That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed Brett Cullen’s present-day portrayal of him. Just saying-- If the garbage outcome we just got in 8.22 really had to be the sole alternative, I’m kinda wishing now that the answer to “Who’s impersonating Reddington” had remained Ilya Koslov. ‘Cause I liked that answer. I enjoyed our introduction to him. And while at the time we as an audience certainly still had questions as to what would compel him to step in and help the way he did (to THAT incredible extent, anyway), what led him to continue being Red after the money withdrawal, his full history with Katarina, etc., I figured at the time that such elaboration we could return to later. With the “who” figured out, we could now actually go into the “why.”
To that end, the Townsend Directive could’ve still factored in.
And on a side note lemme just say, personally, that Neville Townsend was one of the few reasons I kept tuning in as long as I did throughout Liz’s bullshit quest this season. As far as villains are concerned, I thought his was a fun performance to watch, and somebody I wanted to see more of (same with Matias Solomon, Berlin, and Ian Garvey-- those have been my Top 3 major Blacklist villains for some time; now Townsend’s up there with them, and I’m PISSED he’s already gone... without even a number on the blacklist itself, no less!). So whatever could have led us to him still. Maybe he and others like him being the explanation for why Ilya had to stay in the role of Reddington, in order to keep Katarina several steps ahead of it all.
But the reason I bring up Townsend is to stress that so much of what ultimately played out the last two seasons could’ve still happened (preferably NOT Liz’s ridiculous “kill Red” mission, but hey, one rage-inducing story point at a time) without doubling back on the “who” so many goddamn times. Sikorsky, N-13... Hell, even Blonde Kat to some degree might’ve come into play still, if one were to insist on that. Whatever else factored into the “why,” and how it informs current relationships in the present. Brett Cullen could’ve been playing somebody from Ilya’s past-- childhood, even, from how it sounded-- who had to take up Ilya’s role in life now that he was playing Red (maybe not another extensive surgery, but simply adopting a name), which could have paved the way for discovering more about Ilya from his pre-Red days. Ivan Stepanov could very likely have still played the part he did, given his importance on Dom’s side of things. And the real Katarina could have remained hidden-- hence Townsend’s ongoing search-- until such time that she and Liz could safely reunite (I really thought that was where certain remarks at the end of episode 8.20 would lead to. But I guess not). Or perhaps for all their efforts Katarina did ultimately die in the process of all this, making for another possible reason Liz’s survival holds such importance.
I know, conjecture after conjecture. None of that necessarily would’ve HAD to play out the way I described. But if now ain’t a time to imagine other paths for the show to have taken when it had the chance...
Bottom line, there was really no need to prolong the “imposter identity” question for all the time that they did. We HAD an answer, dammit, and it was a pretty solid setup for more to come. In light of recent events, I maintain that that would have been a far more interesting story. Just really wish we could’ve gotten that progression rather than backtracking fifty times on it all only to arrive at an answer that blows holes in so much of what was previously portrayed, established, etc. (which I realize is its own huge-muthalovin’-can-of-worms-esque debate, but just the same)
Maybe then Liz’s story wouldn’t have had to meet its god-awful end the way it did, either, for the sake of a mere last-second realization. Megan Boone could have still left the show at her leisure, absolutely. That’s her prerogative. The issue for me simply was how her character got written out, and how ridiculously little payoff there was for it. The result just wasn’t worth it, and we all know it could have been.
(Lot of “could have”s in this post. I apologize)
WOOOO! SOLOMON, BABY!
*ahem* Pardon me. A favorite’s a favorite, what can I say.
Seriously, though: Fantastic narrative you’ve been crafting thus far. Some real reckonings all around, and a lot of things I had been DYING to hear from these characters with each passing chapter. Excellent work on a truly compelling story, which I can’t wait to continue. Best of luck with its progress!
@whothehellami5473: Don’t apologize. Solomon is a great villain so it’s great to see him. Thank you very much. I partially started this fanfic so I could write all the things I have been dying to hear from these characters too. I just posted a new chapter.
Just read it! Wonderful job once again. I love how we’re essentially getting one piece of the puzzle after another, and I can only imagine how satisfying it’ll be to see it all come together (considering how worthwhile of a piece each chapter has been). Looking forward to the next one, and all of those to come!
WOOOO! SOLOMON, BABY!
*ahem* Pardon me. A favorite’s a favorite, what can I say.
Seriously, though: Fantastic narrative you’ve been crafting thus far. Some real reckonings all around, and a lot of things I had been DYING to hear from these characters with each passing chapter. Excellent work on a truly compelling story, which I can’t wait to continue. Best of luck with its progress!
Tom Keen: Better possible route(s), same general result
Solomon is freakin’ awesome. Dumont’s hilarious. Hell, Scottie Hargrave’s pretty damn intriguing & mysterious herself. So let the record show that I am on board for “Redemption,” primarily because of those reasons. Just want to clear that up before I’m labeled as anti-spinoff with this post regarding Tom Keen-- and how I feel the story would have benefited more had they gone another way with his character.
This may not be the kind of post you'd expect, so hear me out. Obviously countless viewers of “The Blacklist” believe he should have DIED a long time ago, and it’d be a lie for me to say that I don’t see the merit in that argument... but clearly the writers have had something else in mind for a while.
Which brings me to the point of this post: The desire for normalcy, the redemption arc, the parentage pursuit, the spin-off-- They absolutely could have had all of this set up for Tom... WITHOUT slapping half of their viewership in the face along the way. So to me it’s less about whether or not Tom should exist, and more about how the story could more or less have progressed as planned-- minus the alienation of so many fans of the show. Whether you feel that’s what they’ve done or not, it’s a major consensus that exists among “Blacklist” fans, and it really can’t be ignored here.
