It's about time Reddington got back to being the imposing figure he was originally. Overall, a good episode.
46 Reviews
More Like The Original Blacklist
rachelmcgilvery18 April 2020
The Trolls Are Ruining Our Fun
afhick19 April 2020
Not a great episode, but serviceable. I've noticed lately that every time a series delves into politics, a swarm of angry prigs march over to IMDB and defecate on the User Reviews page. It can't be a coincidence that each and every one of them is singing the same song: "Hollywood is leftist. Politics is boring." Since when? I for one love politically charged dramas. When I was a kid, I devoured "Fail Safe" and "Seven Days in May." The funniest movie I've ever seen is "Dr. Strangelove." The prigs needn't worry. Hollywood is still glamorizing, fetishizing, and monetizing guns.Occasionally, however, they also take sides in the great gun debate. More often than not, the guns win. But once in a while, they shoot blanks. The prigs may not like it, but that's entertainment!
Decent Episode
ronaldlp-1571920 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Lots of bad reviews as this episode takes on the issue of straw buyers at gun shows. The negative ones do not like the politics of it. As an episode it is as good as most Blacklist episodes. Well written and well acted. I for one applaud dramas for taking on the issues of the day.
The Blacklist 715 Review
nickzapapp18 April 2020
Minor Spoilers
A bit of a disappointing episode. Even the Ilya parts weren't as intriguing as usual.
Still no Katarina, not enough action scenes.
I liked the first scene, and I liked Liz vs Copper vs Red.
I guess the only interesting thing to take away, is that Red is now aware that Liz knows he isnt Ilya Kosolv.
I have liked episode 12 and 13 of season 7 part b. ep 14 was ok, had cool action, but rushed. I thing by now I would have liked to see Red aware of Katarina. Kat is good but so is red, he cannot be in the dark by so long. I guess this now means the earliest could be end of 16-17. And considering there are only 4 episodes left, we do not have room for filler.
I was debating about what score should I give this ep.. 6 or 7.... I gave it a 6.5/10 but rounded it to a 7.
A bit of a disappointing episode. Even the Ilya parts weren't as intriguing as usual.
Still no Katarina, not enough action scenes.
I liked the first scene, and I liked Liz vs Copper vs Red.
I guess the only interesting thing to take away, is that Red is now aware that Liz knows he isnt Ilya Kosolv.
I have liked episode 12 and 13 of season 7 part b. ep 14 was ok, had cool action, but rushed. I thing by now I would have liked to see Red aware of Katarina. Kat is good but so is red, he cannot be in the dark by so long. I guess this now means the earliest could be end of 16-17. And considering there are only 4 episodes left, we do not have room for filler.
I was debating about what score should I give this ep.. 6 or 7.... I gave it a 6.5/10 but rounded it to a 7.
I don't understand the bad reviews
lukebernstein319 April 2020
People look at this for what it is. All I saw here was a great Reddington episode. And we don't get enough of those anymore. And hating on this episode becuase Reddingon executes somebody? Seriously what show are you watching? Reddington has always done that. It's part of the show and if he stopped executing people it would be fake. That's what he does. And nobody would have a problem with it if the episode was written differently.
Oh dear
drnikic7 June 2021
They've triggered (pardon the pun) all the "rightists" again....
I do agree it's a bit hypocritical especially of Red, but then the whole right to bear arms thing is a bit of a mystery to us Antipodeans. First time in a while I've been less than happy with Red's decisions.
Poor Ilya. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.,..
Poor Ilya. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.,..
MOrally good, but bad episode.
dattaakash-370556 August 2021
Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner?
bangalisoundz28 April 2020
I loved this episode. I don't get why people are so worked up about the anti-gun thing. It's a fictional story, and we need to realise as much. Overall, as a story it was average, but I love episodes where Red is personally involved - the only other one I remember is 'The Mombasa Cartel' - his monologues alone are worth a 10! The other thing I loved about this one was the battle between Red and Harold, very intense and unexpected. Keep up the amazing work guys, more personal vendettas please!
Perfect representation of America
breemersch0016 October 2021
Americans and their guns.. it's a sad episode, a criminal that knows and values life, being sabotaged by the government "doing their job".. a perfect episode to show America's true colors.. sad, just sad... especially when you read the reviews of brainless gun enthusiasts that don't understand what it's all about.., the general sadness that still takes place every day in America...
