The Blacklist Refugees » Redemption: Episode 1:07: Whitehall: Discussion Page

lara1 · 4/08/2017 9:28 pm

Tuxie400 - I remember the Downey storyline, so funny I have no recollection of Famke. So now I need to get ahold of the episodes and re-watch!

On the DNA statement - that's interesting that maybe there was a DNA test on the wall. So - my question is, how the heck did Howard get a sample of Tom's DNA? Interesting thought, isn't it?

Last edited by lara1 (4/08/2017 9:28 pm)

Tuxie400 · 4/09/2017 9:57 am

lara 1 - About the DNA - The private detective was following Tom and photographing him. It wouldn't be hard for a private eye to get a hair sample, or the glass Tom was drinking from. Howard and the CIA had a close relationship. If Tom once worked for the CIA, as Redemption told us in the first episode, the CIA might have had info on his DNA.

lara1 · 4/09/2017 10:55 am

Tuxie400 - yes that makes sense.

I never heard that line about Tom working for the CIA, thanks for that. Not sure how I missed it with watching the episode twice! Well that is interesting because as far as I knew Tom was with the Major from the age of 14 until only very recently. So when was he with the CIA - so makes me wonder whether The Major had a CIA affiliation.

Big Badd Bazzer · 4/09/2017 6:22 pm

I mentioned the title character looking very familiar (ie. Whitehall) and he was. First, I thought it was the guy who played the father on This is Us - but NO that's not him!
Anyways, Richard Whitehall was portrayed by none other than Clarke Peters, who had a nice run as a super-villain on the acclaimed CBS series Person of Interest.
If you want to see a master class in on-screen villainery then watch Clarke Peters as Alonzo Quinn - a most repugnant criminal and villain, except he's the chief of staff in the mayor's office!

Tuxie400 · 4/09/2017 8:02 pm

lara1 - Remember in the first episode, Scottie wanted Tom because he had worked with the CIA woman. He likely was a CIA asset used through the major's organization. But who knows?

Patter · 4/10/2017 9:47 am

I lost my post from the other day...

Anyway this episode was confusing!!!! Whitehall the man? Whitehall the project? I suppose Whitehall could represent both and the link to Natalie Luca will unveil itself in due time. I'm hopeful they will clear up or make better connections in the final episode this week.

I did love Dumont calling Tom a badass in front of Scottie (while watching footage of the beatdown between Solomon and Tom). And the Nez and Howard reunion was sweet and I'm excited to see the 3 of them work together in the finale.

lara1 · 4/10/2017 9:16 pm

Tuxie400 - LOL I have no recollection of that! Well, I was going to watch that episode again anyway!

lara1 · 4/10/2017 9:18 pm

I re-watched the episode last night. Did anyone notice that Harold is wearing another pin on his other lapel? I feel like I should know what it is, but I don't. Does anyone else know?

Colleen · 4/11/2017 9:57 am

lara1 wrote:
I re-watched the episode last night. Did anyone notice that Harold is wearing another pin on his other lapel? I feel like I should know what it is, but I don't. Does anyone else know?

Oooohh - good catch!! I'll look for photos from the episode.

I usually keep an eye out for Harold's American flag pin to see what angle it is. The flag pin is always either upright or slightly tilted (tilted to be parallel to the top of his lapel). Only once was the flag sideways - in "Tom Keen" when Harold confronts Liz about committing perjury for her. I think it was the first time we saw Harold break the law.

lara1 · 4/11/2017 9:40 pm

I re-watched the first episode tonight.

On the subject of plaid, in the opening scene, tom's pajama bottoms are a dark plaid (!), and in the next scene when he meets Howard for the first time, Howard is wearing a dark plaid cap.

