The Blacklist 6x18 Thoughts
May. 1st, 2019 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaThe Brockton College Killer [No. 92]
Wow. I loved this episode. It hit the emotional notes in the Red/Dembe/Liz storyline absolutely perfectly. It was so good.
Scene 1
+ I was surprised by the simplicity of Liz's confession. It felt very stark - she came out with it so quickly, without build-up. She didn't hesitate in any way or look away from Red.
+ The changes Red's expression goes through when Liz confesses, wow.
+ I'm glad that Red knew all along it was Liz, and had simply been trying so hard to cling to his denial. She really was the only real suspect and it would have been too much for him not to have known.
+ I love that Liz remains unwavering in her belief that she does deserve to know the truth.
+ "Because I came face to face with losing you. I realised that I don't care about who you were, I care for who you are, and that's the only thing that matters." I loved this. It was Liz saying 'I love you' again without those exact words and it was great. Megan was amazing in this scene. I really felt for Liz. This was exactly what I assumed was going on with her but it's nice to have it stated outright. He almost died because of her and it shook her so much she immediately decided to back off because at the end of the day he is more important to her.
- I actually really loved that most of this episode was about Red and Dembe's relationship rather than Red and Liz. Red's betrayed expression when Dembe confessed his lie and then the way he keeps returning to staring at Dembe during the entire emotional discussion with Liz. Even after Liz's tearful confession he looks away to Dembe. Is it just that Dembe's betrayal is more unexpected or is Red trying to not have to deal with Liz's betrayal, or a combination of both?
Scene 2
+ This episode really gave us some excellent Dembe/Liz even though she wasn't in the scene. My only issue here is that I really wish the show had spent more time building up their relationship, the trust and affection they have for each other. That they'd shown more how Dembe's sympathy for Liz's plight (being lied to and how that destroys her) and how Red's own devotion to Liz has seen a emergence in Dembe's own relationship with her.
+ "I keep your secret out of loyalty to you. I kept her secret out of loyalty to her." So interesting how Dembe has placed them on the same level. Red calls it 'loyalties divided', Dembe disagrees. He can be loyal to both of them. I'm not sure who I agree with because I think both are right. The issue isn't loyalty in itself it's that Red is used to having all of Dembe's loyalty and is not sure how to deal with Liz having it too. I can't blame him there. It's probably a harsh shock. Especially since as Red says Dembe is "the person to whom I am most vulnerable".
+ I really loved the little exchange between them when Liz called Dembe:
Dembe: Elizabeth.
Red: She can wait
Dembe: She knows you're upset.
The way that Red immediately dismisses her because right now all he can think about and consider is Dembe is different and I liked how laser focused he was on his relationship with Dembe. I liked that Dembe was worried about Liz, and his look at his phone before reluctantly putting it away.
Scene 3
"I'm not sure if the right word is friendship. Or love. I just know it lives in me. For as long as I live. And hopefully longer. I went away to think about you and me and... all I could think was that I missed you. Us. But I realised, that you don't need my forgiveness - ever. Because when it comes to this, you can do no wrong." - Red. ♥ Wow. That was a really beautiful confession of love. I adored it.
+ "But I can't forgive you." OUCH! Red's expression, the tears on Dembe's face, it's so sad but beautifully done. I loved it. It was wholly understandable. The fact that Red doesn't understand is exactly the problem. I felt really bad for him when Dembe said that and he was so utterly shocked and bewildered and hurt. He'd just opened himself up so much emotionally and to get basically a slap in the face in return is really harsh. But at the same time... seriously, Red? Dembe honestly thought that there was a chance that he would be killed for keeping Liz's secret. That Red would murder him like he did Kaplan. That is messed up! How can Red not see that making a person you love, and that loves you, be afraid of you, be afraid you'll hurt them, isn't deeply wrong and damaging? Plus he actually questioned Dembe's loyalty. Dembe! There is no one more loyal in this world.
+ Poor Dembe. He was crying! He was so hurt too. I'm not sure what I want him to do after this but I'm very curious about what he considers his own path.