(Of course, I’m still pissed about how they handled Mr. Vargas in Season 3, so I’m not without my moments of exasperation when it comes to this show either)
It’s how 3B started that bothers a lot of people, and it’s where it primarily starts for me, too-- but before we get into that, a couple minor things I would have fixed in the back half of Season 2:
[2.19- “Leonard Caul”]
Why the “change of plan” dialogue? The season ends with Tom taking off in his boat anyway, so why the throwaway line regarding his belief in staying & finding a normal life? If nothing else, that could’ve waited. To me it would’ve made more sense if he had just said getting out of the city was taking longer than he thought it would, even with the passports he’d just acquired-- hence, the reason he’s still around to provide the safe haven for Red and his medical team. (Keen2 fans could even interpret this as deliberate hesitation because he’s still hoping that Liz will ultimately join him-- which wouldn’t be untrue, really)
If we’d had more of a plausible rationale (and therefore a point to his fleeing attempts in 2.18) for his sudden “Oh, wait, never mind” moment in this episode, I’d have been fine with it. Just have him explain that he’s trying to plan out his exit strategy, but it’s proving difficult to set it in motion without attracting the Major’s attention, or that of the Germans who are evidently after him. This way we’re not totally disregarding the people he’s in trouble with for the sake of “Nah, I’m gonna just stay and be normal”-- and he still gets to be useful in the defense of Reddington, not to mention in Liz’s search for answers about her mother in 2.20.
Now, there’s a reason I focused on this part. Because it paves the way for another conceivable development that could have occurred later...
[2.21- “Karakurt”]
Rather than spending this whole episode just waiting around to hear from Liz, I would have instead liked to see a sequence where Tom finds a boat to purchase, thinking he’s secured his way out (and perhaps still hoping that Liz will get back to him before he leaves), only to walk right into an ambush-- set up by the Neo-Nazis themselves, who are pissed that he is apparently trying to run instead of helping them like he said he would in 2.17.
After all, THAT never really went anywhere, did it?
In my mind, some payoff with these guys would have been nice. The Germans could have rigged this particular boat to detonate and sink into the ocean as soon as Tom showed up, and an intense gunfight could have ensued with him on the sinking boat and the Neo-Nazis on the docks, firing away. And I imagine frantically giving them the info they wanted wouldn’t help him at this point, either. Especially not after all this deception. Deals are officially off the table.
But somehow, in this final confrontation with his old friends from Dresden, Tom could have ultimately gotten the upper hand, killed every last one of them, and eliminated this particular threat against his life-- leaving only the Major and his operatives coming after him (Hell, the Major might have even made an arrangement of his own with the Germans, possibly setting up this ambush). So with Tom once again without a boat, and still in danger, now more than ever he needs to get out, and he still wants to take Liz with him. Because his remaining enemies certainly know who she is too, and they won’t care that she’s FBI...
...If only she wasn’t already facing problems of her own. [2.22]
But that’s all incidental, of course. Season 2 ends the same way-- Tom does get his boat in the end and he sails off, only without Liz because she’s now a fugitive-- except this time he’s one Die Entrechteten short (thus allowing for some closure on that matter) and his presence was less pointless in 2.21.
So now to Season 3, where the most abrupt of turnarounds took place!
[3.11- “Mr. Gregory Devry”]
Yep, I’m jumping straight into 3B here, since like most people I was VERY pleased with how 3A turned out overall (except for... you know). The role Tom played in Liz’s exoneration proved beneficial, and I was even starting to warm up to him a little by the time episodes like 3.07-3.10 were coming around. Plus, if 2.21 had such a sequence like the one I mentioned above, his decision to turn around and risk everything by coming back to help Liz would have had much more impact-- given that we'd have seen firsthand the kind of heat he was in, and thus understood what it meant for him to be giving up his escape opportunity.
That being said, do I think Liz should have gone running right back into his arms, making out & having sex with him like nothing bad had ever happened between them?
HELL no.
And I think that’s what many people had the biggest issue with here. In my mind, the writers could have avoided a LOT of flak if they hadn’t put in this massive whiplash of a scene. It felt like we were right back to square one with them. Just like that, Tom got back everything he wanted, Liz seemed to decide that the two years’ worth of damage she had previously railed against [1.19] could be forgiven & forgotten in a heartbeat, and by the end of this arc in particular there’d be virtually nothing left for them to shoot for, because they would already have it all... Tom was already proposing again in this episode, for god’s sake!
Never mind who you ship. Never mind how you feel about where Liz and Tom stand in terms of what harm they’ve dealt one another. For such a complete 180 to occur with these two-- and to be thrust right back into the happy home-life that we ultimately found ourselves in again-- just made it seem like nothing really changed. That their struggles were pointless. And because it felt so much like what we already saw in the first season, I was back to not quite trusting Tom. The manipulation vibe had returned.
Plus, since a baby was on the way regardless, we really didn’t need another boat sex scene either (although, truth be told, the way it abruptly cut to Ressler's interrogation of Howard Jasnoch out of nowhere I thought was sheer editing brilliance).
But I’m not just blindly bashing Keen2 here. I’m not. My goal is to conceptualize different routes that still could have put Tom on a path toward the same redemptive outcome. Routes that may have worked better and pissed less people off.
So the question is: How ELSE could Liz & Tom’s meetup have gone down?
Well, obviously Liz would’ve been right to show gratitude for Tom’s efforts in finding Karakurt and helping to clear her name-- honestly, I’d be more concerned if she didn’t-- which is why her showing up to thank him wouldn’t have been altogether unjustified. It doesn’t mean she'd be ready to jump right back into the sheets with him, but what he did for her certainly wouldn’t go overlooked. If nothing else, it shows that she’s not heartless.