So is the meaning that they really are father and son (i.e. "matched" as matched plaids?). Then again, many men's pajamas and hats are plaid! (well I have seen a few, LOL).

lara1 · 4/11/2017 9:43 pm

So in re-watching the first episode, I am thinking again that Scottie is on to Tom from the beginning. The thought occurred to me the first time around, but it seems more obvious to me after a gap of a couple of weeks. Something in the way she looks at him when she speaks of her "son" - and is she "testing" him? . Maybe not - but it would be a mean twist if it turns out she has been playing him all along.

lara1 · 4/11/2017 10:04 pm

Tuxie400 - I didn't see a DNA test on Howard's wall but it certainly could have been there. But what I did see that I missed the last time around - the image of an upside down American flag pinned to the board. we've seen plenty of flags in TBL but i don't think there's ever been an upside down one depicted....

Tatiana · 4/11/2017 10:51 pm

lara1 wrote:
Tuxie400 - I didn't see a DNA test on Howard's wall but it certainly could have been there. But what I did see that I missed the last time around - the image of an upside down American flag pinned to the board. we've seen plenty of flags in TBL but i don't think there's ever been an upside down one depicted....

An upside down American flag is a signal of distress. The only time we saw it in TBL was in Cape May.

lara1 · 4/11/2017 10:57 pm

Tatiana - oh yes, how could I forget? LOL. it was right side up, then later upside down in that episode.
thanks for reminder!

Eastcoast · 4/11/2017 11:18 pm

lara1 wrote:
I re-watched the episode last night. Did anyone notice that Harold is wearing another pin on his other lapel? I feel like I should know what it is, but I don't. Does anyone else know?

I saw it and did several freeze frames and blew them up but could not see it well enough. It is very small. Just that it is blue around the edge and white in the center.
I tried to research it but didn't come up with anything yet. I did not know there were so many of those things!

Patter · 4/12/2017 7:46 am

lara1 wrote:
So in re-watching the first episode, I am thinking again that Scottie is on to Tom from the beginning. The thought occurred to me the first time around, but it seems more obvious to me after a gap of a couple of weeks. Something in the way she looks at him when she speaks of her "son" - and is she "testing" him? . Maybe not - but it would be a mean twist if it turns out she has been playing him all along.

Lara, I kind of thought the same thing with the first episode, but then I thought about the very uncomfortable gestures SH made to Tom in the backdoor pilot and pilot. BUT! If the SH we know isn't the real SH (died and replaced in the car crash), and this SH knows Tom is Christopher then I'm not so grossed out by it (especially since this SH didn't raise Tom/Christopher). Then again, there are those weirdo Dr. Phil and Montel talk shows of family members being separated and then reunited with attraction.

Tuxie400 · 4/12/2017 8:34 am

Upside down flag in Cape May - distress signal.

Tatiana · 4/12/2017 9:44 am

Howard's pin: blue on the outside, white in the middle. For maritime flags this is
"P" Papa

The blue Peter.
In harbour: All persons should report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea.
At sea: It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets have come fast upon an obstruction."

lara1 · 4/12/2017 11:45 am

Tatiana - thanks! well that is interesting that has cropped up out of well, nowhere. And the distress signal with Howard (which interestingly relates back to Red's distress signal at Cape May)

Was Harold in the Navy? I thought he was army or special ops or something. WOW I really need a series re-watch.

Big Badd Bazzer · 4/12/2017 6:22 pm

Looking forward to the finale like the dickens . . . .

Obviously, enough clouding has occurred to make me (us) think that the heroes aren't who we think they are and like-wise the villains.

What are the chances that Howard & Nez fell in love, hatched a plan to eliminate Scottie but were thwarted by Scottie and her "team" - Howard fled, but Nez remained under-cover.

Now, with Tom tossed into the salad things get murky. Is he being used as a dupe by his "Who's Your Daddy?" poppa - or is Scottie the real hero, trying to legit find her lost son and run Halcyon as a legit enterprise?

Other questions:

- Will Harold & LIz make more than cameo appearances this week
- Is there anyone else from Team Blacklist Original vintage who gets parachuted into the episode?

Will Tom & Solomon reprise their fantastic role as Martin & Lewis, Penn & Teller, etc.?

Too many possibilities to explore! The directors know us - we are simple folk. The finale will be fairly neatly laid out. Tom will obviously be in the middle of the river red . . . .