Penny Can

Home Entertainment Center => Television => Topic started by: Chiprocks1 on September 30, 2013, 01:28:51 pm


Title: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on September 30, 2013, 01:28:51 pm
The Blacklist (Season 1)

(http://i.imgur.com/yzq7YwU.png)

Episodes

Episode 1: Pilot (http://www.hulu.com/watch/536451#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 2: The Freelancer (http://www.hulu.com/watch/539652#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 3: Wujing (http://www.hulu.com/watch/542681#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 4: The Stewmaker (http://www.hulu.com/watch/545199#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 5: The Courier (http://www.hulu.com/watch/548107#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 6: Gina Zanetakos (http://www.hulu.com/watch/551037#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 7: Frederick Barnes (http://www.hulu.com/watch/554086#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 8: General Ludd (http://www.hulu.com/watch/557576#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 9: Anslo Garrick (http://www.hulu.com/watch/564011#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 10: Anslo Garrick, Part 2 (http://www.hulu.com/watch/566428#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 11: The Good Samaritan Killer (http://www.hulu.com/watch/582311#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 12: The Alchemist (http://www.hulu.com/watch/585657#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 13: The Cyprus Agency (http://www.hulu.com/watch/588939#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 14: Madeline Pratt (http://www.hulu.com/watch/600687#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 15: The Judge (http://www.hulu.com/watch/603810#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 16: Mako Tanida (http://www.hulu.com/watch/609687#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 17: Ivan (http://www.hulu.com/watch/612980#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 18: Milton Bobbit (http://www.hulu.com/watch/615841#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 19: The Pavlovich Brothers (http://www.hulu.com/watch/625016#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 20: The Kingmaker (http://www.hulu.com/watch/628056#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 21: Berlin (http://www.hulu.com/watch/631706#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)

Episode 22: Berlin: Conclusion (http://www.hulu.com/watch/635251#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc)
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on September 30, 2013, 01:44:39 pm
Pilot
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


Coming into this one with no knowledge about the premise. Completely forgot about this. I had added this to my Hulu queue when I saw the promo for The Blacklist. It looked interesting and then totally forgot about it until the other day. As for the  Pilot, I liked it. There is a lot of potential here. Blacklist is kind of a cross between 24 and Silence Of The Lambs with Reddington (James Spader) in the role of Hannibal-like character, one of the world's most sought after terrorist who turns himself in to authorities at the begging of the episode and refuses to talk to anyone, with the exception of Elizabeth Keen, an up and coming FBI profiler. I won't say anything about what Keen discovers at the end for spoiler reasons, but I will say this....I think Red and Keen are Father / Daughter. Just a thought given how their interrogation starts off. Sure, it's probably a Red Herring (pun intended).  ;D
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 01, 2013, 06:24:39 am
Added Episode 2: The Freelancer
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 01, 2013, 07:29:54 am
The Freelancer
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


Great episode and I love how they ended with the final scene. Sure, there was a big manhunt in this weeks episode, but it was really about Keen trying to figure out what to do about her boyfriend, the potential Double Agent working against her. What to do? Confront him or let things be? Well, she decides the best course of action will be not to say anything and let him believe everything is still as it was, which would allow her to track his movements and see where he may lead her. This is all set up with the mindset that she thinks he is in fact guilty. But the ending throws her into doubt when she watches a video of him at their adoption meeting. Now she is conflicted and this will blur the lines for her and for the viewer as well, which is all we can want from a show like this. Isabella Rossellini guest-stars. James Spader looks like he is relishing the role of bad guy.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 08, 2013, 07:09:10 am
Added Episode 3: Wujing
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 08, 2013, 07:42:49 am
Wujing
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


