Saturday, November 25, 2017

Blindspot 3x04 Review: "Gunplay Ricochet" (End Point) [Contributor: Jen]


"Gunplay Ricochet"
Original Airdate: November 17, 2017

Team Blindspot has to stop a bomber in "Gunplay Ricochet," but we are waiting for the bomb they are going to drop on Jeller. However, rather than blow the couple apart, Blindspot uses the episode to show Kurt and Jane's foundation is going to tough to crack.

CASE OF THE WEEK


Blindspot put the "new tattoos work with old" concept to work this week with the horn skull. The horn skull tattoo is the symbol used by a bomber named Marcus Dunn. Before each attack, Dunn would send a one page manifesto to the "Times" blaming modern technology as a supreme evil. Each letter ended with the image of the horn skull. However, it was believed that Dunn blew himself up in his last attack. There have been crude copycat bombings since Dunn's death. Patterson thought the horn skull tattoo was pointing to a copycat bomber. However, there wasn't enough to go on until the imagery of Jane's new tattoo is placed over the horn skull. Using satellite imagery, the team discovers the new tattoo is in the exact shape of a parking lot in Brooklyn. The bird's eye within the horn tattoo also points to a specific space number: 219.

I actually understood all of that!

The team heads to the parking lot and there is a van sitting in space 219, but it does not contain a bomb. Instead there is a letter to Claire Dunn, the bomber's daughter. There's a threat for another bombing and it's signed "Dad." The handwriting is a match, so Team Blindspot realizes Marcus Dunn
isn't as dead as they thought he was.

The team brings in Marcus' daughter, Claire, and she reveals that a courier — not her father — leaves the letters. A stakeout leads to the courier, who recognizes Jane as Remi. Now things are getting interesting. The courier's name is Rosamond "Rossi" Ott.  Zapata explains, "If you want to disappear from the face of the earth, Rossi is your guy." He was also like an uncle to Remi, but Jane does not remember him. Rossi did the adoption for Remi and Roman. By that, I assume he means providing the falsified identification as well as the "official" paperwork for the adoption.

Rossi refuses to discuss Marcus Dunn, but super spy Zapata tracks down Rossi's go bag. Rossi's coded ledger is in the go bag and because Patterson is the queen of all code breakers, they are able to locate Dunn's home. Honestly, did anyone believe the local police could diffuse the bomb without Team Blindspot? Of course, it was a decoy. Of course, they were almost all blown up. Team Blindspot saves the day on this show, darlin'.

Dunn sends another manifesto that says he's going to bomb a university and evidence from his home helps the team narrow down which one. However, Patterson realizes Dunn's letters contain a code Roman has cracked. When she overlays the sea urchin tattoo over Dunn's letter, it gives her a new location for the bomb — a hospital. How was Roman able to crack a code to a letter released only an hour earlier and put a tattoo breaking that code on Jane's body 18 months prior? Simple: Marcus Dunn has used the same code for the last thirty years. All the letters reveal the bombing locations, if Jane's tattoo is placed over them.

The team arrives just before the bomb is about to explode. Reade and Zapata track down Dunn. Reade is forced to shoot the bomber before he kills Zapata. As for Kurt and Jane, they defuse the bomb together seconds before it explodes. Whew. Not that I was worried.

The tattoos Roman placed on Jane's body help take down a wanted bomber. It's absolutely clear Roman intends to use these tattoos to actually make the world a better place. Rather than destroy it like Shepherd. However, his real endgame is to torture Jane. Roman put Rossi in Jane's path for a reason and that reason is the real bomb in "Gunplay Ricochet."


KURT AND JANE


Kurt and Jane's relationship is the focal point of "Gunplay Richochet," and fans are treated to a doozy of a goodie: We get to watch Kurt and Jane's wedding video.


