As we begin the episode, the plane is down with lots of surviors who are roaming around like The Night of The Living Dead. Didn’t the entire last episode happen at the end of the day? Early evening? Why is Matt Lauer reporting the shooting on The Today Show? The FBI has several of the surviving criminals in custody and they are all telling the same story, someone in a hoodie cuts off someone’s hand, the pilot was shooting people. They really don’t know much more than that.
As we all expected Red spent like four seconds in custody before the was allowed to escape to help the task force deal with the disaster. Great scene between Alda and Spader. Berlin also escaped the crash scene by chopping off the hand of the guard he was handcuffed to heading to some apartment. Soon Tom shows up with a list of the targets, Liz, Ressler, Cooper, Malik, and my favorite middle easterny guy, Aram comprise the list. If they kill Aram I will lose my mind.
Red alerts Liz to the fact that the entire task force is on the kill list and Liz immediately tries to pull Ressler and Malik off a minor investigation in a club looking for some scary Russian dude. Liz arrives to late and Malik gets her throat slit and dies. One down, four to go.
Liz goes to Red to find out what the hell is going on. She says that Tom must have given Berlin the names of the task force. Red says that all the prisoners on the plane are somehow related to Berlin’s plan. They need to find out who they are. From reading Tom’s code book, Liz realizes that her adoptive father Sam is somehow involved. Red says that is another story for another time and she should focus on the fact that Sam was only trying to protect her.
Red pays a visit to the Russian ambassador and it seems like he is going to cut his little dog’s throat. But Red is an animal lover, at least of the furry four-legged variety and stabs the dude instead. The ambassador coughs up the passenger list for the plane.
Based on the passenger list of all the prisoners, the task force narrows the suspect list to three men. They go to hospital to interview the security guard from the plane. The guard tells them that none of the three men are Berlin. He says Berlin was a KGB agent who had a daughter who fell in love with a government detractor and was sent to prison. Berlin was able to bust his kid out of prison and he somehow managed to get exiled to a Siberian detention center in the process. Hid enemies abducted his daughter and mailed him her body piece by piece while he was in jail. He busted out of prison and went to avenge his daughter’s death. He says that Berlin’s name in not on the manifest. Based on the fact this guy is a popular actor, we can assume he is in fact Berlin. Did Reddington kill his daughter? Was he the person she fell in love with? It seems that Berlin holds Reddington responsible for his daughter’s death.
Cooper meets with his idiot boss man. The guy that Red punched out during the escape. He tells Cooper that they may as well get the task force back together. Cooper doesn’t think this guy is making any sense. When Reddington gets back into his car, his driver is dead and he is attacked. A nearby Russian dude marks Cooper’s name off the hit list.
Ressler says he is a different man now that his fiancé has died. He doesn’t play by the rules anymore. He attempts to strangle on of the criminals he is interrogating. The criminal gives up the guy who is marking off the names on the list as Berlin. Red and Alan Alda have another meeting in the dark library. Red tells Alda to find the Berlin dude. He gives him the information from Ressler. Cooper is in the hospital holding on for dear life.
Liz and Red meet and once again Liz presses Red for information about her father’s involvement. Red says, “The way Sam tells it, an old friend showed up at his house one night saying he had to leave town because he was in danger and that he needed someone to care for a little girl, that her father had died that night in a fire. So Sam raised her as his own, sheltering her from the truth about his biological father.” Liz says the only memory she has about her father was that he pulled her out of the fire and saved her life. She wants to know who he is. Red says that killing Sam was the hardest thing he has ever done, and he had to do it to keep Liz from learning her real father’s identity, so he is certainly not going to tell her now.
Red gets a call from Alan Alda telling him where to find Berlin. Red lies to Liz about where he is going and heads over to the apartment where Berlin is staying. He straps Berlin to a chair, and begins one of his fascinating monologues. “”You want to know what the key to finding your enemies is? Remembering everyone’s name. It’s critical to my survival. Anyone knows the head of some drug cartel in Colombia, some politician in Paris… but I know their wives, their girlfriends, their children, their enemies, their friends, I know their favorite bartender, their butcher. I remember the name of the baker I stole the raspberry bismarck from when I was 11 years old and his wife, Trudy Zapota. But you, I have no idea who in the Sam Hill you are. I have not a clue what I’ve done to you, what I’ve taken from you! Yet of all the people I’ve hurt none of them have come after me with half as much vim and vigor as you. I don’t even recognize your face, yet here we are ” Berlin says he found him through his weakness, Elizabeth Keen.
