Mar 17, 2014
TV
‘The Blacklist,’ Season 1, Episode 16, ‘Mako Tanida’: TV Recap
The title of tonight’s “The Blacklist” episode, which is always the name of the bad guy targeted in the episode, is pretty much meaningless to all of us. We don’t care one bit about whoever Mako Tanida may be because the last episode delivered perhaps the biggest bombshell of the thrilling first season of the show. We finally found out that Tom is some kind of secret agent. Jolene/Lucy confronted him about his secret and he admitted that he has been doing his job for two years now, pretending to love Liz. So, no matter what the story is surrounding Mako, we are tuning in this week to find out what happens next with Tom Bond and “Juicy (as Jolene/Lucy has been brilliantly nicknamed by commentator BruceW in the crazy-busy comment section of this blog).
With so much excitement about the episode, let’s get to the recap…
The episode does not start where we want, in Juicy’s hotel room, instead we are in Japan, where a man is escaping from prison. We then see a FBI agent, also in Japan. He tucks his daughter into bed and kisses his wife before going into another room to look at all the bills that are piling up. The FBI does not pay well. A bald Japanese man suddenly appears and takes the FBI agent outside, holding a sword to the agent’s throat. He says he was captured when the FBI was searching for Red. He is Mako Tanida, the title character from this episode. Mako tells the FBI agent something about honor and then says the agent must commit samurai-like suicide, seppuku, or Mako is going to kill his entire family. The agent chooses the “honorable” way out and kills himself.
Cut to Liz and Red’s house. Jolene is there. She has befriended Liz and says she is looking for a house in the neighborhood. Tom is clearly not pleased to see her.
At the funeral for the FBI agent, Ressler is there along with some of the other folks who were on his task force that hunted for Red for many years… until Red turned himself in and began working with the FBI. One of Ressler’s friends says that he thinks Red murdered the FBI agent. Ressler tells Liz he wants to meet with Red. Liz says Red wants to meet with him too.
They meet and Red assures Ressler that he has no interest in killing any FBI agents. Red says that Mako escaped from prison and that he is probably the one hunting FBI agents. Red is worried that Ressler may be a target. We see Mako confronting one of Ressler’s former associates… and then we see that man also dead.
Ressler and other FBI agents get a briefing on Mako. Apparently, Mako’s brother, Iko, took over the crime operation when Mako went to prison. Iko is even more ruthless than his brother.
Finally—more of Tom and Juicy! They meet up at some secret hideout and is angry that she is interfering in his operation. She mentions that “Berlin is getting worried.” Tom replies that there were many candidates for this job (wooing Liz) but he got the job because he was the best. He is mad that he has not heard from his handlers in two years. She says they tried to contact him but he explains he had to “go dark” when Red entered Liz’s life. Tom wants answers and Juicy tells him to calm down.
Ressler goes to his ex-girlfriend Audrey’s place. He is worried she may be Mako’s next target.
Back at Tom’s hideout, he is briefing Juicy on everything he has figured out. He thinks Red has been funneling money to Liz for years, sending it to Liz’s adoptive father. Tom says he has been close to Red. “I could have put a bullet in his head,” he tells Juicy. “That wasn’t your mission,” she replies. As they leave Tom’s hideout, Red’s private eye, Cowboy (Lance Reddick) takes pictures of them.
Ressler is driving Audrey away and their car is rammed by Mako and some henchmen. Ressler manages to take out the henchmen and gets in a scuffle with Mako. Mako’s gun goes off and the stray bullet strikes Audrery. She dies in Ressler’s arms as Mako gets away.
Side note from Jason – Mako had seemed very clever and deliberate until now. Ramming a car and trying to shoot Ressler just feels wrong for him. It does not follow his “honorable” history with the other deaths. This is poor storytelling.
Back at the FBI blacksite, Ressler wants revenge. Dir. Cooper tells him to take some time off. Ressler isn’t listening. He goes to see another of his FBI buddies who suggests that Red probably knows something. Are we going to get a Ressler vs. Red showdown?
Red gets a report from Cowboy about Juicy. Red tells Cowboy to “bring her in.” Cowboy says it won’t be easy and says, “It will cost you double.” Red’s reply, “Bring me the girl.”
