REVIEW: The Blacklist: The Beekeeper (No. 159) by Steven Piziks

The Blacklist: The Beekeeper (No. 159)

Author: Steven Piziks

Publisher: Titan Books

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Media Tie-In

Ratings

4/5 stars

PG-13 for action violence
Recommend to fans of The Blacklist. This is a companion to the show, so if you're not watching it, a lot of things aren't going to make sense. (But if you're not watching, you totally should be. First 3 seasons are on Netflix right now. I'm just saying.)

Summary

A brand-new original The Blacklist novel. Raymond Reddington brings Elizabeth Keen a new Blacklister: the Bodysnatcher, an unnamed, unknown man who has turned kidnapping into an art form. But when Lizzie and the team move to intercept the Bodysnatcher, they discover that he is not their real target. Their real target is much more sinister and it will take all their strength and dedication to resist him - and to discover what Reddington is really after. -via Goodreads

The Review

Tie-in novels are always tricky, ranging somewhere between terrible to mediocre. This one is actually good, both on its own and as an addition to the series, so I'm doubly impressed with Piziks, Titan Books, and everyone else who made this book happen. I've already pre-ordered the next tie-in novel -The Dead Ring (No. 166)- releasing March 2017.

The first thing I noticed is how Piziks really gets into Elizabeth Keen's head when he narrates from her perspective. She automatically profiles everyone and every situation and this more than anything gives the novel authentic flair. Keen's a profiler; she's had intensive training and it's what she does for a living. Piziks almost does a better job bringing this aspect into focus than even a lot of the episodes do.

In fact, Piziks easily steps into the minds of all the characters. Obviously, this means the story features multiple points of view, but he does it well, and this helps the story to read just like an episode. Aram, Cooper, Ressler, Navabi -I could see and visualize all of them from the way they were written.

"Think of Reddington. He wouldn't want you in here, and he's like a father to you. A twisted, bizarro-world father, but still." -Ressler, pg 141

Piziks especially nails Reddington. This is crucial! Reddington is the axis of the whole story and James Spader's portrayal of him that of the show. How Piziks portrays Red is simple but accurate, bringing Spader's lilt and irreplaceable mannerisms to life without unnecessary descriptors. Though moments actually in Red's point of few are fewer and farther in between, they are nonetheless thrilling in their believability and intrigue just as much as such moments in the show. And there's no shortage of Reddington's stories and anecdotes. I especially like the 'stale-cracker moment'.

Aram swallowed and forced himself to stay calm. Reddington needed him. Reddington wasn't going to do anything to him. It was all in Aram's head. But Reddington's hard eyes still held the screams, and Aram's mouth dried up. -pg 203

AND WE GET RED BACK STORY. They certainly didn't skimp on Red Info just because it's a tie-in. While it's not necessarily earth-shattering, it's definitely tasty and intriguing stuff, giving us a look at some of his early development and some of the people who shaped it. I'm a little on the fence as to how it lines up satisfactorily in his timeline so far as set down by the show, but I'm dying to find out how it all fits!

The villain in this piece -The Beekeeper- is especially interesting because he is the perfect antagonist for our profiler Liz Keen. A cult-like leader, he uses mind games, brainwashing, and skilled manipulation to cultivate followers and this is right in Liz's wheelhouse. This is exactly what she's trained for and it creates an interesting conflict between Liz and Red. Liz insists on taking down The Beekeeper herself, convinced she can repel his brainwashing attempts because of her training. The inevitable danger of it is just part of the job to her, but Red fights to keep her out of that exact danger. You can imagine how well Liz takes that.

The story itself is solid and easily could have been an actual episode, though I'm glad this one got to be a novel. It offers so much more insight into the characters and chances for developments between them. Several twists and turns developed that I didn't anticipate and others I thought I saw coming actually didn't (which is good, because that would have disappointed me). I loved the way that everything developed and resolved because it was so Red and it was so The Blacklist.

Inconsistencies and Timeline:
There were actually very few inconsistencies, most notably Dembe sometimes speaking broken English and 'Mrs. Kaplan', but these are pretty mild and the rest of the book easily made up for these mistakes.

