Speaking of loyalty, Red’s typically reliable lackeys undermine him, not the least of which is the Troll Farmer who Red hands over to Ressler in exchange for the agent’s word that he’ll consider Liz innocent until she’s proven guilty. The bigger question is what fate awaits one of Red’s most trusted associates, especially now that the Cabal’s mysterious new operative is in play.
Though the episode is called “The Troll Farmer” the real threat is Mr. Solomon, played by Justified‘s Edi Gathegi. You thought that the Director was the be all/end all of the Cabal, but it turns out even he has someone he answers to. It’s hard to say if Mr. Solomon is that guy, but he seems more like the enforcer of that guy, arriving at the Director’s office to vaguely reference that the Director just may have outlived his usefulness in terms of keeping Liz and Red contained. Having said that, Mr. Solomon is taking the direct approach, going at Red through Dembe.
Poor Dembe, Hisham Tawfiq gets promoted to series regular and he’s automatically painted into a corner tight enough that he may have to turn on Red. Dembe’s never-before-seen baby grandson is infected with some kind of virus that will kill him in three weeks unless Dembe successfully helps Mr. Solomon get his hands on Red. Anyone else get a Chiwetel Ejiofor vibe from Gathegi’s performance as Mr. Solomon? I was definitely reminded of Ejiofor’s character from Serenity, an assured man of commitment that openly admits that he’s a a monster protecting other monsters, even with the caveat of being willing to hurt or kill children to achieve his objective.
The only one left out of the game now is Harold Cooper, cleared of any wrongdoing in terms of collaborating with Liz, but still on the outside now having also secured the release of his wife. I always liked Cooper, and maybe that likability came from the persona of actor Harry Lennix, but it would be a shame if Cooper faded into the background as only an occasionally useful utility player. Hopefully there’s something cool and interesting in mind for Cooper. Maybe he can team up with Red and Liz in someway since they’re going no where fast.
The interesting thing about the new Blacklist status quo remains the idea that for once that Red is behind the eight ball. James Spader may have spent his summer vacation plaguing the Avengers, but back on TV playing Red he was oddly sedate, only occasionally showing signs of his old gregariousness when he compliments a housekeeper’s hair before asking her politely to go to the bathroom to be detained. Will the audience willingly follow the weekly adventures of a more somber Red?
The more important question is what direction the show itself will go in next. Will it exclusively be about Red and Liz on the run, and what will the actual Blacklist be made up of, people that are useful to our hero fugitives, or people that are a threat to them? And while the world knows about the Cabal now, their power seems no where close to being diminished, so what path can Liz take to try and clear her name? One thing’s for certain, the fallout of the release of the Fulcrum is far more interesting than the search was. At least it opens up an exciting new realm of possibility for the show.