So, the man with the apple", who does he work for? CIA? FBI? NSA? Or is he working for with Keen's fiance? Are they surveilling her because he may have been "compromised"? Who the hell knows. The cat and mouse game is what will keep viewers coming back, but I hope they don't drag it out too long as I want some answers....NOW! The other half of the equation is just exactly what is Red's connection to Keen. Father / Daughter or something more? It's a little too obvious, they really aren't related. The other option would be that Keen's real father didn't abandoned her as a child, but was called into service for the US government to do his duty for America. Somewhere along the way, his path crosses Red's and he saves his life or something, sacrificing his own and Red is making good on his promise to look out for her or something like that.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 15, 2013, 07:05:48 am
Added Episode 4: The Stewmaker
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 15, 2013, 08:13:44 am
The Stewmaker
(http://i.imgur.com/PavQhZ0.gif)



Solid episode that kinda reminded me a bit of Dexter. Has there ever been an actor more typecast his entire career than Tom Noonan? I can't recall ever seeing him play a normal guy. He is always THE Bad Guy or THE Killer. He does it well, but I gotta imagine he would like to play normal. Clifton Collins Jr. was a nice surprise. I'm sure he is still alive at the end of the episode. It was kind of cryptic, but I think he will pop up later in the season.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 22, 2013, 06:29:32 am
Added Episode 5: The Courier
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 22, 2013, 08:35:10 am
The Courier
(http://i.imgur.com/PavQhZ0.gif)



This show is getting goooood. Two things are at work here. First, it usually involves very interesting cases that Keen, Red and the rest of the FBI are working on. But it's the second thing involving Keen and her Boyfriend and what is or isn't involved in himself. Having him "find" the box of money, passports and gun in the floor isn't something I thought would happen so soon. Figured that they would drag it out a bit longer. Great cliffhanger as I don't know what he is going to say. How he is going to "talk his way out of it".

Also interesting and probably the most important thing the show has going for it is why Red is so invested in Keen. What and who he is too her remains a mystery. I still think he is her father. We shall see. But I liked that he used up his 'one-time-only' pass with the NSA to get the classified document released to Keen so that she could read about her boyfriend and his suspected ties to the murder at the hotel. Like I said, getting gooooooood. They cast the right person for the role of the Courier with Robert Knepper. Too bad this was a one time only appearance.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 29, 2013, 09:16:06 am
Added Episode 6: Gina Zanetakos
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 29, 2013, 10:08:51 am
Gina Zanetakos
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)



I'm still not convinced that Tom is innocent. Just because he was released from custody after interrogation and seemingly giving the Feds the answer they needed, I think that it was all a setup just so that he could get into the Command Center and "nonchalantly" shift the focus on Red's right hand man. I dunno. The writers are doing a good job keeping most of it under the surface, but giving us enough to keep me interested. Really cool to see Margarita Levieva in the role of Gina. Since she wasn't killed off, I can only assume that she will have another episode in the future.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 05, 2013, 07:00:42 am
Added Episode 7: Frederick Barnes
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 05, 2013, 09:20:07 am
Frederick Barnes
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


An okay episode for the first 35 minutes. It's the last 5 minutes that proved to be the most interesting. Loved the scene where Red challenges Keen to sever ties with him after she makes threats that they only have a "work relationship" together. Called her bluff big time. But it was the house that Red buys that is wrapped up in mystery. All along we are meant to think that Red and Keen are father/daughter. I don't think that is the case any more. Well, kinda. We see from Red's perspective that he "raised a family" in the house and we see a little girl playing in the yard in a flashback scene. If that is meant to be Keen as a little girl, then why doesn't she remember her father Red? I think Red had two girls and Keen was elsewhere and of course he raised the girl in the flashback scene and the guilt that Red has in that he "sent Keen elsewhere", maybe put up for adoption? Who knows, but it's fun to watch this unfold.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 12, 2013, 01:40:55 pm
Added Episode 8: General Ludd
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 12, 2013, 02:05:01 pm
General Ludd
(http://i.imgur.com/PavQhZ0.gif)


