A Review of 'The Blacklist' 4x08

After last Thursday's fall finale of The Blacklist, ideas have been running wild through the internet.  Let's get down to the basics of what happened before we dive into the ideas that I had as I watched, which I have had throughout the series.  We had another situation where Alexander Kirk took Elizabeth and once again Red had to save her.  The situation was more dire this time around because Kirk learned in episode 7 that she is not his daughter.  After some normal Blacklist events, Red trades himself for Elizabeth and undergoes terrible torture which James Spader brought to life heartbreakingly beautiful.  This was almost too much to bare as a viewer.  But, during this torture scene Red finally said the magic words, "Yes, Elizabeth is my daughter."

Not only did we get a reveal from Reddington, himself but he also told Alexander Kirk something that saved his life.  So, Red had a very busy episode but so did Liz, who was finally happy at the end...for now.  And we got an update on Mr. Kaplan and her captor.  So, the woodsman decided to let her go and she revealed information about Reddington to the man.  

So, now it's time for some ideas that I had after watching the episode.  First of all, how did that man who saved Kaplan get on Red's property and does he work for Red?  Was that all a test for Mr. Kaplan?  If so, she may have failed because she gave up Reddington's name and some important information and if not then we don't know what's in store for her next.  Who picked her up in the truck?  Was it Dembe?  How could he know she would be walking down the road?  And lastly, Kaplan is a huge threat to Reddington if she decides to turn on him so let's hope that she helps him from the shadows.

Now, to the most important question from the fall finale of The Blacklist, was Red telling the truth when he said Elizabeth was his daughter and if he was how can he claim he has never lied to Liz? The writer of this episode, Daniel Cerone, tweeted on both questions.  Take a look:

So, how can both of these statements be true?  Well, some on the internet have gone to a theory that Red is Katarina but I think it's so much simpler than that.  The question Liz asked Red in the fall finale of season 1 was, "Are you my father?"  He hesitated before answering, no.  The hesitation was him processing how to answer without lying to her.  I believe two things about Red:  1, He believes the father is the person that raised a child and his mind that man is Sam for Liz and 2, I truly believe that a version of him died the night of the fire and he no longer thinks of himself in that way.  So, Red saying no to Liz was not a lie but a twist on words which Reddington frequently does anyway.  I 100% believe Red is her biological father but I don't think for one moment that is why he tracked her down and gave himself up.  There's more to their story and we won't know that until the very end.  

Also, a co-worker and I mused today that Liz could have all Katarina's secrets locked inside of her ready for a certain trigger to awaken the spy within and that might be why Reddington erased her memories and is so desperate to protect her from her past.  

And finally, what did Reddington whisper to Kirk?  It could be one of two things in my view.  I think he either told Kirk that Katarina is alive or he told him the real reason he surrendered himself to the FBI to work with Liz.  Only time will tell what he actually revealed, though.  

I, for one, am very happy with the closure the fall finale gave me.  I don't need Liz to know but I needed to know.  Now, that that mystery is solved, I can move on and get excited about what the

writer's have in store for us next.  What do you guys think?  Is finding Katarina our next mystery? 

Or, are we going to go back to hunting a weekly Blacklister?  PS:  What is Red doing with the Cabal? I guess I need that answered too.

Until January 5th....

#amwriting 'Blacklist' Fanfiction

Almost three years ago, I started a simple fanfiction to follow along with season 2 of The Blacklist and I never dreamed that I'd be in part three of that story now, following along with the 4th season.  I had not expected the positive response I got regarding my story which is Reddington/OC centric but I have loved it so very much.  My readers convinced me to write a prequel as well, which I did and it did make the story flow more smoothly.  The point of this blog is just to say that this show is the first show and only show which I have been able to write weekly and work my character into so easily.  The show has allowed me the ability to work each week without too much hardship regarding my character and how she fits into the timeline.  I hope that she never feels forced.  Anyway, this is really just a nice post for me to ramble about how much I've enjoyed and been shocked by my writing in The Blacklist verse.

If you're curious...feel free to read all my many pieces that follow the story of Raymond Reddington and Haylie Storm...

