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SpoilerTV - TV Spoilers

POLL : What did you think of The Blacklist - Tom Keen?

20 Mar 2015

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125 comments:

  1. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 02:04

    And away we go.

    ReplyDelete
  2. joel w20 March 2015 at 02:11

    That Tom Connolly. He is a sleazy one isn't he? Also did anyone catch where Tom said to Red "your task force"? I wonder if this task force is actually Reds. Of course none of those on the task force actually know that. That would be a fun twist I would think.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:21

    Maybe I expected too much from this episode, but it was a bit of a let down if I'm honest...

    It felt "light" to me. I think the show would have been better served to take half of last week's episode (lose most of the Judge stuff with Liz) and combine it with tonight's episode. Have the Major discussing Tom Keen's past in the Tom Keen episode makign it a stronger story line ovver all. Instead of two episodes that had weak COTW Blacklisters as B-plots and heavy-handed A-plots involving Liz's legal issues we could have had one balanced episode with a stronger A-plot (LIz's legal issues) and a stronger B-plot (Tom Keen).
    Mini-rant over...

    If I remove my level of anticipation and look at the episode for what it was I liked quite a bit of it!

    Tom got to prove his love for Liz by sacrificing himself to keep Liz out of prison, Liz got to prove her humanity by providing financial support for Aames's daughter, and Red got to tell Liz that providing financial support for a child whose parent you killed does not eliminate the sense of guilt and pain. Red surely knows since he is responsible for Liz's childhood being what it was.... whether you believe he killed her dad or was her dad and faked his death.

    Notes:
    - Welcome back "The car is the bomb" Max!
    - Cooper may be out of the woods health wise, but what did it cost him?
    - Tom is once again in the wind able to turn up for finales or special events. Huzzah!

    Who knew? #1
    I mean I knew working out could give a guy washboard abs, but I had no clue it could erase 3 gunshot wounds! Or maybe Tom's ability to truly believe he is the role he is playing allows him to believe he had never been shot as well? XD

    Who knew? #2
    Auto rental insurance covers bullet holes received from illegal arms deals gone wrong! XD

    Who knew? #23
    Having to work with Agent Keen and deal with the fallout from her ridiculous decisions can raise a person's stress levels.. Okay maybe we all knew that one....

    ReplyDelete
  4. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:23

    That would be a fun twist XD


    I guess in every sense except the legal it already is Red's task force. He supplies the intel and usually the tactics as well.... XD

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bruce_F20 March 2015 at 02:28

    I think we all sympathize with Aram when Red was explaining the backstory behind Lizzie's predicament and he said "please tell me you're making that up."

    ReplyDelete
  6. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:31

    One of the lines of the night along with Connelly walking out of Cooper's office saying "Just kidding" after basically telling Cooper he owns him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. steve201320 March 2015 at 02:31

    Essentially it might aswell be his task force as without him it doesnt exist

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bruce_F20 March 2015 at 02:36

    That was good too. I don't know what the show has planned for Connally but I think I'm going to like it. He's already a fun shady character.

    ReplyDelete
  9. joel w20 March 2015 at 02:40

    I'm thinking he planned the task force before he turned himself in in S1E1. It's a stretch but so is the entire premise of the show.

    ReplyDelete
  10. joel w20 March 2015 at 02:41

    The car is the bomb max. Help me out I don't get the reference. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  11. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:41

    I got a hint of an impression that if they do kill Cooper off Connolly could take over as the new or interim task force leader.


    I think he would be better as a power player looming in the background with dubious loyalties.... Is he just out for himself or is he connected to the cabal?

    ReplyDelete
  12. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:43

    Max was the bomb-maker in the Gina Zanetakos episode. He was showing off his work to her and proudly proclaimed, "The car is the bomb"


    That line stuck in my mind I guess....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bruce_F20 March 2015 at 02:51

    I was thinking the same thing. Although I like Cooper, bringing Connally (or Connolly - it's spelled two different ways on iMDB) in would make the team dynamic a hell of a lot more interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bertha Strongham20 March 2015 at 02:55

    Hilarical!

    ReplyDelete
  15. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 02:56

    Yeah,not sure of the spelling yet myself..Connally, Connelly,rConnoly?
    *Shrug*


    Cooper seems almost like a token figurehead at times, where as Connolly seems to wield more tangible power. It might be fun to see someone with real pull work with or stand up to Red.

    ReplyDelete
  16. migotka2120 March 2015 at 02:56

    Actually I laughed too much. I started when the female agent decided what Tom did was so romantic and after that scene the episode wasn't the same.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ashley20 March 2015 at 02:58

    I liked it. I didn't love it. Why didn't the AG stooge stop the proceedings immediately... like last week? Seems like he could have done that easily since the court was acting above its authority.
    I am willing to believe Tom loves Liz, but I think if they want to make this some sort of romance, like they seem to, they need to illustrate this more. I didn't feel he loved her all of last season or when he was being held captive. Did he have sympathy yes? Love, no.. If they are going in this direction, show me some back story of his struggle etc.
    The convo at the end was just another smoke and mirrors Red convo. The theory of him killing her father has already been suggested by the show before along with the other threads. The problem with those scenes is they don't mean much anymore because we know they aren't going to come to fruition anytime soon, and there will be another direction shift next week.
    For what it is worth, I believe he may have killed the mother.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ashley20 March 2015 at 03:00

    Sigh... I just expected more.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ashley20 March 2015 at 03:03

    I feel like we need to see more emotional fall out from her killing the harbormaster. Setting up a scholarship is nice and all, but I feel like she still just really doesn't care. Her childish rant to Cooper proved that. I just don't like her character.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ashley20 March 2015 at 03:07

    I don't make much of Red's last speech to Liz. I am growing bored of all these "hints" that lead no where. I felt the same way about Dembe pressuring Red to tell Lizzie all of the truth. We have heard all this suggestion before. Since there aren't going to be any answers any time soon, I would just as soon see the development of that relationship without reminding the audience constantly that they are somehow linked. We get it. He is her father, killed her father/mother, is her relative, or he was a friend of her father. One of those is likely the answer. Enough. Put away the big stick writers.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Bruce_F20 March 2015 at 03:10

    Yes, and most likely work their own agenda as well.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bertha Strongham20 March 2015 at 03:22

    This show drives me crazy!

