S08. E01: Roanoke

[mxc90]

Quote

First Aired: November 13, 2020

Red directs the Task Force to investigate Roanoke, a legendary criminal who orchestrates elaborate extractions. Meanwhile, Liz works to hatch a secret plan with her mother, Katarina Rostova.

 

[mxc90]

Season 8! Damn! 

Some of the scenes were weird to watch/dark. Almost wished they gave us animation.

The U.S. Marshals were never suspicious at anytime before the elevator closed?!!? 

U.S. Marshal to Ressler: "Told you I don't miss". Sure! And you don't call your superiors when there's a problem on your watch too.

Poor Pasternak was killed without seeing the "outcome" to the porn flick.

Note to self: put wolfberries on the grocery list. Also note: wolfberries makes you tell some ridiculous cat stories to a stranger for no reason without taking a breath.

Sorry Red! Katarina is not surprisingly formidable. You are just slipping and also rude for not pouring a glass for Dembe.

Roanoke's team is a sloppy bunch: they underestimated the US Marshal's ability to count, didn't kill the people at auto body and left all the blueprints and clues at their hideout for Liz/Ressler to easily find.

Is Red losing his memory, didn't he find out Liz was the traitor that set him up last season? Why was he so trusting of her to tell her the plans to move Dom.

Now we have N-13 to go with the Sivorsky files. Good grief! And now they are trying to sell Katerina as the sympathetic victim.

Ressler really thought he was finally getting into some action with Liz and the fool doubles down by telling her he won't give up on her. Then Liz rewards the jerk by taking his gun. Enjoy that cold shower buddy!

I'm sure Liz had the auto body send the bill for the four tires to the FBI to pay. Cooper's real dilemma is should he pay for it out of his pocket or have the FBI pay.

Aida Turturro lost some weight.

Last season, someone here pointed out Park's eyes. Now those always moving golf balls are the first things I noticed whenever she appears.

Edited November 14, 2020 by mxc90

[edhopper]

The only thing I have to say to Liz is, "F#@k your feelings!"

[Chaos Theory]

So far the season looks promising.  I know  people have a love/hate relationship with Elizabeth Keen but I like her when she is either paired directly with or up against Red.   Plus I really think Landslide  is a great song for where the show is right now.  
 

“If another person tells me they lied to me for my own protection....”

”Whatever you are doing....don’t.”
 

I thought this was the direction they were sending Liz seasons ago but they always balked.  I hope they go all the way because I dig it.

Edited November 14, 2020 by Chaos Theory

[dwmarch]

So the big secret is that there was a Russian traitor 30 years ago and that traitor is somehow still managing to acquire and spill secrets? And Katerina thinks it's Red because he has high-level access to the US Government. What? That doesn't make any kind of sense.

I liked how Ressler was triggered by the Marshall's "I don't miss" comment, Ressler being a graduate of the Stormtrooper Marksman Academy.

Speaking of Ressler, double dumbass on him for falling for the oldest trick in the book and managing to get his weapon grabbed in the process.

I wonder how many more team members are going to fall victim to Lizzie's crude attempts at social engineering. Aram certainly. Cooper... give him time. Park might stand a chance against Lizzie's nonsense. Let's hope. Dembe, it looks like it's up to you to fix this mess since you're the only one who seems to have his head on at least halfway straight.

[Neiman]

The more they do close ups of Liz, the more I think she resembles Michael Jackson.

[preeya]

Was Reddington on the brink of tears in that last scene with Dembe?

This song is about a father-daughter relationship.

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by preeya

[Dowel Jones]

Not sure about the timeline, but was Reddington waxing eloquent about Vesco's cat?

I would think that the FBI medical van would have an Automatic Vehicle Locator installed.  And that wire that Liz is wearing has some serious range to it.  Is Katarina still sitting in her apartment across from Liz's place?  And why doesn't the FBI maybe set up a tap on Liz's cell phone?  Or is that like one of Ressler's perimeters?

Look on the bright side, Marshalls.  At least Roanoake save the US taxpayers some money on the trial.

[ottoDbusdriver]

7 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Not sure about the timeline, but was Reddington waxing eloquent about Vesco's cat?

Still no mention of Agnes or the dogs.

I enjoy Red's stories as much as the next guy, but that scene where Red was making smoothies and regaling various tales went on WAY TOO LONG.  It went on for nearly 4 minutes and 15 seconds -- or about 4 minutes too long.

So, per Harold, Keen has betrayed this agency and it's time for a manhunt for Keen -- again.   How many times are they going to go down this road ?  Which means that Keen will likely get her job back by next episode.

 

[Neiman]

We just never seem to learn a lot about what's going on. 

I'm not interested in a relationship between Ressler and Liz, so I hope we've seen enough that.