It's a bit slow, but there's something good about it.
azarkanhossam22 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This episode gives you something that we should all know, law is nothing but protecting the powerful people as we saw in the court, but the human voice doesn't like we've seen outside the court room (the women's slap) and Raymond giving a case based on a something he just saw and killing him after all, but the good thing about this one is Reymond knows what Elisabeth doing behind his back.
Preaching, straw men and character flaws
stephenthompsonp21 April 2020
This was the obligatory PC anti-gun episode that was the ideological sequel to the obligatory abortion episode that the writers had to get in before the show is cancelled so that they can one day look back and delude themselves into believing that they taught their daring dogmas to the ignorant masses. In reality we all rolled our eyes at their transparency. These guys have done a pretty good job at telling some fun stories over the past 7 years, but they just don't have what it takes when it comes to preaching, especially when it is obvious that they don't have any real grasp of the subject they're presenting. Writers, guys... please leave the preaching to the priests. This stuff is beyond absurd.
I gave it 5 stars only because there was enough intrigue between Red, Elizabeth and the task force to make the episode watchable. I almost turned it off five minutes in, but I didn't. Overall there was about 15 minutes worth watching.
I gave it 5 stars only because there was enough intrigue between Red, Elizabeth and the task force to make the episode watchable. I almost turned it off five minutes in, but I didn't. Overall there was about 15 minutes worth watching.
"The gun violence episode"
jessicatanchewsian23 September 2023
A bad gun violence episode usually forces the status quo to readjust, making the MCs be all "guns bad, liberal talking points here"
This episode doesn't do that, if anything it very clearly shows the issues with American laws in place without screaming "SECOND AMENDMENT CHECK MATE LIBERALS!"
It keeps the characters in their roles as well as develop Raymond and Liz's arc for, Liz's being her slowly wavering the line of criminal and FBI and Red's as it pushes him into crossing criminal lines for moral reasons as well as hinting at him maybe knowing Kat is alive.
The actual episode itself is straightforward, a usual American case of another shooting by another young male in another impoverish community at another person working at a minimum wage job only this time, its seen by Raymond
The crux is that legally speaking, Gordon does not belong on that blacklist but morally speaking, Raymond puts him on it.
In most shows like this we would see it as pandering or trying to spread a agenda but it doesn't for a character like Raymond because we have always see Raymond's moral compass be very clear.
Only harm those that choose to play the game.
The clerk didn't choose to.
That is why I feel this episode does this so well because it fits into the POV of someone like Raymond, he is someone who enjoys taking advantage of how society is built, right up until an innocent is involved.
As for the villain Gordon is portrayed this episode, its no different from how most of the rich billionaires are shown in this show.
If the flavor was changed from guns to cheap medication that is used to make drugs, it would still be the same.
The show has repeatedly tackled people who used equipment made by big companies. The only difference this time is that this time the laws of a country are defending villain of the story.
Its a narrative shift in the story that helps us see how each character would handle this change.
Resseler as we have seen mostlyy hold onto his handbook with "only if you break the law".
Keen follows her heart and though doesn't choose to break any law, tries to work around the system to do what she thinks is right.
Cooper is extremely loyal to the book and uses this chance to also test Keen's moral compass and to see how much it has swayed.
Reddington of course does the usual, he tries to keep his hands clean but when that doesn't work, he is more than willing to get his hands dirty.
It keeps the characters in their roles as well as develop Raymond and Liz's arc for, Liz's being her slowly wavering the line of criminal and FBI and Red's as it pushes him into crossing criminal lines for moral reasons as well as hinting at him maybe knowing Kat is alive.
The actual episode itself is straightforward, a usual American case of another shooting by another young male in another impoverish community at another person working at a minimum wage job only this time, its seen by Raymond
The crux is that legally speaking, Gordon does not belong on that blacklist but morally speaking, Raymond puts him on it.
In most shows like this we would see it as pandering or trying to spread a agenda but it doesn't for a character like Raymond because we have always see Raymond's moral compass be very clear.
Only harm those that choose to play the game.