    Holy cow....

    Is he or is he not her father....? Totally driving me nuts.

    ReplyDelete
  23. migotka2120 March 2015 at 03:26

    You miss the point here. Red isn't her father. Red is her mother!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Bertha Strongham20 March 2015 at 03:37

    Red's monologue at the end with Liz was sooo FRUSTRATING!
    Jeepers....this show is driving me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  25. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 03:38

    I don't like the heavy-handed remarks and and storylines that make Liz question what the relation between her and Red is, but this felt organic and "real" to me. Liz was trying to do the exact thing Red has been doing for 2 decades and he was offering some sage advice.

    If Red stopped talking to Liz every time she was angry or depressed because it related to their relationship or reminded viewers of the mystery of their relationship Red would not be able to ever talk to her again! XD

    ReplyDelete
  26. Justin Valdes20 March 2015 at 03:40

    Tom is certainly one of the most interesting aspects of the show for me so I was hyped for this episode with his big return and all and his reunion with Liz!


    The face that Tom made when he realized that Reddington and Ressler were in the car and were trying to bring him back to the US was priceless XD Pure utter shock. He definitely didn't expect to see those two again haha. And damn, I would be lying if I didn't say the man was looking gooood. Holy abs batman galore!


    Poor Cooper but at least his treatments are helping his disease (even though it can cause seizures). Does anyone else think that he will ultimately resign from being Assistant Director because of this? At least Liz finally knows! I just love their partnership and she deserved to know. And I have a feeling this isn't the last time we see of Mr. Connolly! I can't wait to see what the writers have in store for him.


    Tom's entrance into the courtroom, coming to save the day (with the help of Connolly!) and watching Liz's reaction after all those months was the highlight of the episode for me. Thank god he didn't go to jail! Tom is so much better when he's out on the run and we have no idea where the hell he is XD And it was great that he called to check up on her and asked if she was okay at the end! I always suspected that they both still care for each other after all they have been through even though they don't want to admit it. While I believe we won't see Tom for a while, I'm sure he'll turn up again in a big way in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  27. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 03:45

    I have never connected with Liz's character on any level or any decision. My mind does not operate remotely like hers.. I find her childish, passive-aggressive self-centered and selfish... so I understand what you are saying I think.
    She annoys me!

    I will give her a little credit though...
    Whether she was trying to alleviate her own guilt or actually felt bad for the harbormaster's family, she was trying to do something.

    ReplyDelete
  28. ivan20 March 2015 at 03:45

    he's back next week LOL

    ReplyDelete
  29. Justin Valdes20 March 2015 at 03:47

    Tom? He is? Not according to the promo...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Claire20 March 2015 at 03:50

    The Canadian promo shows something about him being in trouble, and he shows up at Lizzie's hotel room, and she's surprised

    ReplyDelete
  31. Justin Valdes20 March 2015 at 03:52

    Oooh, do you have a link? I would LOVE to see that.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Claire20 March 2015 at 03:54

    Ressler: Keen call me when you get this, looks like Tom's in a little bit of trouble and he's going to bring that trouble to you, be careful
    Tom is shown burning Fake ID's
    Liz walks into her hotel room, and Tom tells her to be quiet, she asks what are you doing? and the promo ends

    ReplyDelete
  33. ivan20 March 2015 at 03:57

    that son of a bitch! thanks for the quoted

    ReplyDelete
  34. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 04:00

    It did not bother me much since I,m not really concerned with how they are related, but I can see how it would annoy many people!!


    It was heart felt enough and so well delivered by Spader, but vague enough to be taken however the view desires. If they want support to their theory of how Red is Liz's father they can see it, but if they want support for how Red killed Liz's father they can see that as well...

    ReplyDelete
  35. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 04:13

    Didn't we get told by the show runners at the beginning of the season that we would get into more about who Lizzie's mother was this season ? Or am I making that up....

    ReplyDelete
  36. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 04:21

    You're not making it up!
    They said it... That's why many thought Mary Louise Parker's character was her mother at first.

    ReplyDelete
  37. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 04:29

    After all these what if this- what if that never answered questions on The Blacklist, I am looking forward to a little straightforward mayhem on Grimm tomorrow night, for a bit of relief.

    ReplyDelete
  38. denverdean20 March 2015 at 04:33

    If the AG showed up last week, the filler episode and this episode would've been unnecessary. :) I'm glad they are working Tom back in to the show. There are plenty of ways to keep him as a viable character. I will admit, I was let down from an episode called "Tom Keen" thought it would dig a lot deeper into Tom. Shoot that self-righteous lefty judge chewed up way too much scenery and time.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Chris20 March 2015 at 05:09

    I have to admit I'm pretty disappointed in these last two episodes. Last week was just awful, so I guess I was having higher expectations for this week. I have to agree that these red "hint" speeches are getting to be meaningless and I feel they kind of say the same thing with different words. I really feel this show can answer some points and leave others alone without continuously opening new questions with nothing getting solved. Just my opinion. It's starting to get frustrating. I am really intrigued though by the new tom character.

