Let’s step inside Johnny the Mole’s mind as he listens to Molly and Saeed reconstruct the forensic trail of his deception. We’ve already seen what he’s done, so we can practically hear his thoughts racing as he searches for a way to avoid being exposed, even while his expression remains controlled. His colleagues are panicking over the Testarossa File and Carla Duval’s incorrect asset list being entered into the official record—mistakes that could end their careers. Johnny, however, does what serves Johnny best. For now, he stays quiet and lets events unfold. Perhaps there is still a way to escape the blame—and the legal consequences closing in around him. We know enough about how he operates to understand that he has repeatedly pushed things to the darkest possible edge and somehow slipped free.
It’s Episode 6 of War on HBO, and the Duval-Henderson divorce trial is just two days away. Budgie will face Cathcarts’ lead barrister, the formidable Baroness Prudence Winfield (Archie Panjabi), while Serena Byrne insists that every truth, lie, and mistake be included in her notes at Taylor & Byrne. With time running out, Molly decides to report the discrepancy no one can explain. She emails Serena directly: “Our internal comms finding its way to Cathcarts might not be accidental—I think we may have a mole in the office.” Serena and Nick begin investigating. Who could it be? Johnny’s dedication and tireless work on the case keep him above suspicion. Saeed, meanwhile, is telling the truth about being the mole, but he sounds guilty anyway because he is terrible at acting casual.
At Cathcarts, David Schill ignores Johnny’s increasingly frantic messages. He is terrified, too, sensing that the mole’s exposure could destroy both his position and his hopes of becoming a partner. At home, David and his wife are facing a crisis of their own: their son, born a month premature, is struggling to breathe without assistance. It is fair to say David is distracted. But when he angrily tells St. John Smallwood that the firm cannot sacrifice him without damaging its 200-year-old reputation, the dryly amused senior partner responds with a look that says, “Yes, we can, if necessary.” Smallwood is an absolutely delicious bastard.
Speaking of unanswered messages, Morgan left Flora’s text unread. When she reaches out again to explain that she genuinely enjoyed being with him despite the setup, he finally calls her back—only to reprimand her. He brings up the 2005–2006 UK News of the World phone-hacking scandal and asks, “Is that what this is?” before ending the conversation. The reference is particularly striking in the world of War, given that Sienna Miller was a real-life victim of the scandal.
What if Johnny discovers proof of the honeytrap on Carla’s phone—her messages with Flora? With court approaching, that evidence could matter more than the mole investigation. He leaves his bed and girlfriend Bella behind to play the devoted boyfriend to Carla, maneuvering her into handing over her phone while she rests her head on his shoulder, suggests another round in bed, and tells him, “You’re one of the only people I can trust.” Johnny is becoming increasingly repulsive, but it remains remarkable how steady the eyes of this professional spy stay as the number of sides he is playing continues to grow.
“I confess…” No, he doesn’t. Finding nothing useful on Carla’s phone and running out of ways to redirect suspicion, Johnny emails the rival firm and reveals everything—while posing as Saeed. What a bastard. The junior associate, who did nothing wrong, is escorted from Taylor & Byrne by security. With the mole mystery apparently resolved, everyone turns their attention to the first day of the Duval-Henderson divorce trial.
That is where this molehill may finally become a mountain. Representatives from both sides have gathered at the courthouse. Serena walks alongside Johnny and reflects on Saeed’s dismissal, saying the evidence confirmed that a scoundrel was operating within their ranks. The real scoundrel beside her confidently offers a Keanu Reeves quote: “The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.” Does Serena know who said it?
“Yes,” Serena replies, turning toward Johnny. Her expression suddenly sharpens as she reaches the courtroom entrance. She does know. The quote originally came from David Schill, who used it with her near the beginning of this entire affair. Now her trusted young associate is repeating the same words. Hmm. Left alone in the entrance hall, Johnny’s thoughts begin racing again. After all his careful maneuvering, has he finally exposed himself? Holy mole-y. The first day in court is shaping up to be quite a spectacle.
Discovery for War Season 1 Episode 6 (“The Simple Act of Paying Attention”):
- After rejecting Michael Ancker’s offer to buy Zephyr, Morgan asks his advisers how he, the company’s CEO, was ambushed in his own office. Should he sell to an oligarch he considers a parasite? Should he step down from the company he built? “[Ancker’s] whole business is to spread bile, active hate.” The buyout could still go through, depending on what happens in court, because Morgan’s advisers are also watching out for their own payday.
- Johnny’s twisted mind has its own soundtrack, and War makes sure we hear it. The song is “Devil Song” by The Lovebirds: “The devil is in my head…”
- We could not find a reliable source for the Keanu Reeves quote that gives this War episode its title and plays such an important role in the story. The internet, however, has happily transformed “The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way” into a collection of Live Laugh Love-style inspirational slogans for public speakers who would rather not write their own introductions.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.