We’re back, blindspotters! After a week desperate to know how the story would continue, “Frequently Recurring Struggle For Existence” gives us the answers. More or less. More less than more, actually. It’s a transitional episode. The real plots of the characters develop in the last 10 minutes of the episode, and leave them ready to continue from the following week. Only Jeller develops as it should (and they are the best), although it is noted that the way to do it is forced to gain time. I have been disappointed with this kind of dry stop in the rhythm of the story. Let’s talk about everything!
Here we go!
CASE OF THE WEEK
I will not say that it has not been entertaining, or that I have not felt tension or I have not liked this new character from Jane’s past. I liked it. But the problem is that it has only been that, entertaining, without more. Without any transcendence. Jeller has been the only thing that has been connected to the case, but only because they have forced it. A much better opportunity to develop the Jeller conflict we have seen would have been that room full of Remi’s memories.
But they had to buy time with something so that what was really important in the different plots was developed in the final ten minutes, so they got a case of the week that didn’t feel completely disconnected or out of place. But with me they have achieved the opposite effect. I felt like that plot was forced.
So I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, yes, they have managed to entertain me but, on the other hand, I can’t help but notice that they have stopped, again, the rhythm of the show and the season. I can’t help but feel that I have lost half an hour of my life and that if I had only seen the last 10 minutes of the episode, I would have known the same thing as seeing the whole episode. And that is a mistake that I can’t ignore.
Apart from this, the case is too repetitive. They have a scheme for these cases. It’s a bomb or terrorist attack, usually in New York, which will cause thousands of deaths. They must open this scheme much more, because each week is jack, horse or king and, in the end, the cases end up becoming blurred and becoming too repetitive.
Although, as a wonderful part I have to highlight Rich, I adore him more and more, he always brings out a smile. What would we do without him?
Of course, we must also mention the final discovery: there is someone from Sandstorm hanging around and I’m sure he doesn’t have good intentions. Do you have any theory about this?
JELLER
Both have learned a very important lesson in this episode. Everything has started with those memories that the objects of Jane’s childhood have evoked. There are so many things, so many feelings … but pain, guilt and shame prevail. That’s why she can’t stand it anymore when she sees that blanket that means so many things … and hides herself. She hides from everyone, including Kurt.
She’s elusive, but he doesn’t give up, reminding her of his “no secrets” vow, and that makes Jane open up to him. He knows that she needs it, and if she can confide in someone, it’s in him, he is there for her. Which she does. She tells him about that blanket and about her memories. About the divide between what was and who exists now.
That division is present throughout the episode, and becomes more important when an old acquaintance of Remi appears. She shattered that man’s life, she knows it, she’s conscious, and guilt assaults her. It’s destroying her. Kurt is there, as always, and he makes it clear that it was that man who chose. Remi gave him a chance and he chose what to do with it. He could have chosen something else.
Kurt is partly right, that man chose his destiny … but Remi left him with few options and full of resentment, an explosive combination. So, really, one thing doesn’t take away from the other. That man is responsible for his own actions, but Remi is responsible for taking him to the limit.
Kurt is still trying to comfort Jane. Not Remi who did all that, but Jane. But it is like covering the sun with a finger, both are the same. Only Remi changed because she decided to do it. But they are the same person.
Jane knows … she has tried to compartmentalize her life, forget it, ignore it … but she can’t do it anymore, especially when she can prevent innocent people from dying. Then she confesses the truth, about what she did, about who she was and who she is now. Not only does she confess to that man, but to herself. The problems don’t disappear because we ignore them, the uncomfortable truths either.
Sooner or later, Jane had to face the fact of what she did as Remi, and it is here that she does it. That she understands or, rather, accepts that she can’t simply forget it. That isn’t the solution. She must accept what she did and overcome it in order to continue with her life, and so her guilt doesn’t consume her again. Yes, they manipulated her to be a bad person and a murderer … it was who she was, but as soon as she could choose, as soon as she could be her, her true personality came out and she changed. Because in reality she is a being full of light that was forced to be in the shadows for many years and now, finally, not only Kurt can see it, but she can also see it herself. How could you not love them?
