Just thinking geographically about the Zodiac and the case study houses. The Zodiac operated in Northern California, even committing one murder in San Francisco itself. But mostly around Napa and Lake Berryessa. These are the "known" Zodiac murders. The two in southern California were earlier and were not directly linked to Zodiac, but suspected as being his work. Now right in between SF and Napa is San Rafael, which is most famous these days for being the old home of Industrial Light and Magic. But there is a case study house located there. Also the killing in Santa Barbara is not near a case study house, but I thought it was interesting to note that it is 10 miles as the crow flies from Solvang. I always think of Red's line that he would NEVER send anyone to Solvang! That was when Liz was asking what he'd done with Naomi Hyland.  Solvang is a little town of mostly Danish descendants done up as a little Danish style town. They have festivals, wine, mostly touristy things to do. I've never been there, except driving past it on the way to LA when we took the scenic route along the coast one time. But these places are halfway in between Point Mugu Naval Air Station and Vandenberg AFB. They launch a lot of missile tests from Vandenberg and also Point Mugu. Lots of stuff spies might be interested in.

But what is the connection between Russian spies, the Zodiac killer, the case study houses and Raymond Reddington?

Tatiana #113 - are you able to see what the pen is pointing to at the bottom?  I can't quite see it, i.e. which number "down" clue its actually pointing to with the tip of the pen.

Just a thought, may mean nothing.  But the pen seems very carefully positioned and you have already mentioned where it sits on the actual puzzle.  But what clue to the puzzle may it be pointing to?

Tatiana #124 - thanks for that!

Well  I guess the actual things the pen points to don't reveal much.  I guess that's not surprising given that they used a real crossword!  Still it would have been cool if it did.

I agree, the main message is puzzle and clues; and Red loves puzzles and is a kind of puzzle!.  And, 

"Second: The 'famous movie lines' indicate the clues lead to some gruesome, dark, ugly, psychologically tormented, criminal weirdness. FER SHUR!

That's a good start for a tv show :-D"

Totally agree - they could have picked "any" crossword for purposes of the show. but they picked one where the answers were dark, weird, and ugly.   

Makes me think the solution to the puzzle will be the same.  But then again we may have already thought that!  But there it is, in black and white, so to speak.  and part of a checker/chess board motif!

Great catch!




 

Tatiana wrote:

Well, my friend, I'm afraid some of us went too far down the last rabbit hole and we've lost some of our most active posters 

So thank  you Lara for keeping up the interest during this interminable "break" until TBL returns!


I've been toying with the idea that the 'end' will involve a reveal that all government intelligensia hide hideous criminals and in so doing, we are all complicit. It' s an ill formed idea, but it's based on Ressler's comments to Panabaker in Estaban,
"Panabaker: There are bigger issues, Agent Ressler.
Ressler: Torture, abuse, murder. I don’t see any bigger issues than that.

And then #The Blacklist tweets this

"You can't judge a book by its cover. But you can by its first few chapters, and certainly by its last." #TheBlacklist

 

I saw the Red quote on the NBC Blacklist Tumblr too. It was boxed in red there. I think it's a message that things are going to turn darker and may upset some viewers, but we should hang in there until the last episode, or chapter.

I think this new character (the new FBI guy) totally plays into your idea that government intelligensia hide hideous criminals. I've found a real-life tie-in like this in my recent dark travels.
 

Last edited by Tuxie400 (3/18/2017 5:59 pm)

lara1 wrote:

Tatiana #126 and Tuxie400#127 - funny, when I saw that quote I had a different take.  I think they are playing with the idea that Red was poisoned and someone is after him and he may be facing his final chapter.  That was my take on it, anyway, as the reason behind the tweet.

You're right, I guess I didn't explain myself. I do think that they've been giving us lots of clues that this is the last chapter since The Forecaster. When I have more time I may go into some of the things which I think are pointing to a conclusion soon.