The Blindspot writers even named it "Case Closed: Kurt and Jane's Wedding." The whole writing staff on Blindspot has gone shipper crazy and I am living for it. This is actually a beautifully creative way for viewers to experience the wedding. We hear from all the supporting players and their perspectives on Kurt and Jane's relationship, including Kurt and Jane themselves. That's why there is no "Team Blindspot" section in this week's review. The team is anchored by Kurt and Jane's love story. "Gunplay Ricochet" is the episode where the team honors that.

It starts with Reade and Zapata who, let's be frank, speak for Jeller fans everywhere when they say, "Don't screw this up. However, I feel they also say something that speaks to this whole ridiculous "Moonlighting Curse" and why television writers need to do what Blindspot has done with their main couple and dive headfirst into the commitment of marriage.
Reade: Yes, and we also can't wait to see how two of the most headstrong ultra-competitive alphas are gonna function as a couple. 
Zapata: [laughs] Yes. This marriage is going to be extremely entertaining.
For some reason, weddings are typically the end of stories. The couple gets married and rides off into the sunset. It's not very often viewers actually witness the marriage on their televisions screens. This is slowly changing over the years with couples like Meredith and Derek, Jim and Pam, Booth and Brennan, and Castle and Beckett, but those couples were all married YEARS after the shows exhausted the "will they/won't they" drama.

Blindspot tried that for two seasons and, quite frankly, the show suffered as a result. One of the main reasons season one was as successful as it was, I believe, is because of the partnership between Kurt and Jane. When Blindspot severed that partnership rather severely at the end of season one it essentially cut the anchor. Season two felt adrift and listless as a result.

Most television shows would repair Kurt and Jane's romantic relationship by simply putting them back together and continuing the on-again, off-again dating for another three seasons. But not Blindspot. Instead, they dove headfirst into marriage because I think the writers finally realized they have all the drama they need built into their characters. Because Reade and Zapata are right: Kurt and Jane are both headstrong, stubborn, ultra-competitive alphas. Each is used to being in control and giving orders. They struggle with being vulnerable, which is why getting them together was such a hot mess. Blindspot only needs to mine what is innate in the characters. They will find all the drama they need and it will feel organic.

We are seeing it already. Jane tells Kurt that Roman called her and wants to punish her for choosing Kurt and the team over him. Kurt's displays a very manly and hyper-protective lower octave when he asks, "Did he threaten you?" Gave me chills.

Weller recognizes there is still a part of Jane that cares for her brother, but that's not the reason she's telling Kurt about the phone call. What's important to Jane is Kurt and their marriage. If there are no secrets between them, then there's nothing Roman can use against them. Jane advocating total transparency and a completely open and honest relationship with Kurt? I'm a proud mama. My child is grown. Go with God, dear girl, and make me all the Jeller babies.

Unfortunately, Kurt doesn't fess up about Berlin. It's a little strange that Kurt "Stop Lying To Me, Jane" isn't all in on the transparency plan. Is it out of character? Eh, no. I think this gets into the alpha issue between them.

Whatever Berlin is about (and it's NOT about cheating, so don't worry about it), I believe Kurt thinks it's in Jane's best interest not to know. He's protecting her because that's always the reason Kurt and Jane lie to each other. This incessant, "I know what's best for you" belief is fed by needing to be in control and being the person who always makes the tough call. This time it's Kurt doing it, but we've seen plenty of times when Jane has. Similarities are not always what bind a couple.

However, it is important for us to understand that the 18 months haven't changed Kurt. This is still the same man Jane fell in love with. It's simply that his protectiveness doesn't always lead to the best decision making. Kurt's love for change, however, is at the heart of those decisions. That's why Kurt needed to come next in the wedding video. Kurt's words to Jane on their anniversary are essentially the wedding vows we never heard.
Kurt: I guess I'm not the best at expressing myself. Maybe that's why it took me so long to make a move on you.

