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This review may contain spoilers.

The episode starts big: a car carrying the FBI team investigating the blackout is intercepted and blown to smithereens by a private team of contract killers. From there, the episode takes a backward step and offers very little that can measure up to the first few minutes.

Gone is the intrigue and compelling drama of the previous episode, leaving behind a "24" themed political minefield in Washington D.C. designed to determine which agency should be heading up the investigation of the global event. Naturally, the FBI's branch in Los Angeles is not expected to be tasked with such an assignment and a mysterious act in Wedeck's (Courtney B. Vance) past serves to complicate their efforts.

The idea is grand and ambitious, but lacks the subtleties of the family-based drama we've seen over the last few weeks. Wedeck's "history" isn't quite as disastrous or dubious as we are initially led to believe and actually turns out to be something of a disappointment. In much the same way, the intimate storytelling of Janis' (Christine Woods) afterhours appetites doesn't exactly measure up to those of Mark (Joseph Fiennes) or Dr. Varley (Zachary Knighton) which have thus far been wonderful to behold.

Where it does intrigue though is in the contradictions between her lifestyle and her flash forward. Her reaction to discovering she is carrying a girl is met with a mixture of elation and unquestionable grief. This of course suggests that the father is no longer present in her life and the baby is all she has of him. Then again, once it is irrevocably established that she doesn't like men the idea that she will be a mother introduces additional possibilities that hadn't previously been considered.

And, with the exception of the final moments, "Gimme Some Truth" proves to be uneventful, unadventurous and unnecessary ... "FlashForward" can do better.

What Worked

Although the scenes in Washington weren't exactly enthralling, the outdoor shots were remarkably well constructed and the locations expertly shot. One of the many reasons that "FlashForward" is so accessible is that the show goes to tremendous efforts to show that the blackout was a global event and the impact of such an occurrence is felt everywhere.

Plus, the idea that an alien intelligence could be behind the blackout is chuckle worthy.

What Didn't Work

Maybe it's the 4400 in me, but I have a hard time accepting Peter Coyote as the President of the United States. As Ryland, he was morally ambiguous, a little sinister and even cruel – all of these are contrary to the ideals of the Oval Office.

The clash between Joyce and Wedeck lacked an explanatory backstory that would have given it extra weight and was ultimately forgettable. Then again, thanks to their confrontation, Joyce now stands a much better chance of becoming President and, if her flash forward is true, conjures a whole manner of theoretical questions on pre-destination paradoxes and the inability to shape ones destiny.

Most disappointing of all however is the final shoot out. After the episode catches up to its own flash forward, what we see is a "Miami Vice" style fire fight to what has to be the worst choice of backing music for such an event.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"FlashForward" stars Joseph Fiennes, Jack Davenport, Dominic Monaghan, Zachary Knighton, Peyton List, Brian O'Byrne, Christine Woods, Sonya Walger, John Cho Courtney B. Vance Bryce Robinson. "Gimme Some Truth" was written by Nicole Yorkin, Dawn Prestwich and Barbara Nance. It was directed by Michael Rymer.

"FlashForward" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.