Trying to pinpoint this event in The Blacklist timeline was tricky, but I finally nailed it down to early season 4. I assume the lack of reference to S4 characters and events was an effort to avoid potential spoilers.

In the end, The Beekeeper (No. 159) is an authentic slice of The Blacklist and it's probably the best tie-in novel I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Bravo, Piziks; bravo.

What are the best and the worst tie-in novels you've ever read?

Thursday Quotables | The Blacklist: The Beekeeper (No. 159)

Thursday Quotables, hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies, is a weekly feature to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week.

I featured this book for Friday 56, too, but I found a line that gave me chills and thrills and I have to share it!

And then [Aram] thought of Reddington's eyes, with the screaming inside them, and his blood ran cold in his veins.  -page 201

Oooh, it just gives me chills! I keep re-reading it because it's just such a fantastic description of Raymond Reddington.

But the best part?

The author totally recognized it was a great description, because he carries it on.

Aram swallowed and forced himself to stay calm. Reddington needed him. Reddington wasn't going to do anything to him. It was all in Aram's head. But Reddington's hard eyes still held the screams, and Aram's mouth dried up. -page 203

What lines reached out and grabbed you this week? 

The Blacklist Mid-Season Thoughts

The Blacklist certainly has a way with explosive finales. I've barely recovered from their rather brilliantly pulled off Liz is dead/not dead finale (remind me to tell you about that some time) and now I'm left reeling from the traitor in Red's organization.

Even as a die-hard Blacklist fan, I'll admit this season hasn't been all highs. It started very strong on the back of Liz's return and subsequent kidnapping, all wrapped up in a lovely bow with Mr. Kaplan's well-intentioned betrayal -but betrayal nonetheless. I loved this entire arc -even if Mr. Kaplan's fate broke my heart.

I'm going to break this down into a couple of sections and talk about what I loved and what I'm having trouble with.

Red and Liz

I loved, loved, loved the entire Who's Your Daddy? arc with Kirk. It put Red and Liz at either ends of their most interesting conflict so far. Twofold. Because on the back of deciding that she doesn't trust Red to be involved in Agnes' life, she is forced to decide if she can trust him to save her life. Even when she is convinced that Kirk really is her father -and that Reddington lied about- she still chooses to trust Reddington over him. I love this. Especially when it turns out that Red was right all along. Their relationship is so convoluted and complicated and frustrating and beautiful. For the first part of this season, the interaction between these two was strong and fraught with complicated emotions -the first two episodes without their direct interaction even more emotional and intense.

I'm also not that upset that we still don't know who Liz's father is for the very simple reason that I care more about who Red is to Liz than who her dad is. This is just the more interesting question to me.

What I see in this arc are more clues to their connection, specifically these two:

1) Reddington tried to convince Katarina to take Masha/Liz and leave Kirk.
Why?, of course, is the next question. As I see it, there are two probable answers. Red was in love with Katarina and wanted to run away with her. But there's also the possibility that he hoped to protect her and Masha from someone or something. Possibly the fallout over the Fulcrum or from Liz's actual father, who was abusive.

2) "It doesn't matter."
Under torture, Kirk repeatedly asks Red 'Are you Masha's father?' and Red's comeback is "It doesn't matter." He basically tells Kirk -and I'm paraphrasing- 'She lived in your house as your daughter on and off for four years. You thought she was your daughter; you treated her and loved her like your daughter. So what does it matter who her biological father is?'

I can't help but think, did Red want that? Did Red want to think Liz was his daughter; to treat her and love her like his daughter? Does he think of himself as Liz's father? Is that why it doesn't matter, because maybe it's his truth, even if it isn't THE truth?

For the first part of this season, the interaction between these two was strong and fraught with complicated emotions -the first two episodes without their direct interaction even more emotional and intense. Throughout the Kirk arc, I felt their relationship was handled very well, especially when Liz decides to trust Red instead of Kirk despite believing Kirk is her father, but the moment Kirk left the scene, something fizzled out.

