The Blacklist 5x05 - 5x07 Thoughts
Nov. 9th, 2017 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iaria5x05 'Ilyus Surkov (No. 54)
I liked it.
+ I really enjoyed having the whole team out working together, as a team, to take down a Blacklister. I liked the little twists to the story.
+ I liked that Liz got a couple of competent badass moments. I love the casual way she told the fake CIA that it was her to turn at interrogation. The way she said it came off very much like "okay enough of you failing, let me show you the right way to get things done'. I really loved that confidence.
+ I'm not as much of a fan of Red again being off in his own little empire re-building world. I was excited about the potential fun of Red rebuilding but unfortunately I don't think the show has executed it as well as I'd hoped. I guess I was expecting a little something more like season 3A and Liz being far more involved.
+ I thought it was interesting that for all that Liz seemed certain with Tom that Red had Nik killed when she actually meets up with Red she doesn't actually accuse him of it like she would have in the past. There's an implication in her tone when she tells Red that Nik is dead but she never asks straight out "Did you kill him" and when Red says he'll look into it she accepts it. I don't miss Liz confronting Red in a fury over his latest terrible thing (whether real or fake) before stomping off but I was really expecting it. Another check in the list of how Liz has changed with regards to Red now that she knows he's her dad.
+ I loved the unexpected mention of Meera. I wonder if this means the show might actually deal with Tom's role in her death? Liz almost cold-shouldering Tom when she goes to visit Meera's grave and the show choosing to bring her up again after 4 seasons at the graveside of Nik, who Tom also had a secondary role in the death of, seems to indicate yes.
+ It was nice to see Agnes.
5x06 'The Travel Agency' (No. 90)
+ Red and Dembe being adorable together is one of my favourite things. I loved their little mini-golf tournament at the end. I loved Dembe's "You're good company" and just how much they enjoy being around each other.
+ I'm really not happy about how much Red's been pushed into the background of the last couple episodes. He's the best part of the show and I want him to be front and centre.
+ ... I don't entirely understand why this is the case that's pushed Liz into spontaneously remarrying Tom. I mean this poor woman learned that her husband was a hired killer (been there, done that, Liz!) and his job ended up getting their daughters killed. Sure, Liz thinks Tom has given up that life and doesn't know that he's lying to her but after the last episode I'd have thought it'd be more likely to cause her to second guess their relationship. It's the second callback/mirror to season one and that has to be on purpose right?
+ Between Liz remarrying Tom, Red's mild reaction to learning that Tom had the suitcase and the fact that there's a man stalking Tom and his new friend I'm pretty sure that the Tom flash-forward is going to turn out to be Red saving Tom from an attack. I have to admit to being a little disappointed by that.
+ Tom's utter gall during his scene with Red was unbelievable considering he's still lying to Liz. I mean he admits he and Red share a talent for keeping people in the dark but he immediately follows it by threatening that Red's secret will come out. He warned Red that secrets put people in harms way. Dude! Look in the mirror! Nik literally just died working with you and Liz still doesn't know! I really hope this blows up in his face in a spectacular way. I mean the flash-forward implies it will but I want it to happen specifically with Liz.
+ I really liked the Red/Harold interactions, particularly their first scene.
+ The case this time was genuinely sad. Those poor little girls and that poor women to live through it all.
+ "And here I thought all old, rich white men were good at golf." - Liz. Hee.
5x07 'The Kilgannon Corporation' (No. 48)
This was excellent.
+ Dembe! Dembe is the best person, absolutely the "light in the darkness", and I'm glad he got an episode focused on him. He has been criminally under-used this season. (Well, to be honest most of the show!) I love Dembe being determined to go undercover because he had to try and save people (just like Red saved him.) He was wonderfully sweet with the little girl. I love that he doesn't lose faith that Red will save him.
+ Dembe and Red ♥ I love them so much. Every moment with them was excellent. I loved Red's expression when he learned Arthur had died and he realised saving Dembe would be that much harder.
+ I love that Dembe was worried about who would look after Red if he died. I'm a little sad that at this point in the show the obvious answer isn't Liz because I feel like it should be and yet I get why it isn't.
+ I'm disappointed with what feels like a real lack of Liz/Red scenes this season, in particular the last couple episodes. It's a weird choice considering the father reveal last season. Regardless of the truth of that I miss them. I hope the show will go back to focusing on their relationship soon.
+ The end was maybe a little too sweet but I liked it. I liked Harold deciding to help those few migrants they could by essentially asking Red to traffic them to safety.
+ ... I love this new bad guy. He is genuinely scary! "And then there was one." - shivers!
+ I love the casual way that Red kills Colin. He doesn't even look at him, already walking away, because to Red he really is nothing. Also his opening line "Your mother brought you into this world, you really think she couldn't take you out?" was amazing. I'm guessing Mrs. Kilgannon already suspected that Colin had killed his father and hearing him admit that he wanted her dead to only confirmed it.
+ Also the contrast between New Bad Guy and Red was so great. Because on the surface they seem similar - especially with the back-to-back murdering - but the details matter so much. It's not just that we know Red that makes him someone that we can root for but that he genuinely does care.
+ I loved Aram telling Dembe "you're like my role model" (minus the killing!) ♥
+ Red took Liz's revelation of her marriage a lot better this time. Certainly not enthusiastic but he hid his feelings reasonably well. I wonder if he still thinks marrying Tom is the worst thing she could do?
