NBC's "The Blacklist" (Season 10)

[BudBaxter]

I think a few of Red's 'associates' you mention above pop up in the latest episode. I can never remember half the names.

Thought that was one of the better written episodes of this season by quite some margin. It actually felt like someone had put some thought into it, & Spader seemed more committed than he had been for a long time. I was quite engaged throughout.

Loved the Jimmy Hoffa gag, & the Brat Packer cameo made me smile. Pity they didn't drive off with the Psychedelic Furs playing on the stereo...

I'll be going into the finale with suitably low expectations, but after that episode, I'm now somewhat curious how it'll end.

[demonbeast]

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

I think a few of Red's 'associates' you mention above pop up in the latest episode. I can never remember half the names.

Thought that was one of the better written episodes of this season by quite some margin. It actually felt like someone had put some thought into it, & Spader seemed more committed than he had been for a long time. I was quite engaged throughout.

Loved the Jimmy Hoffa gag, & the Brat Packer cameo made me smile. Pity they didn't drive off with the Psychedelic Furs playing on the stereo...

I'll be going into the finale with suitably low expectations, but after that episode, I'm now somewhat curious how it'll end.

James Spader did seem uncharacteristically involved in this episode he's managed to power through last season doing almost nothing and now the end was in sight maybe he'll roll back the years again and give a decent performance in the finale. Let's be honest 99% watch the show for his performance anyway.

'Pity they didn't drive off with the Psychedelic Furs playing on the stereo... For the longest time I couldn't think why the show felt different and it's because they don't use real songs anymore at least nothing like the show used to do. Now we just have that awful music in every episode which is normally mixed to high or awkward transitions between songs.

The wheels were coming off in season five as for the final well I don't hold out much hope.


'Arthur Hudson'


Well, Blacklisters seems my hope of seeing some of Raymond's long-standing associates again has come true. Tadashi Ito (he looks older now but don't we all do) It's surprising given how lively he was in the previous appearances that he doesn't have any lines in his scene a bit subdued not like really like his character he seemed really bored.

Heddie returns in a brief scene in possibly the smallest set yet on the show. We get the budget isn't there anymore but while nice to see her get closure it could've been much better.

Teddy ( no nephew sadly) has a slight inconsistency or an in-joke that didn't really land he says to Raymond 'I don't know about animals while Red looks on at a snake. The only man I know who uses ducks & camels to torture someone. Needless good to see him probably the only thing the showrunners have done right this season is bring back these characters before it finishes.

Other than that the episode maintained the same level as has been unfortunately showcased throughout this season. Jonathan Pritchard, you remember him right? 'no' ok how about Ressler's friend 'Oh yeah' Well he OD's after telling Donald about the phone tap. I didn't even know his name of course this generates almost zero emotional response from the audience why because no one cared about this storyline. Even Donald doesn't seem to bothered

Speaking of the phone tap Siya says 'We can't tell how long it's been active' to the team but Dembe tells Red it's been live for weeks. Hudson & his FBI guy take over the post office and seize all the assets inside we see the FBI take all the hard drives even though Raymond told them he wiped all mention of himself from them with the McGuffin from a few weeks back.

Herbie Hambright ah useless Herbie gets questioned by the FBI at not one point do they bring up the fact he has no official status to be part of a covert FBI team on a black site. The fact is without proper accreditation he's been gathering forensic data to use as evidence. Clearly from the last episode he doesn't have the equipment to collect or gather materials in accordance with the chain of custody. I'm convinced he's related to someone on the show hence why he got added to it.

Siya, Some amateur-level delivery from Anya Banerjee with 'their people on board' when telling Hudson about the plane being blown up. Didn't recall any extreme close-up on her face this episode at least they've sorted that out. Sadly Siya does little else which is not unexpected for the show can't really fault her too much the showrunners couldn't make up their mind what she was going to do on the show badass MI6 agent, tech support replacement for Aram or lap dog for Raymond.

Hisham Tawfiq is definitely part-time these days we're lucky if he has two scenes an episode now. He did get to have the best line in the show for a long time through his integration with the FBI guy 'How did you come to join the FBI'? Dembe 'I applied' at least that's one mystery solved then.

The task force is shut down then five minutes later re-activated to hunt Raymond meanwhile Hudson does his best impression of Dick Dastardly shame he doesn't have a moustache to twirl to really sell it.

Weecha returns to go off for a new life with Raymond the showrunners do know that he was in love with her sister right?

Great to see the old characters so for that three Blacklisters for them alone otherwise one for Raymond's little story