+ I am super sad about the Red/Dembe break-up, I have no words. :( But as with Red/Liz I actually think them going through this rough patch will be good in the long run. I was sure that Red was going to excommunicate Dembe but I love how it played out so much more. Red had to confront and realise how much he loved and trusted Dembe this episode. Now he's going to have to confront his whole attitude about loyalty and betrayal and how his first resort to anything is murder. He's going to have to see this from Dembe's POV. It'll be good for him. Meanwhile, it'll be good for Dembe to take a step back from Red and his life, and to just live his life for himself for awhile. Before of course finding their way back to each other. If that's doesn't happen before the season ends I'm not going to be happy.
+ Interesting that Dembe put his affairs in order and then went back to Red and gave him that chance to kill him. That is so Dembe.
+ "You know, Elizabeth Keen has lied and deceived me more times than I can count and I have forgiven her every time." I found the way he said 'Elizabeth Keen' really interesting. He drew out the Keen part, and it came off as very weird to me. Like a false name. Like she wasn't 'Lizzie', the person he loves and has devoted so much of his life to. I think the fact that says her entire name is partially why - it's separating her, putting a distance between who she is and him, and who she is to him. The other part is Red is giving this deeply emotional and open speech about loving Dembe (essentially) so the comparison between that obvious love and then the way he says Elizabeth Keen makes her (and his feelings for her) feel even more removed. Possibly I'm reading too much into it.
Also I have to comment on Red's blatant hypocrisy. Again. 'Lying and deceiving', Red? That should sound familiar to him. Then the way he so magnanimously 'forgives her every time', whatever Red.
Other
+ This exchange between Red and Dom:
Red: I've never killed for more.
Dom: But not her. She's off limits.
Red: [long pause] Yes.
What was up with that so long pause? Could this be a thing he won't be able to forgive her for? I found Dom phrasing it as "she's off limits" also interesting. It almost implies that there's an outside force preventing Liz from ever being a target of Red's. He can't touch her. Hmm.
+ This episode has finally made me seriously wonder/consider if the Red = Katarina theory might actually be true. The Dom/Red conversations read as if there was an unusual subtext happening between them. The biggest moment - "You forgave Katarina, but not me." / "I forgave my child." Hmm. It just really feels like there is something more there. It really came off as Red's usual double-speak. Then there was Red's insistence that Dom answer his 'what would you say to Katarina if she was standing here' which he pushed a lot. Also him worrying about Dom's junker truck. Basically all of their scenes were making me go 'umm, hmm'. Then there's Liz and Ressler's 'you found Red's father?/Katarinas'.
I don't like it. I'm in fact kind of worried now. The theory is rather fun but only as a fan theory and speculation. If it was the truth I would be deeply disappointed. This is almost entirely down to my shipping Red/Liz, absolutely. But also beyond that it doesn't entirely work for me. There being a familial relationship between them isn't how I've seen them, and even those times I've found myself going 'but is he the father?' a part of me didn't buy it. Him being her mother... I have a hard time with their relationship at various points if that's true. It's definitely the easiest explanation for Red's deep feelings for her but honestly I feel like the show has done a good job building up other reasons for it mainly to do with Red's own guilt and deep remorse for the past.
+ "My employers connection to her has been his moral compass. Without that no one is safe. " You know, I think Dembe is wrong here. Dembe is Red's moral compass and has been for decades. Liz has been Red's reason to go on, to fight, to do whatever it is he's doing. She's been his light at the end of the tunnel. She's been his potential salvation. But I don't see moral compass.
+ I liked Liz's regret for the impossible position she put Dembe in and her worry for him, and I loved her line about thinking her lie was more justifiable than Red's but it really wasn't.
+ As for the case, it was fine, whatever, very throw-away. I mean Red wasn't even trying - a random small town serial killer he heard about on a podcast? Really? This should be No. 200 or something. Also I knew it was Kimberly pretty much immediately and was only uncertain if it was going to be Kimberly being a groupie of serial killer Tobias or Kimberly the obsessive psycho who framed/then go Tobias free.
