TTT Freebie | The Blacklist -Favorite Episodes

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme put on by The Broke and the Bookish

Freebie!

I am insanely addicted to The Blacklist right now. As I'm watching new episodes, I'm also rewatching previous seasons for the ...third time?

Yeah. Addicted.

Since we've got a Freebie this week for Top Ten Tuesday, it was kind of a no-brainer for me. What I'm listing off are my favorite episodes from Seasons 1 & 2, in chronological order. (It would have taken me another hour at least to figure out their exact hierarchy of favoritism. I'll save that til after the show ends.)

Why only those two seasons? Because these are the ones I've seen more than once and I pick favorites based on the lasting impact of the episode overall, rather than on shock factor from the next big reveal. Over the past three years, these are consistently the episodes I gravitate toward.

Once I rewatch seasons 3 & 4, I might have to do a Part Two.

Pilot (1x1)

One of the best pilot episodes I have ever seen. Seriously, if the first two minutes don't hook you, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU. In addition to the best hook in TV history, the rest of the episode just keeps piling on the intrigue, mystery, and intensity. And then Liz STABS HIM IN THE NECK WITH A PEN!

The Stewmaker (1x4)

Reddington, the mystery surrounding him, and just what the heck he wants from Elizabeth Keen are driving factors of the show. This episode pokes at all of these, but the best part -THE BEST PART- is Red's confrontation with The Stewmaker because it's a smack in the face reminder of what kind of man Red is and the extremes he goes to without even blinking. Plus, the Farmer Parable that screams "backstory."
Not to be forgotten is that little bit when Red pushes Ressler into a dangerous corner with homicidal criminals and Ressler totally delivers. I love the look of grudging respect on Red's face when Ressler danced out of that one. ^_^

Anslo Garrick (1x9)

*fangirl scream*
Probably the first episode I watched on repeat. There is so much crazy good stuff in this episode when a mercenary breaks into the Post Office to kidnap Red. It's the first time we see Red do any dirty work -man, can he handle a gunfight! We also get some buddy-buddy time between Red and Ressler, the boy scout agent. These two are polar opposites, hate and mock each other openly, and I adored seeing them forced to rely on each other. Contains some great lines and Red's Wish. It also contains the heartbreaking goodbye scene between Red and Dembe. And on the other hand, Liz finds herself teamed up with uber geek agent Aram as the only ones left to take back the building.
Anslo Garrick, Conclusion is also fantastic -plot thickens! Fisk!- but only part 1 made it to the favorites


Ack! I'm talking too much! The rest will be briefer.


The Good Samaritan (1x11)

Fantastic villain

Personal stakes for Liz = bonding time with Red
Red cleans house: This entire half of the episode gives me goosebumps. It's just Red, tracking down leads, tying off loose hands, and getting his hands dirty -all while being his dastardly, charming self.


Madeline Pratt (1x14)

Welcome an old fling of Red's, aka Elizabeth Bennett
Liz and Red undercover as thieves
Betrayal, twisty plot turns
Another great Red monologue that teases backstory and tears. Emotion level = dangerous

Mako Tanida (1x16)

Revenge story
Another fantastic villain
Personal stakes for Ressler
More Red/Ressler team up
Ressler and the Dark Side
GAH! SO MUCH RAW EMOTION I LOVE THIS EPISODE
(Plus, Tom/Jolene story thickens)

The Mombasa Cartel (2x6)

Some of the creepiest villains

Winner of the creepieset use of song in history -Run From Me by Timber Timbre shouldn't be that terrifying but it is
Ressler battles his drug problem
The reason the Cartel is on the Blacklist
Liz's secret revealed!

Luthor Braxton (2x9)

Three and a half seasons in, this is still my FAVORITE EPISODE OF THE SERIES
Great story
Great villain (Ron Perlman!)
Some Red backstory
Liz gets her hands dirty, teams up with Red and prison inmates
Red and Liz bonding time with another one of my favorite Red 'tales':

In Mexico, there are these fish that have colonized the freshwater caves along Sierra del Abra. They were lost. They found themselves living in complete darkness. But they didn't die. Instead, they thrived. They adapted. They lost their pigmentation, their sight, eventually even their eyes. With survival, they became hideous. I've rarely thought about what I once was. But I wonder if a ray of light were to make it into the cave, would I be able to see it? Or feel it? Would I gravitate to its warmth? And if I did, would I become less hideous?

Best song of the series -Blood on My Name by Brothers Bright- to accompany one of the greatest scenes of the series:

Luther Braxton, Conclusion is also fantastic and really dives hard into Liz's past
Red is never quite so fascinating as when he's trying to save Lizzie. Or keeping secrets from her. You know.

T. Earl King VI (2x14)

Red is up for auction
Liz goes undercover to save him
Delicious chaos ensues

For now, at least, these are ten of my top favorite Blacklist episodes, but really, there's only been one or two that I haven't loved. They are literally ALL GOOD.
GAAAAHHHH! There's still so much more good stuff I didn't even list! I'll have to do another Blacklist list...

 Do you have favorite Blacklist episodes?
What show are you obsessing over?