Ressler goes to meet with Red. He demands to know where Mako is. Red just replies with words of advice. “Turn back from this and go home,” he says. Ressler refuses and Red tells him about an illegal hospital where Mako and his men may be getting treatment. Red warns Ressler that he is headed down a dark path. Ressler does not care.
Ressler and his FBI buddy go to the hospital and tortures one of Mako’s men. They get Mako’s location.
We see Cowboy trying to grab Juicy, but Tom is there and he knocks Cowboy out. I am bummed that they showed Cowboy being held by Tom in the previews two weeks ago. We knew how this would turn out – Cowboy is Tom’s captive.
Liz is worried about Ressler. She goes to Red for help. He tells her that the FBI is wrong about Mako’s criminal operation. It is not being run by Mako’s brother. Liz goes back to the blacksite to figure out who is really in charge. They figure out that an FBI agent actually took control of everything… it is Ressler’s friend named Bobby. Meanwhile, Ressler and Bobby find Mako and lead him away at gunpoint.
Yawn… all we care about is Tom and Juicy and Cowboy! Tom is questioning Cowboy. Juicy is worried and says Tom should never have grabbed Cowboy. Tom and Juicy are squabbling. Tom thinks she is compromised and that it is only a matter of time until she gives Tom away. Tom wants Juicy to call Liz and tell her that Juicy is leaving town. Cowboy warns Juicy that Tom is going to kill her once she makes the call. Juicy calls Liz and Tom immediately attacks her. It is a brutal fight, but Tom chokes the life out of her. He then puts a bullet in Cowboy’s head.
WOW!! Tom is a bad!#^!@^ I can’t believe they just killed off Juicy only moments after she got a fun nickname! Fun stuff though.
We are inside the car with Ressler, Bobby, and Mako. Mako accuses them of killing his brother. He says he only wanted revenge because one of them stole his business and killed his family. Ressler looks at Bobby with suspicion. Bobby pulls a gun and shoots Mako. Bobby and Rseeler scuffle in the car, leading to an accident. When Ressler comes to, Bobby is staggering away from the wreck. Ressler tracks down his old friend in the snow. Bobby tries to explain how unfair it was chasing scum criminals who made millions while he struggled to pay his bills. Ressler blames Bobby for all of Mako’s deaths, especially Audrey. He throws Mako’s seppuku blade at Bobby’s feet and tells him to “do the honorable thing.”
Liz and the FBI have tracked Ressler’s location and arrive on the scene. Bobby begs Ressler to kill him because he does not want to go to prison. Liz tells Ressler not to do it, he will go to prison. Ressler fires half a dozen shots next to Bobby ear, but won’t kill him. As Ressler walks away, Bobby grabs the seppuku knife and kills himself.
Back at the car, Mako has gotten away. Ressler seems confused and depressed. Back at Audrey’s apartment, Ressler finds a pregnancy test. He breaks down and starts crying at all he has lost. Red sends Ressler a gift… Mako’s head. Ewwww, gross!
We see Tom digging graves for Cowboy and Juicy. Red’s bodyguard, Dembe, tells his boss that both Cowboy and the girl have disappeared. As Tom is showering the blood off his hands, Liz comes in and they make love.
The episode closes with Red watching a private performance of Swan Lake by a professional ballet company. He sees a vision of a young girl performing on stage. In his hand is a program from a Swan Lake performance from March 22, 1987. Red does not even see the professionals, just revisiting his image of the young girl.
And the episode of over!!
This was a doozy! Tom’s story is now racing forward and the previews for next week show Liz getting even close to uncovering the truth about him. I am a bit stunned they got rid of Juicy so quickly. Same with Cowboy, who felt like he might be a fun ally for Red. But, by eliminating Audrey, the show could be paving the way for Ressler and Liz to get together, something many of you seem to want.
So, what did you think? Were you sad to see Juicy and Cowboy eliminated? How long do you think Tom can keep his secret from Liz? Share your theories and reactions to tonight’s show by posting something in the comment section. As always, I’ll be highlighting the most thought-provoking posts in my recap next week. I’ll see you there!
If you want to read more of Jason Evans’ commentary on the Movie and TV industry, follow him on Twitter @TVFilmTalk and be sure to check our Speakeasy every Monday and Wednesday for his recaps of The Blacklist and Arrow.