Why is Mr. Dalaga pressuring Sami in The Agency? Explained
In The Agency, Sami Zahir’s relationship with Mr. Dalaga becomes more intense as the story progresses. Dalaga, played by David Harewood, is a dignitary connected to Sami’s homeland and husband. His interest in Sami is first noticed in The Agency Episode 5: Rat Trap, where he watches her closely, showing he has a hidden agenda to control her.
Mr. Dalaga's pressure on Sami Zahir stems from her involvement with covert operations and her relationship with the CIA agent, Martian. Sami, portrayed by Jodie Turner-Smith, is a Sudanese anthropologist and Martian's love interest. In episode 7: Hard Landing, Dalaga confronts Sami over a paper she wrote warning that it will put her family in Khartoum in danger, resorting to threats.
Sami also has to deal with Osman, a Sudanese intelligence officer assigned to keep an eye on her. Osman projects hostile behavior towards her, such as violent confrontations. In The Agency, Osman is a Sudanese intelligence agent working for the Mukhabarat. His primary role is to oversee the security of peace negotiations between Sudanese and Chinese officials.
Why is Mr. Dalaga trying to control Sami in The Agency? Explained
The rekindled relationship between Sami and Martian, an ex-CIA operative, raises concern for Dalaga. Martian has strong connections with intelligence agencies that would naturally put Sudanese interests in jeopardy. Dalaga wants assurance that nothing is done to endanger national security.
Osman is tasked with surveilling Sami's activities. His presence indicates that the government is worried about her possible involvement in sensitive affairs due to her coming into contact with foreign agents like Martian.
The Agency also provides a view into the ongoing negotiations between Sudanese and Chinese authorities regarding Sudanese reserves. Dalaga confronts Sami about her past publication, where she discussed how se*ual violence against women and girls is often used as a weapon in conflicts across Africa and the world.
While his approach is subtle, the threat he makes is clear: he warns Sami that her family back in Sudan will be tortured or killed if she continues to disobey orders. The paper published by Sami comes close to destabilizing the sensitive negotiations as the stance in the paper was anti-government. This is precisely what Dalaga pressures Sami to prevent.
Dalaga strategically limits Sami's movements within London. He restricts her interactions and access to people and information so that he may control the story and not have any information inadvertently leaked out that might hurt Sudanese interests. He views Sami's romance with Martian as an added complication but not the major concern.
"I am a reasonable man and your work is important, (but) go out for ‘fresh air’ again, for any reason, and men will arrest your mother (and) your sisters. These men, might not be reasonable men," says Dalaga in The Agency episode 7:Hard Landing.
Dalaga seeks to ensure that Sami's actions align with Sudanese interests, maintaining national security and political stability.
The relationship between Sami and Martin explained
One of the most central relationships in The Agency is that between Martian, played by Michael Fassbender, and Dr Sami Zahir. This started when Martian was undercover in Ethiopia using the name "Paul Lewis." During this time, Martian and Sami became quite personal, although Martian did not reveal his real identity as a CIA operative.
As the series develops, Martian's double life becomes ever more complicated. In episode 7, Hard Landing, Martian suggests bringing Sami on board as a CIA asset to gather information about sensitive negotiations between Sudan and Chinese officials. The decision is put in doubt by higher-ups who are wary of using an informant with whom Martian has a history.
Things get even more complicated when Martian's real identity is revealed to Sami. The revelation puts them on a path of confrontation as Sami feels betrayed, thinking the whole affection was a part of his cover-up. However, The Agency portrays Martian's real affection for Sami when he tells her how much he wants to live with her beyond the boundaries of their respective covers.
The Agency is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