Initially, I thought Red was trying to respect Liz's space and, while I think it was a factor, this wasn't addressed very well and quickly became simply a lack of interaction between them. Past The Harem, they're not interacting very much at all and they're connecting even less. This was especially disconcerting in The Apothecary, because Liz has little emotional reaction to Red's impending death. There's no desperation or worry or frustration and, considering she's shown all of this in spades before, I feel like this was poor handling on the writers' part. I wished there'd been just one moment between them, even if it was silence, just letting the realization sink in. (This would have been perfect in the elevator ride up the Post Office, I'm just saying.) There was just that emotional connection missing here, and miss it I did.

In that same vein, I feel like Red and Liz still haven't dealt with the fact that she faked her death. They've maybe moved on, but they haven't come to terms with it. I know I'm still reeling from that twist, so there's no way Red can be over it that fast. There's still some unresolved issues here that need to be dealt with and I hope they're dealt with soon.  Even when they're in conflict or on different footing, there's a lot going on between them, but those last four episodes seemed to be missing that in the wake of everything else going on. I want to get back the complicated and beautiful interaction between them with the mid-season premiere.

Kirk

I loved him as a blacklister because he wasn't evil; he wasn't even necessarily a bad guy. He was just an increasingly desperate and broken man trying to put his family back together. He went a little bat crazy, granted, and did a lot of terrible things, but it's just like he said: It was all born of love.

And you know what? Alexander Kirk was basically a shadow of Red himself.

Kirk wasn't the only fantastic blacklister this season; as always, we had a great lineup of borderline plausibly genius villains and entrepreneurs. One of my other favorites was probably Natalie Luca; another villain driven by love and such a heartbreaking and haunting one at that.

Ressler -Coming to a Crossroads?

Ressler has a couple of really great moments this season and then, in my opinion, an unfortunately crummy subplot. 

Right off the bat, in the season premiere Esteban, our favorite by-the-book boy scout goes a little rouge and takes advice from Reddington to cut through the red tape and arranging the blacklister's arrest -against not only the CIA's wishes, but that of Cooper and Panabaker.

A few episodes later, Liz and Tom are desperate for any information they can get on Kirk in their search for Agnes. Ressler pulls a box of evidence out of their reach, takes one look at their faces, and hands it right back. Again, the rule-happy agent breaks the rules when they get in the way of righting a wrong.
  
And now it looks like he's not taking orders to close up Reven Wright's disappearance investigation. Oh no, he's taking matters into his own hands and this is going to be absolutely fantastic.

But that crummy subplot?

In Isabella Stone, Ressler's brother is going in for surgery but Ressler can't be there for him because the task force is at Red's beck and call. While I get Ressler's point and I agree with his side, I found myself mostly just annoyed with Ressler this episode for the simple reason that he didn't ask Cooper for leave to be with his brother. Cooper even point-blank asked him, rhetorical or not, if there was someplace else he needed to be, and Ressler brushed him off. I couldn't sympathize with him because, if it was really that important, he could have at least asked Cooper. And if the answer had been 'wait until after this job', then I could sympathized with him. But he didn't, and he spent the rest of the episode blaming Red for it.

That aside, I'm hoping this is another step toward a Ressler turning point. Every significant moment of Ressler's this season so far has been another step back from his faith in the justice system. Not in justice, mind you -remember Esteban- but in the system itself.

Despite really not liking how Ressler was handled in this episode, I do think they're setting him up for a crossroads. The first few episodes laid the groundwork for his losing faith, not in justice, but in the justice system, and Isabella Stone pushed again the idea that the system is being twisted.

When The Blacklist returns, will we see Ressler faced with a crossroads? How far will he bend the rules to skirt around red tape? And how much longer is he going to endure working with Reddington?

Mr. Kaplan -Is it a Test?

So I've got this crazy theory. I'm unconvinced as yet that Reddington doesn't know Kaplan is alive. Stay with me.

Reddington is a good shot. This is established, in the show and specifically stated in The Gambler comic. He is an excellent shot.

He's killed a lot of people.

He also shot Kaplan at fairly close range.

All of this makes it improbable that he could miss killing her and not know it.

