The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3 Review: The Pharmacist

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The truth will set you free.

In Red's case, the truth about the immunity agreement almost did set him free on The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3, but the pesky little detail about the gun they found on him when he was arrested put a kink in his dreams of freedom.

And while that might be a minor irritation at the moment, what Red needs to take comfort in is Harold's testimony because hot damn was that a major victory for #TeamRed!

Tall Red - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

Harold didn't have to acknowledge that the immunity agreement even existed. He was told to wipe it from his memory and wash his hands of it after Red got arrested.

Harold could have walked away and let Red rot, but he didn't. Red certainly took a chance when he made the judge aware of its existence. He gambled on Harold's integrity and it paid off.

Harold: We made this deal for one reason. So you could help us find those criminals we never knew existed, and you've done that. Violent people, evil people are dead or in prison because of you. In some cases, we recovered dangerous weapons, avoided catastrophic outbreaks --
DA: -- Your Honor --
Harold: -- Let me finish! A few years ago, we learned some of those criminals were inside our own government. The Attorney General, national security adviser. The very people our country depends on to maintain law and order. To be clear, none of that would have happened without Mr. Reddington. So would I do it again? You're damn right I would.

Harold is a decent man, and it's too bad Liz wasn't in the courtroom to hear what he had to say about Red and all he's done during the past five years.

If she had been, then maybe a lightbulb would have gone off in her head that maybe -- as I've said before -- in the whole scheme of things, the true identity of this "fake" Reddington doesn't really matter.

The good he's done far outweighs the bad which is why Harold didn't tell the Court about Red's crimes during the last five years.

It wasn't necessarily a lie, but Harold saw that the truth in that instance would have diminished everything he had just said.

Speaker of the Truth - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

But Liz is too dimwitted and can't see anything more than what she wants to see. It's not surprising because that's how she's been for five seasons.

She practically had a temper tantrum when she learned Harold was going to testify. She doesn't want anyone to stick up for Red because that will put a wrench in her plans to reveal his true identity. 

Related: The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 1 Review: Dr. Hans Koehler

She honestly thinks that people are going to praise her as a great hero when -- and if -- she finds out who Red really is.

No one is going to care! Not Harold. Not Samar. Not Aram.

The only one who might is Ressler and that's only because he chased Red for so long before the immunity agreement happened.

Traitor - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

But he might not even be swayed to #TeamLiz. Once Harold sits Ressler down and reminds him of all the things Red did for him personally, he'll change his tune.

So what that leaves is Liz in an empty lunchroom because nobody is going to want to be her friend after they learn how selfish and stupid and shortsighted she has been.

Not even Dembe will be her friend.

We're living in a time when truth has been so diminished in value that even those at the top of government are quite comfortable with truth being whatever they can convince people to believe. That is what I find wildly unacceptable. The truth certainly matters, your Honor. In rooms like this most of all. And the truth is whether you, or he, or anyone else likes it or not, that immunity agreement exists.

Red

I have a couple of theories about how it might turn out if Dembe finds out about her betrayal before Red does. He'll either tell Red and Red will have him kill her on his behalf so he wouldn't have to do the deed himself. 

Related: The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 2 Review: The Corsican

Or, he's going to find out the truth, not tell Red, and cause Liz to have some sort of "accident." He'll be sparing Red the devastation of learning about her betrayal while sparing Liz the possibility of Red's wrath.

Taking Down the Bad Guys - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

I'm getting tired of Liz acting like a spoiled brat when she learns that Red has an alternative agenda for the blacklisters he throws their way. 

Sometimes it's the people closest to you that you have to watch out for.

Samar

He's done the same thing for FIVE YEARS! Nothing has changed!

Does she really think she's going to get a step ahead of him if she knows his true agenda before the fact? 

Does she think she can tell him no? Use it against him?

Related: Project Blue Book Season 1 Episode 1: The Fuller Dogfight

How many alternate words are there for dimwitted?

Elizabeth Keen should really have her own dictionary entry: Elizabeth Keen: the stupidest person on the face of the planet. Also see, dimwitted.

There was a reason Red wanted the task force to find Stark although we're not privy to what research he was paying Stark to do. At least not yet.

The Good Doctor - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

Red seems to be chasing a lot of medical people lately which is interesting.

While we don't yet know the connection between Stark and Red, the story itself was quite thought-provoking.

How many medical visionaries are out there who have discovered cures for horrible diseases but have been squashed by the big pharmaceutical companies all in the name of money?

With all the advancements that have been made in so many areas, it's mind-boggling that a cure for cancer has yet to be found.

Liz and Ressler on the Case

It's quite possible that there is one, but cancer is such a lucrative business why would anyone want to make people's lives better?

But that's a conversation for another time.

There is a possibility that Stark could be working on some sort of miracle memory drug. It would be fitting since Samar is having some major issues.

Obviously Stark has been working on whatever it is for some time, but wouldn't it be a great coincidence if the work just happens to be related to Samar's problem?

Mr. Lawyer - The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3

Even if it isn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Red calls on Stark to help Samar once her condition worsens.

I've mentioned it before, but Samar and Red have a connection that was never fully explored. He wouldn't hesitate to do whatever he could to help Samar.

Because the truth of the matter is that Red is a hell of a good guy, and the only one that's blind to it is Ms. Dimwitted.

Over to you!

What did you think of "The Pharmacist"?

Were you surprised at Harold's defense of Red?

What will Dembe do when he finds out what Liz did?

What are your theories about what Stark is working on for Red?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts!

If you need to catch up, you can watch The Blacklist online right here via TV Fanatic!

The Pharmacist Review

Editor Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 (14 Votes)
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The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 3 Quotes

Judge: So main justice made a deal with the devil?
Red: Shouldn't judges at least pretend to be impartial?

In the short run, justice always loses to politics.

Red