    ReplyDelete
  40. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 05:46

    Looking forward to Grimm as well...
    Although I do enjoy The Blacklist for what it is. I knew going in that it would be a long connection of questions and answers that lead to more questions so I have never been annoyed like a lot of people.

    ReplyDelete
  41. yankeefly2620 March 2015 at 06:30

    While this episode wasn't an OMG type of episode, it did offer some great moments. The whole Tom throwing himself on the sword thing for Liz was kind of predictable. When I saw the promo for this episode I had a gut feeling that Tom would come through because he knew that when he confessed that he wouldn't literally go through a trial or do any jail time...and Connolly was the proof of that gut feeling. As he told Cooper at the end of this episode, he wouldn't hesitate to throw ethics to the wind to get what he wanted. All in all, this episode is a great set up regarding just how deep the government corruption really is and how the corruption connects to the fulcrum.

    ReplyDelete
  42. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 07:28

    Who said Red is responsible for Lizzie's child hood being what it was? Did he ever say he was talking about Lizzie? Never assume....

    ReplyDelete
  43. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 07:31

    How about this, he never mentioned he was Lizzie's benefactor. A twist is there if you think about it. Lizzie assumes he is talking about her; is he?

    ReplyDelete
  44. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 07:42

    Let's see, she knew about the fulcrum, she is presumed dead, she is never seen leaving the fire, the fire was at Xmas the same time Red took off from the Military and became a criminal.That is something.

    ReplyDelete
  45. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 08:06

    No, you're right.
    With this show it's always bad to assume.

    However I lean towards thinking Red is directly related to Liz's father's death in some way. Somewhere on the spectrum between these 5 scenarios....
    - Red killed her dad / Directly responsible for his death.
    - Red's actions got her dad killed/ Indirectly responsible
    - Red was there and did nothing/ Not responsible, but feels guilty.
    - Red couldn't stop it, but saved Lizzie/ Not responsible, but feels responsible.
    - Red is her father and went underground to protect her



    I really try not to assume one over the others until more info is revealed, but I would be surprised if it wasn't something like one or more of the choices above.

    ReplyDelete
  46. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 08:35

    SImple thoughts: Tom was an orphan, watched and sent to Xavier school and trained to be an assassin, by whom?And on Lizzie, if Lizzie's parents took something on xmas that got the house burned and one of them killed and Red changed his life that day, thenhow is his saying he has the fulcrum not a clue as to their relationship?

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  47. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 09:37

    Yours is a good attitude to have to more fully enjoy the show. And your version of having the 2 episodes ( The Major and Tom Keen) combined into one would have made for a richer knockout hour. I do enjoy the show and look forward to each chapter's golden nuggets. I was sorry to see Agent Malik die but think the addition of Navabi's earthiness has given the team more depth. But sometimes the bait and run just wears me out a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  48. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 09:40

    Hopefully we will get more before the season closes out - maybe in the season finale.

    ReplyDelete
  49. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 09:50

    Right, a new record has been set on how many times one can approach the same subject without really saying anything new about it.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sarah van Binnebeke20 March 2015 at 10:05

    Could Coopers test results be faked?
    So that he thinks the chemo is working because if it isn't the blackmail is not worth very much.


    I have not seen the promo for next week and I don't want to but I wonder if Tom could get a job offer from the shady government?


    oh and i'm happy Liz does not have to break her ex-hubby out of prison. woehoe.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:11

    Sit tight. They are not going to answer this for a long time. Maybe too long...

    ReplyDelete
  52. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:12

    I did want to see more from Tom. He is much more interesting than Liz.

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  53. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:13

    Are you joking? Are are you one of those that really believes this? (Because there are people who believe this.)

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  54. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:17

    They really need to do more to make her believable to me. Last week she was dumb enough to spill every secret she had, this week she is annoyingly stomping her feet at Cooper, and every week she fails to profile, you know, anyone correctly... Very aggravating.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:20

    Agreed, but I think a remark or two would have been ore subtle. This was very heavy handed. On any other show, I would say the answer had been revealed. On the blacklist, I know it didn't mean much. Haha

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  56. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:22

    Very true. We don't know who/what he was talking about necessarily. I think he has obviously been Lizzy's benefactor, but I think he has probably done similar things before.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:23

    Don't put much stock in it. It isn't anything anything we didn't already know. We know Red effected her childhood, we know he has been her benefactor, we know he feels guilt, etc. That is what I am getting annoyed about. Nothing new..

    ReplyDelete
  58. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:30

    I think it would be cool if Tom and Red were linked (earlier than Red just hiring Tom). It would be cool if Red had helped/guided Tom as a child in some capacity, hired him through the major to help with Red, and is now angry at him for not working out like he was supposed to.

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  59. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:31

    That was stupid. Yeah. Sure.. Nothing is more romantic than a guy breaking some innocent man's neck for you... The show is trying way too hard to link those too and revise Tom's character from villain to anti-hero.

    ReplyDelete
  60. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 11:43

    You got another in the presidential limo but you had to be looking for it.

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  61. Ashley20 March 2015 at 11:46

    Red may think he killed her father, but her father is alive. If Red isn't her dad, her dad will be on the Blacklist eventually. Tom said her father was alive, and we know he has to be be because after the fire memory Liz said, "There's no way he could have survived that." Which means, on t.v. Foreshadowing land, he did.

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  62. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 13:55

    Could you help me out on that one because I missed it ? Still, considering what we were promised before the season started , there have been precious meager crumbs afforded us - hopefully that will change in the coming weeks.

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  63. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 14:04

    The exact same idea sprang into my mind when Cooper and his really pretty wife were with the doctor - that he was being told that just to keep him under the thumb of his overlords. About that coming promo hinted trouble that Tom is in - I cannot imagine his handler, The Major ( who by the way got short shrift in the episode bearing his name), cannot be very pleased with what went down in Germany.