Tom would of course express hope that perhaps they can be together again, and at this point Liz could acknowledge how much history between them she would have to let slide in order for that to happen... thus addressing some gigantic elephants in the room. But Tom could then take this time to assure her that he genuinely wants to start anew, take a leap of faith with her, and perhaps finally begin to turn things around for the two of them, no matter what the risks are. (A more appropriate opportunity for the “normal life” bit than in 2.19, don’t you think?)
Perhaps starting to see how much he really wants to make things right, but not wanting to make any rash decisions herself, Liz could tell Tom that she would prefer to think it over first. And Tom might even respect this and give her whatever time she needs to decide (instead of, I don’t know: “You can say yes, Liz, just say yes”), since he’s not on such a tight schedule for leaving anymore. In my mind, this would have done the Keen2 ship more favors (and maybe even the show itself) than just throwing them into bed right out of the blue and reigniting the mistrust factor for many.
It wouldn’t have been so forced, Liz could have upheld more of her decision-making credibility, Tom’s road to actual redemption could have continued (as opposed to the instant gratification he got), and most importantly-- viewers might have stuck around. We didn’t NEED to take the downhill slope here.
Interpret that any way you like.
But I’m not quite done with 3.11. Oh no. See, even if you put aside his wronging Liz, there’s still one thing Tom did that went entirely ignored afterward... and that was the murder of Asher Sutton.
True, Sutton was in trouble with this fighting group anyway. Yes, Tom was all out of options, and was sorry he had to do it. But the way I see it, if Liz can be thrown under the bus for Eugene Ames’ death (an incident whose repercussions stuck around for several episodes afterward), shouldn’t the fact that Gwen Hollander is now left without her fiancé have a lasting effect or two on Tom, as well? I don’t mean for a whole arc like we got with the harbormaster, but an acknowledgement, at least. Promises were broken, after all. [3.05]
Tom did what he did to help Liz, sure. But innocent bystanders got hurt in the process, and it really shouldn’t have been disregarded the way it was. So if 3.11 had at least one scene to bring this collateral damage to light-- with either Liz finding out from Red about Asher Sutton & the role Tom played, or Gwen locating Tom and confronting him about it-- then even that would’ve been enough, I think. Just so we aren’t leaving entire plot elements on the floor. And Tom would’ve had something to try and make up for down the line... if for no other reason than to assuage his newfound conscience.
Oh, and Liz’s conflicted feelings regarding Tom would’ve benefited, as well. I imagine she'd have had a few things to say on the subject; particularly how she doesn’t think she ought to invite that kind of cold-blooded killing back into her life-- not after what murder she herself recently committed, and what it's ultimately cost her. Right now she just wants to restore what's left of the life she had. So Tom’s advances are turned down, and now he has to try and get back in her good books.
REDEEM himself, see?
And it would’ve been a perfect reason for him to pay Reddington that visit at the end: To see if he’ll talk to Liz and get her to come around. It’s a long shot, and of course Red isn’t going to do any such thing for the likes of him... but it shows that Tom’s willing to try just the same.
So it seems that Liz has no real reasons to welcome Tom back into her life with such open arms at this point... that is, until she receives THE NEWS.
[3.12- “The Vehm”]
Pregnant, and with Tom’s child. I know there’s been a theory going around for a while that the baby isn’t his, but it’s yet to be confirmed by anyone on the writers’ end, so let’s assume Liz & Tom’s spur-of-the-moment love-making session in 2.22 still yielded the same result in this case.
Naturally, this presents a problem. And because we’ve dropped the return of the happy-go-lucky home-life scenario for Tom & Liz this time around, there’s now a whole other reason that Liz is more than a little concerned. Not just having to do with the dangerous life she leads, Reddington’s presence in it, her felon status, etc. She now has to contend with the fact that, whether she likes it or not, a permanent connection has just been forged between her and Tom-- one that will eventually go by the name of Agnes. And since we just had Liz turn Tom away in our version of 3.11, clearly she now has to rethink her entire situation.
To let him in, or to not let him in...?
Either way, Tom knows that he has to continue trying to patch things up with Liz, whether there’s a chance of them being together or not. And rather than inviting himself into her new apartment and officiously telling her, “We’re moving to Boston,” a scene that shows him finding out about the grocery store assault & contacting her to see if she’s okay I think would have done more justice. It shows he still cares, while at the same time allowing him an opportunity not to be too forward.
Certainly better than him suggestively trying to take off her shirt and have a peek. ‘Cause that was real classy.
But as was the case in the 3.12 we got, Liz doesn’t know whether, or even how, to tell Tom that she’s pregnant with their child. She knows he’s trying to figure his life out, which she mentions to Red-- but in this scenario she also acknowledges that Tom's not without his impulsive & dangerous qualities, and it becomes a contributing factor in her debate over whether to give the baby up for adoption (the hazards-of-Reddington’s-world argument notwithstanding). At the end of the day, though, Tom’s the father... and to not tell him might do more harm than good.
So THAT’S when she decides to ask him over to the apartment, with the intent of giving him the news.
While the Vehm case is going on, they have their talk-- and as excited as he becomes about being a dad, Tom is equally taken aback by Liz’s adoption considerations, assuming that it’s because of the predicament they’re in. He knows she was decidedly hesitant about taking him back, and this also sparks a fear that she is actually thinking of keeping him away from his own child. But now he has a whole new reason to get started on the normal life he’s aiming for, in addition to proving himself to Liz... which is exactly what he tells her he’s going to do.