The clerk didn't choose to.
That is why I feel this episode does this so well because it fits into the POV of someone like Raymond, he is someone who enjoys taking advantage of how society is built, right up until an innocent is involved.
As for the villain Gordon is portrayed this episode, its no different from how most of the rich billionaires are shown in this show.
If the flavor was changed from guns to cheap medication that is used to make drugs, it would still be the same.
The show has repeatedly tackled people who used equipment made by big companies. The only difference this time is that this time the laws of a country are defending villain of the story.
Its a narrative shift in the story that helps us see how each character would handle this change.
Resseler as we have seen mostlyy hold onto his handbook with "only if you break the law".
Keen follows her heart and though doesn't choose to break any law, tries to work around the system to do what she thinks is right.
Cooper is extremely loyal to the book and uses this chance to also test Keen's moral compass and to see how much it has swayed.
Reddington of course does the usual, he tries to keep his hands clean but when that doesn't work, he is more than willing to get his hands dirty.
An insult to the viewers' IQ
pmitsi-121 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Having a person like Redington preaching against violence is like having Hitler preaching against war.
As every other fan of the series I am fascinated by Red's character idiosyncrasies, but I believe in this episode the writers went ahead of themselves, maybe in order to gain sympathy from viewers who are against gun possession.
This is not a philosophy class, but a criminal who killed so many persons using illegally purchased guns to shoot down a person who sells guns legally is not what I call just, fair or even logical. Just a propaganda intended for those who have a low IQ.
By the way, I am against gun possession.
As every other fan of the series I am fascinated by Red's character idiosyncrasies, but I believe in this episode the writers went ahead of themselves, maybe in order to gain sympathy from viewers who are against gun possession.
This is not a philosophy class, but a criminal who killed so many persons using illegally purchased guns to shoot down a person who sells guns legally is not what I call just, fair or even logical. Just a propaganda intended for those who have a low IQ.
By the way, I am against gun possession.
Oh, Are You Offended?
Hitchcoc5 December 2022
I wish that this episode had never been done. It gives a forum to the neanderthals and their violent approach to the world. You notice it's only political if it's something you don't believe in. I've always felt that that guns are a great substitute for coming up short in the bedroom department. If you've watched this show from the start, how can you not know that it is about vigilantism and random violence, often using guns. It was perfectly natural for Reddington to take matters into his own hands after the girl was killed. He's done things like this a hundred times. But after a bunch of FBI guys get slaughtered in an ambush, no one talks about the availability of guns, so I don't her any complaints. On a much more show related issue, there's old Elizabeth paying that woman and betraying Red.
Haters are gonna hate!
Captainpalace13 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
As we've seen from the very beginning, Red has his own moral compass, that has nothing to do with the law.
Many people complaining about the anti-gun episode and how the writers are cow-towing to the left, or people pointing out the so called hypocrisy of Red taking out a gun manufacturer who is doing business by the law... But Gordon Kemp, although he may be following the letter of the law, he's not a moral man.
He leaks to the press about possible "gang affiliations" that the victim might have had, he gives money to organizations with the intention of currying favor with the general public, and when he was at the gun show and showed no regarded the concerns put forth by the reseller, he showed that he was not just operating a business for the benefit of all who may want a gun for self-defense, but mostly, he was willing to put his bottom line above all else by telling the reseller to "Make the sale!"
Was the episode preachy? Yes Does it detract from Red following his own moral compass and sense of right and wrong? I don't think so.
Many people complaining about the anti-gun episode and how the writers are cow-towing to the left, or people pointing out the so called hypocrisy of Red taking out a gun manufacturer who is doing business by the law... But Gordon Kemp, although he may be following the letter of the law, he's not a moral man.
He leaks to the press about possible "gang affiliations" that the victim might have had, he gives money to organizations with the intention of currying favor with the general public, and when he was at the gun show and showed no regarded the concerns put forth by the reseller, he showed that he was not just operating a business for the benefit of all who may want a gun for self-defense, but mostly, he was willing to put his bottom line above all else by telling the reseller to "Make the sale!"
Was the episode preachy? Yes Does it detract from Red following his own moral compass and sense of right and wrong? I don't think so.
