S01.E08: Persecute Envoys

[Texasmom1970]

Agreed, it's nice that they are dressed like agents on a mission, not hookers on a mission :)

That is also a pet peeve of mine when they either dress trampy or look like the are about to head into a board room meeting. That's what I also like about Sophia Bush's character on "Chicago P.D." You see her in boots, jeans and a tshirt, perfect for chasing bad guys.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Insert 'Shots'/'Rounds' Pun Here
After a super-exposition-y episode full of clichéd jurisdictional wrangling, the Blindspot girls tie one on and Buntsy finds herself writing fan-fic. ...Right?

[jhlipton]

So far all the tattoos have involved domestic crimes nothing under the CIA purview YET.

 

That hasn't stopped Carter from interfering on almost every case.

 

Yet they proceeded to write the FBI agents chasing an unarmed civilian with their weapons drawn. 

 

Weller approached him by going for his gun, before All-Pro had done anything (and, I think before flashing Al-Pro his badge like he did at the door).  In light of the in-show shooting, even if All-Pro had known Weller was police, he still would have run like crazy.  All-Pro wasn't "resisting arrest" any more than the dozens of black men murdered by cops.

 

Seriously - the All-Pro running back was so slow and flat-footed Weller almost caught up to him

 

They did say that he had injured his knees. But even if he hadn't SuperJane can beat anyone at anything.

[tomatoflyer]

Weller is smug was hell when he's just standing there, did they have to give him a reason to increase it to 5000? He was unbearable this episode.

[xtwheeler]

I believe you can ask as many as you like...

Once a person in custody (in custody is important) says "lawyer" you may not ask another question, period. Not one more question. Not a single one. Occasionally on TV they fudge it and have them keep talking at the suspect without actually asking anything, sort of persuading the person, but all questions must absolutely immediately cease.

[ravensintrigue23]

Random question, but I can't find the answer anywhere.  In what episode do Jane and Weller spar/workout together?  In promos and whatnot, I keep seeing brief clips of them working out/training and being surrounded by other agents but I haven't actually seen that in an episode.  Anyone know?  Thanks.

[backtobasics38]

Damn, overall it seems like everyone is being a little harsh on Weller. Really? I mean it is a TV show. I'm not looking for the storyline to actually be realistic - come on, a fully tattooed, naked, assassin-trained girl left in Times Square? But this show is entertaining as hell. Weller is hot, brooding, and sexy to boot. And in different moments shows some level of vulnerability. What more do you want? If anything, I find Jane a little overacted at times. Forcing it a bit too much.

[Latverian Diplomat]

Agreed, it's nice that they are dressed like agents on a mission, not hookers on a mission :)

 

This show has a very specific fan service niche, and they don't want to mess with it. If you have a woodworking fetish, Weller is like a porn star in every episode.

 

As a tiny nit, did anyone else think Zapata was needlessly dickish at the end of the sparring with Jane? The whole point of sparring is to practice without hurting anyone, but a surprise leg sweep on someone who's not ready for it is a great way to hurt them. And for what? Jane needs to learn not to be so trusting? 

Edited November 15, 2015 by Latverian Diplomat

[krimimimi]

No, no, a thousand times no. You can't be too harsh on Weller. SS is positively dreadful in the role. Hate him. There has literally not been a scene in which I liked him, just some times that I failed to hate him. Plus he still looks like a bum. Agent Neckbeard, invest in a razor stat.

But you're right, Jane is frequently dreadful, too. Pretty much in all scenes with Weller, in fact. Make it stop. (And that's not just him being terrible, but her scene-chewing, trembly-lipped take on "acting." Holy smokes.) The two of them had me just seconds away from turning the ep off this week and quitting for good (just like the hot mess called "Quantico" got me to quit a few weeks ago; quitting that has done good things for my blood pressure), but the other characters here salvaged it at the last moment. I particularly liked the scene with Jane and the ladies at the bar. That was pretty good and overdue. And the stories are sort of interesting (in a bizarre OTT way). Pity I'm watching this show around the leads.

