Gimme an episode like this, focused on a single character and telling its backstory, than another boring procedural one that is just a variation of the previous 150 blacklisters.
42 Reviews
A necessary flashback episode.
fede44887 January 2022
[8.1] The two-year limbo
cjonesas19 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Episode 7: A superb developing episode focused on Ressler, beautifully and heart-clenchingly depicting the aftermath of Keen's death. Those two years which basically were a nightmare for him.
Emotional, a little cheesy and heroic, with a very good performance by Diego Klattenhoff.
Liked it very much and a much needed filler episode for season 9.
Emotional, a little cheesy and heroic, with a very good performance by Diego Klattenhoff.
Liked it very much and a much needed filler episode for season 9.
Who writes this stuff?
misterproper9 January 2022
This is the most predictable thing I've seen. It's exactly how things work in Hollywood and never in real life. I thought writers have moved on from this, at least in more serious shows. Blacklist used to be better than this. It looks like a throwaway season altogether.
I knew I'd seen this story before
gcbxgpdt23 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Ressler's flashback involving him traveling by bus to a strange town, meeting a woman with a son and abusive husband and the husband getting shot seemed familiar, then I realized it's a reworking of episode 1 of The Fugitive 'Fear in a Desert City'. I love it when writers reference classic TV.
Very well written backstore
chrisboringlife7 January 2022
I know a lot of people want action and most of all Reddington, but this episode gave a lot of depth to a character that had a lot of screentime but always floated a bit on the surface.
After last seasons final episode, we now get to see a vital link between the former main character and her greatest love, and the pain he feels is depicted in a very well written episode.
Great job.
After last seasons final episode, we now get to see a vital link between the former main character and her greatest love, and the pain he feels is depicted in a very well written episode.
Great job.
Ressler does 'Shane'
dharmacrown-836847 January 2022
Solid episode focused almost exclusively on Ressler and what he went through since Keen's death.
While it had decent drama and some action it didn't contribute much to the main story. A 'Shane' like episode where Ressler helps a mother and her son in their life while at the same time fixing his own life.
While it had decent drama and some action it didn't contribute much to the main story. A 'Shane' like episode where Ressler helps a mother and her son in their life while at the same time fixing his own life.
Best ep of the season.
Kleivis277 January 2022
I have no idea why the rating is so low, this is definetly the best ep of the season. Very well written and really cared about the characters. I haven't really liked Ressler for a while but this episode changed my opinion.
Better Than I Thought it Would Be.
ttmdoc7 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Didn't we see at the end of 822 Ressler, Cooper and Aram all at Liz's body at the same time? Ressler is guilty of DUI crash with injury and he's not arrested? He doesn't even bother to show at his internal review hearing and yet he gets reinstated in S9? The first doctor actually gives him, knowing he had had addiction problems, Oxy? Really? (Ressler lied to the second doc.) He shoots and kills a policeman and the local,police basically congratulate him and let him go? Honestly, I wish the show could be just so much better with continuity and believability. But the story within the story was interesting and held my attention. And I thought Diego's acting at the grave site was quite good. And what a cute kid! Hopefully Ressler ends up with the women he meets in this episode so he can just calm down.
Did the writers just quit?
darrellderosie9 January 2022
Impressively Written
abeagle022 January 2022
Surprisingly good
Annalioncourt16 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I think people here are too harsh, saying it's too boring. I mean I like Red and his blacklister too but I don't need it every episode. My favorite episode are flashback story and I hope we get one soon with Red and what's happened to him the last 2 year.
I think this was a good backstory especially for being about a character who usually is quite boring. I'm not a fan of ressler but it was good too see what ressler done for the last 2 years. The story about the women and her son was quite predictable but it was okay. Overall i think this was an interesting episode and I hope that ressler get his happy ending that he deserves one day.
7/10.
I think this was a good backstory especially for being about a character who usually is quite boring. I'm not a fan of ressler but it was good too see what ressler done for the last 2 years. The story about the women and her son was quite predictable but it was okay. Overall i think this was an interesting episode and I hope that ressler get his happy ending that he deserves one day.