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11608650/1/Work-Ethic-Beginnings
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10711048/1/Work-Ethic
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11538712/1/Work-Ethic-Part-II
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12166839/1/Work-Ethic-Part-III

The Blacklist: A Darker Shade of Red

Since The Blacklist has returned for its 4th season, we have seen a broken group of characters.  Red has been deeply hurt by the actions of his closest advisor Mr. Kaplan and Elizabeth, faking her death to get away from his hold on her life.  Elizabeth thought she was getting away with her husband and baby and out of Red's grasp but instead got pulled into captivity by her 'father', Alexander Kirk.  Elizabeth's team at the FBI has been extremely hurt by her 'death' and 'life' and are being forced to help find her.  Some of the team can't put their emotions on the matter aside but are being forced to anyway.  The team works with Red and there is no choice.  Mr. Kaplan did what she thought was right in helping Elizabeth get away from Red but inadvertently threw Liz into danger.  Red has dedicated the first two episodes of this new season to find Liz and Liz's baby, Agnes.  We are seeing Red in a darker shade than previous seasons where he only hurts the bad guys because now he is acting out what he has said all along.  This week's episode ended with Red finally making a choice on what to do with Mr. Kaplan and that was her death.

Red, with the help of the FBI, found Elizabeth at the end of the episode though her 'father' escaped.  We finally saw a glimpse of his pain because when they brought Elizabeth back, he chose not to speak with her but just to see that she had arrived and then drive away.  They still haven't found the baby but now, the team is unified to help.  Red, then, took Mr. Kaplan to a beautiful piece of property to give her his decision on her betrayal.  He told her it  the land is her's for eternity and he shot her then walked away leaving her for dead.  We are seeing the Red that he has always claimed to be.  He has always said that he values loyalty above all else and even though, Mr. Kaplan believes she did what she did in his best interest, it's still betrayal in his eyes.  This season will be tense as all the characters find a way to regain trust for one another while still doing the main job they have on this show, which is to catch the bad guys given to them by Raymond Reddington.



http://www.ew.com/recap/the-blacklist-season-4-episode-2

Theories

Our show is on break and I think that makes this the perfect time to talk over some theories.  Red was about to explain some things to Liz before he was shot and I think we need to discuss ideas.  

So, I believe that Red hired Tom because she had grown up and couldn't stay with Sam forever.  It makes sense.  Red wants Lizzie protected and he needed someone in place.  This leads us to:  why did Red turn himself in?  I believe there are two possibilities for this question.  The first is that the need for the fulcrum made it necessary or Red found out Tom had been flipped by Berlin and no plan to protect Lizzie other than himself.  

Liz is clearly very upset with Red now and I think there are only a few options for them that would make him worth forgiving in her eyes..  Option 1 is the running theory that he's her father.  That theory is ok but it just doesn't seem to be the case.  A more likely option is that he's her uncle or a criminal friend of her father's.  He knew the father had the fulcrum and it's possible the father burned the house down with Liz and her mother inside to fake his death.  They why'd he hide the fulcrum in Lizzie's bunny?  This is where I think the father must have known his brother or friend, Red was going to save Liz from the fire because either his own home had just burned or he was still a good guy and had planned to turn it in.  But Red didn't know where the fulcrum was just that Liz was the key.  But he saved her and gave her to Sam to raise. I think he's her Uncle or very much like an uncle and that her real father is the number 1 blacklister, who Red's been after for the last 20 years.  There's a romance theory floating around that Red and Lizzie should be together but that one really doesn't hold any water.  He has clearly known her since she was a child and had Sam sending him updates (ie the Birthday pictures) and I just don't see Red as a pedophile.  Also, we've seen how he acts when he's attracted to a woman and that's not how he acts with her.  He has such a strong paternal love for her.  The age difference isn't an issue it's the circumstances.  And lastly, that wouldn't be something that needed to be a big secret or reveal if it was the case.  Why would him wanting to be with her romantically need this much mystery?  My money's on the second theory because she wouldn't forgive him if he'd had a part in her parent's death and was protecting her out of guilt.  

Is Tom gone for good now that they've said goodbye?  I don't think so.  I think he's an audience favorite and there's still a chance he and Liz will rekindle their romance.  I don't agree with that 100 % since he was kind of a dirt bag for awhile but I can't find any other reason for the character to stick around.  

Is the music box the key to unlocking the fulcrum?  I think you could insert it somewhere and the music box would play whatever secrets lie within it.  

What does Red want with Vanessa Cruz?  He seems to either kill a blacklister or use them so I am curious to see what his plans are.  Will he use her as a revenge plan against the ones who shot him?

Lastly, is Red going to make it?  The answer is an obvious yes.  The show is not very good without Spader so it would be a very stupid move by NBC.  I love the show but I do sometimes wonder if I'd still watch the FBI be bad at their jobs if I didn't know Red would be popping up soon.  Anyway, I just needed to get some of these ideas on paper and I hope that y'all with share more theories you have.   I love to discuss this show.  It's always keeping me on my toes.   