What really almost killed it deader than dead for me was the scene with corrupt/ murderous cop who bizarrely chose to speak in much the same pattern as Weller/SS. Is that a thing? Is that how tough LEO's are supposed to talk? Between that and the shakeycam, I really gotta call the direction choices into question. Boo! For shame! Bow your heads and slink away.

But Weller's complete asshattery towards Mayfair was insane. The writers deserve some serious shade here, too. So acting on illegally obtained info is ok if somebody tattoos it on a hot chick, but not if it's acknowledged as such? STFU. (But I'll hand wave the "only four people knew" how the info was getting cleaned as acceptable, because Weller proves that given even the faintest "washing" the info is considered actionable by agents of theoretical principle and no one else needs to know for sure. Because these depictions of our intelligence agencies don't feel the need to actually manifest any real intelligence. Super. The brave (or at least competent) men and women actually doing those jobs are owed an apology.)

Anyone know at what point we'd be likely to see course corrections from the show runners (if they're likely to be coming at all?)? When are they seeing the feedback to their choices? How many weeks were they ahead? Longer term, I think they'll need to kill Weller for me to continue watching. Jane can at least get a personality transplant with her memories, and she's usually only really awful with him anyway, so that would sort it.

[jhlipton]

Also, they hit the "LIBERAL" button hard this episode.  

 

"We're taking money from social programs."  No, you're taking money from other NSA/DOD/CIA/ABC/LBJ agencies.

 

"I used Project Daylight to save Planned Parenthood!"  No, Planned Parenthood was saved because there's enough Dems in the Senate to override the most Stupid and most Evil thing the Party of Stupid and Evil has tried to do.

 

"Mayfair is a lesbian!"  I guess all powerful black women are (see AnnaLise on HTGAWM...)

 

I'm a liberal (in case you couldn't tell LOL) and it bothered me.

[jhlipton]

Random question, but I can't find the answer anywhere.  In what episode do Jane and Weller spar/workout together?  In promos and whatnot, I keep seeing brief clips of them working out/training and being surrounded by other agents but I haven't actually seen that in an episode.  Anyone know?  Thanks.

S01.E08: Persecute Envoys

[Free]

just like the hot mess called "Quantico" got me to quit a few weeks ago; quitting that has done good things for my blood pressure

 

This and Blindspot are my 2 most disappointing shows this season.  Quantico is just a trainwreck hate watch for me and this show is just dull and problematic.

[backtobasics38]

Kill Weller?! Really?! Come on, that's def harsh. I'm liking SS in this role. Guess I'm a sucker for the whole brooding thing. Everyone here seems to be down on the show (which is a switch from the other forums/social media sites). Isn't it a fan forum? Well, regardless they must be doing something right. First scripted freshman drama to be picked up for a second season. Way early. I'm glad - not sure the rest of you are, but I'm looking forward to see what's coming.

[backtobasics38]

Hate is a little strong, no? Sorry, have to disagree. Completely. I'm definitely preferring SS over JA. Without a doubt! And I'm liking the scruff. I personally am finding SS sexy as hell in this role. And he's keeping it more professional with the button downs (lol). Honestly, what I want out of this show - and really any show - is to keep me entertained, keep the action coming, and have me connect with the characters in even a minor way. Real life is stressful and overwhelming. For an hour a week, I want to forget about the 'real' world. Some find the show 'unbelievable' but are you watching network dramas for them to emulate your life? This is so much better. Keep it coming. 

[Netfoot]

Well, regardless they must be doing something right.

 

The show is doing well because it's all about a naked woman.  Not the concept, not the script, not the acting.  The naked woman who exposes a different part of her anatomy each week.  It's the ultimate, serialized, Dance of the Seven Veils.  And while everyone knows that the seventh veil is never going to drop, they're all watching, mesmerized, anyway.

