Welcome back, blindspotters! After a week, “Ohana” gives us an episode better than the previous one, but still not perfect. The case of the week occupies too central a place, although they use it very well to introduce the return of Patterson’s father and get, this time, all the possible juice to his appearance. In addition, we go into Tasha’s mind, and she comes to a conclusion that changes everything. Along with this, Jeller have their own mystery to solve. Let’s talk about everything!
Here we go!
CASE OF THE WEEK
This week, the scheme of the cases has changed a little, which is appreciated. It’s still an attack on New York, but an attack with bees is unusual. In addition, this case has taken them directly to Patterson’s father and his partner, which has made us enjoy his return and has brought Patterson a couple of things to think about.
The case has kept us glued to the screen. After seeing it, it’s inevitable not to look at the bees even more suspiciously than we already did. And this case has been given certain turns that have made us keep the interest without disconnecting or feeling bored. Moreover, in the end, it has forced Patterson and her father’s partner to work together, which was necessary for Patterson to put aside those feelings that she had towards her, and realize that they are really very similar and can understand each other.
I liked this case precisely because of that. Because of how well connected and spinning everything was with Patterson, her father and his partner, and with the emotional challenge that Patterson has had to face. One point for the writers!
JELLER
I love them! So clear, without more. At first they are so relaxed. Jane is in that room with the last thing Shepherd left, she’s reliving her childhood … and she’s with Kurt. But that’s okay. She feels comfortable in his presence, she feels at home. Kurt is part of her. She will not share with anyone but him those bits of her life, those pieces of happiness or anguish. Those little moments that formed the person that is today. The person he loves.
Jane trusts him by telling him about her life as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Because it’s the easiest thing in the world. It feels … right that he and only he knows those little parts of her life. All of her, even the most shameful parts of the typical dark age we all spent. Just as she knows everything about him. This kind of love, trust and dedication is precious in itself.
But reality begins to knock on their door. Shepherd left a mystery more to unravel. Together they investigate until they come across a certain Jessica, who, apparently, Shepherd protected and indoctrinated in a similar way to Jane. Jessica was the one who sent Jane some broken pieces of her life.
Who is this Jessica? Is someone like Remi? What intentions will she have? There are many questions that I can’t wait to answer! What is clear is that Jessica has to be the key.
Like Kurt’s mother … because there is more than just Jessica in this mystery. From what Rich has found out, Kurt’s mother is also involved! But in what way is she connected to all this? Is she Jessica’s mother? This has caused our heads to explore and our wigs to fly!
Despite all this, Jeller has remained united every step of the way. Until the last moment Kurt has made it clear to Jane that they will face whatever … together. There is nothing that can break them. What they have is something so solidified and so strong that it has become unbreakable.
TASHA (AND CLAUDIA)
Tasha feels guilty and frustrated because Madeline’s partner has escaped. The world is very quiet, thinking that Madeline is no longer a threat. But her instinct tells her that it is only the calm that precedes the storm. Nothing is solved and it is vital to catch Madeline’s minions. That’s why she doesn’t sleep, she just can’t stop looking.
Claudia, the MI6 agent that Tasha saved, is the same. She feels that same feeling in her chest. That’s why she looks for Tasha, trusts her and knows her. She knows Tasha has the same feeling.
Both begin to work together, but soon their differences break them. Claudia wants to work alone, no team, no trust in someone else. Even when she looks for a clue, she keeps it for herself, goes alone to danger, without support, without help … and finds death.
Tasha, on the other hand, at first accepts the conditions, but later knows that with the help of her team they could find the target much more easily. She knows that she must let herself be helped, and she tries to make Claudia see the same, but she refuses.
This means that while Claudia decides to work alone because she doesn’t trust anyone enough to be different, Tasha is aware that she is not alone and that she can trust her team, her family. She doesn’t have to do everything alone.
This is already a big difference to how things were before. Before, not long ago, Tasha was like Claudia. In fact, she chose the mission with Madeline over her own life. She chose isolation, took refuge in a safe place, in her fear, in the solitude she knows so well, rather than risk fighting for what she really wants. Tasha, unconsciously, always chose to work alone, like Claudia. But after all that has happened, Zapata has realized that at the end of the day, her team was there, as they always are, and that they’ll have her back no matter what. She realized that she didn’t need to do things alone, because she is not alone.
But the difference and the real change comes after the murder of Claudia. Tasha confesses to Reade: it could have been me. Here she realizes that not long ago, she would have acted like Claudia and that if she had followed the same path, that would have led her to death. Because that’s what happens when you decide to do things on your own in such a dangerous situation. That’s what happens when you do not let yourself be helped, you die … alone, with no one at your side other than raw loneliness as a faithful companion.
Tasha doesn’t want to end up like that. She doesn’t want to go back to that path anymore. Now she knows she has the team and she swears to herself that she will never forget it again.
