# The Blacklist Season 1 thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561 "2013-09-24T03:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/21 "2013-09-27T20:14:00Z")
> [@II\_Gyan\_II](#): > > In these shows, why do the heroes (and villains) have to have graduated at the top of their class? Can’t a 2nd/3rd/4th ranker not make a good agent or criminal mastermind? Nah. It plays into society’s distrust of intelligence. Those brainy types can’t follow the rules, always go too far, think themselves above the morals of God-fearing commoners, etc. Typically, the heroes are working-class joes more into booze, broads, and cars - smart enough to get the job done, but not deep thinkers. If heroes_are_ brainy, they’re tormented by it, rather than enjoying it like the bad guys, so that we’re glad we’re not like them. ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/22 "2013-09-28T13:45:54Z")
The show is obviously trying to make us think that Spader is Liz’s father. They’re practically beating us over the head with it. Yet it doesn’t seem to have occurred to any of the characters. No one brings it up as a possibility. Which means that either: 1. All the characters other than Spader are stupid; 2. There is some good reason to believe that it is impossible for Spader to be the dad, which they aren’t sharing with the audience right now. Something like “oh yeah, everyone knows his daughter died a year after he left his family.” I’m betting Number 2, in which case that information will be revealed next week, so that the show can say to us “Ha! We got you guys! I bet you thought he was her Dad, didn’t you?” Of course, then it will turn out that he really is her father after all. “Got you again, didn’t we!” This is a very silly show. But I agree with all posters who says that Spader is highly entertaining and he alone makes it enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/23 "2013-09-28T15:03:14Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > Does anyone know if they will be replaying the Pilot? I forgot to set the DVR. It’s up on Hulu. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/24 "2013-09-28T15:05:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I just realized this is the same sweet guy from Stargate SG-1? Geez he got old and bald. Never would have dreamed Dr. Daniel Jackson could be so scary and ruthless. > [@DirkGntly](#): > > You should’ve seen him on “Boston Legal.” Brilliant and playing an ambiguously gay or bi-sexual deviant. Loads of fun. I’ll admit I didn’t recognize him in _Lincoln_. I kept thinking I knew that guy but couldn’t figure out who it was until I read the credits. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/25 "2013-09-28T20:54:19Z")
For those who care, they’re repeating the pilot tonight at 9. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/26 "2013-09-29T05:50:52Z")
Just watched the pilot. Enjoyed same. Definite _Silence of the Lambs_ vibe, with a healthy dose of implausible but entertaining happenings. This makes 3 network shows I’m watching this season, and that hasn’t happened in…decades. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/27 "2013-09-29T21:15:47Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > \ > This is a very silly show. But I agree with all posters who says that Spader is highly entertaining and he alone makes it enjoyable. Agreed. Spader was wonderful - I could watch just him for an hour. Liz is apparently retarded and completely useless. All the other FBI agents are retarded and useless. They seriously need to step up their supporting cast and also their writing - we shouldn’t be reciting dialogue along with the characters or knowing exactly what is going to happen next in every scene. And if Redd is Liz’s dad, I will be very, very disappointed that they couldn’t come up with anything better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/28 "2013-09-29T21:18:32Z")
It actually took me a few days to get around to this on my DVR, and when it was over, I was kind of happy that I didn’t watch it sooner, because it meant I only had to wait a couple of days for a new episode. Fun stuff. As far as what kind of relationship Reddington has with the new profiler, I think the only explanation that isn’t going to completely annoy me is that he knew her father back in the day and swore to look after her to repay some kind of life debt. ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/29 "2013-09-30T01:59:47Z")
> [@II\_Gyan\_II](#): > > In these shows, why do the heroes (and villains) have to have graduated at the top of their class? Can’t a 2nd/3rd/4th ranker not make a good agent or criminal mastermind? In my personal experience, it’s the ones that DON’T graduate at the top of their class - the ones who were so intelligent that they were bored out of their skulls in a restrictive, regimented environment, who were two-to-five steps ahead of their teachers - that you need to watch out for. That said, I think they are clearly trying to make us think Reddington is the FBI chick’s father (I said it about 15 minutes in) and am hoping that the writers are so good that they put that out there early as a “fake out”. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/30 "2013-09-30T18:56:16Z")
I watched the pilot over the weekend. I’ll watch the second episode to see if it gets any better, but so far I’m not impressed. Other posters have already stated nearly all of my objections: > [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Reddington knows everyone, how everything is going down, and can identify entire operations at a glance? Come on. The FBI maintains a giant warehouse on the off chance they need to house one guy? Come on. They implant him with a tracking chip and never suspect he can just dig it out? Come on. Husband is a super-secret super-agent and the FBI profiler wife never guessed? Come on. > [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > ETA: The scene where Emily stabs Reddington in the neck is SO over the top, I assumed it was a dream sequence. After it turned out to not be, I wanted to know why she wasn’t in jail for trying to kill someone in custody. Totally shattered the illusion of reality there. > [@solost](#): > > The scene where they were diverting traffic on the bridge made me want to yell “don’t you know you’re in a tv show and that’s an obvious trap?” And the kidnapping couldn’t have been successful unless the kidnappers had expected the FBI to have been tipped off, so they would pick up the girl intending to drive her to safety. Seems like that would have implicated Reddington as manipulating the whole thing, but apparently it seems to have solidified the FBI’s trust in Reddington for telling the truth. All of the above, and particularly the last bit: it _really_ bugged me that no one wondered how the bad guys found out about the change in plan (with less than an hour’s notice), or even seemed to notice. Maybe I’m the only one who still remembers _Alias_, but the “your significant other isn’t who you think” storyline got beat to death in that show (much as I loved it) and I’m not ready for it again yet. It still feels tired to me. When Reddington and Emily met for the first time and the cube finished being pulled back, I _desperately_ wanted Reddington to grin and say “Hello, Clarice.” Emily could make a “ha, ha” face in response, then move on. I saw it happening so clearly that I was actually surprised when it didn’t. The whole thing screams _Silence of the Lambs_, and if they just would have acknowledged it – one quick nod – I’d have fallen in love with the show that instant. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/31 "2013-09-30T19:23:14Z")
