The Blacklist Season 3 Episode 1 'The Troll Farmer' Recap

By Precy Dumlao
The Blacklist Season 3
The Blacklist Season 3. TV.com

Crime drama addicts are definitely in for a treat with the return of The Blacklist for season three.

A report from The Wall Street Journal promptly brings us up to speed by placing us back with Special Agent Elizabeth who had the misfortune of killing bad ass Attorney General Tom Connolly, a member of the Cabal.

Elizabeth runs for her life. Raymond Reddington comes to the rescue and takes Liz off the streets. The new season episode steps in only moments after the last season ended. Red and Liz manage to make an ingenious escape by driving the van up a car transport truck. Red and Liz get transfer into a fake police car, complete with cop uniforms. All this was done while the van was placed under video surveillance the whole time, to Ressler's chagrin.

Red and Liz go to a bar where they are to meet someone who goes by the name "The Troll Farmer." Unfortunately the Troll Farmer won't be ready for a week. While there, they see a news report featuring The Director (David Straitharn) talking about The Fulcrum and his role in the global plot that Red revealed. He names Red and Liz as the folks behind this.

At the bar, a woman called Tiffany calls in the FBI to snitch on Red and Liz.  Nevertheless, the duo escape Ressler once again, through an air duct.

Meanwhile, a man called Matheus kidnaps a baby. He turns out to be in cahoots with The Director. Matheus is angry that the Fulcrum was released. Meanwhile we find that the young woman whose baby was kidnapped is the daughter of Dembe, Red's faithful assistant , which means Matheus is involved with The Cabal.

In the last episode of The Blacklist, Red decides to get help from the Troll Farmer, who turns out to be a social media warfare expert, and a disseminator of disinformation campaigns to sway public opinion. Liz dyes her hair blonde. But Chang, the Troll Farmer, is just not ready for the campaign. He tries to figure out how to get Red and Liz to escape.

Red and Liz discuss Liz's mother who turns out to be a Russian spy. In the course of their getaway, Liz and Red get separated as Red's van gets through the checkpoint. Ressler's team shows up forcing Liz to turns around and speed away. Red tells Liz her mother Katerina was an intelligent and resourceful woman, and Liz has the same traits. Liz goes down 2650 Wisconsin Avenue.

Red is alarmed, but Liz moves into the Russian embassy. Liz scales the fence and announces to the guards:  "My name is Masha Rostova and I am a Russian agent. I'm seeking diplomatic immunity."

IGN reveals that this action-packed hide-and-seek episode of The Blacklist doesn't waste much time reintroducing the past, but lets the viewers hit the ground running with the story movement.  James Spader makes a huge hit but the rest of the FBI team leaves much to be desired. However this paves the way for an exciting premise that needs to be fleshed out in the succeeding episodes.

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