Back to basics with 'Covert Affairs'

Tuesday night's "Covert Affairs" was the strongest episode so far this season. It had everything: a great mission, a great mystery, skydiving, romance, and plenty of what the fans want most of all – Auggie!

What started out as looking like another car chase for Annie turned out to be a trip to the hospital for one of her nieces, where Annie met a doctor who just might help her get over her M.I.A. ex, Ben.

No sooner does she make this love connection when Joan creepily shows up to send her on a new mission. She and Auggie are sending Annie back to "The Farm," to complete her basic CIA training, which was interrupted in the first episode. Of course, the real reason she is there is to get proof that her instructor is a spy.

In the midst of all this, we got some of the best scenes between Annie and Auggie in a long while, including his surprise appearance as a guest speaker on "The Farm."

As for the mission, I believed the spy was one of Annie's fellow trainees all along, but suspected her intense roommate Emerson over the actual spy (spoiler alert!), Cory. Their fight on a plane - and while skydiving off of it - was the most thrilling fight scene on any show this year.

I was also pleased to see more groundwork laid for the season-long story arc of Arthur's trial, with Rena Sofer now in his corner (or is she?), and Jai - who's had nothing to do all season - ready to quit, or at least cause some trouble, over the whole thing.

It was great to finally see an episode that recalled the excitement of the first season this week. As good as last week's was, this felt more like a true to form episode, instead of one that took advantage of an exciting location.

I can't wait to see how Arthur's case plays out, and I can't help but wonder if some of Annie's fellow former trainees might show up in the future.

What did you think? Post your iReport, or comment below.