There is something about a tale that is as old as time, but you know, if you’re judging by the title of this episode, let me assure you that it isn’t what you expect. There is no happy ending here – quite the opposite.
When it comes to The Endgame we’ve always though that to a point we know where it’s going. Somethings have felt predictable and the stories have been a little meh. But there was something about this episode that made us stop and think about just how easily some people are bought and how at the end of the day the scariest part is that no one sees the error of their ways.
I think the only thing that remains consistent with this show is that our hate/dislike/grossness for Doak grows with every episode. If you’ve never seen a man that wants to be liked so bad and over compensates for EVERYTHING, you should be watching this show. Doak is just a complete fuck up, while thinking that the right and wrong thing is always black and white.
Somehow he’s going to learn the hard way that he’s a patsy and everyone is using him as a scape goat. The Belok’s are going to make sure that they have a way out and someone to take the fall.
THE SERIAL SKEPTIC
One thing that one has to give Elena Federova credit for it that she thinks of everything. It’s perfectly calculated, the right thing at the right time. She’s reached all of the right people to do the things that she wants at the exact time.
The Serial Skeptic released the video of the gold and we all knew that it was going to be a changing moment. That video had the power to change everything, and it truly did. It brought the President to New York City, which could be the most dangerous thing of all.
Elena tells Val that they are running out of time, that their lives, that everything is running out of time. And they are running out of time quickly, because the Secret Service is there to take control of Elena, forcing Val to leave.
But she tells Val that she needs to find a certain Matryoshka Doll and the Skeptic will lead her to it.
Anthony is there to go with her – like the good partner that he is. I like Anthony, but one thing that this show has done is made me a skeptic of everyone. So I don’t know if I am ride or die for Anthony. I believe that he’s a good guy, but I also believe that could be a farce.
And that’s the sign of good television, it has you thinking. It has you wondering about everyone and everything.
When they get to the Skeptic’s apartment, it’s on fire and then as they get closer, there is an explosion. The Skeptic is dead. Fire department says that it was a gas leak.
But we all know better. We definitely all know better. Val and Anthony know better. The know that they need to find this doll and he was the clue.
With someone as paranoid as the Skeptic, Val knows that he has to have backup files. He doesn’t keep everything in one place. There is no way.
This leads Val and Anthony to finding his friend, who has all his backup files. Look, I watch a lot of procedurals – one could call it an issue and they wouldn’t be wrong. But I have never seen things fall into place the way that they do for Val.
Like EVERYTHING falls into place.
And I can get it – we’re moving a story along. But that’s also where this show is failing. Because we don’t see her have to do a lot of work. She’s a good puzzle player, that’s fantastic. So good for her. But like it just feels that there isn’t a lot of work that she has put into it.
And maybe that’s where I would have liked to have have seen more backstory before we jumped right into the bank heists. Something that made me understand why it is that Val can figure out everything Elena does and why Elena has such an interest in her.
THE BELOCKS
Enemies. We all have them, even if we don’t realize it. But when it comes to the President, he knows that Elena is his enemy. He knows that she’s coming for him. Though, he’s a little (okay, a lot) too cocky, thinking that he’s got everything under control and that Lady Belock will protect him.
The President has made a lot of mistakes and don’t think for a second that he’s not gonna make more. Hell, he made one immediately when he put Doak in charge of finding the gold.
One has to wonder when Doak is going to realize that he is the fall guy. Everyone is setting him up to take a fall and Doak is just sitting there like a moron, going yes, please take advantage of me. He wants so much to be liked and in charge, that he has no loyalty.
One of the worst things in a person, is a person with no loyalty. When a person has no loyalty they are dangerous, they have no ethics. They care about nothing. Now, of course this is all a personal opinion and there is no scientific proof.
But Doak legitimately has a hard on for power. He has worked hard to get ahead, but why is it now, he’s willing to just manipulate his way ahead? He is so pissed that a woman knows more than him, one that is supposed to report to him, and he’s willing to take down anyone who gets in his way.
Sure, everything is falling in Val’s lap really easily. And I say that because it feels like she’s solving everything so easily that it’s kinda annoying, but that’s a different story and I need to get off that soap box.
The President has to get information from Elena and he makes sure to let her know that he’s in charge. Only when it comes to Elena, he’s dreaming that he thinks that he’s in charge. She definitely is. She’s the one with the plan.
He wants the doll that holds the proof of what he did. But what did he do?
Well, thanks to Val and Anthony, we know that answer. He had his opponent killed so that he could win the election. Val, of course, finds the file so easily, that gives all the connection.
The President thinks that he’s in control. Hell, he even has given Elena truth serum and that further boasts his ego. But he’s not in control. He’s not even close. His team isn’t either. They are all under the control of the Belock’s and they are doing whatever they are told.
He even goes as far to blame the bombing of Elena and Sergei’s wedding on the Sergei’s mama. Elena isn’t about to take that shit. She’s not going to to let him sour the name of the woman that has given her everything.
But she’s also smart enough to know that she has to play her hand well. So she lets him believe that she’s giving him the truth, and tells him that the doll that he’s looking for is at one of the banks still under her control. He believes her, which I get because she’s under the drugs he’s put her on, but we all know Elena doesn’t give up anything unless it’s for a purpose.
OPPOSITE
The current FBI director and Val are loyal to each other and when he tells her that Doak is going to take one bank back, she knows she needs to go to the other one. So that’s where her and Anthony head.
What I will never understand is why it is that Elena has such a connection with Val. And I have to admit that I don’t get why Val allowed herself to get pulled in. Is it because she wants to know what is up with Owen? Is it because she can’t be trusted? There are so many questions with this show, and I know that’s what they want. It’s genius that they frustrate you and pull you in.
But, what made me LOL is that when Val and Anthony go to take back the bank, she legitimately just has to knock on the door and they hand her the doll. Say what? And then they’re just like we surrender, and come out with their hands up?
I get that it’s TV and that there is a reason that things played out the way that they did. But it was just like, umm… what. I have appreciated the way that the drama has played out and the fact that they set it up for more.
But I think what they have set up for me is the question of what is going to happen next. When the President figures out that Val has the drive, he asks her for it, and she is like na, I will put this out everywhere. He tells her that Lady Belock will come for her and Val’s so whatever about it.
And now, with Elena being buried alive – what happens? That’s part of the beauty of this show. We don’t know.
We do know that there are a million different ways that it can go and we’re here to watch.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Lady Belocks is a b**ch
- I don’t trust that Sergei isn’t going to do something to Owen
- Wait – are all the buttons gold? That would explain why Owen and Sergei went to jail
- Why do I have more questions than answers?
- The President is a douche
- Gallo coming in and taking the safety deposit box from Doak… I had to LOL
The Endgame airs Monday’s on NBC.