7/10.
Not interested in Ressler and his 5 minute relationship with Liz
claudiavanherp11 January 2022
Really? Coming back from hiatus and we get an episode without Red, instead we get Ressler. Give me a break!
Not watching this, will waiting until next week, which looking at the photos looks really interesting.
And I want to find out more on Dembe's betrayal and why he left Red.
Not watching this, will waiting until next week, which looking at the photos looks really interesting.
And I want to find out more on Dembe's betrayal and why he left Red.
No Reddington. No Blacklist.
ay66 September 2022
This wasn't a bad episode of random TV. But it was not a good episode of The Blacklist. That's mainly because there's no Blacklist in this episode of The Blacklist, which kind of defeats the purpose. There's also no Reddington - not good. As an episode of The Blacklist, this is a one out of ten. I'm generously giving it a six because it's not a bad story and it's reasonably well made. It's just entirely irrelevant and pointless.
I'm just going to type a bit more unnecessary nonsense here because apparently IMDb won't let me post a review of less than 600 characters. Since when has that been a rule? Anyway, to reiterate, this episode of The Blacklist isn't great. You won't have missed out if you skip this one.
I'm just going to type a bit more unnecessary nonsense here because apparently IMDb won't let me post a review of less than 600 characters. Since when has that been a rule? Anyway, to reiterate, this episode of The Blacklist isn't great. You won't have missed out if you skip this one.
Ressler: 'The past 2 Years'
ZegMaarJus10 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This Episode begins with a flashback of the moment that Liz points a gun on Red, Ressler got into a have car accident after Liz her death. It is two years after Liz her death. Ressler has good conversations with Theodore about the past. Ressler killed Shane, it was self defence. Solid Episode of The Blacklist Season 9, this was a Episode to explain the situation of Ressler in the past 2 years. It was okay, and now back to The Blacklist.
The perfect episode this season needed the most!!!!!
tanzimkh7 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, I must say this is the exact episode I was hoping for when I saw the first episode of this season. Also, I never thought to see Donald crying. He so deserves to get an entire episode.
If we place ourselves on "Donald''s shoes, we can easily understand how important it is to grief. Losing the best friend and the love of your life can make anyone go crazy. In those situations, we make stupid mistakes. I think, this version of Donald Ressler can be anyone of us, and thus creates the importance of grieving. Sudden shock and suffering can get the best of us, and Donald Ressler portrait the perfect example of that. From and FBI Agent to a Junkie to get on his feet again. This is what makes The Blacklist so incredible; this show is such a perfect portrayal of certain aspect of real life.
Thanks for this perfect episode on a perfect New Year's weekend. Thanks to the writers, the produces and most importantly the actors for perfectly making this happen; "Between Sleep & Awake".
If I were to suggest, I would definitely want to see how Dembe, Red and specially Agnes did, in these 2 years. I am eager to see if Dembe really let Elizabeth to read the letter. The COVID and recent US Election can also be a possible plot line for future episode; not to mention the return of serial killer Dexter can also be a potential episode. There is so much potential for this TV show and I looking forward to the success of this season and I wish to see more seasons. Can not wait for the future episodes. Till then, all hail The Blacklist.
If we place ourselves on "Donald''s shoes, we can easily understand how important it is to grief. Losing the best friend and the love of your life can make anyone go crazy. In those situations, we make stupid mistakes. I think, this version of Donald Ressler can be anyone of us, and thus creates the importance of grieving. Sudden shock and suffering can get the best of us, and Donald Ressler portrait the perfect example of that. From and FBI Agent to a Junkie to get on his feet again. This is what makes The Blacklist so incredible; this show is such a perfect portrayal of certain aspect of real life.
Thanks for this perfect episode on a perfect New Year's weekend. Thanks to the writers, the produces and most importantly the actors for perfectly making this happen; "Between Sleep & Awake".
