Can we skip ahead to February 1? Because based on the previews,  Elizabeth Keen is about to get busted!

We all need to grab a tiny bottle of champagne and celebrate!

But while we're waiting, let's talk about The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 4, and Red's awesome ability to pick out the perfect friends -- even in prison.

Red could have sat with anyone in that lunchroom but chose Vontae, the least likely person you'd think the concierge of crime would choose to befriend.

But there was something about Vontae he liked, and it was probably because he reminded Red of a young Dembe.

We don't know anything about Vontae or why he's in prison, but I hope when Red gets out he takes Vontae with him. I already love the kid and think he'd be a great addition to Red's team.

Related: The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3 Review: The Pharmacist

Vontae barely knew Red but was instantly loyal, one of the core requirements of being in Red's good graces. And since Vontae doesn't seem to have anyone on the outside who believes in him, it makes Vontae a prime candidate for Red University.

Yes, I'm at that point, people. Red can do no wrong in my eyes, and I trust every choice he makes.

It's a credit to the Blacklist writers for creating an incredibly compelling and complex character and to James Spader who has made it an art to bring this character to life over the past five seasons.

Red didn't go into prison with a plan, but as opportunities presented themselves, plans began to form in his mind.

The man is brilliant, and as annoyed as I was that he let Baldenaro beat the crap out of him, I have to believe that it was part of his plan all along. 

I would imagine that Red is fully capable of putting up a decent fight, but there is the possibility that he doesn't have those skills or they're greatly diminished because he doesn't need to engage in that type of behavior anymore.

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It's also possible that he wanted to show that he wasn't a barbaric, cliched type of prisoner. Red is a gentleman, and he's going to be a gentleman whether he's in prison or not.

Red also garnered himself a lot of respect in the way he took control in such a short amount of time. He declared straight out that he was a lion, and he quickly proved he was, indeed, the king of the jungle.

I'm still blown away that his idea to use the rat to get a message to Dembe even worked. What are the chances someone would have actually called a number they found on a piece of paper tied to a rat?

Was it an odd find? Absolutely, but I don't think I would have called no matter how curious I was.

Red is a lucky man, but it's more of the Harvey Dent kind. He makes his own luck.

Related: Gotham Season 5 Episode 3 Review: Penguin, Our Hero

Samar's luck was running out as her injuries from the accident are catching up with her.

I don't know why she'd be calling 911 anyway considering S.W.A.T was there, and they all had radios, but she did, and she wasn't calling emergency service.

She had to be terrified when it happened and even more so after she read up on it. She's going to have to let someone know what's going on because if she doesn't, she's going to put herself and others in danger.

Her best bet would be to go to Red about it. They have a connection, as I've mentioned before, and she knows he's probably her best resource.

I still think that The Pharmacist will come back into play and be the one who offers something that will either eliminate or relieve her symptoms.

Red's going to be out of jail soon so she'll have a chance to talk to him, but she can always talk to Dembe. As long as she doesn't talk to Liz, but I never got the impression that Samar liked Liz much.

She's a smart one, Samar is.

Speaking of Liz, we haven't seen much of her the last couple of episodes, and it makes me wonder if The Blacklist could exist without Elizabeth Keen. 

I mean, yes she was the reason Red even came into our television viewing lives, but he doesn't need her to get his work done. Neither does the task force.

I don't know about anyone else, but her whole quest to find out the true identity of Raymond Reddington is boring. I just don't care. The only exciting part of it is waiting for Red to learn the identity of the traitor.

But finding out the truth about Red? Not interested.

Whoever that guy is that Jennifer found from her investigation of the flash drive? Not interested.

About the only thing that interests me about Jennifer is, well, nothing.

Maybe she and Liz will ride off into the sunset together never to be seen on our screens again. 

A girl can dream, can't she?

Before I go, I want to touch on one more thing about The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 4which airs on Friday, February 1. It never occurred to me before that there would be a recording of the phone call to police tipping them off about Red.

But Elizabeth Keen is an FBI agent. Wouldn't she have known her phone call would have been recorded? Chalk up another point for my #MsDimwitted assessment.

Over to you!

What did you think about "The Pawnbrokers"?

Did you like Vontae? Will Red get him out of jail? Should Red take him under his wing?

Are you bored with Liz's hunt for the "real" Raymond Reddington?

How do you think Samar's situation will play out?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts!

If you need your Red fix during the off week, you can watch The Blacklist online right here via TV Fanatic!