The Blacklist Hates Poor People?
ryanruck19 April 2020
My takeaway from this episode is that the folks behind The Blacklist clearly don't want people of lesser economic fortune, who often have to live in daily fear for their lives in high crime areas, to be able to effectively defend themselves with affordable firearms the same way the elites who can afford the much more expensive firearms from the higher end manufacturers that, as Reddington stated, "take great pride in their history and craftsmanship".
Such blatant elitism! I'm sure that single mother of 3, living in urban Section 8 housing, trying to defend her family from an abusive ex-spouse and neighborhood criminals who might do unspeakable things to her and her children, will be glad you all virtue signaled she should be denied access to a firearm she could afford because it lacked the "history and craftsmanship" of your Holland & Holland.
Shame upon you all for this elitist attitude, hate for the poor, and advocacy for their victimhood.
Such blatant elitism! I'm sure that single mother of 3, living in urban Section 8 housing, trying to defend her family from an abusive ex-spouse and neighborhood criminals who might do unspeakable things to her and her children, will be glad you all virtue signaled she should be denied access to a firearm she could afford because it lacked the "history and craftsmanship" of your Holland & Holland.
Shame upon you all for this elitist attitude, hate for the poor, and advocacy for their victimhood.
The writers political ideology.
Johan_118 April 2020
Just great!
nemesis-8818 April 2020
What, again???
monticellomeadow-9535623 April 2020
Come on, Blacklist writers! You've got to stop this kind of "agenda" writing. No one - and I mean NO ONE - has ever watched this show for your "insights" on politically correct topics like this Gordon Kemp episode. Guns? Bad! Gun manufacturers? Even worse! Ooooooooh! Stop it! The show is already on fumes. We watch for the still-delightful Red Reddington and Dembe. (The previous week's "perfume" episode was a classic, and hilarious.) Nothing else. Pull out of this dive before you lose your constantly-diminishing viiewership.
Ugh...
kemority19 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
For me, the saving grace of this episode is when the Judge dismissed the charges.
Otherwise, this was another BS episode of the feds trying to control the actions of others (hello, freedom anyone?), and holding companies accountable when their products are used for carnage. I did love when the one guy said "are you the FBI, or the Brady Campaign?" And yes, the car accident comparison was a valid one. Sorry if that doesn't fit the narrative...
The feds have ZERO business lecturing people on gun violence when they use guns every day, often in a fatal capacity. How many body counts do they have with no one going to jail? You can't have it both ways.
Also, if you don't trust one of your agents, then why are they still an agent?
At this point, I'm almost ready to stop watching until the series finale when we (hopefully) learn whatever it is we're supposed to finally know about Reddington.
Otherwise, this was another BS episode of the feds trying to control the actions of others (hello, freedom anyone?), and holding companies accountable when their products are used for carnage. I did love when the one guy said "are you the FBI, or the Brady Campaign?" And yes, the car accident comparison was a valid one. Sorry if that doesn't fit the narrative...
The feds have ZERO business lecturing people on gun violence when they use guns every day, often in a fatal capacity. How many body counts do they have with no one going to jail? You can't have it both ways.
Also, if you don't trust one of your agents, then why are they still an agent?
At this point, I'm almost ready to stop watching until the series finale when we (hopefully) learn whatever it is we're supposed to finally know about Reddington.
Worst episode of the entire series
drpokeymom26 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is my very first IMDB contribution in many years and I had to come on this site because I am so upset by how horrible this episode is. I have been watching since the beginning and this is the worst episode of all.
Spoiler alert: You do an anti-gun episode in a show that has gun related killing in every episode and centers on a man who deals in selling arms for a living "but he only sells to countries and rebels" - like they don't shoot innocent people all the time??? And then... to top it all off, the solution to this horrible cocky gun dealer's dismissive attitude is... wait for it... to shoot him with one of his guns that Reddington paid a street dealer to buy. What. The. Actual. Hell did I just watch. This is like saying that pro-life people are justified killing an abortionist. Didn't you just break your own rule? How can you preach anti-gun violence in a show about guns, by using a gun to kill the guy with the guns when you sell guns for a living? The most illogical and downright insulting argument for gun control I've ever seen. They must think so little of their fans.
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