Marvin Gerard

"Marvin Gerard"

Season 3, Episode 2

Episode Information

Air date

October 8, 2015

Episode Chronology

Previous	Next
“[[The Troll Farmer ]]”	“[[Eli Matchett ]]”

"Marvin Gerard" is the second episode of Season 3 of The Blacklist and the forty sixth episode overall. It aired on October 8, 2015 on NBC.

Synopsis

Press Release

THE FBI CORNERS LIZ AND RED - Ressler is hot on the trail for Liz after she escapes to the Russian embassy for safety. There is no one left for her to trust but Red, who enlists a lawyer named Marvin Gerard to get them out of a sticky hostage situation. Meanwhile, the FBI tries to force Cooper out of the task force.

Number on The Blacklist

80

Unanswered Questions

Elizabeth Keen
1. Why did Keen declare herself an agent of the Federal Security Service (FSB) instead of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR RF)?
2. While the escape was successful, the method adds more evidence of Keen’s “guilt”. She participated in a hostage situation and assaulted the man who resisted. Her decision to rely on the Russian government adds to her status as a spy. At the diner Gerard blamed her for the situation. That means her criminal reputation has spread.
3. Where did Keen learn how to speak Russian and/or with a Russian accent?
4. Why was Keen shaken by the fear in the everybody’s eyes?
  1. Q: She certainly has seen that fear in the eyes of some criminals.
  2. Q: How was the fear from the customers different from the fear in a person being arrested? That person would be afraid of the arresting officer.
  3. Q: Liz has already seen and known fear in her FBI career, how was the fear in the diner different?
  4. A: They witnessed Liz nearly killed Clay for abusing Carly again by assaulting him and were more fearful for their lives.
  5. A: This time they were afraid of her.
5. Why was Keen so fearful and emotional? She was calm in situations where she had to go undercover and could not rely on a FBI rescue.
  1. A: As this is the first time Liz has started her life as a criminal, she is not used to it and is very fearful.
6. Keen’s pummeling of the husband seemed to be partially motivated by her experiences in “The Good Samaritan“ and “The Deer Hunter“.
Raymond Reddington
1. How did Red and Keen reach the cargo ship?
2. What was the Fulcrum section Red was shocked by? Red stated that it was a long shot.
  1. A: It seemed like a weakness in the Cabal.
3. What did Red discover about the Cabal that forced him to turn rogue?
4. Why did Red need Marvin Gerard for the Fulcrum analysis?
  1. A: Red told Liz that Marvin was the best at finding loopholes. In this case, in the Cabal's plans.
5. Will Red use Marvin Gerard in the future?
  1. A: Red employed him to form a plan against the Cabal.
6. What is the history between Red and Gerard?
  1. A: Red was a client of Gerard's.
7. Why did Red need to use such a complex method of escape?
  1. A: He needed to get Gerard out of prison and to a safe place.
8. Was the reference to the Crimea a reference to Putin?
9. Why did the reporter say “You” to Red?
10. Why did Red interfere with Carly at the diner? Was it because of the argument?
  1. A: It was more likely due to Clayton's abuse to Carly that Red had to intervene and warn him to treat her better.
11. Who is Clayton?
  1. A: An abusive boyfriend that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Marvin Gerard
1. In addition to aiding Red, will Gerard continue aiding his other clients? Red can use those black market connections to his advantage.
2. Is Gerard at risk of being extradited? If somebody recognizes him at his new location, the United States government can demand his return.
3. How did Gerard continue his career as a shadow counsel while in prison?
4. Why did Becky Weinberg agree to leave with Gerard? What about her career?
5. Why did Gerard wear a wire? He told Ressler that he was going to tell Red.
  1. A: Ressler had to try.
Cabal / Russian embassy
1. Why did the Cabal have to rely on their agent in the Federal Tariff Service (FTS)? They certainly have other high-ranking agents in the Russian government.
2. How many employees at the Russian embassy work for the Cabal?
  1. A: At least 2.
3. What is the status of Karakurt?
  1. A: Active.
4. Why does the Cabal want to restart the Cold War?
  1. A: It is a significant part of the Cabal's plans for 2017, which Alan Fitch warned Red back in "The Decembrist".
5. Why did the guard in Keen’s car not sit in the front seat?
  1. A: He was under orders to keep an eye on her until they got to the airport.
6. What will be the aftermath of the standoff at the Russian embassy? The Russians can protest that Ressler attacked their convoy. The Americans can protest that the Russians aided a wanted fugitive.
The task force is on shaky ground.
1. Aram was openly giving Keen the benefit of the doubt.
2. Cooper has been re-assigned to a dead-end position. He was seen searching for the Karakurt file. That means he is looking for a way to undermine the Cabal.
3. Ressler could cross a political line and is removed from the field. He wanted to storm the embassy and threatened to shoot the Russian driver.
4. Reven could be portrayed as responsible for the disaster at the Russian embassy and forced to resign.
5. Samar decides to ally with Red to avoid exposure of the fact he sent her as a double agent.
6. The Cabal uses Keen’s actions to destroy the credibility of the remaining members. It could force Reven to include a Cabal loyalist on the task force.
Donald Ressler
1. Ressler’s behavior is becoming increasingly reckless. Reven Wright might decide to remove him from command for that reason.
2. Ressler's previous obssession with Red cost him the engagement to Audrey Bidwell. This new obssession could cost him his career.
3. Why did Ressler not know that the Russian Embassy was considered foreign territory?
  1. A: Ressler's obsession is undermining his judgement.
4. What did Ressler mean when he told Samar that the “war has already started”?
5. Ressler's offer to resign would have placed him in the position of relying on vigilante actions.
6. Ressler’s actions at the diner resemble Keen’s actions in “The Alchemist”.
7. Why did Ressler look at the photo of Gerard at the end?
  1. A: He was trying to figure out what Red wanted with him.
Samar Navabi
1. Is Red using Samar as a double agent?
2. Why did Samar refer to herself as a special agent?
Reven Wright
1. Ressler's actions, Keen's actions, and Red's escape gives the Cabal leverage over Reven. They can accuse her of being responsible for a public relations disaster and diplomatic disaster that has humiliated the FBI.
2. Why did Reven not remove Ressler from command? Without the Russian witness, there is no evidence of Cabal involvement.
Harold Cooper
1. Cooper’s resignation is similar to Sheridan’s in “Rising Star” and several storylines in “Ghost in the Shell”. In exchange for resigning, there is no trial and/or criminal prosecution.
2. What will Cooper do now that he has resigned?
  1. A: Go to his desk job.
3. Why did Cooper access the file on Karakurt?
  1. A: He intends to help Red and Liz in any way he can.
Tom Keen
1. Why has Tom returned?
  1. A: He wishes to assist Liz and knows that she and Red are in a tight situation due to the Cabal's involvement.
How will the FBI find the underground room at the diner?
Why were there no media crews or reporters at the embassy or the diner?
Why did Matias Solomon not wear gloves or protect his face when he went to kill the survivor of the car crash?
1. A: Similiar to when Red killed Sam Scott, he knows how to evade security systems.