‘TURN: Washington’s Spies’ recap: In war, pragmatism trumps idealism

War, like politics, makes strange bedfellows. That’s why a Redcoat officer forms an uneasy alliance with a newly discovered enemy on “Cold Murdering Bastards,” Episode 302 of AMC’s “TURN: Washington’s Spies.”

When the truth comes out that cabbage farmer Abraham Woodhull (Jamie Bell) is a covert operative for the Continental Army, British Maj. Edmund Hewlett (Burn Gorman) thinks a swift hanging is in order.

“Your father has told me everything,” Hewlett angrily says, referring to a damning revelation by Judge Richard Woodhull (Kevin R. McNally), a British sympathizer. “Don’t even pretend to deny it!”

Abe doesn’t deny it. Instead he blackmails Hewlett, who would likely be stripped of his command for believing Abe’s far-fetched story about infiltrating the rebellious Sons of Liberty in New York.

“You never know, you might be hanging with me,” Abe exclaims. “At any rate, you’ll be shown to be the fool that you really are!”

This heated exchange causes Abe’s wife, Mary (Meegan Warner), to collapse in despair. Then her husband defiantly exits Whitehall mansion, taking their young son, Thomas (Cabell and Ellis Chase), with him.

Anna Strong (Heather Lind), a patriot spy who nevertheless developed romantic feelings for Hewlett, offers a solution to this standoff.

Hewlett and Abe could jointly target their mutual enemy: Capt. John Graves Simcoe (Samuel Roukin), sadistic commander of the Queen’s Rangers.

Although they both serve the crown, Simcoe and Hewlett are bitter rivals. Simcoe even framed Hewlett for murder, nearly leading to his execution by the rebel army.

“Why not return the favor?” Anna suggests to Hewlett, by using the rebels to kill Simcoe.

Anna also sells this bold idea to Abe, emphasizing that it’s only a matter of time before his Culper Spy Ring is crushed by Simcoe. That’s his prime mission, in fact, under orders from Maj. John André (JJ Feild), head of British intelligence.

“I’ve come to learn pragmatism must at times trump ideals or emotions,” Hewlett tells Abe, calling Simcoe’s death “ideal for all concerned.”

“Once Simcoe is dead,” Abe inquires, “what happens next?”

Abe and his family must depart Long Island, Hewlett insists, but they’ll no doubt receive “a warm welcome in [Gen. George] Washington’s camp.”

Can a rebel spy and British officer join forces to eliminate Simcoe? Yes, Hewlett maintains, for it’s time to “put aside our mistrust and kill the murdering bastard!”

Ambushing Simcoe is fine with Abe, but abandoning his homestead is a nonstarter.

“I’m not leaving. Hewlett is,” Abe tells Anna. “He knows the name Culper, just the same as Simcoe. And once Simcoe is dead, Hewlett is next!”

Moreover, should Anna decide to warn Hewlett, Abe would swing from the gallows.

“So it’s your choice,” Abe says, sending Anna into a panic.

“Have you ever thought about leaving all this behind?” Anna later asks Hewlett.

Battling the Colonial army has made him cynical, he admits, but Anna remains his “light in the darkness.”

“You’re the only person that I can trust,” Hewlett naively says.

This prompts Anna to sob. And her tears prompt Hewlett to kiss Anna softly on the lips -- for the very first time.

In other developments, Robert Rogers (Angus Macfadyen), a former mercenary for the British who now sides with the patriots, spots a newspaper advertisement touting “French Raspberry Brandy.”

It’s a coded message from spy Robert Townsend (Nick Westrate), indicating he has important intelligence for Washington (Ian Kahn). Namely, Rev. Worthington (Ric Reitz) passes secrets to the British. Not for much longer, however.

“Make it look like an accident, if you can,” Washington tells Maj. Ben Talmadge (Seth Numrich).

“Pity,” Washington adds. “I liked his sermon.”