#Liz and Ressler at the Kingmaker bridge

[aussieokie]

The Blacklist revisited.

Part 6 of ?

[kiss-my-freckle]

The Kingmaker rewatch. Yet another episode to parallel. 

Red: I don’t know how he chooses his clients, but they say he grooms them from an early age- the right universities, mentors, even spouses. And when they’re ready to run, he does whatever it takes to assure their victory.

Like Chandler, Red was being groomed-  for admiral, though that’s not to say he was being fast-tracked. But Chandler was, through the Kingmaker. He pulled that crap with his wife and daughter in the car, took them off the side of the bridge. Tried to revive his wife, but she didn’t survive. This kind of parallels Red in his Hobson’s Choice, but losing Katarina because he chose Liz. It makes me wonder though, if he was able to pull Katarina from the water and tried to revive her as well. 

There's a great deal of pain in Red at the end of the episode. It wasn’t easy for him, killing his life-long friend, and to face that with Liz after facing his meeting with Fitch and the Kingmaker having died before he could get what he needed... it was a triple hit. 

I laugh and smile at the Keenler scenes. They’re so gorgeous together. Ressler’s trying to support her while not knowing the details because she’s not being completely open with the situation. 

Ressler: He’ll be back. It’s not over. You know that.

That whole “It’s over” coming back to bite again. They’ve thrown that in there so many times. Yeah... “It’s not over” because Tom is still in her life. 

Fitch knows Red very well. Very well for someone who hadn’t seen him in 20 years, as he spoke of in Garrick Conclusion. 

Red: You know me considerably better than either of us would like to admit. I will win this war. This enemy of mine will lose.

So much to speak of, and it all chews away at the imposter theory. But I don’t need to keep saying it. The show will do that for me eventually. 

[timelessish]

[text: “I didn’t know where else to go.”] source: mine

Keenler Week Day 1: why I love them/the moment they became my OTP

× × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × ×

So, some backstory first: this is a show I only saw bits and pieces of on TV during season one but what I saw intrigued me. I remember seeing the Judge, Ivan, and Mako Tanido episodes in their entirety with my parents (they were hooked on the show during its first season) and being enthralled. The scenes I remember most from watching live were the Liz/Tom shower scene with blood on his hands (so sick but so compelling) and the Tom/Jolene scene while the song Jolene is played. That song just got to me, and I remember thinking, “Oh my god, this is perfect.” So that summer when The Blacklist got put on Netflix, I watched the full first season and loved it. I’d really never loved a procedural so much (or at all) before. I think it was a mix of the Liz/Red connection, Red’s mystery past, the Tom intrigue, creepy Apple Man, Liz being a badass, rootable-for heroine, and the unique, crazy Blacklisters in each episode that drew me in. I could and have watched season one over and over again without growing tired.

As for Keenler: while watching the show originally, shipping wasn’t on my mind. I just loved the story and plotting that was going on. I loved Tom’s story season one and all the second-guessing that went on between him and Liz, the questions of his connections to Red, Gina, and Victor Fokin, and just his being an awesome villain/spy/double agent. I loved his and Liz’s dynamic portraying the illusion of a perfect, happy marriage, but I loved it even more when it came shattering down around them. I thought Tom’s story season one was resolved perfectly with his death by Liz’s hands, and I was so thrilled to have writers who weren’t afraid to kill their darlings when it was time. Though I was more saddened by Meera’s death, I was more shocked by Tom’s. He’d had more of a main role, so I thought it was such a brave move by the writers and it reaffirmed my love of the show.

… but little did I know, the writers weren’t actually that brave. I rolled my eyes and sighed at the “Tom’s alive!!” reveal in season 2. I wasn’t surprised, but it did made me think a little less of the show. I think all the questions surrounding Tom could have been better answered after his death, because at this point, the answers haven’t been satisfactorily explained to me, and I still have so many questions. So while I loved their dynamic season one, I didn’t ship them, giving me no problem jumping onto the Keenler ship once they reeled me in.

Honestly, I saw something there from episode one. “Who the hell is Elizabeth Keen?” is such an iconic line, and it sets up so much of the story. Just who is Elizabeth Keen? Lizzie, Liz, Masha Rostova; adoptee, daughter, wife, profiler, agent, criminal, killer, fugitive, asset, mother, survivor. Her story keeps unfolding and I don’t think we’re done figuring her out yet. But beyond that, just who is she to Donald Ressler, and who will she become?

Then he shows up at her doorstep with helicopters and an army of SUVs. I mean. That’s such an amazing first meeting. You really can’t top that. Also, okay, the cinematography of the Pilot is just incredible. The way the focus shifts to Ressler watching Liz as she speaks to Cooper? That shot of him watching her, framed by golden light? It’s absolutely stunning and you can’t convince me that wasn’t the show setting the basis for a power couple. And the Pilot also gave us Ressler breaking the rules for Liz for the first time when he let her see Red in his hospital room, though it’s certainly not the last time he breaks the rules for her. It becomes such a recurring theme for him: he always follows the rules, except when it comes to Liz.

