The team came up against a difficult mission as Clay faced his final test.

This episode of SEAL Team on CBS had Jason (David Boreanaz) team up with Mandy (Jessica Pare) to do whatever they have to in order to save a CIA operative. Things get touch and go for a bit while Sonny (AJ Buckley) and the others follow Jason without question. This isn’t the only struggle of the week as there are issues back home for our men as well. Ray (Neil Brown Jr.) finds out that his family is having financial difficulties even as Jason and Alana (Michaela McManus) are attempting to figure out their problems once and for all.

RELATED | SEAL TEAM ROUNDTABLE 1X06 “THE SPINNING WHEEL”

Meanwhile, Clay (Max Theiriot) is being put through the paces of his final test. It takes just about all the reserves he has to beat it. It also takes a vision of Clay’s father and Brian (Jay Hayden) for Clay to let go of his issues and embrace the fact that the other SEALs will be his family. When Clay passes the test it has us all hoping that he will finally embrace and allow the other members of his team to get close to him. Things are especially looking up when it seems that Jason has finally given Clay his approval and seems to accept him. Only time will tell.

Let’s meet our roundtable of the week and really break it down!

Laura (@Boneslvr38) – Bonehead turned Sealie from Jersey.

Micha (@ciaomichaella) – Chocoholic fan girl who loves live tweeting, television, spoilers, books, and social media.

Rachel (@tickledbloo) – Small business owner, mom and wife from rural Northern Michigan.

Tammy (@tamms1958) – Southern girl who loves her kids and grandkids with all her heart!

Kris (@foxyangel26) – TV fan and movie buff. Shoe and animal lover.

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1. We got to see a Jason and Mandy team up! Finally! What did you think of how they worked together?

Laura (@Boneslvr38): Jason and Mandy worked very well together.

Micha (@ciaomichaella): It was neat to see them working together. I found it interesting how Jason was super supportive, like a protective older brother after Mandy disclosed that she broke up with the guy she was seeing. They made a good team.

Rachel (@tickledbloo): I have mixed feelings about Mandy. She certainly is a bad ass, and they seem to be on a similar level. I also think there was a bit of tension in the car. Perhaps some professional flirtation. They worked very well together, but they work well together when she is behind the scenes. Something about David Boreanaz in civilian clothing, and undercover on a show where he normally is in a certain uniform is kinda hot. Booth without a suit. Wowza.

Tammy (@tamms1958): I think they did a great job, considering they had to go in after a failed job by our allies and the enemy was going to be ready for another rescue mission to get the woman.

Kris (@foxyangel26): They made a great partnership! It was a dynamic duo that definitely understood the objective and worked well to achieve the goal with as few casualties as possible.

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2. It was a little touch and go there with the mission but the SEALs ultimately pulled through. But we’re you worried for Jane a bit in the middle?

Laura: No, I wasn’t worried for Jane in the least.

Micha: I wasn’t really too worried about Jane because I expected the team would pull through. Does this mean I have too much faith in the capabilities of the team? Is the show becoming too formulaic? I don’t know. I guess only time will tell.

Rachel: Of course, especially when Jason and his team wasn’t given clearance to engage. Their clear evaluation of the other Ops team as being inexperienced should’ve been listened to, and of course, plot line. It was believed way too late. I knew due to the nature of the show, Jason and his team would get in there, save the American and come home safely, but it’s always tense when they go into an op! So tense!

Tammy: Not really. I felt the Team would complete the mission.

Kris: I was definitely worried about Jane. After the botched job in Paraguay I thought they were going to find her dead body. I’m glad it worked out.

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3. Clay deals with a bit of interrogation that causes him to break away from the issues holding him down. Did what Clay saw in his visions surprise you?

Laura: No, Clay’s visions didn’t surprise me.

Micha: Not really. We’ve seen throughout the season that Clay has serious daddy issues, and recently he had to deal with Brian’s death. So it’s not surprising that his visions while under torture would be about them.

Rachel: No. I think that visions, in general, show us moments of weakness, or an epiphany. It was so sad to see Clay experience such vulnerability. Saying good-bye to something, or someone is always hard to watch. The symbolism was emotional and fantastic. The hands breaking the water, ugly cry material.

Tammy: Yes. Especially the scenes in the water.

Kris:  A little bit, but it also helped me understand his character better. I think we see a different side of him now because I think he may have let go of some things that were weighing him down. I’m excited to see what is in store for him.

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4. We finally got to see the moment we’ve been waiting for! Jason accepted Clay! Do you think the acceptance will last?

