The Blacklist

[BobD]

Anyone else looking forward to this series? I think it looks great.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k9_qgX7pTlc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Note: this is a replacement thread if you have comments missing. My last attempt at starting it failed for some reason. Thanks, BobD

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm kind of interested. Going to check it out next week.

 

[NDWorld247]

I'll check it out. I think I'll be disappointed if most of that trailer isn't in the first or second episode though.

 

[IrishLax]

Alright here's the skinny on this show (no spoilers):

1. It has a LOT of potential. The premise and the direction the show seems to be heading is great.

2. The writing was, quite sadly, horrible at some points. They make no effort to have subtext of any sort. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about in the one scene at the beginning where she overtly states to her hubby that "I won't let this new job come between us"... nobody talks that way. Nobody. The same message could've been just as easily conveyed with that being left unsaid. There are literally a half dozen over-done moments like this in the pilot that make you roll your eyes. Way too much syrup and cliché. They'll hopefully clean this up moving forward.

3. The "twist" and some of the other plot devices they're going towards are wayyyyyy too obvious or hokey. At the same time, there are others that aren't. This makes me think that the ones that are obvious are meant to be obvious and will be resolved very early in the show... and you're kinda meant to figure it out. I really hope so at least. If they're supposed to be part of some big shocking reveal then they've really screwed up.

4. Spader is by far the best actor on the show. He could be really great in this role if they let him and give him good writing to work with. I worry about some of the other people. Classic NBC bad writing/acting might doom this show a la Terranova and Revolution... both shows that seemed to have some potential.

The Blacklist and Dracula are by the far the best dramas that NBC has in the hopper. I worry about when they're airing Dracula... might not have a lot of faith in it. Ironside, etc. are sooooooo bad. There were a couple of the "mid season" shows I didn't get to see.

Of their comedies, About a Boy was really solid. The others all suck to differing levels. Sean Saves the World was maybe the worst show I've ever watched. Michael J. Fox Show and Welcome to the Family were meh, but not the worst.

 

[NDWorld247]

Lax, how did you already see the first episode?

 

[IrishLax]

Lax, how did you already see the first episode?

See PM.

 

[TDHeysus]

with the amount of hype this series has got over what seems like the last few months, this series is either really really good. or a bomb that they are trying to get as many ppl to see in the hopes that a few ppl will really like it.


that being said, James Spader plays a great scumbag, in the beginning of his career I used to extend that thought to him personally, "What a scumbag that guy is (the actor)".

I'm now old enough to separate his acting skills from my thoughts on him personally. but man, that dude plays a great scumbag.

 

[NDdomer2]

Commercials make me feel like this is going to be the next cheesy big network bust.

If I had to guess they are going to try and hook you with the action and special effects.

 

[irishog77]

with the amount of hype this series has got over what seems like the last few months, this series is either really really good. or a bomb that they are trying to get as many ppl to see in the hopes that a few ppl will really like it.


that being said, James Spader plays a great scumbag, in the beginning of his career I used to extend that thought to him personally, "What a scumbag that guy is (the actor)".

I'm now old enough to separate his acting skills from my thoughts on him personally. but man, that dude plays a great scumbag.

He's sported a few great mullets in his time as well.

Automatic boost to one's prowess right there.

 

[BobD]

“The Blacklist” review NBC James Spader Show | Variety

Starts tonight.

 

[Irish8248]

i have a feeling this is a Silence of the Lambs remake and that Spader and the detective chick are somehow related like long lost father-daughter

so yea, Silence of the Lambs mixed with Oceans Twelve ending twist

edit -- obviously the SOL feeling to it but didnt read the preview before my comment. sorry for pointing out the obvious

 

[BobD]

I don't know if anyone else has been watching this show, but it's very good IMO.

 

[wizards8507]

I don't know if anyone else has been watching this show, but it's very good IMO.

I feel like the entire premise of the show is "let's give James Spader a show," and I'm 100% okay with that.

 

[TheChosen1]

Great show

 

[gkIrish]

Very good for a network show

 

[IrishLax]

Speaking of NBC shows, check out Dracula premiering this Friday. Like I said above in post #3, Blacklist and Dracula were by far the pilots with the most potential I watched this summer.

I do really worry about them slotting Dracula to Friday though... maybe the show is actually going to suck. Hard to really judge how a show will evolve off of a pilot alone.

 

[gkIrish]

Speaking of NBC shows, check out Dracula premiering this Friday. Like I said above in post #3, Blacklist and Dracula were by far the pilots with the most potential I watched this summer.

I do really worry about them slotting Dracula to Friday though... maybe the show is actually going to suck. Hard to really judge how a show will evolve off of a pilot alone.

Dracula looks good. I'm assuming it's going to be a lot like Hannibal (which I like).