 

If Jane had rolled out of that bag fully clothed with no tattoos, and the designs on a printout in her pocket, this dog would have been put down by now.

[Sakura12]

Considering this show is turning out to be a typical paint by numbers procedural cop show, I'm not surprised it's doing well. 

 

However that is what is bothering me, for being the FBI they are widely uninterested in the fact that the strange naked tattoo lady has FUTURE crimes tatted on her body. It's fine that they are sending out people to deal with it but they should also have teams working around the clock figuring out where Jane came from and why she has future intel on her body. For some reason the show is not interested in that story and are more interested in making an action crime show. The hook that drew me to this show is because I thought it was going to be different than the 100 other cops shows that came before it. But nope it's the same. And the interesting part is just there for being a hook. 

 

Growley McGrumpy isn't helping matters either. Nor is this forced connection we're supposed to be seeing with Jane and Weller. Jane acts like a child looking for a mommy around him and he just stares at more intently and creepily than he does with anyone else. I don't see a love story and every time they try to show me it, I roll my eyes and hope they move onto something else quickly. 

 

Then we have Weller walking all over his Boss! It seems like he's the one that always gets to call the shots. She even asks him if he can be objective with Jane, he says yes and that it. Even though it's painfully obvious that he is influenced by personal feelings for her x100. Then when he does decide to not be he just acts like an asshole to her without explaining why. How am I supposed to like this guy? He's a broody, asshole that thinks only his opinion matters and is obsessed with a girl he knew when he was 10. 

Edited November 16, 2015 by Sakura12

[Sandman]

Well, it's not like Sullivan Stapleton is Sam Worthington, or something. (Though I agree the scruff has gone beyond "shorthand for tough guy," past "hipster neckbeardery," into "lives in refrigerator carton" territory. I think if the "I'm angry at Mayfair and I've stopped bathing in protest" attitude goes on any longer he'll be in full-on Unabomber mode.)

[John Potts]

Stubbly Agent (Sullivan? I guess after 8 episodes I ought to get his name right) seems weirdly written: not only is he supremely confident that he can talk back to his boss with no repercussions (there may be some interesting backstory to this, but they seem as interested in exploring that as they are in investigating Jane's history!) but he also seems like the type to break the rules "for the greater good" so his outrage seemed rather OOC (I guess he could have the "Nobody can break the rules - except me!" attitude since plenty of people are hypocritical like that). Though we did learn one thing about him: apparently he can take a flashbang to the face with no ill effects (and still shoot his assailant!).

 

Did we know Boss Lady (Mayfair?) was gay? Wasn't sure if this was a new revelation or not, since it was handled in such a "Oh, BTW? Gay" way as opposed to a Big! Shocking! Twist! which really is the way it should be handled in today's TV landscape, IMO. Also, so glad we got to see Jane with the girls who actually seemed to care about her: sure, they were having fun (to some extent at her expense) but they seemed actually interested in Jane as a person as opposed to staring at her looking constipated.

 

Andy It's nice that they are dressed like agents on a mission, not hookers on a mission

Well, at least until they get the tattoo that leads to an undercover operation in a strip club. For entirely necessary plot reasons, of course!

 

that one guy I think whoever did the tattoos knows all of this stuff because they have access to the "Daylight" stash of NSA surveillance data rather than magic or time travel

 

To be honest, I'd almost accept magic and/or time travel if somebody actually showed curiosity about how Jane (or the people behind her abduction) has such interesting (and disparate) knowledge of future events. At least the CIA show some interest in unlocking the mystery behind Jane's past, unlike our heroes!

[W. Bin]

I think the director /  producer  should be sacked. Blindspot S1 EP 8. Jane shots a cop in the garden. , her gun is aimed body level, but the cop is shot in the leg.  Next the car crash, both are wearing seat belts, but after the impact neither are wearing them. Bloke is slumped forward, with cuts to his head , same with head of FBI women,  crap