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  64. cmahone20 March 2015 at 14:06

    Tom does not nor , did he ever Love Liz.she was his JOB. for him to come back & exonerate Liz , he had to have a guarenteed , get out of jail free card, provided by Red, how many times did he say NO, Thats her problem , she did it to herself, etc

    ReplyDelete
  65. cmahone20 March 2015 at 14:07

    Cooper always has been a token figurehead
    he gets owned by everybody

    ReplyDelete
  66. cmahone20 March 2015 at 14:09

    Liz's parents are not Dead, he feels guilty because they didn't raise her.. he is not her father

    ReplyDelete
  67. rehabber20 March 2015 at 15:15

    Since I have been a big fan of Tom Keen I loved this ep. Interesting twist.

    ReplyDelete
  68. ffalta20 March 2015 at 15:18

    Do you think if Tom will join the task force. base on how hard tptb push Tom to SLs and the forced twist?

    ReplyDelete
  69. C Spottswood20 March 2015 at 16:19

    Thinking he might have killed Tom's family

    ReplyDelete
  70. Ashley20 March 2015 at 16:26

    He would make a good CI. Between him and Red it would be the battle of the informants.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Sarah van Binnebeke20 March 2015 at 17:02

    The Major gave up Tom's location plus Tom gave up his allegiance to Red in favor of Berlin on the orders or recommendation of The Major.
    Maybe Tom could be open to something for the ''good'' guys

    ReplyDelete
  72. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 17:14

    I don't believe they are biologically related, because one obvious thing that is being negated left & right is that the mystery could be solved within 30 minutes, but everyone has their own opinion - However i love your other 4 scenario's, the guilt and sorrow was written all over Red's face. He has been her secret benefactor and Liz is slowly piecing the puzzle together - Imo, Red feels responsible for the death of either her mother/or father and i hope that the bio-dad is alive, that is the most concrete answer we can get beyond this point. One question for all. If it is proven that he is/or is not her father, does The show have steady enough feet to live beyond that one question?

    ReplyDelete
  73. AvonleaMist20 March 2015 at 17:38

    Right, The Major gave up Tom's location to Red under duress and we know The Major had betrayed Red by transferring Tom to Berlin's agenda, but The Major is only a go-between, a supplier agency if you will. Whoever hired him to find someone to infiltrate the German drug dealing bigots might be the one who is not pleased by how that all went down. And I still think The Major himself will not be happy with Tom as that is now two times Tom has in some way messed up his reputation as the go-to handler.

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  74. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 17:47

    Agreed, but maybe he never felt that emotion before...he is just as confused as Lizzie is at this point. As long as this relationship does not have a round 2, i am fine with it. Only 7 more episodes to go and is every one really willing to watch KeenxKeen all over again? Red was the one who convinced Tom to come and he would get him out of it, he even used the same words Red did: 'Intent'. Tom's storyline is slowly coming to an end...

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  75. Mr. Edmodo20 March 2015 at 17:55

    Great.

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  76. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 17:58

    Interesting theory about Cooper's results!


    I had not thought of it, but I did get an odd vibe from the doctor that gave the results to the Coopers... Unlike the doctor that treated him when he first arrived and talked to Liz, he seemed like a purely good guy to me.
    *Shrug*

    ReplyDelete
  77. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:02

    Really?
    When there was that long pause before Navabi answered I said aloud "Romantic" assuming she would say that. It seemed to fit perfectly for her character... at least to me. Different strokes and all that...

    ReplyDelete
  78. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:13

    The thing about Tom though is that he is an unreliable narrator....
    He does not necessarily know what the truth is. He was under the assumption that what Berlin told him was true. Berlin thought Red killed his daughter and Liz was Red's daughter. Telling Liz her father was alive may have been the truth as Tom knew it, but not necessarily the actual truth.

    That is what happens on The Blacklist frequently...
    We get information from characters that only have a partial knowledge and we cannot or should not believe what they say as true. Plus, when it comes to anything surrounding Red the only one who knows everything is Red, and he often speaks in half-truths and misdirection...

    I personally put more stock in those intimate moments were Red tells an emotional anecdote to someone (like he told Liz tonight) than anything anyone else says ... I think those are his rawest, most honest moments.

    ReplyDelete
  79. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:16

    Certainly one way to look at it, but I see it differently.
    I think he loves Liz as much as he is capable of loving anyone. When he says he does not or she brought it on herself he is being defensive and acting out of pain.


    I could be wrong though.

    ReplyDelete
  80. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:23

    The song that was on the radio when Red was in the limo?


    IF so I missed the connection I guess....

    ReplyDelete
  81. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:31

    That is the question I have had since the pilot!

    I lean towards thinking Red and Liz are not related as well. It would just be too easy to take a DNA test and be done with it if they are father-daughter...
    I don't rule it out... but ....

    ReplyDelete
  82. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 18:42

    Exactly - unfortunately we can't rule anything out - i heard that he could be her brother, uncle, even grandfather - the theories are getting further and further away from the core relationship - you don't have to be related to love someone so much that you would be able to sacrifice your now life for them. I mean aren't all the great Love stories about sacrifice? I can't understand why it would be too far fetched.

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  83. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 18:45

    I still believe that Red has never lied to Lizzie, the evidence is in the pudding - God is in the details, which ever way you might call it, Tom has another view of Red than Liz has. For Tom, Red is the bad guy - I am not saying that he has not done bad things, but he has been truthful towards Liz so far and Tom/Jacob simply is a skilled liar - and has his own truths about series of events. He followed Red for many years - that must not have painted a pretty picture...