 

[BobD]

Speaking of NBC shows, check out Dracula premiering this Friday. Like I said above in post #3, Blacklist and Dracula were by far the pilots with the most potential I watched this summer.

I do really worry about them slotting Dracula to Friday though... maybe the show is actually going to suck. Hard to really judge how a show will evolve off of a pilot alone.

Haha, I bet Dracula sucks.

 

[BobD]

Season one concluded this last Monday. I think it's the best show on network TV. Looking forward to season two in the fall.

Best show on cable channels: Vikings

IMO

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Season one concluded this last Monday. I think it's the best show on network TV. Looking forward to season two in the fall.

Best show on cable channels: Vikings

IMO

I watched the whole season. In retrospect, I am trying to remember an action or drama show so well crafted.

People have noted the opening episode, and problems they had with it. I think it was just a clumsy start. After all. Feds in a convoy like that don't stop. They run things over, run around them, or move the other direction. Once the show got established, it got really good. The complex interaction of characters and events was well done.

But by far Spader was a god in his role of Reddington. Maybe the best single job considering the close-ups and the dialog given to his character. At times his dialog was performed at hyper-speed, demands satisfied, at other his slow melodic reminiscences, remind me of a time in Prague, it was the spring of '68 . . .

And there were great supporting characters. Everyone on the task force, Tom, etc.

 

[gkIrish]

So what do you all think the relationship between Red and Elizabeth is? In other words, is her father or what? I know he says that he isn't but I'm not sure you can believe anything he says.

 

[BobD]

So what do you all think the relationship between Red and Elizabeth is? In other words, is her father or what? I know he says that he isn't but I'm not sure you can believe anything he says.

I think he's her dad, but that might be just what they want us to think. Have you seen the last episode yet? I don't want to spoil it if you haven't.

 

[gkIrish]

I think he's her dad, but that might be just what they want us to think. Have you seen the last episode yet? I don't want to spoil it if you haven't.

Yeah I did but I don't remember anything definitive coming out of that.

 

[deise mike]

Don't get Game of Thrones (probably an age thing), so this is the best thing around since Mad Men took a dive. The puzzling relationships are a better storyline than those they are trying to catch.

 

[BobD]

Yeah I did but I don't remember anything definitive coming out of that.

In the last episode he tells Elizabeth her father died in the fire saving her and in the last scene they show Raymond is badly scared from burns, but also just before her husband Tom dies, he tells her, that her father is alive.

I think the idea is that Reddington feels he died figuratively in the fire. That the fire caused his change from a highly decorated naval intelligence officer to a criminal.....just me guessing.

 

[gkIrish]

In the last episode he tells Elizabeth her father died in the fire saving her and in the last scene they show Raymond is badly scared from burns, but also just before her husband Tom dies, he tells her, that her father is alive.

I think the idea is that Reddington feels he died figuratively in the fire. That the fire caused his change from a highly decorated naval intelligence officer to a criminal.....just me guessing.

oooo I saw/heard all that but didn't make the connection. Was wondering what the hell was wrong with his back. I think you are spot on.

 

[BobD]

oooo I saw/heard all that but didn't make the connection. Was wondering what the hell was wrong with his back. I think you are spot on.

Can't wait for next season to start, but in the meanwhile I have my baseball, then FOOTBALL!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Can't wait for next season to start, but in the meanwhile I have my baseball, then FOOTBALL!

One more thing. Earlier with the emergence of Berlin, it was mentioned by multiple characters that Reddington made the deal he did with the FBI for protection, but there was more than one inference that Red felt as if he was protecting them or at least Elizabeth. That is a father.

My question is, did Tom die? When the police criminalists were on the scene at the end the pseudo-Berlin was still lashed to the chair, but it showed blood stains and no body at the wall where Tom whispered to Elizabeth. Whatcha think?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

In the last episode he tells Elizabeth her father died in the fire saving her and in the last scene they show Raymond is badly scared from burns, but also just before her husband Tom dies, he tells her, that her father is alive.

I think the idea is that Reddington feels he died figuratively in the fire. That the fire caused his change from a highly decorated naval intelligence officer to a criminal.....just me guessing.

You nailed it and I agree with you 100%.

Also, of the non pay channels Vikings and blacklist are my favorites.

 

[pumpdog20]

In the last episode he tells Elizabeth her father died in the fire saving her and in the last scene they show Raymond is badly scared from burns, but also just before her husband Tom dies, he tells her, that her father is alive.

I think the idea is that Reddington feels he died figuratively in the fire. That the fire caused his change from a highly decorated naval intelligence officer to a criminal.....just me guessing.

You sure Tom is dead? In the closing scenes they show the guy Reddington shot in the head still in the chair, but all I remember from where Tom was sitting was a blood trail.