A triple play of actor's that I just don't see all that much of anymore. Andrew Dice Clay was very unexpected with him playing a Plastic Surgeon. Justin Kirk is another actor that I never see. More to the point, I've never seen him in anything other than Weeds and apparently he has been around for awhile. The last actor is William Sadler, who plays Keen's adoptive father. It was the relationship that he and Red that I found most intriguing. Obviously they have a lot of history together and it's mentioned that there is a huge secret that Sadler wants to tell his daughter, but Red won't allow it. Even though it's implied (kinda) that he is her biological father, I'm starting to think the writers will do a swerve somewhere down the road.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 26, 2013, 07:10:49 am
Added Episode 9: Anslo Garrick
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on November 26, 2013, 08:11:30 am
Anslo Garrick
(http://i.imgur.com/cTZ9poD.gif)


Man, this episode blew by incredibly fast! Very riveting 45 minutes, but it's the last 5 minutes that had me holding my breath when Garrick starts executing people....or more specifically those that Red holds dear to him. I was kind of expecting this to be wrapped up within the episode. Well, it's definitely a two-parter for sure. So, who is going to save the day? Keen or the IT Guy? My money is on the IT Guy. The idea of someone with no "combat training" beyond paper targets taking down a heavily armed squad is very appealing.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on December 03, 2013, 06:52:09 am
Added Episode 10: Anslo Garrick, Part 2
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on December 03, 2013, 07:48:56 am
Anslo Garrick, Part 2
(http://i.imgur.com/cTZ9poD.gif)


Even though it was clear from last weeks episode that it was a Two-Part arc, I was certain that it was the mid-season finale given how it ended. But Part 2 is definitely the mid-season fianle for the same reasons. Well, I think. Anyway, Red is now in the wind, having just killed and escaped the clutches of Anslo. But it was seeing Alan Alda appearing as someone that is clearly higher up in the food chain as someone to fear. Exactly who he is and what the big "secret" is that he is concerned about keeping a secret still has yet to be revealed. I like the idea of Alda joining the cast as I know he will bring his A-Game. The ending was interesting in that Keen ask Red if he is in fact her real father. His answer was 'No'. But I think he still is and he only said 'no' to "protect" her from the likes of Alda's character. Red's parting words about her husband confirmed what I already knew......that he can't be trusted.

So, who is the Mole within the agency? Hmmmmmm........
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 14, 2014, 09:10:45 pm
Added Episode 11: The Good Samaritan Killer
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 14, 2014, 09:16:16 pm
The Good Samaritan Killer
(http://i.imgur.com/cTZ9poD.gif)


Welcome back Blacklist! The wait for the shows return was unbearably long. The upside is that the wait was worth the wait. Awesome episode that saw Red tracking down and eliminating those behind the attempt on his life from the previous episode. It was almost kind of comical in his ability to reach everyone as fast as he did. That is a man that knows how to get things done. What I didn't see coming was that his "right hand" man servant was part of it. I think they should have developed his character a bit more before having him knocked off. It would have given his death more meaning. Anyway, also cool to see Frank Whaley pop up as the Good Samaritan. His story arc clearly took a page from Norman Bates / Psycho. Too bad he got whacked by Keen. So, one and done.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 22, 2014, 05:50:49 am
Added Episode 12: The Alchemist
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 22, 2014, 06:00:02 am
The Alchemist
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


Biggest thing that happened in this one was the final scene where Red was waiting at night at home for Meera (Parminder Nagra) to be confronted as the 2nd mole. Was there any doubt that she was the other mole? I knew from the beginning. It's really about process of elimination. Because the 'recurring' cast is so small, she was really the only one that could possibly be the mole. So, the revelation at the end really wasn't all the surprising. What was surprising and still has me stumped is who exactly is the girl that is putting the movies on Tom. She has a dossier on him, but who is she working for exactly? I most likely missed a scene that would have given me the info needed. My guess is that she's working for Red, who is trying to dig up dirt up on him because 'he's not who he claims to be'.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 28, 2014, 08:00:49 am
Added Episode 13: The Cyprus Agency
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on January 28, 2014, 08:09:10 am
The Cyprus Agency
(http://i.imgur.com/PavQhZ0.gif)