Count me as another one who enjoyed James Spader, but the show around him is so silly I may or may not continue watching. I’ll definitely give it another episode or two, and hope it gets better. But oh man the silliness in that first episode was out of control. That stupid high security box that slowly retracted while making large alarm sounds was just beyond ridiculous. Why would you EVER want that? Everything was so over the top it took me right out of the show. And stabbing the guy in his carotid artery? Huh? That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen in a show like this. Still, Spader is managing to carry the show well enough that I enjoyed it. I hope the rest of it rises at least halfway to his level. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/32 "2013-09-30T20:02:58Z")
In addition to SotL Lecter, how about the nod to Liam Neeson’s Taken when they grab the daughter. The stabbing in the neck was good as a “I can’t believe she did that!” moment but stupid as he could have died very easily. I think the whole who is the husband thing is going to get very stupid soon. I like to think that Redd and the terrorist set it up to have a lot of blood on that spot so she would change the carpet there. Spader should wear a homburg and not a fedora. That alone is going to ruin the series for me. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/33 "2013-09-30T21:45:01Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That stupid high security box that slowly retracted while making large alarm sounds was just beyond ridiculous. Why would you EVER want that? Everything was so over the top it took me right out of the show. No argument that it was silly and over the top. The only defense is that they didn’t build it; I think we’re supposed to assume that weird contraption had some sort of postal service function. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/34 "2013-09-30T22:59:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I just realized this is the same sweet guy from Stargate SG-1? Geez he got old and bald. Never would have dreamed Dr. Daniel Jackson could be so scary and ruthless. He wasn’t in Stargate SG-1, he was in the movie Stargate. Michael Shanks took over the role for SG-1.\ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/35 "2013-10-01T03:21:33Z")
I’m already getting bored with the entire FBI acting dumb and dumber. They’re like a giant lumbering elephant crashing around and knocking over the furniture. I realize Reddington is supposed to be manipulating them, but they’re making the Profiler lady and other agents too amateurish and incompetent. I’m hoping it will get better now that Reddington has his deal and the tracking chip. Hopefully they won’t need twenty agents to shadow this guy. They looked pretty stupid in the Montreal scene. It was kind of pathetic watching them panic when they lost touch with Reddington for a few minutes. I was surprised by the twist ending. Didn’t see that coming at all. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/36 "2013-10-01T03:27:22Z")
I’m still struggling to like the Profiler lady. She’s just so boring and useless. I haven’t seen any indication that she’s got any skills as an agent. Her own husband was a plant that made a fool out of her. She didn’t even realize the charity lady was a fraud. What kind of Profiler is she supposed to be? It just seems like this role was horribly miscast. This actress seems totally lost in the role. But that’s also true of all the FBI agents. They are so useless and forgettable. I can’t recall any of their names. I hope this show gets better as the season progresses. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/37 "2013-10-01T06:15:06Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I like to think that Redd and the terrorist set it up to have a lot of blood on that spot so she would change the carpet there. Interesting…but what’s in it for the then dying (now dead) terrorist? I’m starting to get a vibe that Redd is using the FBI to knock off people he doesn’t like for some reason… The torture scene with the Freelancer’s compound fracture was a little graphic for broadcast television. That was Game of Thrones level gruesome. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/38 "2013-10-01T06:17:23Z")
I’m liking it so far. Yes, it’s gimmicky at times and over the top, but so far it’s been fun to watch. Plus, I totally called Isabella Rossaslini’s character for what she was and that made me happy. I like it when sometimes I can figure out the plot. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/39 "2013-10-01T13:55:02Z")
At the half-way point last night I realized I simply didn’t care. I didn’t care what happened with the plot, or with any of the characters. So I guess I’m out, much as I’ve enjoyed Spader in other shows. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561/40 "2013-10-01T18:52:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m still struggling to like the Profiler lady. She’s just so boring and useless. I haven’t seen any indication that she’s got any skills as an agent. Her own husband was a plant that made a fool out of her. She didn’t even realize the charity lady was a fraud. What kind of Profiler is she supposed to be? > > It just seems like this role was horribly miscast. This actress seems totally lost in the role. But that’s also true of all the FBI agents. They are so useless and forgettable. I can’t recall any of their names. > > I hope this show gets better as the season progresses. Yeah, with all the incompetence around them, the foil for Reddington needs to be sharp as a tack and completely engaging as well - this actor/character is neither. Spader/his character needs someone who can hold their own against him to make this a successful, interesting show. The best line of the night, though - “This is the exact moment we’ll be defending to Congress in the future.” 🙂 ETA: I keep comparing this show to “Person Of Interest” in my head, and it keeps coming up short. POI is no award-winning drama, but I love the heck out of it - it’s engaging as anything, and I love all the characters in it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blacklist-season-1-thread/669561.md?page=3)