Laura: No, I don’t think it will last. Jason and Clay are both alpha dogs and sooner or later they are going to clash.

Micha: I think Jason realized that Clay’s been through hell physically, mentally, and  emotionally. So he was trying to be supportive. Whether or not Clay stays on Jason’s good side is up to Clay. Part of me thinks Jason knows Clay has potential but he also has a lot of baggage. So Clay has to earn his way into Jason’s team. Jason deals with life and death situations constantly. He needs to be confident that the people in his team are not just the best of the best, but people he could trust and rely on consistently.

Rachel: Yes! YES! Assuming he has really figured out that being a part of a team can be much like joining a family that you have selected. I hope Clay has lost the cockiness that was so prevalent in the first episodes of the show.

Tammy: I certainly hope so. If Clay sticks to his guns and doesn’t get cocky, he’ll do well.

Kris: I hope so. I feel like Clay has turned a corner and if he continues down this path then he will continue to show Jason that he is the same caliber.

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5. Jason and Alana seemed to make a breakthrough in their relationship. Do you think Jason opening up will ultimately lead to he and Alana finding their way back to each other?

Laura: That was just one mission Jason opened up about. I don’t think so. Alana, I think wants more and kind of wants Jason to have a normal nine to five job.

Micha: I’m glad Jason is finally starting to open up and talk, but perhaps he’d be better off with professional help if Nate’s death really is affecting him as severely as it has been. I’m expecting that Jason and Alana’s relationship will continue to be in limbo the rest of the year, if not the duration of season one. Especially if Jason remains closed off and does not resolve his Nate issues.

Rachel: Not really. I think we will be strung along on this for a long time. She doesn’t seem to accept his life. Which would be okay, if they weren’t married. It is a massive roadblock. Massive. In reality, it would keep them apart. I am interested to see what they do with the dynamic of their relationship and marriage as the show progresses.

Tammy: Right now, I don’t see that happening. I think she just needed for him to open the lines of communication for her to feel more like he trusts her and he could see that.

Kris: I think it’s a really good start. I love them together so I want them to work it out. But it will be a process.

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6. Ray finds out about the financial problems their family is having. What did you think of the way he dealt with things?

Laura: I think Ray will handle their financial problems like Ray handles everything else, as cool as a cucumber.

Micha: I thought Ray was calm about it and he is determined to work things out with his wife. I hope that the financial issues they’re dealing with represent just a minor blip in the grand scheme of things in terms of their marriage.

Rachel: Perfect! The best option isn’t to leave your partner to it, the best option is to get in there and figure it out with them. It will also help their relationship, which is a fantastic side effect of getting involved with what really are his financial affairs too.

Tammy: I think he was very understanding and didn’t blame her or let her shoulder the burden alone.

Kris: Very smart and awesome! That’s the best thing a husband can do is offer to help, no matter the issue. Let her know she’s not alone!

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7. What did you think about Brian coming back and making Clay finally see the light about accepting the SEALs as a family to lean on?

Laura: It was to be expected.

Micha: It was nice to see Brian again. I wonder if he’ll be coming back as a sort of Yoda for Clay throughout the series.

Rachel: This was a very emotional ride. It seems that Clay has realized some relationships in life are toxic, even if they’re close ones such as a father. It’s okay to love those people and let them go, and in most cases, it is most beneficial to both of you to love them and let them go. I hope Clay realizes (I am sure he does) that the “family” he has chosen is a very strong one.

Tammy: I think he really needed that to help him cross over. To feel he could trust and depend on them in all things completely.

Kris: I thought that was sweet and reassuring. Everybody needs family. Whether it’s blood or a family that has your back like SEALs do!

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Final Verdict: This SEAL team has shown how far they’re willing to go for innocent people.

The writing in this show just continues to impress. The emotional aspect of what Clay was going through was phenomenal. It had us feeling everything that Clay was experiencing. Minus the actual torture part, of course. We also felt the pain and anxiety that came from Ray when he found out about the financial trouble his family was having. Meanwhile, Jason and Alana had us hopeful for their reconciliation once again. We just hope the feeling isn’t misplaced. Those two need to be together!

The only thing we were left wondering about was how Ray’s wife had managed to hide the financials the way she had. Shouldn’t Ray have had some idea of any trouble that was arising when it came to money? Especially with his wife just having had another child. Then there was the relationship between Alana and Jason. While we want the two of them back together and are excited to see where the relationship goes, the ‘will they, won’t they’ of it all is growing a little tiresome. We just want to know if we should hold out hope for this couple or let it go.

SEAL Team returns Wednesday, November 22nd at 9/8c on CBS