Red begins his interrogation and the dude spit on him. So Red shoot him in the hand, and then in the hip. He gives a little explanation for the sort of pain he is experiencing. Berlin gives an explanation of “Berlin 2010” as the reason he is coming for Red.
About that time Tom Keen and his lovely wife arrive on the scene. Red and Tom are at a standoff. Red shoots Berlin to as he says “simplify things.” Tom shoots at Red but only grazes him. Why? We all know Tom knows how to use a gun. Liz twists around and somehow manages to shoot Tom twice with his own gun. How? We all know Tom has much more combat training than Liz. Nevertheless, Tom slumps to the floor, Red wants to finish him but Liz sends him out so she can bring her own sort of closure to her marriage. Tom says he is sorry then whispers something in her ear and sort of dies. When they FBI shows up, Tom’s body is nowhere to be found.
A body is identified as the guard the task force assumed was Berlin. They realize that the guy in the hospital is actually Berlin and not the guard. Berlin did not cut the guards hand off, he cut his own hand off. He escaped the hospital by killing some nurses . Liz goes to tell Red but Red already knew. The fake Berlin said his beef with Reddington began in Beirut in 2010 but Red knew it began well before that. Red says he wants Berlin to believe that Red and the task force believe he is dead. It will give him an advantage. Red says now it is up to Liz to make a decision. Does she want to continue to hunt for Berlin with him, or does she want to fly away and begin a new life. She initially chooses to leave but eventually decides to stay with Red, because what the fuck choice does she really have at this point?
In the closing montage, Ressler is by Cooper’s bedside in the hospital. He moves his hand. Looks like he will live to see season two. Also, Berlin shaves his beard and fingers a locket with a picture of his dead daughter in it.
When Liz shows up to leave with Red, you can see the relief on his face. Liz tells Red that Tom whispered to her before he died that her father is still alive. Red says that her father died in that fire, there is no uncertainty. (I think this is a metaphorical death he is talking about.) Later we see Red take his shirt off to dress his gunshot wound and his back is covered in burn marks. Clearly, he is the one who save Liz from the fire.
So, um…. is Red is or is Red ain’t Lizzies father?
Yes, I agree Red is Liz’a father. In Reds thinking the man he was before the house fire died that night and Sam became Liz’s father. Sam was Liz’s father in Reds mind.
Could Berlin’s daughter been Reds wife, Liz’s mother? There was something spoken how Berlin’s daughter took off with a political dissent?
Or Berlin blames Red for his daughters death and he plans on killing Reds daughter?
Or if Berlin is female is Liz her daughter/granddaughter?
This last episode was great, Tom lives!
Berlin’s daughter was the same as the girl in the picture that Red took from the wall of the Soupmaker’s cabin, one of the mementos he kept…
Reddington is not Liz’s father, her mother was pregnant when they met, Liz however is the granddaughter of Berlin, who doesn’t know this yet. It will slowly unfold over the next several years, In case you were wondering, Red was sent to kill her but instead saved her and her daughter and was hiding out until he was found and Liz’s mother was killed or taken and Red had to flee after saving Liz. The mother is most likely still alive and will be revealed at the very end when Reddington saves her but dies in his efforts. Alan Alda has held her all these years as collateral.
I don’t trust Cooper.
Really? Why not? Spill!!
On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 2:45 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Didn’t the fake Berlin call him Ginger on the list. That let’s you know Cooper is a bad dude.
Call who ginger? Sorry not following you. Ginger refers to someone with red hair…
There’s just something about him. That screams “double agent”.
Red and Berlin both have pictures of the woman … which leads me to believe there is a connection between the too.
Reds is my man.. he began shooting from out side, inside and shooting anyone in the way.he don’t care…..
Liz to weak to be a federal agent. Red told Liz to kill Tom ,and what do she do? She puts her gun down go look at him with tears in her eyes. Per usual Tom plays on Liz emotions gives her the puppy dog eyes and says a sympathetic “i”m sorry” and pretends he is dead.. she falls for it.
side note: Remember when the task force entered the room the man was still tied to the chair,but Tom was gone… Which means he lives to see season two too
If Red wants something done he has to do it himself..next time he will have to kill Tom for real cause Liz can’t do it.