I'm wondering, come April, if we won't find out the shooting in the woods and the squatter who 'rescues' her aren't some elaborate test to see whether she intends to further betray him or if she can still be trusted in the long run.

Now I go back and forth on this theory all the time. On the one hand, it's elaborate and convoluted. On the other, isn't this entire fantastic show?

On the one hand, I admit it's the fangirl in me wanting to redeem a piece of Red's soul. On the other, Red really struggled with what to do with Kaplan and the idea that she truly thought she was protecting Red from himself must have moved him a little, right?

On the one hand, Red maintains a very strict moral code.
On the other, think of this reveal at the inevitable confrontation with Dembe. Doesn't it sound just like something they'd pull?

Dembe

One of the first things I noticed about Dembe this season was a slight difference in his interaction with Red. Specifically -their funny moments. While the 'Highlights' scene is the most memorable, there was also a moment in Miles McGrath when the blacklister refers to Red as 'the spy who came in from the cold'; Red comments to Dembe they should get it on cassette to listen to in the car and Dembe plays a perfect 'straight man'. Their interaction this season seemed much more easy, companionable, and friendly than in the past, and I adored it!

Curse them.
 
This twist is full of gut-wrenching emotion and game-changing consequences. For this reason, I love it. It's just what I expect from this show. But I also love Dembe and I don't want to see his great relationship with Red come to such a terrible ending, so I also kind of hate it. Which actually makes me love it more.

Where do they go from here? Only just last season, Hisham Tawfiq was upgraded from recurring character to main cast -is Dembe's role in the story going to remain prominent? Or was this a last hurrah?

And Red? Mr. Kaplan's betrayal shook him and, in some ways, broke him. How will Dembe's betrayal change him? Is he going to stop trusting all of his closest allies? Or is he going to place more trust in Keen and the task force?

What I want to see when The Blacklist returns:

• Mr. Kaplan's Fate
• Where in the World is Alexander Kirk? And what on earth did Red tell him?
• Dom -I would love to see Liz's maternal grandfather make another appearance
• What did Red need the ships for? He seemed pretty desperate to get them, and I'm wondering if this is another one of those 'bigger picture' things.
• A Ressler-central episode; better yet, another Ressler & Red team up. Taking down Reven Wright's killer. While Ressler faces his misgivings about the justice system. Yeah, give me that.
• Navabi and Liz to hash out their differences. I've been waiting all season to see these two patch things up but I'm starting to despair of its ever happening. They seem pretty content ignoring each other.
• More Tom and Ressler interaction. They play off each other so well and they also still kind of hate each other. I love it. This could develop into such a fantastic and complicated relationship if the writers just build it up. Please please pleasepleaseplease.
• More on Katarina. Don't tell me Liz finished that diary already.

And, of course, obviously

• The confrontation with Dembe. But, gosh, it better be amazing and worth it because it's already breaking my heart.

Conclusion

One thing's for show: The Blacklist hasn't lost it's touch for explosive finales and, despite some weak spots, they can still tell a darn good story. I will certainly be tuned in for the return on April 20.

The Blacklist Marathon You NEED Before S4 Returns

SPOILER WARNING: Yeah, so I'm not pulling punches. There are massive spoilers in here, up to the most recent episode. So if you haven't hit the season 4 halfway point, turn back now.
You have been warned.

I love The Blacklist. I hope I haven't been keeping that my little secret, because this show is FAN. FREAKING. TASTIC. (*chokesob* Dembe!) Riveting characters, great story, layers of intrigue and complexity -a thing of beauty!

So if you're looking forward to its return on April 20th, here's my list of MUCH WATCH episodes before we see the next chapter. Obviously, you want to rewatch the first half of season 4 -but to feel the true impact of that ton-of-bricks finale (Deeeemmmbbeeee!) requires a journey through yesteryear, so come with me, my friends, and let's revisit some of the most important moments of Red and Dembe's relationship.

The Freelancer (1x2)

Notable, of course, as Dembe's first appearance AND it has one of my favorite lines of the entire show to date:
But this is an important episode because of a fleeting scene at the end, between Ressler and Dembe, that speaks volumes about the relationship between Reddington and Dembe. All the way back IN EPISODE TWO.

