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The Blacklist Review: “Karakurt” (Season 2, Episode 21)

It's not too often that The Blacklist surprises, but tonight's adventure, titled "Karakurt" after its primary antagonist, managed to do just that. Although it didn't necessarily take a break from the now well-worn formula where Red hands out a mission, makes a few snarky comments, watches as the FBI fumbles the lead and comes in at the end to save the day, it did deliver a pretty good last minute twist. The endgame of the Cabal comes a little more into focus, but admittedly, it seems rather lame. Meanwhile, Red remains coy about Agent's Keen background if for no other purpose then next week is the season finale, so the stakes for that have to be huge.

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So, the plan is for Karakurt to blow up the local CIA black site where the Russian and Eastern European desk is based out of, and Karakurt uses a good, old-fashioned IED in the back of a moving truck for that gig. Next is to take out a prominent senator at a public memorial service. Both incidents, perpetrated by well-known Russian operative, would quickly establish this new Cold War, if that be the Cabal’s primary goal.

But the FBI is just too good, and this is where Connolly starts to really push is luck with Cooper, coercing the director to mislead Keen and Ressler in their pursuit of Karakurt. It’s funny that Cooper turns to Red for advice on how to fight back, because those characters don’t get too many chances to talk on their own. Red’s advice, of course, is to have Cooper play along and be as mole-like in Connolly’s favor as possible, get in close to the new Attorney-General and construct a trap that can be dropped at a moment’s notice.

In the end though, it turns out that Liz is the one trapped. Karakurt was not meant to be the assassin that kills the senator with the tailor-made virus, but he instead frames Liz by making her the virus’ carrier, exposing her when Connolly re-directed the agents to Union Station and then passing it on to the senator when she and the FBI apparently save him just in the nick of time. Why frame Liz? Because it looks bad having the “sleeper agent” of a famous Russian spy take out a U.S. senator. At least, that’s how it looks.

The surprising revelation about the real point of the mission turns out to kill two birds with one stone. Sure, the senator is gone and the new Cold War seems assured, but remember too that Red warned Liz that her recovery of the Fulcrum now put her into the crosshairs of the Cabal. Framing her takes Liz out of the equation, and presumably they have some fairly sinister plans for her as well.

In another Alias comparison, the episode ends with Connolly coming for Liz with a couple of goons, reminding me of those times when either the CIA or SD-6 suspected Sydney of shady dealings, forcing her to go on the run. Dinner with Tom isn’t looking so bad now, right?

Actually, that’s not true. Mr. “Call Me Jacob” is trying oh so hard to turn on the charm and win Liz over, but she’d have to be crazy to actually fall for it, and he has to be pretty desperate to try and convince her to date the real him whatever that means. Perhaps Tom, or Jacob, has a purpose as someone Liz can use that isn’t FBI or Red, an impartial third party if you will. But every time he tries to get romantic it’s just icky, and he’s really pushing his luck by raising the possibility at every opportunity.

That being said, romance seems the last thing on anyone’s mind for next week’s Blacklist, which is the second season finale. The teaser promised answers and revelations, as Liz seemingly becomes a fugitive from the FBI, but that’s how it always works. We’re promised answers, big answers, and none are given, and if they are given they inevitably lead to more questions. I’m not sure we watch The Blacklist for answers, but if it can at least throw in a little bump in the formula, then it’s not all bad, right?