Episode 2 of "The Blacklist" begins with Red and Liz both taking polygraphs. The government is not sure what to do with him (he wants immunity in exchange for his "list" of baddies) or her (how does the new agent know him). Red alerts the government to a train wreck (which killed 60 people) that is the work of "The Freelancer". He is responsible for some 3000 deaths by a variety of means around the world. If I was an international assassin I would come up with a better name for myself.
Raymond and Elizabeth get to know each other (sorta) over dinner. They are monitored by Ressler. Cooper is busy fighting with the higher ups. The Freelancers next target is one a human rights activist Floriana Campo (played by Isabella Rossellini (who I just love). Turns out Keen is a big fan of hers and wrote her thesis on Campo's charitable work.
CIA agent Meera Malik is also now on the case. So far she's my favorite character. We also meet Red's old bodyguard Dembe and Luli Zeng (who apparently is Red's accountant) but me thinks there's more to the story.
During dinner with Lizzy, Red escapes yet again, but wait, he's back and in the surveillance van. Apparently Red is allowed (or at least not prevented from) wandering around anywhere he wants. Way to keep track of the FBI's fourth most wanted fugitive people!
So everyone takes a bath and goes to yet another dinner. (Are our tax dollars paying for all these meals? Go to McDonalds like the rest of us). This time it's a fund raiser for Florianna's charity organization. They spot a waiter who Red says is the baddy. They chase him around a while. He's injured. After a little light torturing, he confesses the Red is actually the one that hired him.
It turns out that Floriana is not a good guy (girl) after all. Instead of saving girls from human trafficking, she's actually the one doing it. Snap! I didn't see that coming. Red of course knows this. He sneaks into her hotel room. They have some catty dialogue. He previously slipped her poison and she will die without the antidote. Liz does an emergency trach with a pen. That went surprisingly fast. Red says he has the antidote which he finally gives to Liz... but double snap Floriana dies anyway (because there never was an antidote).
Meanwhile Liz's husband Tom awakens from his medically included coma (that was the fastest recovery ever). So far we don't have any new info about his stash of passports, cash and weapons that she found under the floorboards last week.
Other observations:
- Keen visiting Reddington in his cargo box is pretty hokey. I'm not sure it has the desired effect. And that's a lot of security for one guy (who keeps escaping anyway).
- Is Keen going to stab someone in the neck every episode or what? Last week she stabbed Red. This week Florianna. I can proudly say I've lived my entire life without once stabbing someone in the neck.
- I hope the government shutdown ends soon. The FBI needs a few more hands so Liz doesn't have profile Red, attend dinners and play security guard to Florianna.
- Did you notice the scar on Dembe's shoulder that showed he had been part of Campo's human trafficking ring?
- So is Lizzy Red's daughter or what? It seems so obviously at this point that it might be a red herring.
- "News headline: Italian dog born with two heads"- Raymond with what the news will say about Florianna Campo.
- "What is it with you and hotel rooms and pens in people's necks?"- Red to Liz
Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Last week I had almost predicted this show a dud but now it's starting to grow on me. James Spader is as always a compelling presence. I'm still not sure about the casting of Megan Boone as Elizabeth though. If everyone on "the list" is as interesting as Isabella Rossellini I'll keep watching.
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