Surely the toxin can't be responsible for Red's amnesia. I wonder what is causing it. Stranger and stranger. But I was spellbound by the episode and absolutely loved it.

Dembe at the end, pulling that hood up over his head, reminded me of Red in Anslo Garrick II when he was trying to find the mole. I think Dembe left on his own search for the real betrayer. I don't think Kaplan would do it, unless forced with someone threatening to kill someone important to her.

Tuxie400 wrote:

I also thought there was something weird about the mobile unit doctor. I don't trust him. Could he have given Red something that caused his amnesia?

Interesting observation.....that is possible.  
But its still a mystery why Red was doing all of those things......I'm kind of hoping its fractured identity (my new term, LOL!), for some reason (stress, drugs, both), his old identity, which he no longer consciously knows about, broke through).  That would be mega-interesting for me (esp since I always liked the imposter theories, LOL)
 
You mentioned Hitchcock earlier - maybe the answer is there.  It did remind me of North by Northwest, except instead of not doing things, or things the character said he did which he didn't do, it was the opposite - things he did that he didn't know (hope that makes sense!).  And would be a Kaplan connection, LOL

Here's a thought. Dembe and Kaplan colluded to poison Raymond so that Raymond would finally reveal to Liz what they are to each other, so he can back off of his business, and out of her life. Dembe and Kaplan are the only ones who have continually told Red they are worried about him, that they feel he is making more and more dangerous decisions, dangerous to Liz and dangerous to himself:
Kate says,
I dedicated my life to you. You entrusted me with everything you value– your freedom, your life, a child.
I’m sorry you wanted to know her so desperately that you convinced yourself we could keep her safe.
[Raymond has become blind to the reality] that his very presence in their lives constitutes a threat. Not just to them, but to himself as well.
Raymond, you have to change
He lost his way.
I know too much....every single one of your weaknesses, all your faults, all your secrets.
[Raymond] wants me to make it easier for him. But I won’t. I’m not here to make him feel better.



 

I agree about the doctor but not sure about motive.  Maybe money.  maybe that will be revealed next time.

(8 weeks, ugh)

I'm stil especially intrigued why they went to Gerard's apt and locked that poor lady in the trunk and drove to Marvin's fiancee's house.  I can see if Red was given a drug that he did not remember it but why do it in the first place?    And was it even Red?  

Tuxie400 wrote:

The writers put in the Lulu character as homage to Lou Lou, a Blacklist superfan who died recently from cancer.  The real Lou Lou would have given anything to help Raymond Reddington.

That was wonderful.  
 

I also noticed we had a new Dr. in town.

Good points Eastcoast! And what about the car? Why did Red and Dembe ditch their own car to drive LuLu's car to the mobile ER? And then Dembe ditch that car to use the subway? Was Dembe trying to lose a tail? Or was Dembe's mere presence around Red putting Red at risk? Similar to how Red has put Liz at risk.

Two months :-(

Thinking about #74 a little more.

Suppose Red and Dembe broke into Marvin's apartment seeking answers on the accounts.
Red won't remember that. Still doesn't explain why they drove to Marvin's fiancee's house.

Maybe Dembe was trying to find a "safe" house for Red or other answers but then realized they needed the ICU asap.

That kind of kills my "Red's fractured identity" theory  but may tie in with why they were using a different car (I think, LOL)

 

Last edited by lara1 (2/24/2017 1:19 am)

This is a must rewatch. But I'm watching Redemption right now. (happy)

I was thinking more "D.O.A." than Hitchcock. Red trying to solve his own murder. Lots going on here. And plenty of unknowns regarding what exactly happened at that dinner and why Red has no recollection. I'm guessing that he drank the poison before the dinner, since in the flashbacks he was already coughing. So maybe that's why his memories of what happened were muddled and missing. It was nice of Lulu to help him, but she could see that he wasn't going to hurt her, couldn't hurt her. And she provided some valuable clues and pharmaceuticals. He had an inhaler after leaving the mobile, what did they call it? Crash room? Snake venom does go after the respiratory system, so that would make sense. Everybody seems to want to suffocate Red. Why not just shoot him? That said, I seriously doubt that Dembe is the guilty party. Red can't believe it either and seemed more mystified than anything. I don't think Dembe would have gone to all the trouble to have a custom designed poison made to kill Red and then just leave. It's poison, not easily traceable, Dembe could have just sat back and waited leaving is what made him a suspect. The person that did it might have been trying to set him up and separate Dembe from Red, in the event that Red somehow survived. The signs sure point to Kate as having method, motive, and possibly even opportunity. The scotch was in the Bethesda flat. Who all has access to the flat? How does the scotch get there? Is it delivered or does Red or Dembe pop down to the local liquor store and pick it up? How long had that bottle been there? It was almost empty. It probably didn't arrive containing the poison. Or if it did was the poison a cumulative effect, building up slowly over time to a lethal point? Maybe it's been affecting Red for some time? He hasn't seemed quite "right" for awhile. Perhaps it prompted his little chat with Magnussen about feeling death stalking him?

Liz seemed somewhat detached. She cares about Red, but at the same time you can't help but wonder if she would feel relief if he was gone. Red seems to wonder about that, too. Would she miss him if he died? He didn't seem very sure that she would. Maybe this will make him consider what his presence in her life really means and think about what she might want. Stop being so selfish, as everyone has been pointing out to him lately. Will he change? Can he change? Does he even want to change? Maybe he will finally think about it from someone else's point of view. He certainly seems to understand that he's not exactly liked. His comment to Ressler of you're finally getting your wish, I'm dying.

Aram still feels a special relationship with Red. But then, he has seen different aspects of Red than the others have. Aram was the most concerned in the beginning and so, of course he would bring a get well fruit basket.

I don't think Red really believed that Marvin was his Judas. But he wasn't given much choice. Maybe there's a clue in the choice to frame Marvin? Who dislikes him? And getting back to Dembe, who else would have called *77? And then taken Red to get help? Red must realize that, or he will when he thinks about it. And what made Dembe take action? The new doctor wouldn't have been trauma surgeon Nik, even if he is still alive. Red didn't need a surgeon, just a good diagnostician. The choice of doctor probably depends on described symptoms.

Oh well, I need to watch again and try to see if there is a big picture that I haven't quite put together yet,
Eight weeks?  (cwy)

Oh, and best line of the night goes to Levine: "if you're even thinking about another parable I may strangle you myself!"