Next to her, every step of the way, is Reade. Reade, so close but so far away. He is everywhere. Engraved on fire on her skin as she is on his. Reade doesn’t hesitate to offer his house to Tasha. Just does it. He gives her the key, in spite of everything, he wants her in his house, he wants her in his life. It’s a small gesture, which can be confused with friendship … but it is very special.
Later, Tasha knows that she is going to a dangerous place and that she may die there. But first she calls Reade, not any of the team, just Reade. She wants him to get the message, let him be the last one to listen.
Then, Reade is at her side when Tasha comes to that conclusion, to that change in her life that shakes the foundations of everything. And he supports her, like a friend he says… but like much more in reality. Tasha is everything to him, and vice versa. But there is still too much fear of the unknown, of failure, of distance … and, for the moment, they are content to be there for the other. With knowing and reconnecting again … with forgiving and forgetting the bad moments, so that only a blinding hope remains, that swallows even their own fears.
And that last moment, so special of both, with their hands almost touching, with a palpable tension between them but still knowing that it is not the moment. That sweet moment that Tasha can finally rest while in Reade’s house. Filled with his scent, his presence, in the place where everything surrounds her and Reade is everywhere … Reade’s smile at seeing her sleep says it all. Soon the final moment will come for these two, I feel it in the air.
PATTERSON
The meeting with her father this time has been worthwhile, and they have been redeemed for the previous time. On this occasion, they have not stayed on the surface … they have dug something else. And they have found gold.
For Patterson it has been a surprise to find her father in the middle of a case, as a suspect no more and no less. But she quickly meets Jenny, his father’s partner and also his protege. And something … stirs and twists inside her. It is instinctive. Her skin bristles and she becomes alert, defensive. She feels threatened by her.
Patterson looks at Jenny, sees how her father appreciates her, how they both work together, how well they understand each other … even that her father knows her birthday by heart and celebrates it with her. And she looks at herself and sees someone who is somewhat removed from her father because both lead a very busy life … but that she loves him. And she is envious of that relationship that Jenny and he have maintained, of those birthday celebrations, of such a close relationship, of father and daughter … as if her father was replacing her, as if she wasn’t enough.
At first, Patterson refuses to accept this conclusion and the pain it causes her. Because that pain is too lacerating. So she behaves defensively, and is sure and determined that Jenny is guilty or has collaborated in what is happening. She sees Jenny as her enemy. But later, she realizes that Jenny is innocent and that affects her because if she is innocent, that means that her father has no reason to get away from her, to stop having such a close relationship with her. And Patterson needs her father to stay away from Jenny, she needs to stop feeling displaced, replaced and almost abandoned.
It may not have logic or have a sound basis, but it is what Patterson feels. And it’s totally human to feel that way.
When Patterson’s father realizes what’s going on, he doesn’t hesitate to talk to her and make it clear that Jenny is not her replacement. Yes, he appreciates her, but she is not his daughter. Patterson is and he is proud of her. He knows that she loves him and that love is reciprocal. It doesn’t matter what they look little or work in different fields.
That is what happens with family, sometimes words are not necessary. They are always there. And it is not necessary for children to do what their parents want or think will make them happy, if not what makes them happy. Because parents just want that: to see their children happy and watch them fight for what they want. See them take the reins of their life. That is what he has always seen in Patterson. She understands it and, finally, all those fears, those insecurities of not being enough, of being replaced … everything disappears.
At the end of the episode, circumstances force Patterson and Jenny to work together and that tests Patterson’s feelings about her. But at this moment, she knows that Jenny is not her enemy, so she is able to try to communicate with her, to work together. And Patterson discovers that they understand each other perfectly, complement each other and are more similar than they seem. That’s why Patterson’s father is so fond of Jenny, because she reminds him of her daughter. That unites them. That hug that Patterson’s father has given to both of them when he has seen that they were safe is the perfect symbol of that.
PS: I love the confusion of Patterson’s father about her relationship with Rich.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it has been an episode that has raised the bar from last week … but it has not been round yet. It has not yet been what it should be. It has focused too much on the case of the week, and while there have been some really interesting subplots, they have been too minor. It’s like an episode that would work better earlier in the season, but not to in the final buildup.
Of course, we must admit that we have seen plots throughout the episode that went far beyond the case of the week and that is what sets it apart from last week. They have been well developed and explained, with such human feelings, and they have led to the growth of characters, and new mysteries. But they are very deep plots. They could have been treated in more depth. And that is what takes away some of the merit.
We have not yet recovered the rhythm that this show should carry, that of course, is not yet round, perfect … or satisfactory. But it is a start. This episode has left us a clear conclusion: we are not what should be … but we are at the edge.
Agree? Disagree? Don’t hesitate to share your opinion with us in the comments below! We’ll be back next week with 4×19 “Everybody hates Kathy“. And here’s the promo for the next episode.
Blindspot airs Fridays at 8 / 7c on NBC.