I imagine, though, that his last teaching job abruptly ending the way it did as he was forced to flee in Season 1 would’ve had some consequences, if not his face showing up in connection to the occasional outlaw activity (harbormaster courthouse confession, Dresden, his very placement on the blacklist itself; not to mention our newly-added shootout on the docks), so there would certainly have been enough running against him in that department to prevent him from finding a regular old job so easily-- thus making a Reddington interference entirely unnecessary.
Tom knows, though, that Liz will be keeping her options open in the meantime, when it comes to their baby’s potential adoption, so there’s a good chance that he’d become slightly desperate at this point... not far off from how it went in the episode itself, actually. But since this time around we’ve got the two of them still a little bit on the outs, he’s got even more cause for panic. Liz might even take their kid and run if he doesn’t step it up soon.
...Perhaps it’s time to seek out a certain old flame...
[TO BE CONTINUED]
Yeah, having just seen how long this got, I think I’ll save the rest for another post.
But I hope people understand what I’m going for here. I genuinely believe Tom’s role in 3A was a step in the right direction for him-- but in my mind, he still had a ways to go before earning the right to be with Liz again. And I’m not keeping them apart in this scenario simply for the sake of keeping them apart, either. The fact is, there are a lot of viewers who lost faith in the show after Liz ran right back to Tom in 3.11 (a shame the episode gets so much criticism for that one part, since I personally enjoyed everything else), implying that two deceit-filled years could be undone in a matter of days/weeks. Had they instead kept going with Tom’s efforts to earn her trust back (as I’ll be continuing with next time) rather than just handing it all to him right away in 3B, I think his road to redemption could have had more going for it in the long run. Some would probably still be wishing that he had stayed dead (can’t please everybody), but at least things would’ve felt less gratuitous and more aspects of the show itself could have survived.
Now let me just say for the record that I am looking forward to “Redemption”– if for no other reason than for the fact that Solomon’s going to be in it– and I’m interested to see what sort of material they have to offer. The story behind Scottie Hargrave’s character is one that I find intriguing, and hell, Dumont even got a few laughs out of me in the backdoor pilot (”Bless me, father, for WE NEED TO GET ON WITH IT”)! And even if I were purely anti-Tom (can’t say I totally hate him, though it is a little hard to forgive the shit he pulled), I would still be interested in seeing where they go with “Redemption.” So, just had to get that out there.
That being said…
We all know that when we’re treated to appearances & even small cameos from the people in Reddington’s circle, they often leave us wanting more (as any good character should); that’s why I think if we were to get a spinoff that focused on this particular group, and the behind-the-scenes work that they do, it would probably be television gold.
Think about it– Full episodes dedicated to Red’s army and their battles against people like the Cabal, or Berlin’s syndicate, or other enemies that pose a threat to Red’s interests… I’d even be satisfied if they were just small-time jobs involving these characters! I would watch the HELL out of that show. And with these people as the cast, we’d be all set!
Now let me just say for the record that I am looking forward to “Redemption”– if for no other reason than for the fact that Solomon’s going to be in it– and I’m interested to see what sort of material they have to offer. The story behind Scottie Hargrave’s character is one that I find intriguing, and hell, Dumont even got a few laughs out of me in the backdoor pilot (”Bless me, father, for WE NEED TO GET ON WITH IT”)! And even if I were purely anti-Tom (can’t say I totally hate him, though it is a little hard to forgive the shit he pulled), I would still be interested in seeing where they go with “Redemption.” So, just had to get that out there.
That being said…
We all know that when we’re treated to appearances & even small cameos from the people in Reddington’s circle, they often leave us wanting more (as any good character should); that’s why I think if we were to get a spinoff that focused on this particular group, and the behind-the-scenes work that they do, it would probably be television gold.
Think about it– Full episodes dedicated to Red’s army and their battles against people like the Cabal, or Berlin’s syndicate, or other enemies that pose a threat to Red’s interests… I’d even be satisfied if they were just small-time jobs involving these characters! I would watch the HELL out of that show. And with these people as the cast, we’d be all set!
Of course, we’ve got to have the concierge of crime himself:
Any screen time with this man is good screen time, we all know this. So I’d accept even just quick cameos, so as not to blatantly steal him away from the mothership series. But bottom line– it’d be a shame not to have Reddington show up at least every so often. What’s a criminal empire without its leader?
…And what’s a leader without his right hand man?
Fighter, bodyguard, driver, loyal friend, brother. Goddammit, we all love Dembe. We loved him even before we got to hear his backstory in 2.06. He’s just that awesome. And truth be told, it took everything I had not to put “muthafuckin’” in the middle there, between “Dembe” and “Zuma.”
Now who the hell’s going to clean up this mess?
Fixer, cleaner, protector… all things required as Red’s “better half.” Mr. Kaplan has always been there for him, and we know her as the intelligent & highly capable woman who could very well take the lead in his absence. (Of course, current canon would render this and a few other things in this post impossible, so granted, much of the overall scenario I’m writing here is simply wishful thinking on my part– but still fun to imagine and put together)
Need someone to command your military team? Look no further than…
Any time a facility has needed to be infiltrated or a defense perimeter established, Baz has been there. He comes bearing firepower & manpower, and with him at the forefront of each offensive, Reddington’s enemies are in for one hell of a fight.
What if the job requires an expert con man?
I’ve made myself clear on this subject– It was absolute horseshit in my opinion that the show made Mr. Vargas betray everyone in Season 3. (See my revised-canon post for details: “How it should have gone down with Vargas”) Up until that point, though, we were treated to a fun & delightful character who pulled the ultimate con jobs and even showed just how much he cares for pets. Just remember to keep him away from the bloody stuff.
Abductee not talking? Hmm. Guess we’d better call in…
Nobody knows WHAT in god’s name he’s doing to those poor souls he interrogates… and it’s probably best that it stays that way. All we know is that Brimley uses only the most outrageous methods in getting Reddington’s enemies to spill their secrets, all of which have proven shockingly effective.