    ReplyDelete
  84. Ashley20 March 2015 at 18:45

    I think the father has to be alive in some capacity just to add emotion to the show in one way or another. Tom probably didn't discover the information about her "father" for Berlin. I mostly think he is alive because of the clues the writers of the show have left. IE Liz's great belief that he is dead.

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  85. Famous4it20 March 2015 at 18:51

    The last scene made the episode for me. I really liked it. I'll never get tired of the Red/Liz connection storyline.

    I don't like the whole 'Tom loves LIz' thing, but I'll roll with it since it's necessary.



    Aram and Navabi are some much needed cuteness. And the shootout was such a cool set up by Red.


    Didn't like the whole court storyline because all those detectives and judges bug me so much ! I really like this new AG storyline though.. I wonder where they're going with it.


    I kind of felt that the entire Liz/Cooper B story is super out of character! I didn't like any of their scenes! And I'm not quite sure how to feel about this new Liz...I think I like it, but I wish Tom hadn't killed the guy. It was a real pain.

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  86. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 18:56

    I think for her father to be alive and it to pay off it has to be someone we have met... Red is the only person that fits unless he is a member of the Cabal...


    IT could play out that way for sure, but I still think the only somewhat reliable source of info on the show is Red. It's like the AG Connolly said when discussing the misguided detective, "He's only playing with half the pieces."


    Everyone but Red is so in the dark that they're unaware of how many pieces are even on the board.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Ashley20 March 2015 at 19:13

    haha... No. I don't think it is romantic to snap someone's neck. I did predict Navabi would say that though. Not because of her character but because the writers are pushing the romance so hard. I never viewed that scene as 100 percent altruistic on Tom's part. He wanted the Harbormaster gone for himself too. I just keep thinking back to season 1 and Tom making out with Jolene. I know he decided not to go through with having sex with her because of Liz, but that hot and heavy make out session didn't make me think true love in their department either.
    Don't get me wrong, I love Tom as a bad guy, and I would actually love to see him stick around. I think he could be a very helpful informant. I would especially like to see him form some sort of uneasy alliance with Red. I even am willing to accept that he loves Liz, but painting him as some sort of prince is weird to me. I feel really bad for the harbor master. Poor innocent old man left to rot for what seemed like at least a day on the ship while Liz let Tom go. And, for what it is worth, Tom shows zero remorse for anything yet (other than Lizzy.) If they want me to like him ever potentially back with Lizzy, make him more... human.

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  88. Ashley20 March 2015 at 19:21

    I do think that Red is ultimately her father, but I also think it could be interesting for a "real" father to emerge as either a part of The Blacklist that she has to take down or someone that makes her question Reddington (for the millionth time) so that she has to ultimately decide whose version of the past/present is correct. Who would she trust? In that case, she would have to choose between her surrogate father (Red) and a biological father. Plus, if Red is not her father, he would have to deal with another person coming into Lizzie's life, just as she was worrying about having to deal with sharing the spotlight, so to speak, with Jennifer.

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  89. Ashley20 March 2015 at 19:24

    And I do believe Red was telling the truth when he said her father was dead... Whether it is that he actually believes her father is dead, or that man he was is metaphorical dead, I don't know...
    I am not one who believes Red always tells the truth though. If nothing else, he definitely misdirects as you say, tells only part of the story, and chooses his words carefully to have more than one meaning.
    He is definitely the controlling player.

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  90. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 19:34

    It could be very interesting indeed....

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  91. Ashley20 March 2015 at 19:55

    Have you seen how dumb the FBI is portrayed? HAHA... I have no doubt they did a DNA test, but alas, Red knows blacklisters who change DNA, and actually Red just about knows everybody, and can make anything happen. It is very easy to falsify a DNA test. I am sure Red has other people in the FBI (like that art lady from the Madelin Pratt episode).

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  92. Ashley20 March 2015 at 20:00

    It is going to have to get beyond the one question or it will lose viewers anyway. I have always said I don't believe this is a 6 year arc they can keep up. People will eventually stop watching. I think they should answer this question and replace it with another mystery. They have basically played out/raised every scenario at this point.
    If he killed her father/is responsible for her father's death, I feel like we already saw that in the Luther Braxton episode. In fact, at this point, she already believes her father was killed because of Red. The mother is probably the crux here since Liz never seems to wonder what exactly happened to her. Somebody got shot according to Liz's memory... was that the father on the floor of the burning house or was that a false memory, and it was her mother...?
    Why is the mother never mentioned. She is the missing puzzle piece.

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  93. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 20:04

    HA! XD
    Yeah it's true they are inept most of the time, but I still think a DNA test is easy to do.


    In the pilot they mentioned Red's old records, a legit DNA sample could be in that. Easier still take a swab of each to a lab under 24 hour watch until they get results. It just seems so easy to do that it would be very hard for me to accept that even the omnipotent Red could cover all the angles.

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  94. Ashley20 March 2015 at 20:05

    OMG... The funniest one is people that he believe he is her mother. That he had a sex change... LOL

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  95. Ashley20 March 2015 at 20:09

    I do think he sacrificed himself for Liz, and I do think he loves her as much as he can love her, but I don't think they have done a good job of writing that believably so to speak. It is one storyline I think feels forced.

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  96. Ashley20 March 2015 at 20:15

    They could do that, but I don't think they did do that. Otherwise, Lizzy wouldn't have had to ask him if he was her father in Anslo Garrick, should we know 100 percent that he wasn't. Logically, this could never happen. But in the world of The Blacklist, Logic is a foreign word unknown to the FBI.
    Do you ever watch The Following? The FBI is equally dumb on that show.

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  97. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 20:26

    I watched the first few episodes, but found it... lacking to say the least.


