The Blacklist Season 3 Episode 16 Review: The Caretaker
Sean McKenna
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With all of these recent teases about Red’s secrets and his connection to Liz, can we just let the cat out of the bag already?
I hate to say I’m getting impatient, but this merry-go-round of Liz trying to find out the truth and Red refusing to divulge it is getting a bit tiresome.
I’m going to have to back Dembe here and say that Liz has a right to know… or frankly, the viewers do. It is the third season after all!
Unfortunately, that door is probably going to stay locked until at least The Blacklist Season 3 finale, and that’s a bit frustrating.
Or maybe it’s supposed to be? Liz is our entry into this particular world, and we’ve been seeing a lot of it through her eyes, so perhaps we’re meant to feel as frustrated as Liz is with Red.
Though, her saying that some things can’t be forgiven to Red on The Blacklist Season 3 Episode 16 seemed a little harsh.
Yes, she got a letter that pretty much revealed to her that her mother is alive, something that Red didn’t tell her.
I mean, I assumed she was alive based on the past few episodes, but perhaps there’s something more to it?
If anything, Red’s secret would probably clear everything up when it comes to the past and whatever is going on in the present with Katarina.
Though, with the whole concept of forgiveness for the episode, does the secret involve something that he fears Liz might not forgive him for? Something he doesn’t forgive himself for?
It’s hard not to continuously speculate when there aren’t really that many crumbs of information tossed out involving whatever Red is holding back.
Maybe Dembe will spill the beans? Does he know the truth or does he just know Red should tell it?
It’s funny considering the most intriguing parts of the episode didn’t really take up that much time. And I didn’t really get invested until the last 10 minutes when the case was done and the focus was back on the bigger story involving Red and Liz.
Don’t get me wrong, a secret keeper named The Caretaker sounded like an interesting blacklister. And it was a clever twist that his “daughter” kidnapped herself.
It was also a nice change of pace that the particular blacklister wasn’t some psycho bad guy. Sure he kidnapped the little girl that would become his daughter, but he was trying to do something good in taking her away from her abusive, drunk father.
Plus, it helps having an actor like Reg E. Cathey bring some screen presence to the role.
It definitely did make me think it might be a parallel to Red and Liz's relationship.
But I just wasn’t engaged when it came to the whole terrorist plot and the secrets involving the Germans. For a plot that was supposed to feel high stakes, it felt kind of bland.
And it was a little ridiculous the whole Aram making Ressler apologize before helping him disarm the bomb. I get that he was upset that Ressler called Samar a bitch, but his timing was way off.
Then there's the whole Tom and Liz getting married thing, which still feels as sudden as it did when Tom popped the question not that long ago. I'm not 100 percent on board, maybe because it feels so soon after all the drama the two have been through, but I get why Liz is choosing to say yes.
I just have a weird feeling – especially after that call Gina made – that Tom might not be making it out of their wedding alive.
So while I liked the forgiveness theme that played out, the case of the week just wasn't that engaging. And I'm definitely ready to cut the teases and get some truths out of Red. It just feels like it's time.
What did you think of the episode? Who was Gina talking to? Why won't Red tell Liz his secret? Sound off below, and make sure to watch The Blacklist online now!
NOTE: The Blacklist Season 3 Episode 17 airs April 7 at 9 p.m.
Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.