Wow. I loved this episode. It hit the emotional notes in the Red/Dembe/Liz storyline absolutely perfectly. It was so good.
Scene 1
+ I was surprised by the simplicity of Liz's confession. It felt very stark - she came out with it so quickly, without build-up. She didn't hesitate in any way or look away from Red.
+ The changes Red's expression goes through when Liz confesses, wow.
+ I'm glad that Red knew all along it was Liz, and had simply been trying so hard to cling to his denial. She really was the only real suspect and it would have been too much for him not to have known.
+ I love that Liz remains unwavering in her belief that she does deserve to know the truth.
+ "Because I came face to face with losing you. I realised that I don't care about who you were, I care for who you are, and that's the only thing that matters." I loved this. It was Liz saying 'I love you' again without those exact words and it was great. Megan was amazing in this scene. I really felt for Liz. This was exactly what I assumed was going on with her but it's nice to have it stated outright. He almost died because of her and it shook her so much she immediately decided to back off because at the end of the day he is more important to her.
- I actually really loved that most of this episode was about Red and Dembe's relationship rather than Red and Liz. Red's betrayed expression when Dembe confessed his lie and then the way he keeps returning to staring at Dembe during the entire emotional discussion with Liz. Even after Liz's tearful confession he looks away to Dembe. Is it just that Dembe's betrayal is more unexpected or is Red trying to not have to deal with Liz's betrayal, or a combination of both?
Scene 2
+ This episode really gave us some excellent Dembe/Liz even though she wasn't in the scene. My only issue here is that I really wish the show had spent more time building up their relationship, the trust and affection they have for each other. That they'd shown more how Dembe's sympathy for Liz's plight (being lied to and how that destroys her) and how Red's own devotion to Liz has seen a emergence in Dembe's own relationship with her.
+ "I keep your secret out of loyalty to you. I kept her secret out of loyalty to her." So interesting how Dembe has placed them on the same level. Red calls it 'loyalties divided', Dembe disagrees. He can be loyal to both of them. I'm not sure who I agree with because I think both are right. The issue isn't loyalty in itself it's that Red is used to having all of Dembe's loyalty and is not sure how to deal with Liz having it too. I can't blame him there. It's probably a harsh shock. Especially since as Red says Dembe is "the person to whom I am most vulnerable".
+ I really loved the little exchange between them when Liz called Dembe:
Dembe: Elizabeth.
Red: She can wait
Dembe: She knows you're upset.
The way that Red immediately dismisses her because right now all he can think about and consider is Dembe is different and I liked how laser focused he was on his relationship with Dembe. I liked that Dembe was worried about Liz, and his look at his phone before reluctantly putting it away.
Scene 3
"I'm not sure if the right word is friendship. Or love. I just know it lives in me. For as long as I live. And hopefully longer. I went away to think about you and me and... all I could think was that I missed you. Us. But I realised, that you don't need my forgiveness - ever. Because when it comes to this, you can do no wrong." - Red. ♥ Wow. That was a really beautiful confession of love. I adored it.
+ "But I can't forgive you." OUCH! Red's expression, the tears on Dembe's face, it's so sad but beautifully done. I loved it. It was wholly understandable. The fact that Red doesn't understand is exactly the problem. I felt really bad for him when Dembe said that and he was so utterly shocked and bewildered and hurt. He'd just opened himself up so much emotionally and to get basically a slap in the face in return is really harsh. But at the same time... seriously, Red? Dembe honestly thought that there was a chance that he would be killed for keeping Liz's secret. That Red would murder him like he did Kaplan. That is messed up! How can Red not see that making a person you love, and that loves you, be afraid of you, be afraid you'll hurt them, isn't deeply wrong and damaging? Plus he actually questioned Dembe's loyalty. Dembe! There is no one more loyal in this world.
+ Poor Dembe. He was crying! He was so hurt too. I'm not sure what I want him to do after this but I'm very curious about what he considers his own path.