As for Cooper he is just a no nonsense type of man. I don’t like him either,but I respect him , but that darn Liz ughhhhh! can’t stand her.. Tom is a better pro filer than she is He needs to be working for the federal government. Liz weak Arse
The picture red has came from the wall of the Stewmaker…
I heard and am questioning the meaning of “ginger” also. It has nothing to do with his hair, maybe someone else’s, or a code word from past ops.
I think Liz realizes Reddington is her father. She is going to let him play his game out. The Russian and Red both having the woman’s picture may not mean Red killed her. I would guess she was his wife but someone else murdered her.
I may be searching for too many positive qualities in Red, and giving Liz too much credit. If she is his kid, she should be smart. She appears dumb because of writing and the bad actress. I am more puzzled by Tom. Is he a mercenary, did he end up with actual feelings for Liz is why he told her about her father, or was he just further screwing with her during his fake death so she would follow a destructive path.
TT, you have to save these recaps, we will need as preseason prep.
I think Liz knows way more, than she is pretending not to know. But she becomes confused, by Red constant deception. And his sincerity.
Which he isn’t sincere . His caring personality for her is a ploy. ( never trust a criminal). Once he is done using her. He will leave her to the wolves. Hopefully she will wise up, and stop being naive.
Red character is that of a Psychopathic Personality. He is Very good at reading non-verbal signals.
I think Cooper is on the pay roll for Berlin. Berlin probably instructed Cooper, to hire Liz knowing Red would find Liz. Everything they all do. Is very calculating.
Hey Angel,
This is just a fun theory . So don’t take me seriously 🙂
I don’t think Red is Lizz Dad. Berlin is either Lizz Mom or Dad. And sent Tom to protect her. Because Berlin knew Red would eventually find Liz. It looks like Lizz has something very valuable Red is after. That is hidden in her half burnt teddy bear, or in the box that Tom told Lizz he didn’t know she still has.
Whatever it is that is hidden on Lizz belongings from when she was a kid. Is the information Red desperately needs to bring Alan Alda”Fitch” network down. Alda did call Red bluff . Red assured him that he has whatever to bring the network down. Truth is Red doesn’t have it.
I’m thinking Red was the one, who lit Lizz house on fire. Whatever he was after then. They (her parents) hid it in her toys. And he (Red) is back years later to retrieve it.
Red family was killed. Remember Red visited Diane Fowler at her home. She wanted her life spared by telling him. ” I know who killed your family”. Then he told her. ” If you know the people that killed my family,someone else out there knows too”. Then he shot her. God I love this show .
Oh My, you have s great theory! I got swayed that Red really was her father by the burns on his back. Yes, they just want us to think that. He very well could have been burned running out of a fire he set.
I think I have been lulled by some of the ridiculous aspects of the show, like all action seeming to happen just down the block, I had given up on there being much serious complexity to the story. I like how you and some others are thinking. Plus, they want to string us along for years, they can’t make it too straightforward.
Yes I agree with your theory. I think Berlin is actually Liz’s dad and Red set the fire. Berlin has been trying to kill Red to avenge Liz’s death but he somehow found out that Liz was not dead and that is why he came back. Tom was sent there to protect Liz and keep an eye or Red…
Hi Angel,
Lol! I think that’s what they want us to think too. What throws viewers off in tv shows and movies. Are the glitz and showy distractions. The (dialogues) are the key to piecing things together . Which many of us don’t pay too much attention to the dialogues. All in all it’s a good show. And I love reading you guys therories.
Hi Kmhtest,
Yes indeed . 🙂 Think back on the very first episode of the show. Red told us exactly what/who he is and what he came for.
Remember he delivered the (briefcase) while he stood outside the FBI headquarters? He handed over the (briefcase) to the FBI guy . And told him he is turning himself in.
Once he handed the (briefcase) to the FBI guy. The FBI guy told him (he Red).***You must feel good to be back (home again) sir.*** why would an FBI agent address Red with those words? That’s because some agents are on his payroll.
The exact same time Cooper hired Liz/Lizzy. Was when Red decided to show up and turn himself in. To the FBI.
Red is the Boss. They all work for Red. Some (knowingly) an some (unknowingly).He has them all positioned the exact way he wants them.
