TV Review: THE BLACKLIST: Season 3, Episode 18: Mr. Solomon: Conclusion [NBC]

NBC‘s The Blacklist Mr. Solomon: Conclusion TV Show Review. The Blacklist: Season 3, Episode 18: Mr. Solomon: Conclusion excellently delivers an explosive take on a straightforward premise.

Whereas the first half of this two part episode focused on A.D. Cooper (Harry Lennix) and Agents Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) and Navabi’s (Mozhan Marno) attempts to foil the machinations of the cooly-efficient Matias Solomon (Edi Gathegi), the second half devotes it’s attention to the plight of Solomon’s target: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Having just been remarried to Tom Keen (Ryan Eggold) and ready to give birth at any moment, this couldn’t possibly happen at a worse time for Liz.

Fearing for their lives (as well as the life of their soon-to-be-born child), the two new weds flee as Solomon’s men continue their assault on the church they were married in. Realizing his quarry has escaped, Solomon redirects his forces to pursue them. While the Keens are able to lose him, the stress of the chase overwhelms Liz and induces labor.

Immediately, Raymond Reddington (James Spader) has Liz and Tom spirited away to a safe house where she can give birth. The conditions, as one might expect of an underworld hospital, are far from ideal, and Liz faces several complications that put both her and her baby at risk. This is difficult for both Tom and Dr. Korpal (Piter Marek), a former lover of Liz’s now on Red’s payroll, but it is especially hard on Red, who Liz continues to shun in her vulnerable state. For all his crimes and misdeeds, one can’t help but feel sorry for the criminal mastermind as he looks genuinely shocked that the once-orphaned woman he looked out for and treated like a daughter refuses to let him see her newborn baby.

It is an expression Red makes towards the end of the episode that provides one of the clearest insights into the supposedly-amoral fugitive’s character. When Liz’s condition deteriorates to the point that she needs to be transferred to a regular hospital, she begins to have trouble breathing. Red can only watch helplessly as Dr. Korpal tries to resuscitate her, but to no avail. Visibly distressed, Red turns red with disbelief, pleading for Liz to wake up. As much as he pleads however, she does not.

If Liz really is dead, it will be one of the biggest upsets in the show’s history. It could open the way for a larger focus on Red’s exploits, or it might even open up more room for Ressler or Navabi. Or maybe it’s all just an elaborate ploy by the Concierge of Crime to keep Liz out of the cross hairs of Solomon and other Blacklisters. Whichever direction the show takes from here on out, viewers will be happy simply to see quality programming like The Blacklist.

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