+ I am super sad about the Red/Dembe break-up, I have no words. :( But as with Red/Liz I actually think them going through this rough patch will be good in the long run. I was sure that Red was going to excommunicate Dembe but I love how it played out so much more. Red had to confront and realise how much he loved and trusted Dembe this episode. Now he's going to have to confront his whole attitude about loyalty and betrayal and how his first resort to anything is murder. He's going to have to see this from Dembe's POV. It'll be good for him. Meanwhile, it'll be good for Dembe to take a step back from Red and his life, and to just live his life for himself for awhile. Before of course finding their way back to each other. If that's doesn't happen before the season ends I'm not going to be happy.
+ Interesting that Dembe put his affairs in order and then went back to Red and gave him that chance to kill him. That is so Dembe.
+ "You know, Elizabeth Keen has lied and deceived me more times than I can count and I have forgiven her every time." I found the way he said 'Elizabeth Keen' really interesting. He drew out the Keen part, and it came off as very weird to me. Like a false name. Like she wasn't 'Lizzie', the person he loves and has devoted so much of his life to. I think the fact that says her entire name is partially why - it's separating her, putting a distance between who she is and him, and who she is to him. The other part is Red is giving this deeply emotional and open speech about loving Dembe (essentially) so the comparison between that obvious love and then the way he says Elizabeth Keen makes her (and his feelings for her) feel even more removed. Possibly I'm reading too much into it.
Also I have to comment on Red's blatant hypocrisy. Again. 'Lying and deceiving', Red? That should sound familiar to him. Then the way he so magnanimously 'forgives her every time', whatever Red.
Other
+ This exchange between Red and Dom:
Red: I've never killed for more.
Dom: But not her. She's off limits.
Red: [long pause] Yes.
What was up with that so long pause? Could this be a thing he won't be able to forgive her for? I found Dom phrasing it as "she's off limits" also interesting. It almost implies that there's an outside force preventing Liz from ever being a target of Red's. He can't touch her. Hmm.
+ This episode has finally made me seriously wonder/consider if the Red = Katarina theory might actually be true. The Dom/Red conversations read as if there was an unusual subtext happening between them. The biggest moment - "You forgave Katarina, but not me." / "I forgave my child." Hmm. It just really feels like there is something more there. It really came off as Red's usual double-speak. Then there was Red's insistence that Dom answer his 'what would you say to Katarina if she was standing here' which he pushed a lot. Also him worrying about Dom's junker truck. Basically all of their scenes were making me go 'umm, hmm'. Then there's Liz and Ressler's 'you found Red's father?/Katarinas'.
I don't like it. I'm in fact kind of worried now. The theory is rather fun but only as a fan theory and speculation. If it was the truth I would be deeply disappointed. This is almost entirely down to my shipping Red/Liz, absolutely. But also beyond that it doesn't entirely work for me. There being a familial relationship between them isn't how I've seen them, and even those times I've found myself going 'but is he the father?' a part of me didn't buy it. Him being her mother... I have a hard time with their relationship at various points if that's true. It's definitely the easiest explanation for Red's deep feelings for her but honestly I feel like the show has done a good job building up other reasons for it mainly to do with Red's own guilt and deep remorse for the past.
+ "My employers connection to her has been his moral compass. Without that no one is safe. " You know, I think Dembe is wrong here. Dembe is Red's moral compass and has been for decades. Liz has been Red's reason to go on, to fight, to do whatever it is he's doing. She's been his light at the end of the tunnel. She's been his potential salvation. But I don't see moral compass.
+ I liked Liz's regret for the impossible position she put Dembe in and her worry for him, and I loved her line about thinking her lie was more justifiable than Red's but it really wasn't.
+ As for the case, it was fine, whatever, very throw-away. I mean Red wasn't even trying - a random small town serial killer he heard about on a podcast? Really? This should be No. 200 or something. Also I knew it was Kimberly pretty much immediately and was only uncertain if it was going to be Kimberly being a groupie of serial killer Tobias or Kimberly the obsessive psycho who framed/then go Tobias free.