    I kept watching the first season since I like a few of the actors, but it was just bad. The writing was terrible, but even worse for the FBI like you said.... I

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  98. Ashley20 March 2015 at 20:40

    I did much like you. I watched the first season. I find it to be vile. The characters are souless, the plot implausible, and it is just too dark and violent for me. I don't like to feel disgusted after watching t.v. haha

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  99. Derek11720 March 2015 at 20:44

    I always get to this site the day after The Blacklist airs, so there's plenty of comments to get me thinking before I post. Today is no different.


    The most intriguing thoughts posted speculate the Task Force that Liz, Cooper, Ressler & all are part of is really Red's Task Force. Which pre-supposes that Red is secretly a Good Guy, who has taken on the persona of a Baddie as part of U.S. Intelligence cover [Note: this is the same set-up as "The Bourne Identity" book]. And may mean that only one or two people in the world know that Red is a Good Guy. Such a major plot twist would align Red with the Task Force in taking down the Baddies that he has discovered during all of the years that he was undercover as a Criminal. What this theory doesn't address is the Red/Liz connect...but, frankly, I don't see it as an important element of the show. The show's creators, Jon Bokenkamp & Joe Carnahan, has said the same thing in interviews and on panels; and explains why they're treating it as a "McGuffin" (Hitchcock's term for a plot device that's really unimportant--but moves the narrative.)


    But speaking of Liz. It continues to surprise me how many viewers are so turned off by her. IMO, she's a flawed character who often makes bad or puzzling choices (just like a number of male characters--can you say Oliver Queen?) but viewers aren't giving her the same "slack" as the males. Liz said in the pilot episode that her former colleagues in the NYC unit she came from "call me a Bitch". She has always been a self-centered loner, who may act on her impulses in spite of what may be the best for her team. She has always been rebellious (again in the first episode, when she challenged Cooper & Ressler when she demanded to know "what" they had told Red about her family) and unpredictable. Indeed, one way of looking at Liz' life is that "Tom-the-Perfect" was put in her life by Red, not only to protect & "monitor" her but also to bring out the softer side of her personality. The flashes of Liz' dark side that we've seen this year may be her "true" self--that Red is working to change, or at least suppress, in order to "save" her from becoming like her parent(s) whom may have been truly evil people, who Red killed--but spared the daughter (Liz) in the belief that evil does not pass down from parent to child.


    Regarding the "Tom Keen" episode: it continues Liz' journey away from her evil side. An evil side that Cooper recognizes and points out to Liz as evidenced by her actions when Red was out of the picture, Mira was dead, and Cooper in the hospital. Liz' evil side took over and she quite literally tortured her moderating influence (Tom).


    One last thing about Liz' character. Jon Bokenkamp appears to be one of the small number of male writers who can create complex female characters. His history includes writing the Angelina Jolie FBI Profiler in Quebec film, "Taking Lives" as well as two Halle Berry films, "The Call" and "Perfect Stranger". All of these stories centered around women who are complex and with flaws that we forgive in male protagonist.

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  100. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 21:18

    Good question, yes TPTB said that we are going to hear more about Liz's bio-mom, but bugs me more than ever is why Lizzie doesn't pry Red more for answers. He has showed that if she asks him a direct question he will answer honestly - Liz should be more persistent in her need for answers, it would drive me absolutely bonkers, to have to work with someone who knows everything about my past, but is refusing to open up about it. I would be a broken record, asking the questions every day - Who was my father? Did you kill him? What happened to my mother? Tell me about the fulcrum or i will never give it to you...Who was Sam really? What happened in 1990? Liz seems to ask them and then forgets about them...waiting patiently on the side, doing her job - or she should investigate it for herself - If Tom/Berlin/Braxton found out, how come she can't? Ohh and for the love of god, someone order a DNA test. You are right, they can't keep it up for 6 years. How much redirecting/anecdotes can the viewers take? I know that the ones who believe him to be her dad are willing to wait, but most want to move on...The show is complex/good enough to survive.

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  101. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 22:14

    LMAO! Yeah the FBI have done been portrayed as a 'smart' agency at times with a limited task force at that. Darque i agree that modern technology made it very easy to get that question out of the way in a blink of an eye - furthermore the Alchemist altered DNA yes, but those people would have no pulse afterwards, no circulation and in the realm of fiction anything is possible, but this is semi-set in reality. Let not kid ourselves, it is a none-mystery to keep around for X amount of years. So my question is what would it take to get people to move on, if not a DNA test, if nor Red's word, what than? her actual bio-father, his actual daughter, what will convince people at this point wether he is or isn't related to Liz?

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  102. DarqueMode20 March 2015 at 22:31

    I agree..
    Honestly I don't much worry about what the true nature of Red and Liz's relationship is. Thankfully that means I do not take every outpouring of emotion or anecdote as yet another tease of their relationship.


    I think the writers know what they want to do with that reveal and it will come when it comes. I am one of the few that does not want the reveal to arrive very soon. In fact I would be okay if it came at the very end of the series. The final payoff that ties all the other revelations together.


    Until then I'm more than happy to enjoy the ride. Last season was near the perfect pace to me... It had questions that led to some answers and wrapped up in a revelation. I assume this season, and every season after will do likewise.

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  103. migotka2120 March 2015 at 22:36

    I found this particular scene very funny. She's a super-tough-agent-who-doesn't-understand-the-meaning-of-love and says "romantic". It's like she suddenly discoveres "mushy stuff". Seriously, the contrast was amazing.

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  104. migotka2120 March 2015 at 22:40

    Seriously? There are? And no, I don't believe it. It was meant to be a joke. It's just, the whole "is he? isn't he?" is kinda pointless in case of a show with so many wonderful twists and turns. I'm almost sure we'll be shown another twist in the last minute of the last episode of the show (if the creators of the show decide to end it).