I almost forgot!  Red specified in the first episode he wanted two bodyguards.  Why did Luli never get replaced after the events in Anslo Garrick?  Dembe is amazing but I'm not above saying if someone else had been there we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in.  #RedAlert  

Chapter 50 of #WorkEthic

This is the latest chapter of my "Blacklist" fanfic.  If you like it start from the beginning at https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10711048/1/Work-Ethic

Red placed her in the backseat getting in behind her, “Dembe, take us to the hospital,” Red instructed.  

“I thought we were going home,” she said, her voice still shaky.  

Red shook his head, “You haven’t seen your legs.  You need to get these stings treated.”

Haylie wasn’t going to argue as she laid her head back against the seat, desperate to close her eyes but she knew she couldn’t because she’d see what Julian was about to do over and over again.  

“What’s wrong?  I can tell your tired,” Red said watching her fight her heavy eyelids, “You can sleep until we get there,” he assured her, placing his hand gently on her leg.  

“I can’t,” Haylie admitted, “I can’t stop seeing him with that blade,” she shivered as she spoke.  

Red uncrossed his legs and pulled her down into his lap, “You’re safe now.  Nothing bad’s going to happen.  You’re with me,” he said softly running his hand through her hand.  

Haylie reluctantly closed her eyes, instantly falling asleep.  But as she fell asleep she could tell something was off about Red.

When she opened her eyes, she was alone in a hospital room just as a nurse entered, “Did the man who brought me in tell you if he was coming back?” Haylie asked, feeling a little panicked.  

The nurse shook her head, “He left you a note on the table.  We’re going to keep you for 48 hours just to make sure the stings had no effect on the baby and we also want to monitor that bullet wound.  You lead a dangerous life for a pregnant woman.”

Haylie nodded, “It’s hard not to.  I’m an FBI agent,” she affirmed the nurse’s suspicions.  The nurse took her vitals and left as Haylie grabbed the envelope to her left.  

She opened it with shaky hands, terrified it was a goodbye letter.  She took a deep breath as she read it:

“Dearest Haylie,

I don’t want to write this letter but at this moment I have no choice.  Alan Fitch has always protected me because he suspected I had the fulcrum but now that he’s gone the parties in charge don’t believe me.  Unfortunately, Lizzie has it and won’t give it up.  This means that I have to leave because if I don’t they will kill me.  I have one last plan resting on the shoulders of Roger Hobbs, you remember him.  Please don’t come chasing after me.  I won’t be able to be found.  I’ve distracted the team with a case they can never solve to ease my escape plan.  For once, please listen to what I’m saying to you.  I will return someday and hopefully get to have some part in my son’s life.  Know that I love you and I wish I didn’t have to leave your side but it is for the best.  

My eternal love,

Raymond Reddington”

Haylie held her breath as she read the letter finally choking as she finished it.  She couldn’t believe what he was saying.  

She hit the call button for the nurse repeatedly.  “Yes ma’am,” the nurse said entering the room once more, “What can i help you with?”

Haylie wasn’t crying she was fuming, “Is my cellphone in here somewhere?”

The nurse shook her head, “The gentleman took it when he left yesterday morning.  He spent the night in the bed with you, wrote that letter, and left.”

Haylie nodded, “Does this phone dial out?”

The nurse nodded, “Yes but he had us disconnect it.”

Haylie wasn’t holding back her anger anymore, “Get me a working phone. This a life and death matter,” she was almost yelling as she started pulling off all the monitors.  

The nurse was about to stop her when Haylie spoke again, “This is an FBI matter so do as I ask.”

The nurse left and came back with her own cell phone, “Here, make your call and I’ll take your iv out.”

Haylie dialed Liz’s number, “Agent Keen,” she heard.

“Liz, it’s Hailey” she began, “I can’t talk on this phone about what’s going on but you need to come get me.  It’s urgent.”

“I am speaking with Tom right now about some things to do with Reddington and how he’s a liar and has been for some time now,” Liz responded, her tone bitter.  

Haylie took a deep breath, “I’m sure he has a sound reason for putting Tom in your life.  But, listen he needs what you have as soon as possible and I need to go with you.  Please come get me from this hospital,” she explained.  

“You knew?” Liz said, Haylie could hear the hurt in her voice.

“I just found out,” Haylie admitted, “It was when Red took me on one of his little missions.  But you can’t hate if he gets killed.”

“I’m on my way but for you, not him,” Liz answered in a bitter tone.  

“Get me my clothes,” Haylie said to the nurse.