The tense banter Liz and Ress share in the next few episodes is amazing. It’s a dance of learning to trust each other and work together despite their misgivings, and I love every bit of it. There’s that shot of them squaring off after he busted in with the Canadian police to Red’s dinner with Liz, which pisses her off, and the way the camera circles around them and the way they play off each other there is insane. Can I just say: HOLY CHEMISTRY. HOLY SEXUAL TENSION.

Then comes the Stewmaker (my favorite episode of all time) and that infamous hug. Seeing that was my first, “… hmm.” I saw something there between them from the beginning, but this was the first moment I really felt it.

A highlight from the Courier: “That was hot.” “You know he can hear you, right?“ When Meera says that (oh, how I miss Meera!), Liz gives her this great side-eye and I’ll be honest, my first thought was - is someone a little jealous? Also there’s a lovely moment later when Liz asks Ressler about what he said about having nothing in the world, recognizing that on some level, he did mean it despite his denial. In that moment, she sees his vulnerability like he saw hers post-Stewmaker, and she knows not to push him, but I think she sees a bit of herself in him - in putting up a facade against the world to hide insecurities and loss. The way she described herself as being called a bitch, the way Ressler gets called an ass. There’s more alike there than there is different.

So they’re finally getting past their rocky start when Sam dies and then Anslo Garrick happens. Liz is such a brave badass, fighting instead of running away until she gets caught and brought to the box where Red and Ressler are. Her face and Ressler’s kill me there. Her expression, so sad and scared but determined, shaking her head no, don’t do it, don’t give him the code. Him in clear physical pain and indecision as Cooper tells him no. Agent Ressler, no. That’s an order. and all the while Red has a gun in his face. And Ressler gives up the code.

That’s a pivotal moment. I don’t think he gives up the code because he’s afraid of dying. I think it’s because he’s afraid of Liz dying. The Agent Ressler who’d been presented to us before would have followed his commanding officer’s orders. He would have followed protocol and protected the asset no matter the personal cost. He’s a by-the-book guy, not an emotional decision-maker. And with the career he chose, you have to figure he’s not afraid of dying in the line of duty. So he’s okay with his own death, but when it comes down to it, not Liz’s.

On top of everything, the code is Romeo. Liz loves Shakespeare, as stated by Aram at her funeral. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic romance. The connotation of Romeo in that moment draws the possibility of romance between Liz and Ress.

To go on a side tangent here, you could choose to find more connections. Romeo (Ressler) is enamored with Rosalind (Audrey), though she isn’t interested (left him), until he meets Juliet (Liz), who’s engaged (married) to Paris (Tom), who was chosen for her by her parents (inserted into her life by Red/Berlin). Romeo and Juliet fall in love but can’t be together. They get separated (she shoots the AG and goes on the run with Red) and Juliet, with the help of the Friar (Mr. Kaplan), fakes her death (she does this twice: once in Arioch Cain, once in Mr. Solomon: Conclusion). Romeo doesn’t receive the message that Juliet is actually alive (this fits slightly more for the Arioch Cain death, when all of the team was in on the plan except him), so he buys poison from the Apothecary (interestingly, they had a Blacklister by this name in the last episode) and travels back to see her body. Paris comes and they duel, Romeo killing him. Romeo then drinks the poison. When Juliet awakes, finding Romeo to be dead, she uses his dagger to kill herself. After their mutual deaths, there’s finally peace in Verona. Obviously, I don’t think all of these parallels are exact, but I do think that there are a lot of connections to be drawn between Shakespeare and the Blacklist. At any rate, it’s interesting to see some of the groundwork laid. Okay, end of side tangent.

Ressler and Liz keep growing stronger as partners and friends. He trusts her enough to talk about Audrey and Tassles, and she trusts him enough to talk about Tom. He offers to rough Tom up for her.

Another big moment: he chooses Liz over Audrey in Madeline Pratt. She’s distraught, saying she thinks Tom is going to leave her. Ressler is on his way out, but sits down at that. She tells him to leave. He says no, ditching his dinner date with Audrey, choosing to stay and be with her instead.

Then comes the Kingmaker, and this is the episode that did it for me. This is when I went … crap. I have an actual ship in this procedural crime show. First it was their moment on the bridge when he tells her it’s not over. The way they look at each other there, with the beautiful blue sky behind them… it’s breathtaking. And then he saves her life, killing the Kingmaker while he’s strangling her. I have a thing for Liz and Ress saving each other, okay? Don’t judge. And then comes the crowning moment (haha, Kingmaker, crown, get it?) : she shows up at his apartment. “I didn’t know where else to go.” No questions asked, he lets her in. For whatever reason, that’s when they got me. That wordless communication, those beautiful mooneyes. And then they cut the scene at the close of his door, which I both love and hate because yay, I get to come up with my own headcanons about what happened, but boo, I want to know what happened.