Yeah– Probably best not to fuck with Brimley.
And obviously, we’d have to be be insane to leave out:
That’s right– Our favorite skiptracer from the DMV, who somehow manages to piss Red off and not end up dead! Must be because his skill and aptitude for tracking down those that Reddington needs to find are unparalleled. Don’t let his height fool you; once you get past his sarcasm and exaggerated anecdotes, you’ve got an unstoppable force from whom you simply cannot hide.
Good call-- Best to bring our trusted attorney on board as well.
When you’re part of a team like Raymond Reddington’s, it’s probably a good idea to have an expert lawyer on your side who’s proficient at finding & exploiting loopholes-- even where global conspiracy organizations are involved. Marvin Gerard. Shadow counsel extraordinaire. One of the best.
Why not? Let’s give this man some more screen time while we’re at it…
It wasn’t long ago that we got our first few glimpses at what Morgan does for Red, but we’ve seen his sense of humor and knack for misdirecting enemies & innocents. Each time it’s required some form of transportation (ambulance, gas truck, etc.), so perhaps that’s his specialty. Either way, the showrunners have expressed an interest in bringing him back more often, and I have to say I agree! He’s got potential, for sure.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Wouldn’t such a spinoff be one of the best EVER?! The delightfulness of these characters alone would make me want to tune in! The list wouldn’t have to stop there, either– If part of the premise involved the expansion of Reddington’s empire, that’d be even better! And since we’ve seen the map that shows how far the Cabal’s reach extends, wouldn’t it make absolute sense to see how the people in Red’s circle go about defeating these enemies of theirs, while the task force continues hunting down blacklisters throughout the main series?
What might even do more justice than all-ensemble-all-the-time is if we got solo episodes, where one or two of the main characters listed above (Dembe & Baz, for example) got an assignment to tackle, perhaps aided by a couple background characters– and then the next episode we got somebody else in the cast to take the lead, like Vargas or Kaplan. To be honest, I might even prefer it that way! And then when they all gather as a group for the occasional episode, you know shit’s about to go DOWN!
Again, this’ll all probably go no further than sheer wishful thinking. But like I said, it’s fun to imagine. When you’re treated to appearances from characters like these, you can’t help but want more. That’s how you know they’re doing something right.
[At some point, though, there would HAVE to be a bowling episode. Or at least an episode conclusion that shows the group ending the day with a few rounds of bowling. That would be awesome.]
I don’t know about you guys-- but I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this guy.
I believe his name’s Morgan. He took part in the cocaine crime scene in 3.09 (”We offered her a donut”), the ambulance fake-out in 3.18, and the gas truck switcheroo in 3.23. He’s also got some wit about him (the lazy eye inquiry & the baby remark: ”She has a real round head”), so I definitely think there’s potential there.
Always nice to expand Red’s circle a bit every so often-- Heck, we’ve got Baz, Glen, and Brimley because of it! (And we HAD Vargas... Goddammit, writers)
THE BLACKLIST- How it should have gone down with Vargas
Mr. Vargas, the expert con-man who worked for Raymond Reddington, was both a delightful and awesome character. And it just angered me that they finally brought him back in Season 3 only to make him a traitor in the end. The way he and Dembe both fought off the mercenaries and escaped from that warehouse was great—and then they turned around and pulled that backstabbing bullshit. It still pisses me off. I had really been looking forward to his return, too.
Wasn’t the entire point of introducing Mr. Vargas in Season 2 to have him weed out the disloyal one(s) in Reddington’s syndicate? If the idea was to have a way for Solomon to catch up with Red in 3.05, there were better ways they could have accomplished that without wasting Vargas in the process. So, on that note, I recently wrote up how I think that whole arc should have gone down, while still preserving his allegiance to Red. (which, again, was the WHOLE PURPOSE of his role in 2.03!)
In fact, I even came up with how he could have been further utilized in Season 2. I imagine the reasons he didn’t appear beyond 2.04 had to do with Paul Reubens filming his movie at the time, so I can’t fault them for that. But had things gone differently, I think this—or at least something along these lines—would have been great to see.
[Following his appearances in 2.03 and 2.04…]
[2.07- “The Scimitar”]
(At some point during the Blacklister case, with Liz & Ressler at the fake hospital, we cut to an FBI holding facility, where a woman at the front desk is working on something. She looks up.)
Vargas: I understand you’re holding a man recently arrested on weapons charges. I’m here to have him moved, and relinquished into my custody.
Woman: And you are…?
Vargas: I was sent by the DC field office. We’d like to ask him a few questions.
Woman: I’ll need to see some identification, and proof of—
(The two men accompanying Vargas hand her some papers. She looks them over.)
Vargas: (calmly checking his watch) I certainly don’t wish to be rude, but time is a factor here.
Woman: Your man is under a No-Contact order…
Vargas: And if I were to tell you that we have evidence indicating Raymond Reddington’s presence here in DC? That we are in fact closing in on one of the most wanted criminals in the history of the Bureau, and that any information we can get from his accomplices just might take priority over such petty restrictions as a No-Contact order?
(Silence.)
Vargas: Take this up with your superiors. Let them know that we absolutely must speak with this gentleman.
Later, during the ending montage…
(At the FBI holding facility, Ezra the sniper is being led out of the building, flanked by armed guards. He is put into the back of a truck, where he looks around, puzzled.)
(Mr. Vargas then steps in, holding his briefcase. The door closes behind him, and as soon as he sits down, the truck starts to move. Vargas then opens the briefcase, pulls out some keys, and unlocks the handcuffs on Ezra.)
Ezra: Reddington sent you?
(Vargas smirks slightly in response.)