He is very skillful ,clever. He doesn’t want a trail. And uses all these people. To make them believe orders are coming from others. When in reality all orders are coming from Red himself. Red has a very big network.
He is full of charm and deceit. Do you notice whenever Red shows up anywhere. People show (reverence) to him? Even ones who doesn’t know him by face. But they know him by his name.
The minute he says things like. “Tell them it’s Reddington” Or he says ” I’m Reddington” . They all of a sudden become humble and show respect to him. That’s most likely because , Red is a brutal man. He earned some type of reputation for being ruthless. Ok I’ll shut up now lol.
Angel,
Right! Burn marks on his back. No burned marks on his front. Or on his hands like Lizzy. He was running away from the fire. He lit. That SOB! Lol
Once he lit the house, looking for the valuable item from her (Agent parents). Lizzy was under the bed. And most likely she started crying from the fire. He realized a kid(Lizzy) was in there, went back in pulled her out. I’m picturing him with her in his hands, she holding onto her comfort toy(teddy bear). And as he made his way out of the house with her, the flames got on his back.
His own daughter /family was killed way before that. So he couldn’t pass her off as his child. So he placed her (Lizzy) in the care of Sam.
Once Sam realized Red found Lizzy. Sam was going to tell her the truth.That Red is not her friend.He is dangerous! Red killed him before he could tell her the truth. These teasers of Red being her dad are nothing but smokescreens and distractions. Red himself know she always wanted closure to knowing her parents. So he is stringing her along playing up the “father figure” role with her. Preying ,feeding off her naiveness. The guy is brilliant.lol
I think that Berlin’s daughter was killed by the stewmaker, red’s picture showing at the end before we can see his burns on the back , you can see the # on the photo that was the one he took from the trophy album after killing the stewmaker, so Berlin and Red should be connected through his daughter, Red seemed to know a lot of things about all people of the list..maybe Berlin blames Red
nice show and nice finale
The assasin, Milos, was referring to agent
Ressler as “the Ginger”.
Didn’t the whole story about Berlin and the daughter remind you exactly of The Usual Suspects? “Who is Kaiser Sose??”
Wouldn’t it be funny, if Red is the real Berlin? But is controlling them all from the shadows. And the guy they are claiming is Berlin , is Lizzy Dad. lol that would be great!
The way I’m seeing this. Is that Red has them all divided, the way he want them to be. Half as “Chessmen” the other halves as “pawns”. Red is the bad guy not Berlin.
The picture of the girl also appears on chapter 4 “The Stewmaker”, when Red ask’s for the book of all the people killed, he took the picture of the girl that is shown at the end of this season!!
This was the best episode yet. Red was an action hero, the well- mannered dinner guest, and the protective parental figure all rolled into one.
I loved the lesson on Freestone peaches. You knew the minute you saw him using the knife while describing how the fruit peels away much easier from the pit that the knife was not going to be used on the dog.
Sadly, that had to be followed by the unbelievable death scene. Agents do not split up especially when looking for an escaped prisoner in a crowded nightclub. It felt like the writers were the ones with the kill list, and this was a quick and gory way to cross one off. I thought her character deserved better.
Does anyone know what happened to Gina? Was she mentioned in the last episode so it would be plausible for her to have taken Tom’s body? Since he is to be in the next season, I assume he recovers or did he and Liz come up with a plan to fake his death? She didn’t look too angry when he got into her unlocked car.
I have been a firm believer that Red is not Lizzie’s father since he promised to tell her the truth. I’m an accountant and things are black and white for me. My daughter is a writer and student of film. She very patiently explained to me why the fire was a metaphor for Red, the father, dying. He was a bad man and did some pretty bad things. When he pulled his daughter from the fire, he became a changed man. In his recollection, he said that the friend told Sam that he was very scared. His daughter almost paid the price for his wrongdoing. At the end when he assures Liz that her biological father is dead, the evil man who put his family at risk is gone. Buying his old house, then blowing it up is another confirmation that that life is over and done with. The annual ballet recital allows him to mourn the loss of those childhood years without Lizzie. Someday when he feels that all of the “pieces are on the table” and it is safe to do so, he will probably tell her. So I’m in the Red is her father camp until writers who have been all over the place this first season say differently. I saw an interview on E! online where Megan said that the actors collaborate with the writers so that may explain some of the inconsistencies.
