons. He especially likes doing this when the end result works in his favor. This is where his penchant for torture comes into play. He takes immense pleasure in causing others pain. This is extremely evident in “The Box”. Even if Sloane hadn’t left him for dead in Chechnya, Cole would still get excited to pull out the box. He’s the kind of guy that likes kicking people when they’re down, if only to watch them squirm.
In the 3rd season, Cole is giving Lauren and Sark instructions on their next move. He tells Lauren that she’d better figure out a way to “put the kibosh” on her husband’s “extracurricular sextivites”. He hands her an envelope, presumably of Sydney and Vaughn.
McKenas Cole, Covenant Badguy
While Sydney is undergoing the transformation from Bristow to Julia Thorne, she is presented with a test. A disembodied voice instructs her to kill an unimportant man. Wait. Wait just a second! That’s McKenas Cole! JJ, that was pretty sneaky. Did you think we wouldn’t notice?
Cole’s back and he’s, once again, in a high ranking position. It must be the Armani suits. He has a nice little meeting with Sark and I’ll admit, I was secretly hoping Sydney would bust in the room and there would be a… well nevermind. Let’s just say it reverts back to the idea of the kinky McKenas Cole.
There you have it. He's McKenas Cole, spy renaissance man - bad guy, leader, kinky bastard, torturer extraordinaire, sadist. He does it all.