Okay. Hang on. I might not be ready for this.
Excuse me while I rant and rave and regain my senses...

Okay. Now that I've got that out of my system, I should be good for the rest of the post. Let's continue.

Anslo Garrick (1x10)

One of the reasons this ranked in my Top Ten Episodes post was because of the heartbreaking goodbye scene between Red and Dembe. It breaks my heart. Every. Time.

The Good Samaritan (1x11)

This one might not fit in with my obvious Red/Dembe Theme -at least, not at first glance.
First question: Remember how far and how dark Red went to clean up house after the Anslo Garrick incident?
Second question: Remember this guy?

Oh, hello again, Mr. Theme! You mean you've been here the whole time?

Dr. James Convington (2x3)

Mr. Theme is working undercover again, because this episode is most notable for the introduction of Vargas as a double agent to root out anyone who might betray Red to Berlin -not to mention the powerful foreshadowing and irony at play in Vargas' disfavor.
But Mr. Theme is also slapping us right between the eyes too:

The Mombasa Cartel (2x6)

This is essential, but not just because it explores Dembe's past and the deep connection and loyalty he has to Reddington. What might be even more important about this episode is the moment Reddington confronts the villain behind it all. Red has every intention of killing Perl, but Dembe -Dembe whose entire life was ruined and overturned by this villain- tells Red not to kill him. "It serves no purpose to kill him now." And Red marvels at Dembe's goodness, admitting him the better man.
But Red will always be Red. He kills Perl, without even flinching.
There is a moment here, between Red and Dembe. A moment of separation and division, because Red has done what he felt had to be done, despite Dembe's objections. He pauses, face to face with Dembe, an apology on the tip of his tongue. But he isn't sorry, is he? Because he would do it all over again, because that's how he dispenses justice. Knowing the apology would be hollow, he swallows it back. And look at Dembe's face!

The Djinn (3x4) & Arioch Cain (3x5)

Eighteen episodes later, from The Troll Farmer to Arioch Cain, we get an incredible arc from Dembe who, captured by the Cabal, is tortured for information about Red. I still haven't decided whether the most important moment in this arc occurs in The Djinn or Arioch Cain, so I'll let you make your own call on that, but the entire arc is a testament to the strength of Dembe's character and his loyalty to Reddington.

Mato (4x2)

This is ground zero right here, the beginning of the end, though no one saw it coming. Even Dembe, when Kaplan tries to get a little sympathy from him, tells her he's no less forgiving then Red just then. Oh, how the tables turn...

Dr. Adrian Shaw: Conclusion (4x8)

This episode is important because of one moment: As Red is preparing to turn himself over to Kirk in exchange for Liz, he turns to Dembe and says: "Forgive me. For Kate."

THE FORECASTER (4X10)

Talk about your double entendres! If the font size didn't clue you in, yes, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT episode to rewatch. My initial watching of season 4, I had no idea who was behind the attacks on Red. The moment I rewatched this episode, however, I knew. If you only rewatch one episode, make it this one.

The Harem (4x11)

Notable for connections to Mr. Kaplan, but also that sly move of Dembe going behind Red's back and telling Liz about it (in the previous episode) because we see it for what it is -a last ditch effort to save Red's soul. And Dembe knows here that it's failed.

And last, but not least...

The Apothecary (4x15)

And that will get you well prepared for The Blacklist's return on April 20th! I hope you'll be watching right there with me.

What is your favorite Red and Dembe moment?

How are your emotions, coming up on the return?

Dembe Zuma (No 10), The Blacklist 4x16 (Worth Watching)

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

This is all my hysterical, deliriously happy, evil laughter, because THE BLACKLIST IS BACK IN TOP BLACKLIST FORM!!!

So let's just start at the beginning, yeah?