Two things working in this episode. One was the Cyprus Agency which was basically a front for kidnapping women that met a certain criteria for potential mothers to be. They are held captive while the CEO/Doctor impregnates them and they brings them to term to sell the babies through the adoption agency. Sick. Makes you take a hard look at the stuff that goes on in the real world and it's not something I like. Very sad this is the world we live in.

The other thing working in this episode was Red's pursuit in sniffing out the mole. With the help of Meera, all roads lead back to Diane Fowler, the United States Assistant Attorney General / Criminal Division. She is no longer of this world. Don't f*ck with Red!!!! Her last words to him were "....I know what happened that night, to your family". So, they plant a very BIG seed that will most likely drive the rest of the season.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on February 25, 2014, 07:18:54 pm
Added Episode 14: Madeline Pratt
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on February 25, 2014, 07:21:40 pm
Madeline Pratt
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


That was a long ass hiatus, but it was worth the wait just to see James Spader do his thing here. When Red is telling his sob story to  Madeline Pratt, I knew that it was a set up just so that he could get the information he needed from her. Even though there was no surprise in what was happening, it still made me grin at how devious and manipulative Red is.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 04, 2014, 06:19:45 pm
Added Episode 15: The Judge
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 04, 2014, 06:25:20 pm
The Judge
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


I love how Red can swoop in at the last second, confront the Villain of the Week, say a few words and get them to surrender themselves to authorities. Reddington rules! Spader rules!! I'm glad they didn't kill off Dianne Wiest. I really want to see her character come back. Not sure how or what function it may serve, but I get the feeling that the writers are thinking along the same lines by having her sent to prison and can revisit her down the road. The biggest bombshell for this episode is the final scene when we finally get proof that Elizabeth Keen's husband Tom is in fact a Spy and the she is in fact the Target. This is getting gooooooood!
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 22, 2014, 05:51:07 pm
Added Episode 16: Mako Tanida
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 22, 2014, 05:58:57 pm
Mako Tanida
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


It's nice to finally see the other side of Tom. Yes, he had to play the 'aweshucks' guy for pretty much the entire season. Even though we all suspected he was an assassin, but still in that mode, seeing this other side was well worth the wait. Now we know he can handle himself in any situation, which makes any of the scenes he has with Elizabeth Keen (as seen with them showering together) all the more creepy.....and dangerous. I'm not surprised that he ends up killing both Jolene and The Cowboy. I knew that Lance Reddick would have a short stay on the show, but I was hopeful that his character would have a longer arc. Sigh.

Agent Ressler's story was good. I wonder if he is going to feel indebted to Reddington for helping him hunt down those responsible for his girlfriends death as well as his former partners. This is definitely an interesting dynamic that they can explore that could pay off big down the road.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 25, 2014, 06:15:30 pm
Added Episode 17: Ivan
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on March 25, 2014, 06:37:16 pm
Ivan
(http://i.imgur.com/SfhcoSn.gif)


Meh. They dropped the ball somewhat on this one. The idea of a high school kid that is this Super Hacker had potential. Some parts of it reminding me of Wargames. But the end game of said Hacker turned out to be pretty damn weak. I thought the story was leading to something big that could change the course of the show, especially when the kid got his hands on the infamous Skeleton Key. To have it all turn out to be nothing more than some adolescent crush on a classmate that didn't even know he existed was a huge misfire. I did however like the last few minutes of the show when Elizabeth comes face to face with reality that her husband is in fact a spy and working against her.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 02, 2014, 02:26:15 pm
Added Episode 18: Milton Bobbit
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 02, 2014, 02:29:43 pm
Milton Bobbit
(http://i.imgur.com/mzsSogL.gif)