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  105. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 22:42

    Yes, the quality seems to have diminished with some episodes this season, i hope that TPTB goes back on track of questions/answers. Oh i am with you there, the real reveal may take till the very end for me too - just at least one question may be answered for now.


    We still have 2 more episodes before the mini break - 4 before the hiatus after that, let's hope for more of a real reveal and back to enjoying the very bumpy ride. And just paste one Big Fat Question Mark on it all, for now.

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  106. Emily20 March 2015 at 23:10

    For an episode called "Tom Keen", it let me down. I wanted a lot more emphasis on, you know, Tom Keen. There is so much to explore with his background and his new German job, but instead the bulk was spent with the self-righteous judge. There wasn't a good enough balance.

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  107. Binnie20 March 2015 at 23:10

    Do you really think Tom's storyline is coming to an end? Wishful thinking on your part?
    Tom Keen is the hottest thing on BL right now....After the great James Spader's Red, goes without saying. Do you really think the show runners aren't going to take advantage of that?

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  108. Hestia Prytaneum20 March 2015 at 23:17

    They are already taking 'advantage' of it - you mean hottest thing as in looks? he certainly is one of the most interesting characters, but i meant exactly that, how do you see this character being a part of the overarching story line? His cover got blown, next week he will be in some serious trouble, the whole story of how he became who he is was told, the revelation about Tom/red is going to get explored and answered this season, what after that? he will keep on calling on Liz? She can't trust him for obvious reasons, Red wishes him dead, the task force is not going to work with him..so where do you see his storyline going? If he remains the 'villain' he should/could create havoc, and if he went back to 'Tom Keen' it would get boring pretty fast. imo.

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  109. Ashley21 March 2015 at 01:19

    Yes. These people are real. And crazy... Glad to know you aren't one of them. And, yes, I agree, we won't know anything for a super long time.

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  110. C Spottswood21 March 2015 at 03:29

    Some where across the sea my love is waiting for me..., do you get it now? If Red was Lizzie's father then his love wold be Lizzy's mother. Lizzie's mother is presumed dead by story and her father presumed died in the fire. Let's assume both stories are false and Red took the heat on the fulcrum to protect his family and draw suspicion away from the mother. The world chases Red, the mother raises Lizzie with Sam until she disappears, perhaps having been found out. Lizzie is doing fine with Sam until she joins Quantico and pops up on the grid as someone to keep an eye on. Red send in Tom to just that and next thing Red knows Tom is married to Lizzie. In stead of drawing attention away from Lizzie, Tom has drawn attention towards Lizzie and her mom. Red makes a deal for black list, one catch, Lizzie must be involved. This draws the attention toward Lizzie to Red and instead of playing defense, Red is now playing offense. The syndicate has to be looking for the fulcrum which if Red does not have it the mother must. If they find the mother first then she dies, Red dies and Lizzie too. The task force deal seems like a good way to keep an eye on Red's search. For red it seems like a good way to protect Lizzie, find her mother, and eliminate the syndicate as they fight among themselves. In the end if Red makes it to the big battle he will have to kill them all and or Lizzie's mom if as I suppose the mother may be more about power and less about safety. Whoever took the fulcrum did do to "protect them" but was that really the only way to protect yourself. Stealing the file assumes you want to stay in the group, you want ammunition. Running away was always an option. A weapon is only a weapon if you use it as one. Red even without the Fulcrum has been pretending he has it and getting things done for years. Now they are calling his bluff. Do not be surprised if the syndicate includes the President and foreign dignitaries as the AG is appointed and you have already seen one PM in the hands of the major who reports to???

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  111. Ron21 March 2015 at 04:13

    Damn. what an episode. It wasnt full of crazyness and action but damn it was a great one.
    I llike the word the Judge used to describe that whole ordeal. Twisted.
    Tom/Liz relatonship, Liz/Red, Tom/Red. that judge got it all in one simple word.
    Liz worried even for a secod that Tom was going spend his life in prison, Red going after Tom and knowing this one will do anything to save her. Tom doing as Red predicted and saving Liz not even caring about his fate, cause i believe he didnt knew he was going to be saved. Tom saying that Red has an agenda when he said "your task force" and it's true, The task force do as Red says and then Red takes something that he needs, what for?, i guess we will know by the end of the series, right?. And that final scene where Red explained what could happened to Liz, that was more about him than her. We are getting closer to the truth people. It's time to pop the champagne!
    Tom connolly is a sneaky soab, he will be a problem, i can see it. we all can see it.
    And sweet Aram. that guy deserves a medal. that get well note was amazing and his face whhen Red toldthem what Liz did "please tell me you are making that up" lol. That is us with every story Red tells. Liz now has one of her own.

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  112. Ron21 March 2015 at 04:31

    I had the theory that Tom said everything to Liz at one point (at least everything he knows) an this is just Liz playing Red, she knows how to play dump when she has to and hey! wouldnt be that a good trick?, Red allmighty being fooled by the one he cares about most.

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  113. Ron21 March 2015 at 04:37

    Hey, here is a thought. This Episode is called "Tom Keen" but not Jacob whatever his last name is. Tom was his cover. Jacob is his real persona. so we have still a path to cross with Jacob lol

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  114. ivan21 March 2015 at 04:56

    i guess since he's always been Tom they just left his cover name

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  115. ivan21 March 2015 at 04:57

    he's no slouch

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  116. DarqueMode21 March 2015 at 06:51

    Yeah I guess I heard the song, but took a different message from it.


