The Blacklist 3x05 Thoughts
Oct. 30th, 2015 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaArioch Cain
I loved it.
There were actually a lot of things this episode that should have bothered me – a lot of contrivances, some dumbness – but they just don’t. I really enjoyed the episode from start to finish.
• ♥ Red/Liz were phenomenal. A couple points I loved:
+ Red's relief when Aram confirmed that Liz hadn't been killed.
+ The hug when they were reunited was amazing. Her running to the car, him having an arm stretched out reaching for her, the way they held each other tight, the intensity...
+ Red and Liz back-to-back, surrounded. Red calling her Elizabeth.
+ Red trying to use his usual talk and resources to get Lizzie free.
+ Red struggling against his captors. His expression as Solomon drags the knife down Liz's body. Him lunging from the chair when Solomon brings the knife to Liz's skin and she cries out.
+ Red running to Liz, even as Dembe is still shooting and killing bad guys, even with his hands tied behind his back, to make sure she actually is okay.
• What is the deal with you two anyways? It what everybody wants to know. Some say it's a daddy-daughter thing. Others swear it's a May/September. I prefer to believe that it's a little of both." Cute show.
• "Take the stairs." OMG. I fucking loved this. The super dangerous assassin that's after Liz, that recently only barely missed killing her, escapes out the window and Liz tells Red to take the stairs while she goes out the window after him... and Red does! Even though Wendigo is dangerous Red knows Liz is younger and fitter and thus the better option to chase after a suspect over roofs and he trust her enough to not argue or even hesitate. Teamwork! This made me so happy.
• "You can't stop them." .. (laughs). and then Red drops him off the roof. LOL. Temper, temper, Red. And he was so angry! When he looked at Liz he was clearly struggling with his anger, and probably frustration, and I can't remember the last time we saw him look like that.
• The Dembe/Red reunion was amazing. I loved their hug - the way they walked into each other's arms, Red's head touch and the way Dembe closed his eyes, Red kissing him, the relief both clearly felt - I love them. And Dembe finally allowing himself to collapse because Red's safe, and he's safe with Red so he can. The forehead kiss when Red's medical people took Dembe away and him making sure Dembe was awake enough to here Red tell him that he would be okay. Then the episode ends with Red and Dembe's bedside, aw.
• Dembe! Being amazing and kickass. Showing up to save the day like the badass he is. His sudden, perfectly timed appearance, to save Red/Liz didn't even bother me because Dembe is so competent and loyal to Red that I bought it.
• That said his appearance was ridiculously convenient and pretty contrived. So after Vargas shot him Dembe did what exactly? Tracked Mr. Vargas? How? And why didn't he come forward when Mr. Vargas met with Red? Or, why didn't he get in contact with Red directly? He has to have an easier way than the classified ad, or he could have used the ad himself. Or why not contact some of Red's other people? I don't really understand how this played out on Dembe's side. Or why he didn't bring back up. Or why in all that time he didn't take some time to look after his wound better.
• I was honestly surprised by Red being surprised by the trap. His reaction when Mr. Vargas told him about Dembe's death made me think that Red suspected Mr. Vargas's role and then Red giving him the phone to call for the plane instead of doing it himself felt like a test. Also there was that weird moment with the guy dropping something in the garbage at the park - I figured that was one of Red's people. Why else linger on him? When Solomon showed up I was like 'aha! Trap successful!' I kept waiting for Red's people to burst in guns blazing. Red is so often 10 steps ahead of everyone else that when I realised that he really was trapped it was kind of shocking.
• Aram is delightful. I loved his worry for Liz and the way he kept getting increasingly upset with each new revelation. I loved the way his voice rose on "kill her?" at the end (silly Aram as if Red would ever harm Liz.) He got to be awesome in the interrogation room and figure out an important clue. Then at the end I loved him hugging Ressler and trying to comfort him. Aw.
- "Thank you for letting us protect Agent Keen." Oh Aram. ♥
• Aram and Red are as great as ever. Red actually giving him a threatening countdown and Aram immediately answering his question amused me. Aram's relationship with Red is so weird in that Aram clearly respects and even likes Red, he doesn't think of him as 'bad' and yet Red still intimidates the hell out of him. He can't really think Red would hurt him if he had gotten to 0, could he? Red totally wouldn't.
• I feel like the fact that Red called Aram this episode instead of Samar is probably confirmation that Samar isn't still working for Red. Though the fact that she was is hanging over her head like a sword and she probably feels that keenly.