Vargas: He would very much like to know what it was you found on that ship the other day. The Phoenix, I believe?
(Ezra raises an eyebrow.)
Vargas: What exactly has Elizabeth Keen been hiding?
[2.18- “Vanessa Cruz”]
If I remember correctly, Mr. Kaplan’s appearance near the end was originally written for Mr. Vargas. So the dialogue would have essentially been the same. But I’ll write it up anyway…
(As Cooper is inquiring what Red’s interest is in Vanessa Cruz, she is seen having a drink at the airport. Someone walks in and sits down next to her.)
Vargas: Mrs. Cruz, my employer is a longtime admirer of yours.
Cruz: Who are you?
Vargas: He understands your gambit has run its course. The FBI knows what you’re up to. They’re looking for you now, which means you have two choices— Run and hide, or accept his help.
Cruz: *suspicious* What help? And who is this… employer?
(Mr. Vargas gives her a half-smile.)
Kaplan was going to show up and have a larger part in the next episode anyway, so this wouldn’t have taken much away from her character, I don’t think.
[2.22- “Tom Connolly”]
Having him as one of the people gathering journalists for Red would have been cool. Or playing some other role in the Fulcrum exposure.
[And now, how I think his Season 3 portrayal SHOULD have played out…]
[3.04- “The Djinn”]
After Vargas has been revealed to Dembe as the other captured associate in 3.03, the spoon inquiry & escape scenes go pretty much as they did on-screen. Then, the truck stop scene, where things originally went wrong…
(Mr. Vargas waits in the truck for Dembe, who soon returns with a newspaper, which he starts looking through.)
Vargas: What are you doing?
Dembe: Looking at the classifieds.
(He eventually finds the phone number he’s looking for.)
Vargas: “Tuba mouthpiece for sale?”
Dembe: This number will lead us to Reddington.
(Brief pause.)
Solomon: Thanks. All I wanted to hear.
(Matias Solomon suddenly appears in the driver window and shoots Dembe in the gut, startling the hell out of Vargas. Solomon rips the newspaper out of his hand and proceeds to shoot out the tires of their truck.)
(Vargas is in pure shock as Solomon steps back, gesturing to Dembe’s gunshot wound.)
Solomon: *mock-concern* Might want to get that looked at.
(He grins maliciously, escaping with the phone number he needs to get to Reddington. Vargas doesn’t quite know what to do. Dembe is bleeding profusely.)
Dembe: You… You need—to get to… Raymond…
Vargas: What about you, you’re bleeding…?!
Dembe: Call that number… Get there first— Before… Solomon…
Vargas: I can’t just leave you here—!!
(Dembe doesn’t answer. He begins to lose consciousness. Vargas is in a panic, torn between helping Dembe and stopping Solomon.)
(Cut to commercial.)
BOOM! Bad guys know how to find Red, Dembe put out of commission, his survival still in question—all these outcomes the same as they were in the original episode—but this time with the added bonuses of another Solomon appearance & most significantly, Vargas still on our side! The important stuff still accomplished, and then some! It can be established that the truck they stole was bugged, with Solomon himself tracking them to that stop (consistent with their “almost-too-easy” escape), and the shock value from Dembe getting shot will still be there.
By the way, even though he’s an antagonist, I just think Solomon kicks all kinds of ass. Best long-term bad guy since Berlin, in my opinion. And originally he didn’t appear in 3.04! So in regards to retaining Vargas’s loyalty and gaining a bit more screen time for Solomon— two birds, one stone!
So now it’s a matter of how we get to the 3.05 airfield confrontation from here. That’s easy. For starters, Vargas would still have his alleyway phone call—only this time to the phone number that Dembe told him to contact, as per his last request. This way Dembe’s fate is still up in the air, and we get our park rendezvous scene in 3.05 with Vargas and Red & Liz. Again, same results as the original episode(s). Just without the pointless backstab.
[3.05- “Arioch Cain”]
(Having already told Liz the good news that Dembe made contact through their pre-established protocol, Red later awaits his arrival in the park as Liz sits on a bench, growing wary of the people around her. Then, a hand touches her shoulder.)
Red: Dembe’s here.
(They both get up and walk toward the waiting car, when out steps Mr. Vargas. Red stops for a moment in surprise, then continues forward.)
Red: Where’s Dembe?
(Vargas slowly shakes his head. Red slows to a stop, concerned and anxious.)
Red: …What happened?
(Vargas swallows and looks away for a moment, not even remotely sure where to begin.)
There you go. Their initial encounter plays out exactly the same way.
So, we cut away to Tom’s progress, and then back to Mr. Vargas and Red…
Vargas: *remorseful* He insisted that I get to you first… I didn’t want to leave him behind—but they were coming. And if I’d tried to bring him back with me, we would have both been killed.
(Red is silent for a long moment. Then he rises to his feet and grabs Vargas’s face, looking him straight in the eye.)
Red: We will avenge this good man’s death. I promise you.
(After a beat, Vargas nods.)
Vargas simply doesn’t think that Dembe could have survived. If the gunshot wasn’t fatal, their potential run-in with more of Solomon’s men certainly would have been… but not if they think Dembe’s already dead. Hence, how he ultimately gets himself out of there. Regardless, it would make sense that Dembe have Vargas make the call before Solomon could. He’s always put Red before himself, and reaching him was more critical.
So how does the ambush happen here?
(Mr. Vargas, Red, & Liz are walking back to the car.)
Red: Elizabeth isn’t safe here. Better call Edward, tell him to get the jet ready.
(After he is handed the keys, Vargas makes the phone call.)
Vargas: Edward. Mr. Vargas. I’m with Reddington and Keen.
Edward: I’m listening.
Vargas: I’ve been instructed to inform you to meet us at the Garden Avenue Airfield. Right away.