Episode 4x16 -Dembe Zuma (No. 10)

My first thought was literally "Aram -what the crap?!" I mean, for a guy who's been lamenting his destructive taste in women and relationship woes, this second relationship with spy/traitor/betrayer Janet went from 0 to 60 really fast, especially considering he backed out of the opportunity of a date with long-time crush Navabi because she lied to him. I mean, from where I'm sitting, Janet lied and then some, least of which was, you know, trying to kill him.

Also, there's the timing, considering at least we the viewer know Navabi turned down her own long-time flame because she realized she's in love 'with someone else', and that Aram himself knows that Navabi is definitely becoming interested. This immediately puts Janet into the 'stock love interest' category, those doe-eyed women and near-perfect men doomed to heartache because their only purpose seems to be separating and then ultimately indirectly uniting that most prominent will they/won't they couple. *cough*TROPE*cough*

And even as I was jotting down a mini-rant about how Janet completely betrayed Aram and crushed his heart and put him into a downward spiral of doubt and... and... I realized something. I kind of like Janet for Aram. When I realized that, I actually got a little miffed because this relationship probably won't wind up going any where, as per 'stock love interest' policy. But I'm going to come back to this later, because I don't want my Aram love getting in the way of my

DEMBE LOVE!!!

I seriously love this man. I have always loved Dembe and his supposed betrayal in The Apothecary broke my heart and I really, truly thought it was just a hopeless fangirl fantasy that he could really be exonerated and I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!

And I have to point out, when Red, Harold, and Liz are discussing the unsuccessful hunt for Dembe, can we just appreciate the pride and awe in Red's voice when he describes all of Dembe's skills and attributes? Even when he was convinced Dembe had betrayed him, he still couldn't bring himself to hate him. I absolutely love the bond these two share. ^_^

The best part -and I mean the BEST PART- about this entire Dembe story line is that the writers got me to swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. I mean, I've talked before about cliches in shows and not falling for them, but the writers of The Blacklist basically have me second-guessing everything that unfolds and most of this is because of that season 3 finale. I knew that Liz wasn't dead; I knew it! I even figured out Kaplan was the one to plan it all out. But the show spent so long grieving over her death and hiding it from us that I actually began to doubt. I had just begun to accept Liz was actually dead and to fret about how the show would fare from then on out when they finally revealed the truth. And that's one thing I adore about this show -they write the story so well that I begin to believe everything they want me to, whether I want to or not.

But back to Dembe. Because that look on his face when Aram tells him he can't figure out who stole Reddington's stuff. That utter defeat as he slides to the ground in a dejected, lovable pile of heartache! Awwwwwww! He's so disappointed because he can't help Red! How many times must I express my love for their friendship?! And when he tells Aram: "I have three people in my life: my daughter, my granddaughter, and Raymond." MY HEART ABSOLUTELY MELTED. I love you, Dembe, and I'm so glad you didn't try to murder Red and how could I ever doubt you?!?!

And now we get to switch back to my other character crush, Aram! I absolutely loved the way he handled Dembe in this episode because, before he realized Dembe wasn't really a traitor, he straight up said he'd rather die than help him hurt Mr. Reddington. I love this about Aram, that he will stick to his principles in the face of sheer terror; I love this fierce loyalty he has to Red (though I hope it won't bite him too hard in the backside some day); I love that he always calls Red 'Mr. Reddington'; I love, love, love that he recognized Dembe's utter defeat for what it was. I love that Aram has so much confidence and optimism about the good in people that he was willing to give Dembe the benefit of the doubt and believe that he had nothing to do with the assassination attempt on Red. I love that Aram trusts so much in this good side of people that he was willing to break into a secure database and then ensure Dembe's escape from Ressler and Navabi -because, face it, none of them have a great track record with believing or handling traitors. And I love that Aram has all this faith and trust in people, but he's not so naive that he doesn't stop every few minutes, scrutinizes Dembe and says, "To help Mr. Reddington. Right?"

Can we have more Aram and Dembe team-ups in the future? Pretty, pretty please? A little bit of Agent Mojtabai and Agent Zuma action every once in a while would be perfect. I mean, look how much they get accomplished together!

And you know Aram just loved playing boss.
"Sorry, sir."

