I really loved the casting come on people 70 really!! best episode in B2 for me
31 Reviews
nice casting
sasares3 May 2020
Less Keen is Best
tyral-hytche3823 November 2020
Not a bad episode. Wish Red an Dembe were in it but that's ok. If Elizabeth didn't show up in this episode I would have gave this a higher rating! Was actually good and interesting until they just had to bring her in it
No Red, no problem.
brian_wessels17 May 2020
A departure from the same formula every week, making the most 2-dimensional character in the show 3-dimensional. Shows this long need to change things up.
Everyone who got their jimmies rustled by Spader taking an episode off needs to remember that he had his "Agatha Christie" episode recently, in which he was on screen nearly the whole time. No doubt this is comp time for that.
Everyone who got their jimmies rustled by Spader taking an episode off needs to remember that he had his "Agatha Christie" episode recently, in which he was on screen nearly the whole time. No doubt this is comp time for that.
Really?
craigbuttcheeks2 May 2020
This episode was great! A lot of people didn't like this episode, which is fine, but to me personally i thought it was very interesting and different. The biggest complaint people had about this episode was there was no red. I think that's ok. Ressler has been in this show since the beginning and rarely gets to be the star. It was really cool to see his backstory. I think it's sad this episode is rated poorly compared to others. Red is great but this episode did fine without him. Just because he doesn't show up doesn't mean this episode is a 1/10 but everyone has a right to their own opinion. Anyway good episode and great acting by Diego.
Great Episode
lfinchamwells2 May 2020
Amazing to see how well the actors perform without Spader. Diego was particularly good in this episode, and giving him a decent script really allows him to shine. The amount of one star reviews from Spader fanatics are concerning, the Blacklist is finally taking time after 7 seasons to focus on some of its much neglected characters. Wonderful episode which explains a lot of Ressler's choices and career moves.
Interesting Foundation
Hitchcoc6 December 2022
This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it does give some reason where Ressler's drive came from. I know it really doesn't advance the plot or relieve suspense from the end of the last episode, but it is entertaining. After so many episodes it amazes me how people can't handle one where Red doesn't appear. I didn't even recognize Anthony Michael Hall (I always thought of him as the little twerp in "The Breakfast Club"). But the hard edge to this episode works well enough and there is the obligatory confrontation with some bad dudes. Oh, I thought that car was really great. The thing with Elizabeth still leaves me a little cold considering where her head is at.
No Red.
celtigra14 August 2020
Whilst it was interesting to get the back story about Ressler and his brother I found it very slow, almost most of the scenes were in the dark, and they could have condensed it to 30 minutes. There was no Red at all, no annoying Agent Park (good), no Aram, no Cooper but Liz was there unfortunately. I've only given it a 6 which I think is the lowest rating I've ever given an episode due to the forgoing.
Great episode.
stephenthompsonp3 May 2020
I've watched every episode of Blacklist since the premiere. As I watched this episode progress and realized that Red was not in it I was preparing myself to be disappointed and to write another scathing review similar to a couple of others that I have written when the show went off the deep end of political correctness. But, pleasantly surprisingly, this isn't such a review. The episode was not the customary edge-of-your-seat drama where Red pulls the rabbit out of the hat and saves the day, but it was very well done with a bit of a different, bond-of-family flavor and an authentically heartwarming ending. A very nice change of pace that adds a bit more depth to the characters and the show. Very well done.
seriously?
dattaakash-370556 August 2021
A whole episode to show that liz is adopting everything of Reddington? Yeah ok reddington doesn't know anything about katarina, and this series have been a very good hide and seek mission, but these kind of predictable ending? We can't accept that.
A lot going on here
neverenoughgold3 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
First off there is too much whining about no Reddington, and I'll admit James Spader was the reason I started watching this interesting show.
But come on, this episode was very well written and gave an opportunity for Ressler to show off his family and reveal something interesting about his past. Now I'm sure some folks will be disappointed because they thought he was a straight and narrow cop. Be realistic, is there really such a thing as a straight and narrow cop?
So we get to the end and everything is all cleaned up and Ressler, along with everyone else doesn't think Red had anything to do with it? Well maybe, but I'm gonna leave my mind open to the possibility Reddington was there in spirit anyway.
But come on, this episode was very well written and gave an opportunity for Ressler to show off his family and reveal something interesting about his past. Now I'm sure some folks will be disappointed because they thought he was a straight and narrow cop. Be realistic, is there really such a thing as a straight and narrow cop?
So we get to the end and everything is all cleaned up and Ressler, along with everyone else doesn't think Red had anything to do with it? Well maybe, but I'm gonna leave my mind open to the possibility Reddington was there in spirit anyway.