+ "For the first time in a long time I feel happy. Then I see what's going on in the world.". Sigh, yeah.
I liked it.
+ I really enjoyed having the whole team out working together, as a team, to take down a Blacklister. I liked the little twists to the story.
+ I liked that Liz got a couple of competent badass moments. I love the casual way she told the fake CIA that it was her to turn at interrogation. The way she said it came off very much like "okay enough of you failing, let me show you the right way to get things done'. I really loved that confidence.
+ I'm not as much of a fan of Red again being off in his own little empire re-building world. I was excited about the potential fun of Red rebuilding but unfortunately I don't think the show has executed it as well as I'd hoped. I guess I was expecting a little something more like season 3A and Liz being far more involved.
+ I thought it was interesting that for all that Liz seemed certain with Tom that Red had Nik killed when she actually meets up with Red she doesn't actually accuse him of it like she would have in the past. There's an implication in her tone when she tells Red that Nik is dead but she never asks straight out "Did you kill him" and when Red says he'll look into it she accepts it. I don't miss Liz confronting Red in a fury over his latest terrible thing (whether real or fake) before stomping off but I was really expecting it. Another check in the list of how Liz has changed with regards to Red now that she knows he's her dad.
+ I loved the unexpected mention of Meera. I wonder if this means the show might actually deal with Tom's role in her death? Liz almost cold-shouldering Tom when she goes to visit Meera's grave and the show choosing to bring her up again after 4 seasons at the graveside of Nik, who Tom also had a secondary role in the death of, seems to indicate yes.
+ It was nice to see Agnes.
5x06 'The Travel Agency' (No. 90)
+ Red and Dembe being adorable together is one of my favourite things. I loved their little mini-golf tournament at the end. I loved Dembe's "You're good company" and just how much they enjoy being around each other.
+ I'm really not happy about how much Red's been pushed into the background of the last couple episodes. He's the best part of the show and I want him to be front and centre.
+ ... I don't entirely understand why this is the case that's pushed Liz into spontaneously remarrying Tom. I mean this poor woman learned that her husband was a hired killer (been there, done that, Liz!) and his job ended up getting their daughters killed. Sure, Liz thinks Tom has given up that life and doesn't know that he's lying to her but after the last episode I'd have thought it'd be more likely to cause her to second guess their relationship. It's the second callback/mirror to season one and that has to be on purpose right?
+ Between Liz remarrying Tom, Red's mild reaction to learning that Tom had the suitcase and the fact that there's a man stalking Tom and his new friend I'm pretty sure that the Tom flash-forward is going to turn out to be Red saving Tom from an attack. I have to admit to being a little disappointed by that.
+ Tom's utter gall during his scene with Red was unbelievable considering he's still lying to Liz. I mean he admits he and Red share a talent for keeping people in the dark but he immediately follows it by threatening that Red's secret will come out. He warned Red that secrets put people in harms way. Dude! Look in the mirror! Nik literally just died working with you and Liz still doesn't know! I really hope this blows up in his face in a spectacular way. I mean the flash-forward implies it will but I want it to happen specifically with Liz.
+ I really liked the Red/Harold interactions, particularly their first scene.
+ The case this time was genuinely sad. Those poor little girls and that poor women to live through it all.
+ "And here I thought all old, rich white men were good at golf." - Liz. Hee.
5x07 'The Kilgannon Corporation' (No. 48)
This was excellent.
+ Dembe! Dembe is the best person, absolutely the "light in the darkness", and I'm glad he got an episode focused on him. He has been criminally under-used this season. (Well, to be honest most of the show!) I love Dembe being determined to go undercover because he had to try and save people (just like Red saved him.) He was wonderfully sweet with the little girl. I love that he doesn't lose faith that Red will save him.
+ Dembe and Red ♥ I love them so much. Every moment with them was excellent. I loved Red's expression when he learned Arthur had died and he realised saving Dembe would be that much harder.
+ I love that Dembe was worried about who would look after Red if he died. I'm a little sad that at this point in the show the obvious answer isn't Liz because I feel like it should be and yet I get why it isn't.
+ I'm disappointed with what feels like a real lack of Liz/Red scenes this season, in particular the last couple episodes. It's a weird choice considering the father reveal last season. Regardless of the truth of that I miss them. I hope the show will go back to focusing on their relationship soon.
+ The end was maybe a little too sweet but I liked it. I liked Harold deciding to help those few migrants they could by essentially asking Red to traffic them to safety.
+ ... I love this new bad guy. He is genuinely scary! "And then there was one." - shivers!
+ I love the casual way that Red kills Colin. He doesn't even look at him, already walking away, because to Red he really is nothing. Also his opening line "Your mother brought you into this world, you really think she couldn't take you out?" was amazing. I'm guessing Mrs. Kilgannon already suspected that Colin had killed his father and hearing him admit that he wanted her dead to only confirmed it.
+ Also the contrast between New Bad Guy and Red was so great. Because on the surface they seem similar - especially with the back-to-back murdering - but the details matter so much. It's not just that we know Red that makes him someone that we can root for but that he genuinely does care.
+ I loved Aram telling Dembe "you're like my role model" (minus the killing!) ♥
+ Red took Liz's revelation of her marriage a lot better this time. Certainly not enthusiastic but he hid his feelings reasonably well. I wonder if he still thinks marrying Tom is the worst thing she could do?
+ "For the first time in a long time I feel happy. Then I see what's going on in the world.". Sigh, yeah.