They managed to find the name of the person causing Red so much misery -Katheryn Nemec- although Dembe did run out before explaining any of it to Aram to go chase down proof all by his lonesome, which is never, ever a doomed of life-threatening endeavor in a TV show, right?

I will be honest. I was a little disappointed that it turned out to be Mr. Kaplan all along. I felt a little cheated, just because I discounted that option a long time ago because, among other reasons, I thought it was too obvious. However, the next episode Requiem changed everything, so stay tuned for that recap.

Back on the hunt for Dembe, Liz is meeting Glenn for the first time. Now, I gotta admit, Glenn is one of my least favorite of Red's associates. I find him less funny than he is crude and annoying as all get out, but even I have to say he proves an interesting foil to Red's generally cool, threatening demeanor. Of all people, Glenn seems to have absolutely no fear of Red (I wonder if that's ever going to prove his downfall) and he loves -I mean, loves- to push Red's buttons and pull his chain. So I loved watching Liz meet this guy for the first time and seeing how he treats Red and how Red takes it. Every time Glenn said something irksome, her eyebrows went straight up and she glanced over at Red, like "Are you seriously going to let him talk to you like that?" Plus, Glenn's completely shameless habit of taking advantage of his work perks amuses me. Seriously, using a student driver as a chauffeur for an emergency info hand-off with the wanted and at large head of a massive criminal enterprise? But it's okay, because said student driver doesn't speak English. XD

One of my favorite lines from this episode came from Red, right after Liz tells him that Aram swears Dembe is innocent.

"You can afford to hope for the best, but to survive in my world, I have to assume the worst."

It speaks volumes as to what he lives with every day and the burdens he must carry. I'm glad he still has Dembe to count on through his trials.

I was so proud of Red when he finally tracked down Dembe's daughter that he didn't show the slightest bit of anger or aggression, but I'm also glad Liz was with him, because when Isabella realized that her dad ran away from Red, she looked downright terrified. At least we know Liz wouldn't let Red do anything. (Right?)

But I think there's more to his calm than just getting what he needs, because when Red does get hold of Dembe on the phone, there is clear hope in that conversation: "What are you doing, Dembe? Because everything you seem to be doing is making you look guilty."

Despite what Red told Liz about having to assume the worst, I don't think he could entirely crush out that flower of hope that one of his dearest and oldest companions could so completely betray him and, lucky for Red, that hope is going to pay off, because Dembe says just enough -before getting attacked and cut off- that Red gets a nagging suspicion of what's really going on. And after a quick phone call with Aram, the truth comes out. It's Mr. Kaplan and she's out for blood and revenge.

Interestingly, hearing Kaplan is alive and Red's own confession as to the actual act of 'killing' of her, Liz shows some of her first genuine emotion all episode, but I really can't tell whether it's for Kaplan -the  woman who up to now Liz thought had given her life to save Agnes- or for Red. I'm having a really hard time reading her, because her interactions with others -especially with Red- are not what they used to be. There's not a lot of emotion or depth or content in most of her conversations right now, which I've talked about before, and it's starting to frustrate me. Liz is present and hanging out in these more recent episodes; she's here, but she's not really contributing.

If there was one thing I did not expect in this episode it was the return of the CREEPY HUNTER DUDE! And bam! He makes a surprise appearance following an arrow in Dembe's leg and he starts taunting Dembe and praising Kate. I mean, I got that he was impressed with her, but it seems a little like he's obsessed with her. Of course, Dembe takes the inevitable villain monologue as an opportunity to lure the Creepy Hunter Dude closer -so he can yank out the arrow from his own leg and stab him with it! Man, I love this guy!

Red and Liz arrive just in time to scoop up Dembe, hobbling back to his car. The reunion between Red and Dembe is brief -considering the one is bleeding out and the other is rattled that Kate's alive and apparently has an assassin lurking nearby- but I'm hoping for a good moment between those two in episode 18. *crosses fingers*

While Red sends Liz off to get Dembe to the hospital, Baz -who, adorably, has been playing Dembe's stand in as chauffuer and bodyguard- and Red head off into the woods to do battle with Creepy Hunter Dude. They manage to draw him out with a little bit of trickery, at the cost of an arrow wound for Baz, but at least now we know Baz looks just as good in Red's hat as Red does in a knit beanie cap. (Seriously.)