Understatement of the century, Weller. I've seen walls talk more and move faster than you.
Kurt: I can't believe how lucky I am. I love what we've become. I love the person — the man — that you make me. You are my north star. You're my starting point. And you're my end point.
Sullivan Stapleton's acting is pure perfection in this scene. When Kurt Weller cries, I cry. I love what what he says too about what Kurt and Jane have become. "Become" is an interesting choice of words and it speaks to the truth of relationships. Kurt and Jane are a constant evolution. We are constantly growing as human beings and the responsibility of your partner is to be committed to learning about the person you are. This doesn't just happen in the dating phase. It's important in marriage too, because you don't suddenly stop evolving as a human being when you get married.

Of course, Kurt's "You're my starting point" is a callback to that exquisite Jeller scene in the fifth episode of season one. Jane tells Kurt he's her starting point after Kurt helps Jane through a panic attack triggered by a traumatic memory. It's my favorite Kurt and Jane scene because it's the moment I knew this show wasn't about the tattoos or Jane Doe's identity. It's about the relationship between Jane and Kurt.

It's why we know all roads lead back to them. It's why Kurt calls Jane his "end point." However, unlike most television shows, marriage isn't the end point for this couple. We are still in the middle. Kurt and Jane are still figuring out how to be together. They will make mistakes. They will hurt each other. What's important is how they work through those times. It's what makes this fictional couple feel real.

It's also the meaning behind Director Hirst's advice when she says, "Despite your accomplishments, there will be some days when you just don't think you can make it. But then that is when you lean on each other. To the good times and the bed. May love rule mightily over both."

As for Jane's "vows," this day and the love she found with Kurt Weller, is something she never thought possible.
Jane: I never thought that, uh, this would happen for me. I never thought that I would have what we have. And today is just... so perfect.
Kurt adorably interrupts Jane's video message because he couldn't find her. This spoke to me on a deep level. I remember on my wedding day not wanting to be away from my husband for more than a few minutes. It felt like I was missing an arm. So whenever we were separated for too long, one would find the other.
Jane: Did you think I ran away already? 
Kurt: I'm not gonna give you that chance. I'm never gonna let you out of my sight. Ever.
Kurt finds Jane hurt and unconscious after the bomb in Dunn's house explodes. All the worry and fear in Kurt's voice as he whispers his wife's name tells us everything we need to know. If Jane is dead, so is Kurt Weller. Jane is his entire world, which is why he spent 18 months searching the globe for her.

Much to his relief, Jane is okay and Kurt holds onto her tight. This is emblematic of their entire relationship. It's like Kurt has been holding on to Jane, terrified to lose her, since the moment she came into his life. First as Taylor Shaw, and then eventually as Jane Doe. The last person Kurt loved as much as he loves Jane Doe was Taylor Shaw. The trauma of losing Taylor still informs on his relationship with Jane — even though they are not the same person. The 18 months Jane was gone only feeds Kurt's fear.

After the bombing, Jane sits in the locker room with Kurt, upset over Roman messing with her happy life. She tells him she wants to live inside their wedding day forever.
Kurt: We're gonna have a lot more perfect days. We get that for the rest of our lives.
Your wedding day is one unbridled moment of perfect and pure happiness. Or at least it should be. But marriage isn't about one perfect day. It's not even about living in perfect happiness, because that's not possible. Human beings are imperfect by nature.You will have days filled with incandescent joy in marriage. You will have days that are anything but joyful.  However, surviving the darker days does make the lighter ones brighter. You appreciate the perfect days more because you found your way through the imperfect ones together.

Of course Patterson, the number one Jeller shipper, goes last. And her words are perfectly Patterson

"If life was like Dungeon & Dragons, Jane you would be an elf paladin. And Weller, you are a dwarf monk. That does make you, like, four feet tall. But you know what? I just thought you would think wizard is a little bit too nerdy."

Can we wrap her up and sell her? The world needs the extra adorableness. "What I'm trying to say is, you are guys are amazing warrior on your own," Patterson continues. "But together,  you can defeat anything." Patterson speaks to the essence of Blindspot. Kurt and Jane are interesting and strong characters separately, but together they make each other better.

