The Blacklist 7x09 Thoughts
Dec. 10th, 2019 11:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaThe Orion Relocation Services [No. 146]
+ This episode, for the first time since the premiere duo, felt right again and that was down to Red and Liz being back in each other's orbits as more than passing stars. Red showed concern for Liz and worried over her; he showed up at her apartment and she showed up at his; they worked together and clashed and they dressed up and went undercover together! It feels like forever since that's happened and I really enjoyed it. It was just so good to have them together again. The show has really been missing something essential by keeping them apart.
+ As often happens with flashbacks on this show I find myself very torn on how I feel about them and am left with as many questions as I had answers.
1) Katarina doesn't know who Red is! 'Whoever he is'? What? That is definitely not the impression given when she kissed him in Paris or during her interogation of him where they both definitely seemed to know each other, and know each other well. So I reiterate: WHAT? Did she think he was Ilya, that Ilya had become Red? I don't know that that makes sense. She had to know who went under the knife, at the time, because she helped set it all up. So right now the only thing I can think of, considering how confused she is around the 1991 events, is that someone, likely Red, had her memories meddled with, a la Liz.
2) I'm struggling with Dom and Ilya's actions and motivations here. Why were they so certain that Masha was for sure in danger that they immediately went with the 'kill Katarina' plan? Why even was the actual plan to kill her instead of faking her death in a splashy and seemingly un-survivable way? It makes no sense to me that these two men who loved her would try and kill her like this on a rather flimsy excuse. Why didn't they approach Katarina about it? She had already gone to extremes to save Masha why wouldn't they think she would continue to do everything she could to protect her? This would have made far more sense if they'd tried to fake her death, her new husband had unexpectedly interfered causing it to go wrong with him dying and Katarina being exposed. As is I'm left going - ehhhh. Maybe the show is going to flip this around with another flashback, Dom said afterall "listen to my plan" so maybe the original plan wasn't her death. Except that Ilya in the present confirms that it was the plan. So, I don't know.
3) Also how did they get from botching as assassination attempt on Katarina to them telling her to 'go to hell' and the hostility they've been showing her this season? I'm pretty sure someone's been wronged here and it's not them!
4) Meanwhile how the hell does Red fit into this? I had thought his confession that he 'chose the child over the mother' could be related here but he wasn't involved at all so now I'm left wondering how it fits into the story. When could this have happened? And, tying back to #1, Red certainly has very strong feelings for Katarina so why doesn't she remember him - is that the choice he made? Did she go on a vengeance spree after the botched assassination and Red had to intervene to protect Liz by erasing Katarina's memories?
+ I 100% get why Liz didn't inform the others before she went to confront Katarina herself (get those answers, Liz!) and it's the sort of impulsiveness that is in-character with her but all the same it was very dumb. Especially since her daughter is in the apartment. Back-up would be a good thing!
That said I thought she was pretty awesome at the end. I loved the casual way she left the Post Office, I loved how calm she was talking to Katarina (and didn't show a hint of what she knew), that she checked on Agnes first, and then her putting the silencer on her gun and confronting Katarina was so great.
+ "A part of me knew who you were" uh, really? I don't think I buy that. I found it weird how open and easily Liz trusted her so maybe it played a part there?
+ I had a hard time with Liz not seeming to suspect that there was something wrong with Maddy not seeing anything at the park, or clocking to her trying to manipulate Liz before that. It bothered me a lot.
+ I don't think Liz is going to shoot Katarina, or certainly not kill. This is her mother. But I don't see how else this is going to play out. Katarina's best bet is to play to Liz's need for answers. Katarina could appeal to Liz about their shared frustration and anger over the secrets kept from them and men trying to run their lives. I wonder if she remembers what happened the night of the fire and could fill Liz in? If Katarina actually started being honest with Liz I 100% could see Liz being torn about what to do, especially if Katarina spills the truth that Red isn't Ilya. If Katarina's memories have also been messed with I can see that being another connection between. There's a lot of possibility here. Liz could still be wary and distrustful but side with Katarina for answers and slowly bond with her.
+ "Wouldn’t make any difference; she’s really got to go." - Liz. Heh.
+ Red gently inquiring if Liz was seeing someone and then encouraging to do so was interesting. There has been no romantic hints with her this season not even in the most obvious scene for it when she was encouraging Aram to be happy with someone else and I wonder why they're bringing it up now. Laying the groundwork for a romance later in the season?
+ Dembe sketching the owl was great. Also I'm impressed with his artistic ability.
+ After threatening Glenn last week Red seemed weirdly calm about Ilya this episode.
+ I like Park well enough but after having her around for a couple episodes I find myself wondering why she's here? Is it really just because they felt the need to replace Samar? I do like seeing her (very season 1) perspective on the TaskForce and Red and comparing it to the others evolved take on everything. But thus far she really isn't adding anything more and I keep finding myself wishing her screen-time was spent on the characters I already know and care about.
