The Blacklist : Its a shame the French guy

in the white suit died. It looked like him and Red had a good friendship.

I agree, they knew each other for a long time. It is time Red gets a friend or lover.

What really sucked is they went to all that trouble just to set him free and the guy gets one in the back.

Butat least it's close to reality, as in, every other movie or TV show would make sure the person they rescued escapes a hoard of bullets flying through them.

I just don't understand how Red could just leave him behind like that. After going to so much trouble, seems like Dembe or Baz could have carried him out. I think that last shot Red heard was probably the death of his friend.

Sign of a genuine and loving friendship. He knew that Red did his best to save him and in return sacrificed himself to assure Red's safety. He knew if they tried to get him out at that point they all would more than likely be killed.

I suppose you're right. It just seemed odd for Red to attempt an extraction from that building if he didn't feel confident that he could do it successfully (or with enough back up).

It seems odd to see Red fail.

Well Kellykeybored. I guess your correct about Red failing in the attempt to free the Frenchman, which is certainly odd. But it seems as if TPTB are setting it up so Red is going tohave one failure after another to prove he's losing his edge. And the conversation on the plane with Dembe seemed to be confirm it. It's as if slowly but surely Reds closest men are questioning his authority and leadership, and beginning to lose faith in him. And the way Dembe said Reds placing himself in more and more danger but people around him are dying because of it. It has my discussion group in a tither. Half of them believe Red to be a deep cover agent who's agenda is to bring down the worldwide cabal, while the other half see him as a one time CIA guy who went rogue over something that the government did to him and his loved ones. This led him to a life of crime while using the training and connections he once had to live an expensive life style all around the world. Until of course something else happened to Red to make him him want to have a second chance(the original redemption) remember the pilot episode?

One thing I did pick up on at the end of the episode was how Red assured his French friend that his family would be well cared for. Have you noticed how important taking care of left behind children and other family is so important to Red? Even when he has to kill people, he's always looking to take care of those left behind. From the beginning, there was Newtons family and others all the way up to Kaplans sister and now the Frenchman. Especially where there are children involved. Of course that's the half of my group who also think that Red promised Katarina he would always care for her daughter Masha. And my half believes Masha is also Reds daughter Elizabeth.

And so the plot thickens.

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But it seems as if TPTB are setting it up so Red is going tohave one failure after another to prove he's losing his edge

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I think you're right bthompso, this is a Red we have never seen before although he has not always been successful, he usually ends up accomplishing what he set out to do. I don't know what this means, if Red is headed for a breakdown, or it's a death wish.

If this all is a result of Liz faking her death, I wish Red would just come out and talk about it. (Or Liz.)

Maybe something has to happen to snap him out of it. I thought maybe Dembe might just stand up to Red and say, "That's it, I'm leaving." (Because he can't take it anymore, seeing Red like this.)

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Have you noticed how important taking care of left behind children and other family is so important to Red?

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Yes, I've noticed that, it's a continuing theme. And along with that episode about the Harbor Master's daughter how Liz wanted to make sure the girl had financial support for college. It's almost as if they want us to believe that's the only reason Red cares for Liz, that it's because he was responsible for her parent's death. (But I still don't believe that, there has to be more than just guilt, that has caused Red to care and watch over Liz for her entire life.)

@ge: Yes very sad they went through all of that only for the guy to wind up dead. And true VERY close to reality.