After Liz duped them, I was expecting Park to speak up, but I guess she sensed that's a no win situation since Aram, Ressler, and Cooper are all under Liz's spell. 

[NeenerNeener]

I see they hired a new actor to play Dom since Dennehy died over the break. I wonder if they will hire someone else to play Glen since Middleton also died over the break. Although Middleton will be a tough act to follow because he was so physically distinctive.

[misstwpherecool]

55 minutes ago, NeenerNeener said:

I see they hired a new actor to play Dom since Dennehy died over the break. I wonder if they will hire someone else to play Glen since Middleton also died over the break. Although Middleton will be a tough act to follow because he was so physically distinctive.

RIP both actors. Seems like Middleton had a tougher go of it. And his character was distinctive in more ways than one. It will be hard to follow. 

I didn't see much chemistry or fluidity between Dennehy's replacement and Boone. He'll turn Dom into his own character.

Onething I noticed with many show preimeres is you can tell they have been out for a while and lot of them their hair styles and make up seem a little off, they look tired, not out of shape but tired. Hopefully they all get back into the swing of things.

Lizzy the traitor part 25. Hope this is somekind of double top secret undercover assignment in exchange for immunity for her parents. Her mom is lying. I doubt this is about somekind of 'list'. 

Edited November 14, 2020 by misstwpherecool

[CaptainE]

1 hour ago, NeenerNeener said:

I see they hired a new actor to play Dom since Dennehy died over the break. I wonder if they will hire someone else to play Glen since Middleton also died over the break. Although Middleton will be a tough act to follow because he was so physically distinctive.

Aww, I didn’t know that.  He was a good character.

I think there are some new writers involved.  They actually had some plot bs explained.  I’m sure it will turn out to be wrong somehow.

Also Lizzie kissing Ressler? I don’t think so.

What does this have to do with the bones in the suitcase?  I hope this is the last season.  
 

Now time for the soothing balm of Counterpart.  (It’s old but I missed it somehow)

Edited November 14, 2020 by CaptainE

[tljgator]

I missed the first 15 minutes. I'm fairly certain it mattered not one iota in how well I "understood" what was happening.

 

[paigow]

5 hours ago, CaptainE said:

What does this have to do with the bones in the suitcase?

Or the Townsend Directive?

What is the lifespan of a feral kitten??? 20 years? 30? The rest of the season B-Plot is a bunch of dudes searching Hong Kong for really old cats.

22 hours ago, mxc90 said:

Now we have N-13 to go with the Sivorsky files.

So they should be looking for Kevin Costner? [No Way Out for the kids here to Google]

Edited November 15, 2020 by paigow

[saber5055]

I guess I wasn't so excited about this returning since I was doing so much other stuff while it was on, I didn't catch the plot at all. Although reading here, this episode didn't stray from past episodes in that nothing made sense and one shouldn't think to hard about any of it. There isn't any plot, in other words.

Did any of you hear me shouting, "EWWWWWWW, Gah! ICK! No way!" when Lizzie and Ressler kissed? That was so gross, it almost broke my teevee. Plus this inquiring mind wants to know how Ressler is going to explain the loss of his service weapon.

Although I guess that doesn't matter since Lizzie killing people and being pretty much of an unreliable liar doesn't stop Cooper from lusting after her wanting to protect and save her because, after all, they are a TEAM.

I seriously have no idea what anyone, including Lizzie, is trying to find out about what or who. And Ressler needs to hook up with another dating-service chick and get back to being Mr. Straight And Narrow.

Agree that Dembe is the only character who isn't being screwed with by the writers.

[paigow]

51 minutes ago, saber5055 said:

And Ressler needs to hook up with another dating-service chick and get back to being Mr. Straight And Narrow.

[Interior: Post Office]

Ressler: [Whispering] Aram, what is the difference between Tinder and Grindr?

[saber5055]

@paigow, you need to be writing for this show. LMAO.

[paigow]

Intentional or not, Spader seems to be more Shatneresque in the monologues....

[Loandbehold]

11 minutes ago, paigow said:

[Interior: Post Office]

Ressler: [Whispering] Aram, what is the difference between Tinder and Grindr?

Aram: [Also whispering] It gives you twice as many chances for a dating match.

Ressler: You mean that both dating sites have the exact same number of members?

Aram: Uh, yes. That's exactly what I mean. [turns away and under his breath says] What a maroon. 

[paigow]

1 minute ago, Loandbehold said:

Aram: [Also whispering] It gives you twice as many chances for a dating match.

Ressler: You mean that both dating sites have the exact same number of members?

Aram: Uh, yes. That's exactly what I mean. [turns away and under his breath says] What a maroon. 

Ressler: [Runs over and grabs Aram by the shoulder] Can you set up new profiles for me? Use some of those keywords you always talk about. 