+ I found myself wondering how the heck everyone else finds the Orion if Red was having such a hard time.
+ This episode, for the first time since the premiere duo, felt right again and that was down to Red and Liz being back in each other's orbits as more than passing stars. Red showed concern for Liz and worried over her; he showed up at her apartment and she showed up at his; they worked together and clashed and they dressed up and went undercover together! It feels like forever since that's happened and I really enjoyed it. It was just so good to have them together again. The show has really been missing something essential by keeping them apart.
+ As often happens with flashbacks on this show I find myself very torn on how I feel about them and am left with as many questions as I had answers.
1) Katarina doesn't know who Red is! 'Whoever he is'? What? That is definitely not the impression given when she kissed him in Paris or during her interogation of him where they both definitely seemed to know each other, and know each other well. So I reiterate: WHAT? Did she think he was Ilya, that Ilya had become Red? I don't know that that makes sense. She had to know who went under the knife, at the time, because she helped set it all up. So right now the only thing I can think of, considering how confused she is around the 1991 events, is that someone, likely Red, had her memories meddled with, a la Liz.
2) I'm struggling with Dom and Ilya's actions and motivations here. Why were they so certain that Masha was for sure in danger that they immediately went with the 'kill Katarina' plan? Why even was the actual plan to kill her instead of faking her death in a splashy and seemingly un-survivable way? It makes no sense to me that these two men who loved her would try and kill her like this on a rather flimsy excuse. Why didn't they approach Katarina about it? She had already gone to extremes to save Masha why wouldn't they think she would continue to do everything she could to protect her? This would have made far more sense if they'd tried to fake her death, her new husband had unexpectedly interfered causing it to go wrong with him dying and Katarina being exposed. As is I'm left going - ehhhh. Maybe the show is going to flip this around with another flashback, Dom said afterall "listen to my plan" so maybe the original plan wasn't her death. Except that Ilya in the present confirms that it was the plan. So, I don't know.
3) Also how did they get from botching as assassination attempt on Katarina to them telling her to 'go to hell' and the hostility they've been showing her this season? I'm pretty sure someone's been wronged here and it's not them!
4) Meanwhile how the hell does Red fit into this? I had thought his confession that he 'chose the child over the mother' could be related here but he wasn't involved at all so now I'm left wondering how it fits into the story. When could this have happened? And, tying back to #1, Red certainly has very strong feelings for Katarina so why doesn't she remember him - is that the choice he made? Did she go on a vengeance spree after the botched assassination and Red had to intervene to protect Liz by erasing Katarina's memories?
+ I 100% get why Liz didn't inform the others before she went to confront Katarina herself (get those answers, Liz!) and it's the sort of impulsiveness that is in-character with her but all the same it was very dumb. Especially since her daughter is in the apartment. Back-up would be a good thing!
That said I thought she was pretty awesome at the end. I loved the casual way she left the Post Office, I loved how calm she was talking to Katarina (and didn't show a hint of what she knew), that she checked on Agnes first, and then her putting the silencer on her gun and confronting Katarina was so great.
+ "A part of me knew who you were" uh, really? I don't think I buy that. I found it weird how open and easily Liz trusted her so maybe it played a part there?
+ I had a hard time with Liz not seeming to suspect that there was something wrong with Maddy not seeing anything at the park, or clocking to her trying to manipulate Liz before that. It bothered me a lot.
+ I don't think Liz is going to shoot Katarina, or certainly not kill. This is her mother. But I don't see how else this is going to play out. Katarina's best bet is to play to Liz's need for answers. Katarina could appeal to Liz about their shared frustration and anger over the secrets kept from them and men trying to run their lives. I wonder if she remembers what happened the night of the fire and could fill Liz in? If Katarina actually started being honest with Liz I 100% could see Liz being torn about what to do, especially if Katarina spills the truth that Red isn't Ilya. If Katarina's memories have also been messed with I can see that being another connection between. There's a lot of possibility here. Liz could still be wary and distrustful but side with Katarina for answers and slowly bond with her.
+ "Wouldn’t make any difference; she’s really got to go." - Liz. Heh.
+ Red gently inquiring if Liz was seeing someone and then encouraging to do so was interesting. There has been no romantic hints with her this season not even in the most obvious scene for it when she was encouraging Aram to be happy with someone else and I wonder why they're bringing it up now. Laying the groundwork for a romance later in the season?
+ Dembe sketching the owl was great. Also I'm impressed with his artistic ability.
+ After threatening Glenn last week Red seemed weirdly calm about Ilya this episode.
+ I like Park well enough but after having her around for a couple episodes I find myself wondering why she's here? Is it really just because they felt the need to replace Samar? I do like seeing her (very season 1) perspective on the TaskForce and Red and comparing it to the others evolved take on everything. But thus far she really isn't adding anything more and I keep finding myself wishing her screen-time was spent on the characters I already know and care about.
+ I found myself wondering how the heck everyone else finds the Orion if Red was having such a hard time.
