Blindspot – “In Night So Ransomed Rogue” Review. For Mayfair.

Season 2 Premiere

Air Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016, 10/9c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★ 4 Stars

What is loyalty? In the world of spies, it’s not something easily discernable by any stretch. Since Blindspot’s series premiere last year, I’ve been completely transfixed by the lives of Jane Doe (Jaime Alexander), FBI Agent Kurt Weller (Sullivan Stapleton), and the FBI team —Agents Reade (Rob Brown), Zapata (Audrey Esparza ), and Patterson (Ashley Johnson). Season one was an exciting ride into the mysterious life of Jane Doe and the meaning of her many tattoos. In the season one finale, Jane and Weller were faced with more deceit than a soap opera could dream of, and eventually found themselves on opposite sides. Jane’s lies and double-agenting (is that a word…it is now) caused a rift in their fragile relationship. But is Jane a “bad guy”…er, gal, as they say, or is she completely misunderstood? “In Night So Ransomed Rogue,” Reade says it best, “She was a pawn…we’re all pawns…pawns get sacrificed first.”

It’s going to take a minute for these two to trust each other again – Pictured: (l-r) Jaimie Alexander as Jane Doe, Sullivan Stapleton as Kurt Weller — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

There is a bit of a time jump as we dive into “In Night So Ransomed Rogue.” I’m completely intrigued by the intricate web of lies, betrayal, and deceit that’s been woven, and continues to grow. The ambiguity of loyalty makes me wonder – is anyone truly trustworthy anymore? After Weller takes Jane into custody at the end of season one, we find her in the hands of the CIA as season two opens. The question is why does the CIA have her and what do they think she knows?

With the use of flashbacks to Jane’s training prior to her being found naked in duffle bag in Times Square in the series’ “Pilot” episode, we see Jane use her special skills to escape the CIA bunker in Oregon. But where she flees to is the kicker. She’s not done with her mission but whose side is she really on? More flashbacks are used when she sees some new, yet familiar, faces from her past. Are they friend or foe; can they be trusted? She still doesn’t have all of her memories back, but if and when she does regain them, will it change her mind about which team she should be on or will she decide to go rogue?

New fancy lie-detector…not intimidating at all — Pictured: Jaimie Alexander as Jane Doe, Archie Panjabi as Nas Kamal — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

Throughout “In Night So Ransomed Rogue,” there are a few moments of incredulity that only a television show could get away with. The dialogue tends to get a bit cheesy and sometimes feels forced, but the actors all do a great job with what they are dealt. In spite of these minor flaws, I enjoyed this episode immensely and can’t wait to see what happens next.

So much happens in “In Night So Ransomed Rogue,” it would be unfair for me to reveal it all. I will say, a few new characters are introduced, including Nas Kamal, played deftly by Archie Panjabi. Nas heads a secret division of the NSA that’s been following Jane’s escapades ever since Times Square. Nas needs Jane’s help in finding the group known as “Sandstorm,” the people who tasked Jane with infiltrating the FBI in season one. So now Jane is a triple agent, once again working with the FBI to infiltrate Sandstorm and tasked to seek out their leader known as “Sheppard.” Then she’s trying to convince Sandstorm she’s still on their side and working against the FBI—not confusing at all, right?

Getting shot doesn’t always prove loyalty — Pictured: Jaimie Alexander as Jane Doe — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

The season two premiere also deals with Jane trying to prove herself once again to Weller and his team, but the real juggling act comes when Jane must regain the trust of the people who sent her into the “lion’s den” in the first place. Where do Jane’s loyalties lie? And the unanswered question since season one remains – who is Jane Doe? Is she Taylor Shaw, like Weller desperately wants her to be, or is she someone completely different? If you remember, when Patterson did DNA testing in season one, Jane’s tooth said she was from South Africa, but the other tests said she was Taylor Shaw. We get some shocking answers to Jane’s true identity and her background in “In Night So Ransomed Rogue.”

This season’s new characters give Blindspot an added depth, helping to propel the story lines for several series regulars. In season one, Zapata betrayed the team by providing intel to an outsider. Is she done with trading secrets or will she fall back into old habits? Reade went behind Weller’s back to work directly with the late Director Mayfair (Maryanne Jean-Baptiste) in an attempt to figure out whether Jane could be trusted. Patterson, although not a field operative like Reade and Zapata, has her own ways of being rebellious but in the end, her loyalty appears solid, but appearances can be deceiving. There is a mole in the FBI. It could be anyone. So who is the mole? The bigger question – who is “Sheppard?”

Tune in to the Blindspot season two premiere Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 10/9c, and then in its regular time slot, Wednesdays at 8/9c, only on NBC.

For more on the show, go to http://www.nbc.com/blindspot.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.