[Manda317]

I wouldn't be so irritated with Liz's actions if she was double-crossing her mother as well. I don't get why she trusts her at all. It is normal for her to want the truth about the things that have happened to her, but she has no reason to trust whoever this woman is more Reddington. Reddington has at least proved that he loves her. 

Also, I have decided I hate everyone on this show except Red and Dembe. Nobody else makes any sense. Cooper refuses to blame Liz for anything that she has done, Ressler is way to self-righteous and incompetent, and Katarina is so cold and totally different from her younger self. Aram has always been too compassionate but now he also comes across as stupid. Liz, who used to be a good person, is dark criminal for some reason, and her back and forth about Red is beyond tiring. I loved their relationship when she struggled with her affection for him due to his criminal actions and he seemed to believe that she would save him from the darkness. Park may have some potential but I haven't decided yet.

I want this to be the last season so I can find out what the stupid secret is and be disappointed that I wasted years of my life for such a poor, nonsensical payoff. They can continue the show as a spinoff or something but I want to know who Red is and why in the world he loves Liz so much. I need resolution so I can put this bs behind me lol.

[saber5055]

4 hours ago, Manda317 said:

I want this to be the last season so I can find out what the stupid secret is

Do you really think the writers know what the "secret" is, and if so, that "it" will be revealed in the finale? Good luck with that.

4 hours ago, Manda317 said:

They can continue the show as a spinoff

I'm for that. It would be the Aram and Ressler Dating Show. I'd watch the heck out of that.

I was really sad to read here that the actor who played Glen died. Glen was up there with Dembe as best character on this show.

Edited November 15, 2020 by saber5055

[momo]

On 11/14/2020 at 10:16 AM, NeenerNeener said:

I see they hired a new actor to play Dom since Dennehy died over the break. I wonder if they will hire someone else to play Glen since Middleton also died over the break. Although Middleton will be a tough act to follow because he was so physically distinctive.

Aw, I hadn't heard about Glen.  Found this:  "The Blacklist EPs Tease Season 8 Tribute to Clark Middleton: Glen Will Get 'Sweet, Affectionate' Sendoff"  https://tvline.com/2020/11/11/the-blacklist-clark-middleton-dies-glen-tribute-season-8/

[crowsworks]

On 11/13/2020 at 10:14 PM, edhopper said:

The only thing I have to say to Liz is, "F#@k your feelings!"

I'm ready for Liz to die....maybe with Red in the final ep. Then her husband who has miraculously been kept alive shows up - "Hi everyone, I've been living in NY as a Christ-like hospital admin and I'm a doctor now. Red fixed it. Come with me daughter.... see ya."

 

19 hours ago, paigow said:

Intentional or not, Spader seems to be more Shatneresque in the monologues....

"Denny Crane!!"

19 hours ago, paigow said:

Ressler: [Runs over and grabs Aram by the shoulder] Can you set up new profiles for me? Use some of those keywords you always talk about. 

Cause there are no middle-aged women who want a tall, good-looking blond guy?

Cripes they would be tackling him in the halls

[saber5055]

1 hour ago, crowsworks said:

Come with me daughter

There's a daughter? Who knew.

1 hour ago, crowsworks said:

Cause there are no middle-aged women who want a tall, good-looking blond guy?

Cripes they would be tackling him in the halls

You can remove "middle-aged" from that top sentence. Then it works for me. And lot of others!

[Brian Cronin]

Liz, who works with liar and spies all of the time, hears her mother tell her a story and it's instantly, "Oh, that's so sad. I must implicitly believe everything you say." 

It's just so painful, especially because Laila Robins is so painfully bad as Katarina. I swear I've seen Robins give good performances before, but it sure isn't here.

[Bliss]

I ask, "why do I keep watching this show?" and my answer is, "because I adore James Spader." (I'm also a Dembe fan.)

Wondering if there's a Blacklist Manual for Dummies? These writers are attempting to play with my mind... OR, perhaps I'm more normal than I thought. I'm a person who reads books from front to back, and appreciate stories that have twists - even surprises are welcome! - but being given a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces just annoys the h out of me. (As do "to be continued" endings without my knowing it's a multi-part show.)

I don't even care whose bones they are or what Liz and Red's relationship is anymore. Sigh.

[saber5055]

16 minutes ago, Bliss said:

I don't even care whose bones they are or what Liz and Red's relationship is anymore.

I think the writers have forgotten about the bones and expect viewers to do the same. I never did care if Red is Liz's dad ... or mom. I do like the ending of Tom coming back to take Agnes back to NY with him. She can live with him and all those dogs that have been there with Tom and Mr. Kaplan all along. Three (? I've lost count) dogs and one cat.

Too bad Lizzie doesn't know about 23andMe or Ancestry.com. Could have saved about six seasons.

[Dowel Jones]

Another question - Can a person who doesn't exist be a Blacklister?