If I were to suggest, I would definitely want to see how Dembe, Red and specially Agnes did, in these 2 years. I am eager to see if Dembe really let Elizabeth to read the letter. The COVID and recent US Election can also be a possible plot line for future episode; not to mention the return of serial killer Dexter can also be a potential episode. There is so much potential for this TV show and I looking forward to the success of this season and I wish to see more seasons. Can not wait for the future episodes. Till then, all hail The Blacklist.
Ressler Gets A Episode through Flasbacks
shelbythuylinh7 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Occurring after the murder of Elizabeth Keen in the season finale of season 8. He quits the bureau with some questionable but well intentioned tactics to get Red and Dembe there.
He goes on an emotional journey that led him to being a mechanic and went to a hotel where he met a young battered woman afraid of her estranged cop husband and sheltered son as both had to go from town to town to flee her husband.
Ressler emotions really will get to you. He and Liz should had gotten together. He admits although he did not like that of Liz's late husband Tom there. Still that they are together again as he weeps at her grave.
As he shaves his beard and goes back to the FBI where he belongs.
Hint: Dembe and Red did not appear in the episode there.
He goes on an emotional journey that led him to being a mechanic and went to a hotel where he met a young battered woman afraid of her estranged cop husband and sheltered son as both had to go from town to town to flee her husband.
Ressler emotions really will get to you. He and Liz should had gotten together. He admits although he did not like that of Liz's late husband Tom there. Still that they are together again as he weeps at her grave.
As he shaves his beard and goes back to the FBI where he belongs.
Hint: Dembe and Red did not appear in the episode there.
Wow
eddieonehundred8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I think this as one of the neatest flashback episodes I've ever see a tv show do? Not just the blacklist but anything, it's not perfect but it's very well constructed, paced beautifully and the acting is strong as always. This is Agent Wrestler's big show and I'm not a fan of his as a side character... but I thoroughly loved it.. good tie up, emotional excellent in all departments for me.
I'm confused, what year are we in?
angelaobeirne3 August 2022
I quite enjoyed the episode per se, but if Liz died in 2021, are we in the future now because we are supposed to believe that she's been dead 2 years and we're behind in the UK! It makes a nonsense of the episode really, which is a shame as the episode would have been good otherwise.
I read all the reviews
neverenoughgold18 January 2022
I confess I didn't watch this episode right away, too much going on. But I did read all the previous reviews before playing the episode.
Not too bad, I would say. Yes, it was missing Red, but it was overall a pretty good show. Helped fill in some of the blanks and gave Ressler a chance to help explain what is going on with him.
I thought it was an okay episode.
Not too bad, I would say. Yes, it was missing Red, but it was overall a pretty good show. Helped fill in some of the blanks and gave Ressler a chance to help explain what is going on with him.
I thought it was an okay episode.
I'm Confused
GoldenGooner0423 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
He has a beard, at the grave he don't have a beard but back with the taskforce he has a beard?
Did he just shave it off to visit the grave?
I hope the ending is NOT that Liz Keen is not dead, we can't seem to leave her alone, in the UK we are way behind in the US it's finished And I am surprised he never went back and sorted out the ones who robbed him it was good acting by him, but the Beard did not make sense.
Did he just shave it off to visit the grave?
I hope the ending is NOT that Liz Keen is not dead, we can't seem to leave her alone, in the UK we are way behind in the US it's finished And I am surprised he never went back and sorted out the ones who robbed him it was good acting by him, but the Beard did not make sense.
Who cares?
bexiibz8 January 2022
Best episode so far this season!
stephmctitans9 January 2022
Such a great episode! Heartbreaking but I so needed to see what happened 2 years after Liz died for Ressler. He is my favorite on the show, Diego always does so awesome, he loved Liz and they were about to be together before she died. I felt so much emotion from him. As a Keenler fan it was hard to watch, I miss them so much, but I needed it at the same time to try and find closure. I still wish so much Liz didn't die! Thank you Diego for this great episode.
Loved this episode! Great performance of Diego Klattenhoff
hushaertl8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was so heartbreaking! Diego Klattenhoff was tremendous! He made us feel the pain of Ressler so intense. And we needed an episode like this to khow how much Liz' death effected Ressler and why he got addicted again. This could be important for the storyline of the next episodes!
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