I actually liked this episode more than the pilot though I must admit Isabella Rossellini helped...

I really like that they teased with the "you're my daughter" line. So at least they're aware that's what everyone's thinking and hopefully they'll pull a rabbit out of the hat. Owed her father a debt would be fine. Or they're actually siblings somehow (25? year age difference is not insurmountable). Randomly stumbled upon her and took an interest could work too (her childhood mirrors his).

Still watching here

"What is it with you and hotel rooms and pens in people's necks?" line just bought me a few more episodes. I am finding James Spader quite entertaining in this.

Man...seems like I need to catch up...I am so behind tho- still watching Mad Men, SoA and BWE. Is it worth it to watch this in real-time or can I get away w/ waiting until the end of the season?

It's good popcorn TV, and it's pretty much a guaranteed renewal at this point, so I think you can wait til whenever you want.

Im watching, but its not really grabbed me yet.

I still like the concept a lot and will give it time, but its not there yet imo.

I like it enough and will be watching

Big fan of James Spader

After watching shows on Hbo, showtime etc, it's really hard to watch show's on network tv. They always just seem a cut below

Well, they have do things like not polarize the audience, can't have sex or nudity in any large measure, and can't have cussing. They also have to make their product appeal to advertisers. When you're placed in that kind of box, most creative minds aren't at their best. There are several really good network dramas out there (Person of Interest, Elementary, Hannibal, Grimm), they're just in a major minority. Not coincidentally, outside of Person of Interest (which has slipped in Live ratings), none of those shows have great ratings.

You're paying for your cable shows with your subscription dollars (ratings don't matter unless they're just absolutely terrible), and that makes a large difference in the quality, in comparison to the networks, who are completely supported by ad dollars and needing to make advertisers and viewers interested in their shows. Because The Blacklist is such a simple show to take in, it appeals to mass audiences, and nearly every top rated network drama is a breezy hour without too much thinking involved. Mediocrity gets the viewers. The key to a successful show seems to be to start it out mediocre, and then slowly move it toward above average, to appeal to the more sophisticated TV watchers.

The largest cluster of shows I like tend to be on basic cable, where they have fewer of the network restrictions, but far less money to produce their shows than either network or premium cable. Almost all of those shows tend to be a lot more fun from week to week, but the production value is often spotty. The ratings demands are also lower, and shows that consistently exceed those low targets can be around as long as they want to be.

Its a easy going show with pretty much stand alone episodes besides the main plot of the season which seems to be his interest in keen for the time being.

As long as you are aware of this its fine, it is not trying to be the wire.

Watched the first two eps and think it's pretty average. The premise and Spader have potential imo, but they are just rushing through things without any kind of buildup and intrigue.

It's like Hannibal + Homeland + Live free or Die hard

It's play it and forget it popcorn TV. You thinking that means they're absolutely nailing what they're going for.

grunching for now, having only watched the premiere. Why the **** would the girl schedule an important adoption meeting at 1:30pm on her first day of work?

I just tuned in as well and I decided quickly not to wonder about or ask those questions. The show is filled with stuff like that, but it's a fun ride if you ignore them.

Without any ideal how it works I'm gonna guess you show up whenever your told.

If stuff like that bugs you quit now.

Bored with Lizzy's husband. Write him out. Give more minutes to developing the guest criminals.

Meh. The show's fun if nothing else is on. Suspension of disbelief is real tough though.

1, Last episode: How do the bad guys essentially build a secret room like 500 yards below the street in Washington DC unbeknownst to like everybody?

2. In the pilot. They identify the little girl as a high-value target they have protect, then they stop because some nimrod in a hardhat holds up a placard that says *Stop*? Trust me, if you know anything about how FBI/SS protective details work, they NEVER stop for something like that. They're trained to accelerate and go around him. If around him is not an option, they go through him.

But it's fun, and Spader's not annoying yet.

Start = Story about FBI chicks background

Middle = Capturing this weeks target

End = More on FBI chicks background

This had serious potential but they are going to royally **** it up.

Just finished the Pilot. Definitely worth continuing! Had some '24' flare (obv not as good to me) and decent acting/writing.

On to ep 2.

All caught up. Enjoying.

Really? You aren't intrigued as to why he has a Jason Bourne go box under his floor? They want us to think he's a spy, and they've shown us someone bugging their home. This is part of the longer term storyline and I am excited to see where it leads.

Such a dumb, but really fun show. I'm down regardless, but part of hopes that Spader is really a hellaciously deep under cover agent. That would be awesome.

the main actress is terrible but spader makes up for it

I'm pretty sure the whole thing is a big revenge plot by Spader. Something like: Spader was a government agent who was betrayed by his masters (or maybe rooted out by the opposition), his family was killed as were most/all of his assets. Keen's father and/or mother was one of those assets hence his interest in her. Spader went underground in order to survive and [farmer monolog at the end of this episode]. With Keen's emergence as an FBI agent he saw an opportunity to recruit her and use the FBI as a vehicle to pursue (further) vengeance.

Very good chance he planted the go box in Keen's apartment as well as the bugging.

I originally thought Raymond planted the box but now I'm not so sure. I could see the husband being a spy.

The more I watch the more I enjoy. Although the inept agents on this show mirror some of the inept ones on 24. I feel like as a govt agent I'd never get taken by surprise.

I can't think of any way that works unless Spader put him up to marrying her.

The only other option would be someone put him in place just in case Spader contacts her one day. Or she becomes important in some other way. That seems like a stretch.