TASHA
Zapata is in trouble. Only Keaton knew she was on a covert mission, and now they must prove it before the CIA puts her in a dark, cold hole. The recovery of Keaton has been key to this. He has proof of Tasha’s innocence. He is sorry that asked her to participate in that mission. Keaton appreciates her, he really does, and he knows that he asked her to renounce everything. He can’t change what happened, but he can change what will happen. He is her salvation.
After this we skip the whole episode until the end, and we find that the USB does have the proof that Keaton has said, but it only exonerate Tasha. Keaton is willing to sacrifice himself for her. Keaton is such a complicated character … so obnoxious, so cruel … but capable of everything for those he appreciates. He appreciates Tasha and really regrets having offered her that mission. He wants to fix what happened any way he can, even if it means losing his career and even his life.
But Tasha is not going to allow it. She is not like that. She is also capable of everything for those she loves. And Keaton is one of those persons. She is determined to find a way to save them both. Also, she makes his guilt disappear: she chose. It is true. Keaton offered her a job, but didn’t force her to anything. She chose that mission above all else, including her own life. And that’s one of my problems with Tasha this season. She didn’t choose herself. I don’t like it.
I think it was not about choosing between work or love. The decision that Tasha had was to renounce her life or embrace it and live it. Choose herself … or not. And she didn’t choose herself. I don’t agree with the decision that Tasha made, and I think it was unfair. Unfair with Reade, but much more important, with herself. But it was what she chose. This time Keaton is not guilty of anything.
However, he is guilty of one thing: lying to Reade. He asked him directly if Tasha was following his orders. And Keaton answered no. Of course, the reason is as cruel and twisted as Keaton himself: he knew that Reade could make Tasha leave everything. She loves him … and he loves her. That means that the actions and words of both mean a lot to the other. Tasha is determined, but if there is someone who can make her change her mind … it’s Reade.
Reade is surprised, but I don’t think it’s because of that fact itself. He feels the same, so he can understand it. I think he is so surprised because Tasha sometimes seems so cold, so distant, so … unattainable that he is surprised that her feelings are as intense as his. But they are. And Keaton knows it. That’s why he knew how to recognize their “weak point” and knew that if Reade had known the whole truth, he would have made her come back and Keaton could not let that happen.
It’s so cruel … so twisted, so heartbreaking … I think that’s the biggest reason why Keaton feels guilty. He knows that this is part of the worst things he has done (and there are a few), because he contributed to destroy what had taken Tasha and Reade so long to build. He knows that he helped destroy their lives. And he is right. The decision to accept the mission was from Tasha. But the decision to do everything possible to make sure they believed her a traitor was Keaton.
But the past is past, now they have to start rebuilding everything from here. Will they get it?
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it has been an entertaining episode… but, except for the last 10 minutes, a total and complete loss of time. And we are not here to waste time. This season has gone too slow. Irritatingly slow. So they have run out of time to develop the real plot of the season. It seemed that they had already put the batteries on, but in this episode they have returned to the old ways.
Practically everything has been development of the case of the week. Entertaining, yes, but it is still an unimportant case that should serve to develop the plots of the characters. But it hasn’t been that way. The only thing that has developed almost on a par with the case has been Jeller, because of the connection that existed between the villain and Jane, but what we have seen of Jeller could have been done using that blanket or the objects of the “recovery room.” They didn’t need to introduce this case of the week or focus so much on it to develop Jeller.
In fact, they have virtually erased from the map a better and more interesting way to develop Jeller. I mean the “recovery room.” We have seen it at the beginning, it has left us intrigued to see more memories, to know more … it would have been such a perfect opportunity … but they have pushed it away in order to focus on a case. Simply because they had to fill minutes on screen without feeling disconnected, or realize that they were giving us a hare. But we have noticed.
We have wasted our time, because apart from Jeller, nothing else has been developed until the end. It has been a break after all the frames and opportunities that opened the previous episode, and the worst thing is that it has happened after having lost a lot of time before and in the final episodes of the season. As it seems, the next episode is going to be the complete opposite of this and I’m dying to see it. As for this, I prefer to stay with the good moments Jeller has given us and with those final minutes.
Agree? Disagree? Don’t hesitate to share your opinion with us in the comments below! We’ll be back next week with 4×16 “The One Where Jane Visits An Old Friend” And here’s the promo for the next episode.
Blindspot airs Fridays at 8 / 7c on NBC.