The Blacklist‘s “Guillermo Rizal” went all sci-fi, complete with a mad scientist and kidnapped groups of triplets who’s DNA had been modified to create a race of superior humans. Sounds like a new era episode of The X Files right?
The strange plot aside, there were definitely some good scenes and character moments to come out of “Guillermo Rizal.” If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, James Spader and Diego Klattenhoff are the two saving graces of The Blacklist. We were treated to Ressler kicking some serious ass (which is always a gift) and also delivering some pretty sassy lines, with one being my favorite: “Well that was stupid. Now we get to arrest you.”
Ressler doesn’t get to be sassy too often, but when he does it’s glorious.
The other good scene came at the very beginning of the episode when Liz met Red at a restaurant to talk about the kidnapping case. It was the first time Red had contacted her since their last icy conversation in which Liz told him that she knew everything. Liz wanted to know why Red wasn’t talking to her and why he was still angry and Red wasn’t pulling any punches. He basically told her if she wasn’t Katarina’s daughter he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her when he said, “I’m not conflicted about killing you, I’m conflicted because I can’t kill, trust, or forgive.”
However, at the end of the episode it seemed like Liz and Red might have moved a step closer to reconciling, which is disappointing. After turning him into the police to face the death penalty, Liz now says that she considers Red family and wants Agnes to grow up around him? That’s a no for us.
She’s no longer afraid of who Red really is, so Agnes can come home. First of all, if she was ever going to call Red family, she never should have been afraid of him or “what he might do to Agnes.” If she knew him at all she would know that Red would never hurt Agnes. But when has Liz ever thought about anyone other than herself or what she wants?
Red’s iciness towards Liz is giving me life, I only hope that it doesn’t end any time soon.
Next week, it looks like things are back on track with the Task Force’s continued fight against Anna McMahon and the race to uncover her plot against the U.S. government. The President is involved in the conspiracy as well, and judging by the promo for the next episode, The Task Force is about to be put in a very dangerous situation with only 2 episodes left in the season. So get ready for an explosive couple of episodes!
Synopsis:
Presidential adviser Anna McMahon faces off with Cooper and the task force in a winner-takes-all race to locate the missing dossier containing details of a conspiracy against America.
The Blacklist airs Fridays at 8/7c on NBC.