After diffusing the bomb together, Jane remarks: "That was kind of hot." Yes, you two are always hot. One of the key components of this show's success is your hotness. Kurt agrees and they start making out in the field with Patterson on the comms. This is legit straight out of fan fiction. I want to say I enjoyed every moment, but there was no way Blindspot was giving us this many goodies without a swift kick in the OTP butt. There were carrots all around me, but I was searching for the stick. I knew there was a bomb coming. Something that would surely separate Kurt and Jane.


Rossi leaves and envelope for Jane. I thought, "Here we go. This is Berlin. There's something awful in that envelope." Well, it turns out that Remi and Roman's adoption wasn't the only one Rossi put together. He did an adoption for Remi when she was 18 years old, which means... Jane has a daughter out there.

I am equal parts, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAT????" and "Oh. That wasn't that bad." Obviously, Jane having a daughter is a big bomb, but it doesn't really rock the foundation of Jeller like I feared. They certainly weathered Bethany's arrival just fine. They'll be able to work through Jane's daughter as well. Perhaps I should have had more faith in the writers, but I am not used to all this Jeller stability. Is there such a thing as "will they/won't they" PTSD?


The point of building the episode like this is to show that Kurt and Jane are not as easily breakable as Roman believes. Kurt and Jane are going to face tough times, because that's their life. That's everyone's life really. However, the foundation Blindspot built is strong. The anchor will hold. Kurt and Jane will always be the end point.

Stray Thoughts:
  • When the writers proclaim the fan favorite couple as endgame in the show itself, there's really nothing to worry about. Ever.
  • Roman is super evil, but man can he wear a suit.
  • I want to ship Roman and Blake so bad. But again, he's evil: so she needs to run for this hills. Then again, maybe Roman will stop all his plotting, marry Blake, and have double date nights with Kurt and Jane.
  • Reade has a secret. He's working with the guy from the State Department for some reason. I know I'm supposed to be super curious, but I don't really care.
  • Weller was calling Reade "boss" and "sir" the whole episode. It's adorable when Kurt is supportive of his bro.
  • "Or German or Czech. No one seems to know, but he's wanted in seven countries for like all of the crimes." Patterson's "all of the crimes" made me giggle.
  • Zapata gave Kurt a hard time about doing the bomb squad's job. She is my spirit animal. Kurt: you are not part of the bomb squad. I know you are Kurt Weller, but stop trying to do everything.
  • To myself: Jane, how do you not remember Rossi is your uncle? Oh. That's right. Never mind. I'm an idiot. (Sometimes I forget that Jane doesn't have all her memories back.)
  • Seriously what happened to Bethany? They moved to Colorado for this kid. Has there been a custody arrangement worked out? When is Kurt going to see his daughter?

3 comments:

  1. Great article. I laughed when you mentioned you did not care what Reade was up to, thought I was the only one thinking like that!

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  2. Great review as always, Jane, especially all your thoughts about Jeller!
    About Berlin, my mind never went to cheating too. For now, what I think Kurt is hiding is that he worked with Roman for this Berlin thing: in 3x02, when Jane and Kurt are fighting about who she worked with during her time away, she asks Kurt "haven't you ever work with bad people to do good things?" and he flashbacks to Roman...

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  3. Thank you again for a great review! I loved the wedding video clips too! Best! At the risk of sounding nasty, I don't really care about Bethany. First of all, I don't think that kid should have been named after the Mayfair since the team, including Kurt, turned against Jane for having had a part in Bethany Mayfair's death! That kid is a reminder of that awful time! Disrespectful to Jane especially since the kid is with Kurt's ex, the yucky Allie! I hope we never hear or see that kid or Allie either, but they will probably show up. UGH! That pregnancy story nearly shut down the show! With the new reveal of Jane's daughter, I'd rather concentrate on that story arc as it brings in all the elements involving Roman and the team, and most importantly, Jane and Kurt's handling of this news! It's going to be so interesting and exciting to watch this situation develops! Thanks again for all your insights!

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