One Thing Remains

1x12 | The Alchemist
E P I S O D E DISCUSSION T H R E A D







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episode synopsis

THE NEXT TARGET ON THE BLACKLIST IS A MAN WHO PROTECTS THE GUILTY BY PREYING ON THE INNOCENT - Red informs the team that "The Alchemist" - a man who relies upon science to transform a person’s DNA - has been contracted to protect a well-known mob informant and his wife. As the team goes undercover to catch him, Liz finds herself on the hunt for an unlikely couple. Meanwhile Liz and Tom find themselves at another bump in their relationship and Ressler debates whether or not he should give his ex-girlfriend his blessing.

L i N d $ @ y

• Red says to Liz that Newton isn't the only mole and she shares this information to the rest of the team.
• I wonder why Red is talking to these hackers to find the mole? I'm confused why this lead, I didn't quite catch it.
• I'm not sure it's believable to change DNA but I'll play along.
• Tassles is the name of Audrey's fiance? Even Liz thought it was a dog's name. It's obvious why she wants to meet-up with Donald. Rekindle love.
• Baby talk with Tom. What do you guys think is his reason to adopt a baby knowing full well that this marriage is fake? Also the Keens watch The Real Housewvives.
• Great job Aram! Some of their best leads come from him.
• The Alchemist's name is Eric Trettel and he is smart as Meera tells the team his background.
• I like that Red makes Liz think and work her brain with these Blacklisters.
• I love that Donald is more open about Audrey to Liz now.
• I think Tom knew the moment Jolene appeared that she's not Jolene.
• This convenience store scene is pretty tense! And what Liz did was very brave!
• Uh, Red got that list. I'm assuming FBI has another copy right? Looks like he's looking for Berlin.
• And we find out the mole is Meera.

So I liked this ep although it was hard for me to believe that part about the DNA alteration. At least we know that Eric has ties to Berlin as well but too bad he's dead. We finally find out that Lucy Brooks is Jolene who is targeting Tom. Red is also searching for her. I like how Tom & Liz really tried to make their relationship work and while it looks like Tom is trying very hard right now and Liz' job always interferes, he's going to have the biggest lie of all.

One Thing Remains

This ep was ok. It seemed to have a lot of plot points and story lines all jammed into one ep.

Red is still looking for the mole. He is definitely dedicated for sure! But since he believes that his and Liz's life may be on the I can't say I blame him. It's interesting what method he choose. Not sure how one document signed by Meera means she's the mole. Granted she IS the mole, but it just seems that a single signature on a document that is not even fully recovered was all he needed to know? Every agent in the Post Office probably signs multiple documents a day that go to various agencies.

Tom was sooooo manipulative in this ep. Telling Liz he wished she had no secrets because he had none :no_no: Liz's secrets are peanuts compared to his. And trying to manipulate her into leaving her job for the baby. Maybe that's why he was pushing so hard for adoption. He was hoping that Liz would choose the baby over her career and he could get her away from Red.

Jolene makes her appearance in this ep and we immediately know she's not who she says she is because of her Tom Keen folder and the fact that she was the one that Red looked up in the Vicap database. She really butted herself into Tom and Liz's relationship which is really none of her business.

The first time I watched this ep I actually felt bad for Tom - this time around I didn't because I know it's all manipulation

Ressler and Audrey getting back together was super cute I really liked them as a couple. They really seemed to love each other

So Red wanted The Alchemist's list. I wonder whose name he is looking for.....

This ep was pretty good, it just kind of seemed like there was too much going on all at once with the Red/Mole sl, the Tom/Liz/Baby sl, the into of the Jolene sl, the reset of Ressler/Audrey sl, and the Blacklister of the week sl.

Nekoshoujo

As an episode this one wasn't exactly stand out. But I think the idea of The Alchemist was one of the most creative from season one. Switching DNA to get away with crimes has been actually going on for awhile but the idea that someone would make that their job felt new and interesting. I'm just not sure about the science of DNA alteration but I'm suspending my disbelief for the story.

I actually liked the Ressler/Audrey storyline especially their scenes in this episode.

Upon rewatch it was a nice heads up to show us Red finding Lucy in the database before Jolene shows up. And she's giving off those crazy vibes right from the start. So far so good, I liked her enough the first time around so now I'm curious how if that will change this time around. I do like the way they kinda double down on the theme of becoming other people with both The Alchemist's victims and Lucy/Jolene.

Still wondering what Tom planned to do about this baby once he stopped being "Tom" :\

sunshinedan

It is not a favorite ep. I watched "Beyond the blacklist" clip, EP said the actor who played the Alchemist auditioned the role of Tom.
Red checked the client list in the end,did he find any clue of the people who's hunting him.What did he find out? Jolene was one of the clients, so did she change the DNA? For what? to avoid Red's hunting? but why? Jolene died after a couple eps. I am really interested in her connecton with Red.I think she would meet Red eventually.However, it will never happen.

L i N d $ @ y

Overall this ep didn't really answer a lot of questions. What it did is just give us even more questions.

I have the same question as well Asya. Why is Tom hell bent on adopting if this marriage is fake? I don't think he needs to get closer to Liz (if he thinks adopting could make them closer) as Liz loves him. Was trying to manipulate her in this odd way?

Wow, I didn't know the actor who played the Alchemist auditioned for the role of Tom.

One Thing Remains

Glad that he didn't get the part of Tom

I think the baby may have been a way for Tom to manipulate Liz in to leaving the FBI and Red behind and moving to Nebraska to raise their child.

Lauren Helen Graham

OP updated.

This episode kind of scared me because I'm really wondering to altering a person's DNA the way this guy did... He only changed a few things, those he know would be labeled by the FBI (etc.) for a DNA test. Freaky.

One Thing Remains

thanks for updating the OP Kris

Miranda

Thanks for updating the OP Kris. I love this episode poster!

This episode freaked me out a bit. The idea that somebody can complete change you and change you DNA is scary.

This was also the episode where we find out that Meera was the mole right?

Miranda

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Lauren Helen Graham

I added the gif-set to the OP

You know what? The episode really freaked me out, too... Do you really think that's possible? Somebody faking someones DNA? At least those parts they are testing for identification...

Yeah, at the end I recall Red waiting in Meera's apartment and her returning home and admitting that she was the mole. I was suspecting her already.
You know what's strange? If she really was a mother and coming home late at night, where were her children and her husband or the father to the kids? And how wasn't it strange to them that Red took her and she didn't come home for a night or so?

One Thing Remains

I honestly don't think it's possible to fake someone's DNA to be honest. I would be so surprised if they could pull that off.

Miranda

Thanks Kris.

I hope it's not possible to change somebody DNA cause that would be really scary!

I had a feeling Meera was the mole as well but I never expected that she would confess. I don't understand where her kids and husband were either. Maybe they were asleep already? I am sure Red can snoop into a house without making to much sound.

Lauren Helen Graham

I really hope it's not possible either... But all these episode really made me consider and think about some stuff that I never gave thought to. It somehow was like some hidden criticism on solving crimes and stuff. Even if it's not possible I think as long as people are involved there's always the risk of manipulation and stuff and you can never be sure that the right person was framed for something or declared dead and so on...

I somehow doubt that Red would take the chance to being caught by snooping in a house. Besides, they were talking in their normal voices. And she was gone for a while when he tortured her to get information out of her. Nobody missed her then? Or did she have to let her family know that she wouldn't be home for a while longer maybe?