The Blacklist 9/29/2016 (S04E02) "Mato" (SPOILERS)

Will there be a flashback where we see Mr. Kaplan calling out, "Annie are you ok? Annie are you ok? Are you ok, Annie?"


Shooting her to me felt like a line crossed for Red. I think he'll be going down a darker than usual path this season.

 

Yeah, Red shooting Mr. Kaplan was maybe a step too far for me. What a complete bastard.

 

It was definitely a major turn for the character. Before that, I think Red was mostly likable. He has killed people before for betraying him, but in the past those people deserved it (except for Liz's adopted father, who did not deserve it, but was already dying and in pain so it was not so evil an act).

Kaplan certainly did not deserve death. Red is now a full-on bad guy.

 

I don't recall ever seeing someone shot by Reddington, survive. Is there more to this than meets the eye or am I just hoping?

 

It's possible future episodes may shed some light on the issue...

 

What confused me about it is why would he leave a body unburied out in the open on land that could possibly be traced to him where a tourist might stumble upon it. There has to be an ulterior motive.

 

The land was owned by him (likely not in his name) in the middle of a forest preserve in the middle of nowhere. The presumption was that no one ever came out there so there wouldn't be tourists there.

 

Still very uncharacteristically sloppy for him. People recreate in forest preserves. If a dead body is found there, and particularly if Mr. Kaplan is IDed given her professional background, somebody could start poking into the identity of the shell company on the deed.

 

He said something before he shot her that no one had ever stepped where they were in that wilderness. I'm pretty sure that he assumed the body would not be found until predators had consumed it. He also guessed that Bones would not be investigating the remains so he would be safe.

 

He also said she could live out the rest of her days there. Like a Bond villain trying to kill Bond, he's not going to make sure it happens but just assume everything works out as planned? He may as well have used a tank of sharks with laser beams attached to their heads.

 

He killed his trusted friend/aide in season 1, Newton Phillips remember? Told him his family would be taken care of then put a bag over his head. I think it was like episode 4 or 5. Yeah he and Mr Kaplan were closer as far as we know but this wasn't really out of character for him.

 

Maybe it seems different to us because we've come to like her.

 

Sure I remember. Do you remember what that guy did?

 

Yes he betrayed him to the Cabal after they threatened his family. I don't see that as any more worthy of death than Mr Kaplan. Maybe it's a perspective thing.

 

He betrayed Red to Red's worst enemy - a betrayal that could have gotten Red tortured and killed, as well as Red's friends and allies hurt.

Kaplan betrayed Red at the request of one of Red's favorite people (not to an enemy), and the betrayal did not directly harm Red at all, and in fact, seemed to help Red's friend. I suppose you could argue that it ultimately put Liz in danger, but really, she would have been taken wherever she was -- Red thinks he can protect her, but she nearly died several times while she was under his "protection", so that is no guarantee of her safety.

Bottom line is that Newton betrayed Red to Red's worst enemy, whereas Kaplan did something completely different, and as Kaplan said, it was actually in Red's best interests if he wanted Liz and her baby to be safe and happy.

Maybe the reason Red was so angry with Kaplan is because Red does not truly care about Liz being safe and happy, but rather has some selfish need to be in her life.