Now we come to the part of the show where Aram realizes that his long-term crush just found out he's been dating his traitor ex-girlfriend again. Yay. I kind of skipped over the part where Janet suggests to Navabi they discuss the fact that they both like Aram because my only note from that was 'Suck it up, Navabi.' I'm really having serious issues with her. So we're going to skip over this right to the part where Aram apologizes to Navabi.

First of all, Aram apologizes to Navabi because he didn't forewarn her that he was dating Janet again. This tells a lot about Aram's character, that he's maybe too nice for his own good, he's a decent guy, and he genuinely still cares for Navabi. I think he takes a very big step in treating Navabi as a real person rather than an idolized crush when he is blatantly honest and tells her that one of the things he admires about her is her intensity but it's also something that terrifies him, especially in a potential relationship aspect.

And Navabi says: "How's this for terrifying? I couldn't care less what you admire."

And the note I jotted down there was: Now I really hate you, Navabi ['really' is underlined about 8 times] and I hope you never get Aram YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM. Seriously, you've had your chances, and so many times Aram tries to be honest and mature about his feelings for you, you not only shut him down, you hurt him out of spite and I abhor that about you. You're becoming a very unlikable character and your good traits are drying up by the episode.

Okay. Trying to be unbiased for a moment, I get that she's upset and frustrated and angry right now. She didn't want to hear what Aram wanted to say and I get that hearing Aram tell her what he admires about her probably just made her angrier. But when Navabi gets angry, she tends to get cruel. I don't like that about her. I don't like that this is not the first time she has taken an olive branch offered out by Aram and broken it over her knee. I don't like the way she treats him, especially when he's being sincere; I don't like the way she takes his words and crams them back down his throat.

So here's the thing with show relationships. I'm not huge into 'shipping', except in extreme scenarios; I'm generally willing to go along with whatever the show seems to be pushing. So it was with Aram and Navabi. The first time he sees her, he is smitten. Everybody knows it; they even joke about it on occasion. Navabi, too, seems to find great amusement with Aram's infatuation and teases him a little. At first, I thought this was cute. If any relationship in the show worked out, I wanted it to be this one, because it was so darn cute. But as time goes on and nothing comes of it -and especially when Navabi slept with Ressler back in season 3, I mean, seriously, what was up with that?!- her behavior towards Aram goes from being cute with him to toying with him and sometimes being just downright cruel.

I'll admit, I'm a little biased against Navabi currently; the more I learn about her character, her personality, her opinions, and, as Aram put it, her intensity, the less and less I like her, but the less suited I think she is for Aram too. Which is why I hope, if Aram winds up in any lasting relationship in the show, that it isn't with Navabi. At this point, I don't really care who he winds up with as long as it isn't Navabi.

So. There's my strong opinion about that.

Moving on.

The final acts of this episode are appropriately dramatic. Red and Baz interrogate Creepy Hunter Dude for Kate's whereabouts and Creepy Hunter Dude is surprisingly and vehemently loyal to the woman he held captive for a few days in his shack in the middle of nowhere.

So loyal, in fact, he tricks Red into dialing the number that sets off the bomb he's rigged in the basement.

Red and Baz run for their lives as the cabin explodes, taking Creepy Hunter Dude with it, although leaving his foreboding last words behind:

Creepy Hunter Dude: She said you'd do this.

RED: She said I'd do what exactly?

CHD: Underestimate her. 

And the episode ends with a shot of Kate, listening to the more foreboding phone message her backwoods admirer left: "...If this is the last time you hear my voice, know that I didn’t give you up. And I didn’t go down without a fight. You told me, if he ever figured out you’re still alive, he’d come at you full bore. Well, lock and load, Katie. Your war has come."

Guess it turns out the cleaner really is quite the strategist, ain't she, Red?

I've been a little worried about how this come-back would fare, but I think The Blacklist is back in top form.

Do you think so?

What was your favorite part?