[milkyaqua]

I watched this but totally forgot to get on here afterwards.  Apparently, that's how much I cared...

The Ressler/Liz thing wouldn't be so gross for me if they both weren't such morons and co-workers.  No one that dumb should be allowed to possibly procreate and I hate when shows even teasingly decide to pair up co-workers because there aren't any other people they could possibly connect with.  It's just lazy.  Also, Ressler should have seen that betrayal coming a mile away but again, moron.

Red trusting Liz was also dumb.  I don't know what Cooper's thing is.  At this point, Liz should be on a most wanted list and not working for the feds.

Laila Robbins is a good actress just not in this role.  It's painful to watch her.  The only sort of saving grace is if Liz is playing her.

As for Bokenkamp remembering to tie up all the theories and loose story lines (the bones, the different files, who's Liz's daddy, etc) I'll be stunned.  I still think he's just randomly throwing things in the air and seeing where they will land.  I'll never be convinced he knows what's what.

[No 2 in our Hearts]

13 hours ago, Brian Cronin said:

Liz, who works with liar and spies all of the time, hears her mother tell her a story and it's instantly, "Oh, that's so sad. I must implicitly believe everything you say." 

It's just so painful, especially because Laila Robins is so painfully bad as Katarina. I swear I've seen Robins give good performances before, but it sure isn't here.

I've never been as down on Liz as people have been but even I have to admit that Liz has over-indulged on the stupid pills on this one. Is she really willing to throw everything and everyone she cares about away based solely on the word of a creepy stranger she has literally no reason whatsoever to trust?

[paigow]

5 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Another question - Can a person who doesn't exist be a Blacklister?

Why not? That imaginary person is still more scary than Kings Of The Highway

[ottoDbusdriver]

1 hour ago, paigow said:

Why not? That imaginary person is still more scary than Kings Of The Highway

@paigow -- I was totally about to reply and say the same thing.

The Kings of the Highway are the baseline for useless Blacklisters that shouldn't even merit a Blacklist number.  

I'm still waiting for Season 20 when we find out that Agnes is # 1 on the Blacklist -- and always has been #1, even before she was born.  :)

 

[Brian Cronin]

9 hours ago, No 2 in our Hearts said:

I've never been as down on Liz as people have been but even I have to admit that Liz has over-indulged on the stupid pills on this one. Is she really willing to throw everything and everyone she cares about away based solely on the word of a creepy stranger she has literally no reason whatsoever to trust?

What kills me is that the way that their scenes go, Katarina is so OVER THE TOP evil (whether she is actually truly evil or not, she comes across as extremely evil) that I keep on waiting to see that Liz is just playing her, because Katarina is SO OVER THE TOP EVIL. So even though I am one of those people who are down on Liz, I am not so down on her that I can see her going through these interactions without any alarm bells going off for her. It makes Liz look so, so bad. It's like watching Luke Skywalker be all, "Yeah, Emperor Palpatine, I think I WILL join the Dark Side. You've made a fine argument for me joining forces with you."

[buttersister]

I just can't anymore. Everything I've read here confirms it. My Spader love must not be strong enough in pandemic times. Or else ..

Quote

Intentional or not, Spader seems to be more Shatneresque in the monologues....

this. 

My spinoff has Red and Dembe and Mr. Kaplan. And none of these others exist or ever did. Problem solved.

And Aram gets his own show. In which he faces challenges, solves mysteries and is happy.

Edited November 17, 2020 by buttersister
Aram deserves it.

[saber5055]

On 11/17/2020 at 2:32 PM, buttersister said:

My spinoff has Red and Dembe and Mr. Kaplan. And none of these others exist or ever did. Problem solved.

Mr. Kaplan wakes up from her coma in the hospital, with Red and Dembe at her bedside. "Wow, what a terrible horrible dream I had," Mr. Kaplan says, sitting up to take some refreshments from Dembe. "When do we get out of here?"

[anthonyd46]

8 hours ago, lora said:

Why isn't anyone putting on a face mask.

They said in one of the interviews the COVID pandemic is not going to take place in the show it basically doesn't exist in their timeline.

[Neiman]

2 minutes ago, anthonyd46 said:

They said in one of the interviews the COVID pandemic is not going to take place in the show it basically doesn't exist in their timeline.

I'm glad.  There have been more than enough Covid episodes on TV these days.

[Surrealist]

On 11/15/2020 at 3:19 PM, crowsworks said:

Cause there are no middle-aged women who want a tall, good-looking blond guy?

Cripes they would be tackling him in the halls

Ressler is a bumblefuck character, but yeah, Diego's cute. I would do dirty things to him.

[saber5055]

On 11/20/2020 at 8:04 PM, Neiman said:

I'm glad.  There have been more than enough Covid episodes on TV these days.

I'm glad too. If I want to see COVID, I can look out my window. TV is for me to get away from RL.