THE BLACKLIST “Eli Matchett” Review: What Would Red Do?

Lizzie Vs. Ressler

The similarities between Liz and Ressler continue to grow, with both seeking help from mentors of sorts this week.
In the premiere episode we were shown the lows to which Ressler could slip if pushed. There has been a significant strides in his tenaciousness each week, moving from being two steps behind Reddington to being on his heels over the course of this entire episode. Many shows begin with a shocking premiere and quickly move back to the norm an episode or two later, but with Ressler we now know that it is his confiding in someone which has brought him back to sanity. This was a great way to showcase how damaged a character he is, allowing him develop but keeping the door open to seeing Dark Ressler reassert himself if something were to happen to his now-confidant, Harold Cooper.

Comparably, Liz frets about her transition from federal agent to wanted fugitive. Instead of Ressler’s sudden realization that she is struggling, Lizzie is watching herself commit misdeed after misdeed seemingly by accident or misfortune, but falling further from grace regardless. As Ressler becomes more sound of mind, finding it easier to track she and Red, Lizzie’s increasingly turbulent state of mind interrupts her ability to focus and sees her relying on Red more and more. When Red calms Lizzie in the stopped car and together they piece together the villain’s real plan, it revealed that the potential for Liz to transform back to the focused agent we know is still there.

The Blacklist continues Thursdays on NBC.