As creepy as the Milton Bobbit story line was, it wasn't the one that I was most engaged with. Now that Elizabeth knows who and what Tom is, it's fun seeing her take the initiative to find out more about his past. Involving Red into the mix and you have a recipe for fun times. She will literally be sleeping with the enemy, all in the name of uncovering the truth. Now THAT's a dedicated women that will do anything to.....catch her man.  ;D
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 23, 2014, 08:07:57 pm
Added Episode 19: The Pavlovich Brothers
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 23, 2014, 08:26:37 pm
The Pavlovich Brothers
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


The episode we have been waiting all season long for happens here: The confrontation between Elizabeth and Tom now that the secret is out. But can Elizabeth make Tom talk and spill his guts? Well, it was fun to see her breaking Tom's thumb, but I knew it was going to go one way, the exact way I knew it would all season long. I knew that he would "reveal" that he was sent to protect her from Reddington. The big mystery comes at the end. What was in the safe deposit box and who or what is Elizabeth looking at in the photo? Ack!
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 30, 2014, 05:54:40 pm
Added Episode 20: The Kingmaker
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on April 30, 2014, 05:58:36 pm
The Kingmaker
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


The Kingmaker story line, although interesting, it wasn't what I wanted to spend my hour fixated on. My interest was of course in Elizabeth being able to found out why Red was in the same hospital of her father on the day he died. I figured she would get close to the the info she needed, but that it would allude her right when she reaches for it. So, I was kind of shocked that Red admitted to her that he in fact was the one that killed him. Other than that, we still don't know much about their past together. I reeeeeeeeally want them to at least give us something big in that regard as they close out Season 1. I don't want them dragging everything out for 5 seasons. Gimme some good sh*t!
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on May 06, 2014, 09:27:09 am
Added Episode 21: Berlin
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on May 06, 2014, 10:24:03 am
Berlin
(http://i.imgur.com/SW1TShG.gif)


Something BIG is coming and color me more than intrigued. So Berlin is a person that Reddington fears. It's why he has been working with the FBI all along....for protection. This episode was all about Set Up leading into the Season Finale. Who, what, where, why.....and how. These questions better get an answer next week...or at least give us a few anyway, because I don't want to have to sit through all of Summer wondering what the f*ck is going on. Great scene with Elizabeth using the virus against the Doctor to get him to play ball.
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on May 13, 2014, 07:49:58 am
Added Episode 22: Berlin: Conclusion
Title: Re: The Blacklist (Season 1 - 2013)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on May 13, 2014, 09:32:49 am
Berlin: Conclusion
(http://i.imgur.com/PavQhZ0.gif)


They were not f*cking around with the Season Finale and they really went for broke in how they handled it. It was shocking to see that they would kill off Meera. I know that no series really has an untouchable character, but it was still shocking to see them off her like that and it didn't end there. They even had Elizabeth kill off Tom, who I thought would be around for much much longer. I was thinking he would be around for as long as the series was on the air. They even sent Harold Cooper to the hospital. Remains to be seen what they do with the character next season though.

As great as this episode was, they tipped their hand off too soon and in a very easy manner as to who Berlin was. As soon as I saw that "Prison Guard" that was in the hospital bed recovering from his injuries was played by Peter Stormare, I absolutely knew 1000% that he was Berlin. The writers basically pulled a page right out of The Usual Suspects and went with the Keyser Söze angle. It wasn't a bad way to go, it's just screamed out who the players were.

The final scene does raise some interesting 'What-if's' though. Reddington has been emphatic about convincing Elizabeth that he is not her biological father and yet when he takes his shirt off, we see that he has suffered from severe burns, most likely the same fire that she remembered as a child taking the life of her father. The other interesting thing was the photo Red had in his hand....a picture of Berlin's daughter. Hmmmm....