• I'm glad Solomon survived
• "I couldn't get past the requirement to believe in a power greater than myself." - Red. LOL.
• Liz and Red convincing Blair to take Liz off the site felt a little too easy.
• Liz did a couple dumb things - mainly dropping her phone when Wendigo attacked, there was literally no reason for that, and dropping the lockpick (even if that worked in her favour) - but honestly I can't even be mad at her about it because it came off so contrived that all I can do is roll my eyes and go 'writers'. Though the director could have saved it if she hadn't just thrown it down.
That said her escape was pretty great, I liked her using her teen delinquent skills throughout the episode and she did good in noticing the symbol at the gunmaker's place.
• I totally wasn't expecting Liz to call Samar when she stole that phone. That was interesting. I loved it but why her? Samar assumes that it's because Liz was close enough to see Samar on the scene but there is no way. So that didn't make sense to me. I did love Samar calling her Liz and how friendly she came off during the call. Perhaps she's not as... against Liz as it seems.
• "Elizabeth Keene is not a terrorist." Aw. Ressler stating his allegiance was lovely. And then later he gets emotional about how he felt when he heard she was dead (why couldn't we have seen that?) He tries to act all tough, like with Aram after the hug, but he's a complete cream puff [see the fact that he didn't actually break the hug until they were interrupted.]
• Mr. Vargas's death was rather anticlimactic. Red didn't even interrogate him! I get why they used him but it seems such a waste. He was a fun little character. I do love that Dembe only shot him in the knee thus leaving his fate/punishment up to Red.
• They totally missed the opportunity to show Tom learning about Liz's 'death'. I wanted to see his reaction! Also - did someone tell poor Harold about the fake death plan? Because when we see him at the opening flashforward it didn't look like he knew.
• I really wish we'd gotten Liz's reaction to Dembe's 'death'. Even if it was something silent like reach out to touch Red's shoulder. I did love her insistence first that 'we are' going with Dembe and then insisting that "I'm going with Dembe".
• I love the blonde look but Liz dyed her hair to offer a little distance from her known look so since her picture is out with blonde hair shouldn't she be dying it again?
• Of course Red shot a poacher. I kind of love how offended Liz was by the idea that he killed an elephant.
• Red is amazing but how the hell did he know exactly where he needed to go to catch up to the Wendigo. Why did he go to that roof? Talk about dumb luck.
I loved it.
There were actually a lot of things this episode that should have bothered me – a lot of contrivances, some dumbness – but they just don’t. I really enjoyed the episode from start to finish.
• ♥ Red/Liz were phenomenal. A couple points I loved:
+ Red's relief when Aram confirmed that Liz hadn't been killed.
+ The hug when they were reunited was amazing. Her running to the car, him having an arm stretched out reaching for her, the way they held each other tight, the intensity...
+ Red and Liz back-to-back, surrounded. Red calling her Elizabeth.
+ Red trying to use his usual talk and resources to get Lizzie free.
+ Red struggling against his captors. His expression as Solomon drags the knife down Liz's body. Him lunging from the chair when Solomon brings the knife to Liz's skin and she cries out.
+ Red running to Liz, even as Dembe is still shooting and killing bad guys, even with his hands tied behind his back, to make sure she actually is okay.
• What is the deal with you two anyways? It what everybody wants to know. Some say it's a daddy-daughter thing. Others swear it's a May/September. I prefer to believe that it's a little of both." Cute show.
• "Take the stairs." OMG. I fucking loved this. The super dangerous assassin that's after Liz, that recently only barely missed killing her, escapes out the window and Liz tells Red to take the stairs while she goes out the window after him... and Red does! Even though Wendigo is dangerous Red knows Liz is younger and fitter and thus the better option to chase after a suspect over roofs and he trust her enough to not argue or even hesitate. Teamwork! This made me so happy.
• "You can't stop them." .. (laughs). and then Red drops him off the roof. LOL. Temper, temper, Red. And he was so angry! When he looked at Liz he was clearly struggling with his anger, and probably frustration, and I can't remember the last time we saw him look like that.
• The Dembe/Red reunion was amazing. I loved their hug - the way they walked into each other's arms, Red's head touch and the way Dembe closed his eyes, Red kissing him, the relief both clearly felt - I love them. And Dembe finally allowing himself to collapse because Red's safe, and he's safe with Red so he can. The forehead kiss when Red's medical people took Dembe away and him making sure Dembe was awake enough to here Red tell him that he would be okay. Then the episode ends with Red and Dembe's bedside, aw.