Edward: Understood. I’ll be there.
(We then cut to Edward, who had the call on speakerphone. He hangs up and looks away, closing his eyes… and then is shot in the back of the head. Solomon holsters his gun and walks out the door, addressing his fellow mercenaries.)
Solomon: You heard the man— We don’t want to keep them waiting.
BOOM! Solomon now knows exactly where they’ll be, and we didn’t have to trash Vargas’s character to do it. All Solomon had to do was go straight to Edward when he left Dembe to die and Vargas to initiate the protocol, believing they were home free.
(After arriving at the airfield, where the jet is waiting, Red looks around but doesn’t see their pilot anywhere.)
Red: Where’s Edward?
(Mr. Vargas is also at a loss. He tries to make another call, but then he is suddenly attacked from behind by two men. Red and Liz draw their weapons just as several more assailants swarm the scene, all pointing their guns directly at them. Vargas is disarmed and restrained, and from the jet’s stairway enters Solomon himself.)
Solomon: Mr. Reddington! *laughs, clapping* I think you know the outcome of this. Even if you shoot me and perhaps one of my associates, even if your girlfriend gets off a shot or two…
(He raises his hands calmly and stares at Reddington intently.)
Solomon: …you’re both gonna die.
(After several long moments, both parties daring the other to make a move, Red finally gives in.)
Red: Put down your gun, Elizabeth.
(For a moment Liz aims her gun at the men holding Vargas, but still she hesitates.)
Red: Put down the gun.
(He places his weapon on the floor, and ultimately Liz does as well.)
After the commercial break and Aram’s interrogation with Gavrilo Princip, we cut back to the airfield…
(The mercenaries have Red and Liz restrained, while Solomon addresses those holding Vargas, who clearly looks petrified.)
Solomon: Get this one out of my sight. (turning toward Reddington as Vargas is led away) I’m more interested in what the deal is with these two.
(Red glances at Mr. Vargas being practically dragged out of there, before turning his eyes back on Solomon.)
Solomon: It’s what everyone wants to know! Some say it’s a daddy-daughter thing… others swear it’s May-September. I prefer to believe… (coming face-to-face with Red) …it’s a little of both.
(Distant gunfire is heard. Liz looks out the hangar doors with dread, fearing the worst for Vargas.)
Red: The fact that we’re still alive means you need something from me. Whatever it is, let her go. My resources are at your disposal. (After a beat) It’s a limited-time offer, Matias, you need to act now.
Solomon: (gesturing to his men) Oh, you’ll give me what I need. I’m certain of that.
And so the near-torture scene plays out as it does in the episode, with Solomon preparing to cut Liz open and Red frantically trying to free himself and stop it from happening. Just when Red makes his most desperate, fury-driven attempt yet, however…
(An alarm sounds, and Solomon looks back over at the hangar doors—where a dead man is seen in an airport vehicle driving aimlessly back inside. It takes only a second for Solomon to recognize the dead man as one of the two who took Vargas outside.)
(Reddington sees this as well, and kicks one of the men holding him, while Dembe arrives from the other side of the hangar and starting gunning all of the mercenaries down—save for Solomon, who ducks away and flees the scene. Liz is out of danger, and Reddington hurries over to her side with his hands still restrained.)
Red: Are you okay? (Liz nods, as Dembe frees Red’s hands) Lizzie, where’d he go? Solomon?
Liz: (sits up and looks around) He got away.
(As Dembe liberates Liz from her restraints, one last man is seen by the hangar doors, wrestling for Vargas’s gun. The two of them struggle for a moment before Vargas is knocked to the ground, losing the gun to his attacker—but Reddington then shoots the mercenary dead, saving Vargas. Satisfied, Red turns back around.)
Red: Dembe…
(They both hug, finally reunited after so long. But Dembe, still suffering from his earlier injuries, starts to collapse as Red tries to hold him up.)
And if you’ll allow me one more here… BOOM!
Dembe’s back, his badass moment plays out just the same, Liz and Red are saved, bad guys down (minus Solomon)— and this time, Mr. Vargas is freed of a horseshit betrayal!!
If any misdirection was to occur with him, it makes more sense to me that it would be the moment where we think he’s shot down outside, when actually the man in the golf cart is instead killed by Vargas, and the perfect distraction is set up so that Dembe can catch them all by surprise on the other side of the hangar as they’re all looking the other way. But Vargas is no stone-cold fighter like Dembe, so that moment where he’s struggling with the other attacker makes sense to me as well. It allows for Solomon to still make his escape, and for Red to still get his shot in on one last mercenary before reuniting with Dembe. Only THIS time it didn’t have to be Vargas himself, because his loyalty to Red hasn’t been squandered!
WHY COULD IT NOT HAVE HAPPENED THIS WAY?!
Anyhow. We come back from commercial…
(An ambulance has arrived, and Dembe has been put on a stretcher by two of Red’s medical associates.)
Red: I’ve secured a safe site less than a mile away, 5243 North Park. Call me as soon as you arrive.
(Liz watches anxiously, while Vargas is trying to hold his own at the sight of all the blood around him. Reddington walks over and places a hand on Dembe’s head.)
Red: Dembe… (no response) Dembe. (He opens his eyes) We’re going to get you well.
(Dembe’s eyes flicker shut again, as Red kisses his forehead. The medical staff rolls him over to the ambulance.)
Liz: We’re going with him.
Red: I’m sending Vargas with him. You and I aren’t done here.
Mr. Vargas: (hearing his name, still slightly shaken) What? But—
Red: I need you to be with Dembe. Make sure he’s well taken care of.
