The Blacklist - Episode 1.11 - The Good Samaritan Killer (No. 106) - Review

"There's a man going around taking names, and he decides who to free and who to blame"
- Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around

When we last saw our Blacklist friends there was a lot of secrecy, and a lot more gunfire and killing plus more secrecy. Liz received yet another warning from Red to be careful of her husband, Tom. Agent Cooper was under orders from Director Fowler to seek Red and only Red. Agent Ressler was recovering from his wounded leg in a hospital bed and Aram was on all of our minds as the possible mole (at least mine but I based that on a simple glance he gave Liz in the middle of Ep 10). Last, but certainly not least, we left Red wandering the streets incognito in the hopes of, what we now know, finding whomever set him up to be kidnapped by Anslo Garrick and whatever clandestine organization hired him. It was great to have the show back after what felt like too long of a wait during the mid-season break.

We open with The Good Samaritan Killer (GSK), number 106 on the blacklist, stalking and abducting his next victim and we soon find out that this is an old unsolved case from Liz's past. The GSK's real name is Carl Hoffman and he received his moniker from the media as a result of leaving his victims alive after torturing them so the police and paramedics could attempt to save them. The GSK's real motives are revealed later in the episode as a sort of vigilantism; he thinks he is providing justice to other victims of family abuse by torturing the abuser in the same manner as they assaulted their loved ones because he was physically assaulted as a child by his mother. Liz pleads with Cooper to take on the case that has gone unsolved since she first was tasked with finding the GSK. We find out the case is so important to Lizzy because one of the earliest victims died in her arms. Liz is hoping that since this situation is so important to her that Red will come out of hiding to help her, which he does.

While the FBI is trying to locate the GSK, Red is trying to find some people himself. The GSK's and Red's story lines are shown parallel to each other throughout the episode but Red definitely wins the killing spree game by locating and taking out anyone involved with his kidnapping and subsequent torture by Anslo Garrick in the previous episode. Red and Carl are both searching for redemption in their own respective ways. Red's way is much more deliberate and to the point and done in a way that we've come to know and love. Red handles his situation with fortitude and bravery while Carl hides behind a different persona to achieve his desired result. I believe the writers did this to show us that Red is back and is going to be a stronger force to be reckoned with going forward.

There were some great moments in this episode that revealed some answers to many of the questions we had before the break. We needed to find out who the mole was and that is one of the things that Red set out to do. At the beginning of the episode Meera was tasked by Agent Cooper to find out by whom certain funds were being laundered. She reveals that person to be none other than our favorite computer guy, Aram. I immediately thought that there was no way it could be him and it was a set-up; the writers must be playing their usual tricks on us. Sure enough, Red, who is one step ahead of everyone as usual, grabs Aram before the FBI can get to him. Red deduces that it could not possibly be Aram because he is far to clever to have the money traced back to him (plus he is really funny and we want to see his character a lot more).

The best moments of the episodes came from Red methodically and systematically disposing of the players involved in getting him kidnapped. I loved that even while traveling down his road of revenge he still cares enough to help Lizzy in solving her case. Before this episode I actually counted how many people Red killed thinking that it meant something to his overall character. I stopped counting and thought that it's not how many people Red dispatches of or how he does it, but instead what lengths he will go to to keep Lizzy safe or how far he will go to make sure his reputation is kept in good standing. The Raymond Reddington we saw Monday night is someone who does not want to be caught off guard again. He does not want to be put in that vulnerable position where a player like Anslo could harm him or, more importantly, Lizzy.

Just Look Out At The Water

Near the end of the episode we were treated to some big reveals. When we found out that Aram was not the FBI mole, Red returns to the hunt to find the real banker of Anslo's operation. His search leads him to another name, Newton Phillips who is the one that implicated Aram. I have to admit I did not think that Newton was Grey's real name. I did like seeing Skinny Pete Grey Newton Phillips from time to time but some characters must go. I just don't understand how Red can trust anyone after this. However, like with all things The Blacklist, there is a twist, another turn of the screw. Red claims that the deficit he found in his organization could not have supplied all the knowledge needed for the incursion at The Post Office to take place in Ep 9. This means the mole is still out there. So, we were tricked into thinking it was Aram and just when we thought we figured out the mole to be Red's assistant there is a third unknown person. Could it be Tom? Mr. Fitch? Badger? Just kidding on that last one of course.

We also find out that Mr. Fitch is in a position of political power within the US. So much power, in fact, that he is able to talk down to Assistant Attorney General Diane Fowler during a meeting. This makes me wonder how deep that hole clandestine operation goes and who is actually involved.

I really enjoyed this episode and it was great knowing that Red will be back right away helping the FBI find blacklisters. I thought they would have Red on the run for a while.

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, And I looked and behold, a pale horse
And his name that sat on it was Death, And Hell followed with him"
- Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around

Thoughts & Questions

Who does Mr. Fitch work for? Is he a Senator?

Why is Tom so insistent on leaving? And why Nebraska?

Why was Mr. Fitch trying so hard to get a name out of Fowler when he must know Red and who works for Red?

I really liked how even Agent Ressler was sticking up for Red when being interrogated in the beginning.

Who is the mole?!?!?

Thanks for reading everyone. Please comment below with your thoughts and/or questions!

About the Author - Geo N

My name is George and I am from Detroit, MI. My favorite shows are The Blacklist, Hell On Wheels, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, LOST, Sons Of Anarchy, Sleepy Hollow and countless other shows. When I'm not watching tons of TV, I enjoy reading, playing hockey, comic books, weightlifting, and writing. Thanks for checking out my post.