• Dembe! Being amazing and kickass. Showing up to save the day like the badass he is. His sudden, perfectly timed appearance, to save Red/Liz didn't even bother me because Dembe is so competent and loyal to Red that I bought it.
• That said his appearance was ridiculously convenient and pretty contrived. So after Vargas shot him Dembe did what exactly? Tracked Mr. Vargas? How? And why didn't he come forward when Mr. Vargas met with Red? Or, why didn't he get in contact with Red directly? He has to have an easier way than the classified ad, or he could have used the ad himself. Or why not contact some of Red's other people? I don't really understand how this played out on Dembe's side. Or why he didn't bring back up. Or why in all that time he didn't take some time to look after his wound better.
• I was honestly surprised by Red being surprised by the trap. His reaction when Mr. Vargas told him about Dembe's death made me think that Red suspected Mr. Vargas's role and then Red giving him the phone to call for the plane instead of doing it himself felt like a test. Also there was that weird moment with the guy dropping something in the garbage at the park - I figured that was one of Red's people. Why else linger on him? When Solomon showed up I was like 'aha! Trap successful!' I kept waiting for Red's people to burst in guns blazing. Red is so often 10 steps ahead of everyone else that when I realised that he really was trapped it was kind of shocking.
• Aram is delightful. I loved his worry for Liz and the way he kept getting increasingly upset with each new revelation. I loved the way his voice rose on "kill her?" at the end (silly Aram as if Red would ever harm Liz.) He got to be awesome in the interrogation room and figure out an important clue. Then at the end I loved him hugging Ressler and trying to comfort him. Aw.
- "Thank you for letting us protect Agent Keen." Oh Aram. ♥
• Aram and Red are as great as ever. Red actually giving him a threatening countdown and Aram immediately answering his question amused me. Aram's relationship with Red is so weird in that Aram clearly respects and even likes Red, he doesn't think of him as 'bad' and yet Red still intimidates the hell out of him. He can't really think Red would hurt him if he had gotten to 0, could he? Red totally wouldn't.
• I feel like the fact that Red called Aram this episode instead of Samar is probably confirmation that Samar isn't still working for Red. Though the fact that she was is hanging over her head like a sword and she probably feels that keenly.
• I'm glad Solomon survived
• "I couldn't get past the requirement to believe in a power greater than myself." - Red. LOL.
• Liz and Red convincing Blair to take Liz off the site felt a little too easy.
• Liz did a couple dumb things - mainly dropping her phone when Wendigo attacked, there was literally no reason for that, and dropping the lockpick (even if that worked in her favour) - but honestly I can't even be mad at her about it because it came off so contrived that all I can do is roll my eyes and go 'writers'. Though the director could have saved it if she hadn't just thrown it down.
That said her escape was pretty great, I liked her using her teen delinquent skills throughout the episode and she did good in noticing the symbol at the gunmaker's place.
• I totally wasn't expecting Liz to call Samar when she stole that phone. That was interesting. I loved it but why her? Samar assumes that it's because Liz was close enough to see Samar on the scene but there is no way. So that didn't make sense to me. I did love Samar calling her Liz and how friendly she came off during the call. Perhaps she's not as... against Liz as it seems.
• "Elizabeth Keene is not a terrorist." Aw. Ressler stating his allegiance was lovely. And then later he gets emotional about how he felt when he heard she was dead (why couldn't we have seen that?) He tries to act all tough, like with Aram after the hug, but he's a complete cream puff [see the fact that he didn't actually break the hug until they were interrupted.]
• Mr. Vargas's death was rather anticlimactic. Red didn't even interrogate him! I get why they used him but it seems such a waste. He was a fun little character. I do love that Dembe only shot him in the knee thus leaving his fate/punishment up to Red.
• They totally missed the opportunity to show Tom learning about Liz's 'death'. I wanted to see his reaction! Also - did someone tell poor Harold about the fake death plan? Because when we see him at the opening flashforward it didn't look like he knew.
• I really wish we'd gotten Liz's reaction to Dembe's 'death'. Even if it was something silent like reach out to touch Red's shoulder. I did love her insistence first that 'we are' going with Dembe and then insisting that "I'm going with Dembe".
• I love the blonde look but Liz dyed her hair to offer a little distance from her known look so since her picture is out with blonde hair shouldn't she be dying it again?
• Of course Red shot a poacher. I kind of love how offended Liz was by the idea that he killed an elephant.
• Red is amazing but how the hell did he know exactly where he needed to go to catch up to the Wendigo. Why did he go to that roof? Talk about dumb luck.