As for Berlin’s daughter, I think it was in the Stewmaker that Red removed a picture of one of the victims. Did we ever find out who the woman was in the picture? I’m wondering why the writers felt they had to send Berlin out into the world with one hand. I always think of “The Fugitive” when I hear one arm/hand, but he was looking to prove his innocence. In the last episode, they talked about the apocalypse. I’m assuming it’s more than killing off the taskforce. Does anyone have any further thoughts on that?
I believe Red is Lizzie’s father. Berlin is Lizzie’s grandfather. Berlin’s daughter was Red’s wife. Red had the same picture Berlin did in the season finally. Cooper possibly a double agent. Tom still lives…
I follow your line of thinking except why would Berlin have her on Tom’s list to be killed if she is his granddaughter?
Maybe Lizzy is realizing Red is not her friend. She teamed up with Tom. Then got his body out. Whatever the case. Red can not be trusted lol. He is too cunning,full of deception. Once Lizzy wake up from her slumber. She will go after Red and hunt him down . I have a vivid imagination . 🙂
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
Red is her daddy and he loves her! LALALALALALALALALA Not listening to you!
/rocks back and forth in the corner.
On Wed, May 14, 2014 at 2:27 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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@s Ross your premise is so good I was fascinated reading through each picture you painted. I am fascinated by the inconsistencies of this show but James Spader keeps me hooked. I think he does embrace his rebirth so that is why he says Lizzie’s father died in the fire. I believe that is why he has the Blacklist, to try to make amends for all those evil people he was associated with and who killed with no regards to consequences. Good point why would Berlin kill his granddaughter unless he doesn’t know it’s his grand because Red kept her hidden until the fire. I think Berlin is out to avenge his daughter’s death but so is Red, each feeling the other is responsible without having all the pieces. Cooper is probably the only good guy in the hierarchy and therefore is working without a net and doesn’t realize it. Tom needs to continue to work in the shadows because I like that nice guy with questionable intentions. Denbe and Red’s ride or die relationship is my favorite. WOW, I’m exhausted. I don’t know how TT does it with all these shows but super glad she does so we can share all these theories!
I’m in the Red is the father camp. Most of you probably can fast forward the commercials, but one of them is Tom in a new red mustang talking about escaping and driving fast. So catchy.
I don’t understand how Tom could survive after been shot three times in a critical body part
Although there are a lot of blunder in the serie, it remains a great one especially James Spader
My thinking is that Berlin is Lizzie’s father, and Red is Ressler’s father. I figured at the beginning of the show it made the most sense that Red isn’t Lizzie’s father, because they allude to it way too often for it to be true. What’s the point of a mystery that is so obvious. I didn’t have the thought until the season finale that Berlin is actually her father though. And it makes sense that someone named Red would have a redheaded kid. Also, the girl in the photograph that Red is holding at the end of the episode is his daughter, who was killed by the serial killer in the middle of the season. Red was the one in the cell who had his daughter’s pieces sent to him. I think that all the people he’s been killing were involved somehow with his daughter’s death.
@Tim the problem with your theory is why would Berlin order his own daughter to be killed? Remember her name was on the list Tom gave to the scary workout guy. I think “the ginger” was referring to Red.
We will have to see who his father is later on, but before Red takes his shirt off we see that he has the same picture Berlin has in his locket. But why would he have that picture? Why, damn it so many questions.
I just saw the trailer for this season and realized that I had better hurry up and watch some of those episodes from last season again. Was it editing or did Berlin say that Red was the one who returned his daughter in pieces? I hope there’s still enough love for James Spader for you to recap it again this season Tamara.
Thanks for posting your comment. I didn’t even know this show existed, until I saw the preview for the upcoming season. I love James Spader, and now I know I can read TT’s recaps to get caught up!
There were so many growing pains with this show: bad wigs, bad acting, bad set design, then when you were ready to absolutely throw in the towel, James Spader would make a brief appearance and you would be hooked again.
After the hiatus, each episode got a little better. If you can handle gruesome with a little dry humor added in you will enjoy this show.
I can’t wait for this show to come back! I need to do a post to remind everyone!
On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 1:41 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Bad acting, gruesome, dry humor. Yep. That’s for me.
A lot of the “bad acting” is just that the cast is playing against James Spader. He’s brilliant in this role. They seem to be improving with practice. Some of the writing is awful, but it is overall a great show.
On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 5:51 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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