Unnecessary Digression
TK321 June 2020
Great episode
dannydimitrova4 May 2020
Excellent diversionary episode
dano1330-970-2663412 May 2020
While I wouldn't have thought so before, I am thrilled that this episode did not include Redington. This was a great backstory explaining Ressler's history. I haven't always been a fan of the actor playing Ressler, but the story and the acting in this episode was very good. The ending was especially top-notch.
Lighten Up Folks, It was a Good Episode
slydude0713 May 2020
Some complaints from whiners who are mad that Spader got a break from his his hectic schedule and didn't have to appear in this one.
This isolated episode should be judged on its own merits, imo.
It's a good story with good writing and acting, and even though I'm a big fan of the show, it's not as far fetched as many episodes have been.
I also see the copycat acting experts once again criticizing Megan Boone's acting.
I think Megan does an excellent job and I couldn't imagine anyone else in the part of Agent Keen.
Good Job!
Writers did well
psychoplayer3 May 2020
Interesting but...
pauli_gomez6 May 2020
The episode has my attention, it was well done if a little cliché. The Resslers, young and elder, were great. But I am disappointed of the trend of having everyone have a skeleton in the closet. Donald was not one of my favorites but I thought the most interesting thing about him was his moral conflict, being straight and "lawful good" while working in a shady task force. But making him having dark secrets is a choice I really don't like.
The other problem I have with the episode is that the acting in the last scene (that I won't spoil here) is awful. It completely take me out of the story as it was obviously acting, it actually seem like someone rehearsing the lines, not really playing them.
good, but very slow
nickzapapp3 May 2020
It was good to see ressler shine on this ep. However having 2 out of the 6 regulars is kind of ridiculous in my opinion. The episode was slow, given that the episode was just Robbie and Ressler straight. If Red, Dembe and Katarina's arc played a part in this episode to a high standard, and we had 20 minutes ressler keen and 20 them I would have given this a 10
Nonetheless this was still a unique episode! all considering diego is no3 in credits
Nonetheless this was still a unique episode! all considering diego is no3 in credits
Minus Reddington
rachelmcgilvery2 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A rather good episode detailing Ressler's begginings. We finally get to meet the infamous Tommy Markin.
Seeing as Reddington is critically ill, there is little doubt that he won't return to the series.
Next episode Red will find a successor to take over his empire.
Seeing as Reddington is critically ill, there is little doubt that he won't return to the series.
Next episode Red will find a successor to take over his empire.
Seriously!?
nemesis-886 May 2020
Is there any country whose criminals Mark Margolis has failed to portray? Mexican, Italian, now Albanian. It sure looks like it doesn't matter to him, because he always plays it the same. The whole episode is pure, undiluted rubbish. It definitely feels like, after painting Reddington in his real colors, the creators are trying to smear dirt on everyone around him and say that everyone has their own skeletons in their closets. No, we don't. We don't shoot our fathers at the age of four. We don't bury our brother's murder victims. We don't kill our mom's boyfriends. And we definitely don't try to justify working for a criminal by pretending to enforce law. This show has hit a dead-end HARD. Not a slam on the brakes but a full-force frontal collision. I sure hope this will be the last season. "Jimmy the Hat" was fun to watch, but now he doesn't even show up.
No James Spader, No Blacklist
boy_afraid10 May 2020
ONLY Reddington ONLY Spader Carries this show period.
newpace-834203 May 2020
"Brothers" was THE most boring episode ever. I had to put up with the Tom thing too for-ever and other staff relationships too. Come on! Raymond Reddington is ONE of a kind & NO ONE will ever play him to Perfection as Spader does. His character needs MORE time on screen not less! Or at al all!? How utterly stupid was my first thought! So I wouldn't quit the show altogether I was pretending that he was sick in real life & had to forego one-Ohhh Please HAS to be JUST One show. I've shuddered the loss of my favorite show ending. But the way things are going I wonder if Spader should cut & run now. The writers already took out one of 2 (maybe 3) of his Complete loyal followers & now working on the second. What the heck?! Leave Red's Team alone & spend that time on the meat of the storylines. Can we please dump the writers from "The Love Boat" and get some from the old "Mission Impossible" TV series? I know everyone is desparate to try & invent another magical-glue Law & Order(s) cast where each member could nearly have their own show. Blacklist is not anywhere close to that. But in my opinion you have an Incredible Entity that not even Law & Order(s), Bones, Mentalist, Criminal Minds, NCIS or even True Crime Detective shows can hold a candle to. I'm not saying there should be No heart. Even Raymond has one sometimes. Just reign it in regarding the cast. Be more reasonable. Red is Already the Spotlight of this show & Always has been. Maybe others think they can have that too. And that is already obvious, sadly. Not going to happen no matter how many episodes he's left out of.
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