    I thought two things foremost..
    The first being that it made Red think of his lost love (I think she is most likely dead personally). Beyond the sea meaning beyond this life, not the more literal in hiding overseas. Like you mentioned before though... a viewer had to try hard to find the connection to Red's past.


    The second was that it was just a random song on a a station that is now an AM oldies station since the car had an old radio..


    Red seems to me to probably prefer the original La Mer which was not even about a lost love....It's about the changing surafe or moods of the sea. Now, that seems to relate to the show more to me. The volatile changes to the landscape of Red's life... the ever changing moods of Liz etc.

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  117. C Spottswood21 March 2015 at 16:04

    1. The car did not have an old radio, (digital display with lighted presets and most likely a cassette playing).The car was made u like a replica of the Kennedy limo currently in Michigan but missing some distinguishing features of the car. In particular a trunk mount spare tire, a bullet proof roof with retractable rear window and a com radio not a stereo. As for the football in the trunk not sure when that was invented but do not think it was there for Kennedy. But it is funny the new Fitch is named Conolly as in the Governor hot with Kennedy.


    2. Not thinking this was meant to be a deep message from the dead but more likely a tie in to .Red's comment on Bali and possibilities. A place where he could gain perspective. A place where also Red had love though not thinking it was the maid as he let on.


    3. Seriously, when have you ever seen Red moody? The character is vintage Michael Corleone, never showing emotion, all business.Luther has Liz, Red does hot panic, grabs a scatter gun and marches through the prison to take back what is his. He is tied up and being tortured and nothing. He does not even relish in a fight. The show is not up and down but turn and look as if you are in an RPG and need to figure out who is trying to kill you next. No time for emotion, drama is for the other person not you. Red is Machiavellian Mobster with a touch of Hannibal Lechter in the mix.


    And yes that does make Keen Starling as the more you work with him the more you think like him. Lizzie is losing her emotions and becoming more deliberate and calculating. She tried to hide Tom to find out the truth by a means she found acceptable. Tom killed Ames making it clear to Lizzie the price of the live she now leads,namely dispassion. Later you will see Lizzie come close to killing the deer hunter in similar fashion letting her live mainly because she has not reached that level of dispassion that rises above the laws concerning homocide. Perhaps next season. She has crossed many a line as has Ressler and Cooper. They will now kidnap, lie, and fight. Killing is just a survival instinct away. Red has already shown them he is not afraid to die, hence he is not afraid to kill. Cooper facing cancer find the logic okay now. Ressler owes Red his life and in that way knows it is a debt he will one day have to pay back. He just paid back Lizzie with the Tom thing.To payback Red it will take someone trying to kill Red where Ressler has to murder the person to save Red. Thinking a kill now be protect later situation. Not sure Lizzie is capable of becoming a just like Red but not sure if Lizzie is not programmed to kill Red at some level once triggered. Whoever was in her mind might have wanted to do that. A bit curious why Red let Lizzie keep remembering back in Baxtor. Not sure he knows what Lizzie had implanted in her memory. Eaves dropping.


    Just some food for thoughts

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  118. Ashley21 March 2015 at 20:19

    I am always annoyed by that too. The writers of The Blacklist are good. I love the show, but it does have its problems. The biggest one being the character of Liz...

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  119. Ashley21 March 2015 at 20:27

    I do think there is something going on with Red's intentions/identity. Everything about him "is a lie," and he makes a big deal out of saying he is completely transformed from the man he once was. It wouldn't shock me if he was undercover/working for the "good guys" in the end.
    The only scenario that would shock me, even though it has been suggested by the show, is that Red is really truly 100 percent evil even where Lizzy is concerned and is simply using her and has no feelings at all for her.
    I also think it would be a true jumping the shark moment and viewers would riot. LOL

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  120. Derek11722 March 2015 at 16:12

    Honestly, I never once thought that Red could be totally evil, and had no feelings for Liz. They've been through too much together, and he would have to be completely devoid of feelings to have carried it off as well as he does.


    And yes: the fans would RIOT if Red's character became a no-holds bared evil character. His charm and balancing-of-the-scales-of-justice approach is what makes the show a success. A nihilistic scenario may be OK with people who need constant new thrills, but I believe it will turn off more fans than it keeps.

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  121. Babar Suhail25 March 2015 at 20:59

    No way he's her father.

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  122. Bertha Strongham25 March 2015 at 21:58

    I respect you views.....but I have to respectfully disagree....
    He most definitely is, anything else would be toooooo creepy even for this show to contemplate.

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  123. DarqueMode25 March 2015 at 22:47

    I tend to agree..
    I thought he was her father before the series began, but I have moved farther and farther away from that position the longer the series has been going on...

    I've tried to figure out the endgame for the series...
    I can see it going down a lot of ways at this point still, but I would not be surprised if he will be the final case the task force works...Raymond Reddington (no 01)

    Everything is falling apart for Liz and the task force and Liz's life is in danger. While trying to find a way out of it she will uncover the final pieces to the puzzle or Red will tell her what happened that night and he is responsible for her parents death. Of course she will be angry and try to alienate Red, but he will do everything in his power to save her one more time... Maybe sacrificing himself in one final attempt at redemption or peace.



    Or nothing like that! XD

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  124. DarqueMode25 March 2015 at 22:51

    Hmm...
    I'm confused...


    If you are positive he is definitely her dad then why does the show drive you nuts trying to figure out if he is is is not her dad? Seems odd to be so annoyed by that question/ answer lingering if you are sure....
    *Shrug*

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  125. Bertha Strongham25 March 2015 at 23:51

    It is definitely weird....I am more convinced that he is her dad from last episode.

    The show drives me nuts because of all the red herrings....just come out with the truth already. The show is no Twin Peaks....IMO...There are many avenues to explore once the viewer is let in on the secret.

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