Vargas: (looks behind him, then back at Red, apologetic) I thought he was done for…
Red: Dembe entrusted you with the protocol, and you followed it. You’ve done enough. (grasps Vargas’s shoulder firmly) Thank you.
(He then turns around and pulls out his phone, dialing Aram. After a moment’s hesitation, Mr. Vargas follows the medical staff and accompanies Dembe into the back of the ambulance, doing his best to maintain his composure.)
And after Arioch Cain is dealt with & Liz’s safety secured (for the time being), Red is seen at Dembe’s side during the ending montage. We can assume that Vargas gives himself a much-needed break for the next few episodes. But more importantly— he’s still alive, and his allegiance has not changed. Nor should it EVER have.
Thus, we have opened the doors for a few more occasional appearances he could have made! Nothing too excessive, but enough to perhaps tie up some loose ends…
[3.10- “The Director: Conclusion”]
I imagine Mr. Vargas could have had himself a role in this elaborate abduction scheme of Red’s. A quick clip could have shown him being the one to secure the floor of that building for their use; after all, how the hell they arranged that in the actual episode was never divulged. So I think something to that effect would have been cool. He might’ve even had a hand in making sure the entire floor was spotless, too. At the very least, it shows that he’s back in the game and helping out.
[3.11- “Mr. Gregory Devry”]
(While Liz is questioning Devry about Janet Macnamara, the same woman who had earlier sent Liz away from the apartment suddenly hears a knock. She walks over and looks through the peephole, confused, before opening the door. Immediately, Hudson the dog starts barking, taking the woman by surprise.)
Mr. Vargas: Down, boy! Sit! (Hudson obeys) I’m terribly sorry, ma’am, I think he was expecting somebody else.
Barbara: *bewildered* May I ask who…?
Vargas: Forgive me for dropping by unannounced, I was hoping to find Miss Keen. I’ve been taking care of her dog while she’s been away, you see, and she had told me she was looking into new living arrangements. Specifically, this apartment.
Barbara: *slightly uneasy* Oh—Yes, well, she did come by…
Vargas: I’m sure she must have been relieved, finding a place to settle down. After everything she’s gone through, being so viciously accused by our government and forced into hiding— It’ll be great for her to be reunited with her friend here. Won’t it, Hudson?
(The dog barks and wags his tail happily as Barbara looks down at the floor, embarrassed.)
Vargas: I imagine she’s busy getting the rest of her life back on track, so perhaps I’ll run into her later. I’m sure Hudson won’t mind going to the park in the meantime. Let’s go, boy! (Hudson gets back on his feet and lets out another bark, while Mr. Vargas grabs the door handle) My apologies for the interruption. If you see Miss Keen, would you mind telling her I was here? And if she wants any help moving, she knows who to call.
(And with that, the door is closed and Barbara is left standing in the empty apartment with a pang of guilt.)
If nothing else, a contributing factor in what prompts her to call Liz back at the end of the episode. Vargas’s tactic wasn’t threatening in the slightest, so Barbara’s genuine change of heart is still there as she apologizes & offers the apartment back to Liz.
But that aside— Imagine how great a reveal it would have been, seeing Vargas as the one who had been taking care of Hudson while Liz was a fugitive! It’s already been established (in 2.04) that he will not leave a single detail out of caring for pets, so we know Hudson would have been in good hands. True, Vargas was held captive by Solomon at one point, but surely somebody like Mr. Kaplan would have taken over for him in that time.
Plus, this would have been a perfect way to explain Hudson’s future absences as well! We see in the next episode that Tom and Liz have Hudson back in their lives, but don’t you think—what with Liz working with the FBI at all hours of the day & evening and Tom out pulling heists with his ex-girlfriend—that an already-established care plan for Hudson would have come in handy?
[3.13- “Alistair Pitt”]
(After her first meeting with the adoption agency, Liz is seen returning to her apartment building. Mr. Vargas steps out with Hudson on a leash, and the dog barks gleefully when he sees Liz.)
Liz: Hi, buddy! (kneels down and starts petting her dog, smiling) You boys about to go for a walk?
Mr. Vargas: He’s already had a treat this morning, but if he’s good while we’re out I’ve got the bag in my pocket, don’t I, boy? (Hudson barks in reply) I hope this arrangement isn’t an issue, Miss Keen.
Liz: Not at all! He already likes you, so better than having to shell out for a dog sitter, right? No, I appreciate you taking care of him.
Vargas: *smiles* My pleasure, of course.
Liz: But hey, don’t let me hold you guys up. Have a nice time!
Vargas: We will— And congratulations on the baby.
Liz: *taken aback* Thank you…!
(As Mr. Vargas and Hudson head out, Liz’s smile falters a bit. The idea of Reddington and his people being a part of her child’s life continues to unnerve her.)
There we are. The dog’s whereabouts are not so much a needless mystery anymore, he’s being well cared for, and while Liz doesn’t hold anything against Vargas, the end of that scene remains consistent with her increasing discomfort at the thought of how dangerous Red’s involvement in her life might be for her child. The adoption conflict would have only benefitted, and the story would’ve been able to progress as the writers intended.
---------------------------
Now, granted, I’m pretty much just spitballing here. I’m not saying all the spotlight in the show had to go to Vargas; just thinking of better ways they could have handled this enjoyable character they had. Continuing to be written and utilized in the same capacity as Red’s other associates, like Kaplan, Baz, Glen, Brimley, etc. was something I had really hoped to see from him.
Because let’s face it— Many viewers loved Mr. Vargas when he was introduced. There was so much potential, for more awesomeness as he executed deeds for Reddington, and more delightfulness in his interactions with Hudson. And who knows what other occasional opportunities would have come!
Bottom line: He didn’t have to go bad AT ALL. The show could have absolutely moved forward as planned with Mr. Vargas continuing to be on our side.
