Random personal musings about Liz and Ressler incoming:
(I started writing this before Megan appeared on set, but I decided to post my thoughts anyways:)
I’m not super worried about this Liz absence. I mean, yeah, I miss her and keenler and I feel like I have been put through an emotional wringer, but, honestly, I think that’s the point. My expectations led me to feel disappointed following every episode since 8.04, following the Keenler night of love💗💓💕💞💖💘, but I found that every single time, upon rewatch and expectations set aside, I would see that there was so much more at play. I don’t want to get into that right now, but suffice it to say, they’ve tacked on a S9, and the meat and potatoes of Keenler love I still maintain are endgame stuff, so they’re going to drag this out. Maybe it is to give time to get clear of Covid restrictions before they can have a fully convincing on screen romance bloom?!... idk. who knows? 🤷♀️ but it is what it is. Bottom line, I think Liz’s absence allows for that relationship to be in limbo and both parties, especially Ressler to be left with the feeling of, was it real?
Furthermore, I think Ressler’s stoicism and Liz’s self-isolation goes to their respective characters. Frankly, they are both idiots: knucklehead and dipstick. Especially in love. But it’s more than that. They each made it clear: Liz NEEDS to do this, whatever it is that we do not understand yet, and Ressler NEEDS to do his job. And since what Liz needs to do do is outside the law, and what Ressler needs to do is bound by the law, they must go their separate ways.
I know we Keenlers want to view their union as a divine act of love etc, and I personally do think it was just that on a deep level, but they didn’t express that to each other in so many words. So, no one amongst the characters really knows, INCLUDING them!
They spoke to each other only through code, i.e. “rest” = making love. Or through other means: Liz’s “I miss yous” and “I care about you”, but not from her own lips. All we know for certain is that there was an attraction, and when push came to shove, they fell into bed together for, at best, comfort sex.
Which is not a bad thing, it just is what it is. I mean, TPTB said themselves that it’s all very murky and it’s difficult to pinpoint where they place them on the sex↔️love spectrum. I think we are meant to not be sure about that. I mean, CLEARLY! Even Aram, the self proclaimed champion of “love” and romance🙄, mocked and chastised Ressler for merely having Liz at his apartment! (I mean, PLEASE!! He was totally on board with Liz getting knocked up by Tom, for goodness sake!! 🤦♀️) To say nothing of Pannabaker’s derision and whoever tattled to Pannabaker about that. And finally, Liz herself, through The Cyranoid, kind of cheapened their night together by using it as a tool in her means to an end. Okay, it was a last resort since no one would believe that it was her speaking, but I still feel that was a low blow exposing Ressler to workplace humiliation. I mean, obviously, she’s in a very tough spot, so I guess I get it.
As far as the TF’s reactions to Ressler and Liz, I mean, in a way, it’s too early to say bc it’s so new and also quite, um.... undefined, shall we say? But I kinda do want to hear thoughts from other characters on this, if for nothing else, consistency! Tom and Liz were discussed and lauded fervently (😖🤦♀️), Aram and all “18” of his liaisons were discussed and supported. Why not hear some love for Keenler from the other characters?! Surprisingly, so far, Alina has been the only one who showed any hint of empathy and support towards Ressler. I, for one, would like to hear it from the others, including Red and Dembe. Pannabaker can go pack rocks lmao🤣