So. There’s that. And then the next day, they go to Liz’s house (now a crime scene) where she tells him, “I should have let you rough him up,” with this sad smile that he returns, and her body language is so relaxed around him in her home, where you’d think she’d feel more defensive and self-conscious. But there he is, standing in the ruins of her married life, and she seems okay with it. Alright with being vulnerable and real around him, and that’s what I love the most about them: when they can be wholly themselves with each other.

× × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × ×

Anyways, that’s about all from season one that sums up the development of my Keenler ship. Sorry for the long post, it sort of got away from me! I’ll be back tomorrow with my Day 2 post :)

[dailykeenler]

i see there is a post about how many times Tom saved Liz. how many times has Ressler saved Liz, do you know? i think it's a lot!

Hi, Anon!  Thanks for the ask.   WhileI don’t claim to be an expert on Keenler I’ll sure do my best.  There have been some really amazing sceneswhere Ressler has saved Liz’s life (and at risk to his own in the process in alot of instances).  So, here goes myattempt listing what I can from memory:

Pilot: When ambushed onthe bridge and Liz is still inside the SUV. Ressler shoots the guy who is about to shoot her.

The Stewmaker:  When Ressler goes with Red to try to getinformation off of Lorca.  He gets aknife put to his throat and has to think on his toes.

Gina Zanetakos: Resslerputting two in to Gina to keep her from stabbing Liz.

Anslo Garrick: WhenRessler gives up the access code to the box to save Liz’s life. And he didn’tdo it because Red put a gun to his head. Any true fan of Ressler will tell you that.

The Kingmaker: When Resslerdropped the Kingmaker by putting a bullet in his head as he was strangling Liz.

Scimitar: Pulling Lizout of the line of fire as they tried to flee from the fake hospital they werebeing held in.

Deer Hunter: He savedher from herself when she was strangling the copy cat “Deer Hunter” and alsorescued her.

Tom Keen: Ressler goesto Dresden with Red to bring Tom back. He ends up in a shootout.  He wasgoing to Dresden to bring Tom back so he could account for his killing of theHarbor Master so Liz would not go to jail for it.

Marvin Gerard:  When Ressler raced off to catch up with theRussian Convoy so they couldn’t put Liz on a plane to Moscow, saving her lifeand endangering his own in the process.

The Director:  Ressler racing out to the Lake Yvonne cabinto help keep Karakurt safe so he could testify for Liz.

The Director – Conclusion:Ressler saving Liz from the bullet fired by the Marshal Hitchen hired to assassinateher.

Mr. Solomon – Part 1:Reaching the church in time to help Liz and Tom flee from Mr. Solomon and hismercenaries just in time.

Let’s not forget hisstruggle during all of Season 3A to save her soul.  While he was unaware of the depth of theCabal and trusted the wrong people, his goal was to save her soul. To bring LizKeen, the Liz Keen he knew, back to them. To keep her from becoming like Reddington.

I think it’s fair to saythough that everyone on the show has at some point done something to save herlife.  Samar has played a role, Aramphysically saved her life, Cooper, Dembe, Kaplan, Red, Tom.

If I’ve missed any feel free to add them on to this list!  

[aussieokie]

In October 2019 @alyblacklist and @aussieokie visited several past Blacklist filming locations, and set about playing with our Blacklist funko dolls to document them! The following 25 posts are the fruits of that labour of love! 

We had so much fun. We laughed a ton, studied the scenes as we headed to our next location, and had a blast doing this -  and we hope you guys enjoyed it too!

Here are all the locations we visited in those few days!

1. Mr Solomon 317, Liz’s wedding chapel

2. Robert Diaz 622, Red meeting the Stranger

3. Frederick Barnes 107, Red’s Takoma Park house

4. Guillermo Rizal 620, Red and Liz at the carousel

5. Cape May 319, Red arrives at Cape May

6. The Kingmaker 120, Liz and Ressler at the bridge

7. Pilot 101, Red meets Ranko Zamani in DC

8. The Freelancer 102, Liz and Ressler meet Floriana Campo

9. Pilot 101, Red surrenders to the FBI

10. The Corsican 602, Liz and Ressler discussing Red’s arrest

11. Mr Solomon 318, Ressler comforting Red after Liz’s death

12. The Stewmaker 104, Ressler and Liz at the courthouse

13. Mako Tanida 116, Ressler meets Red 

14. Gaia 404, Red and Glen at the bowling alley

15. Gaia 404, Red meets the little boy at the diner

16. Robert Vesco 613, Red and Vesco at the restaurant

17. Smokey Putnam 501, Red, Liz at the train station

18. The Corsican 602, Ressler holding Bastien Moreau at gunpoint

19. The Kingmaker 120, Liz and Ressler talking at the bridge

20. Pattie Sue Edwards 515, Ressler approaching infected Pattie Sue

21. Pattie Sue Edwards 515, Ressler approaching infected Pattie Sue 2

22. Cypress Agency 113, Red meeting Meera 

23. Robert Vesco 613, Ressler and Liz at the library

24. General Shiro 607, Ressler and Liz at the hearing

25. Stewmaker 104, Liz meeting Red at the park