Blindspot Review: Solos (Season 2 Episode 17)

Wow! Talk about a complete one-eighty. Blindspot Season 2 Episode 17 “Solos” has me wishing for more story-lines focusing on the case-of-the-week.

Recently, I’ve been expressing some frustration with the lack of progress on the Sandstorm storyline. The team isn’t recruiting assets, they aren’t finding any solid leads, and they certainly haven’t apprehended anyone.

Well, they still haven’t done any of that, but the cohesive storyline allows each of the characters to have their own arcs progress a little more.

Kristen Ladyen, the writer of this episode, deserves lots of props for this!

First, I have to address the amazing fight scenes. I have come to expect amazing fight scenes from Blindspot, but this episode has what may be some of my favorites.

Amongst my favorite fight scenes were the ones in the charity offices, and Nas killing the kidnapper through the glass–such a cool shot. Oliver killing a kidnapper with an antler was another great kill.

As well-crafted as the episode is, the spotlight is definitely on Jane and Oliver. Their deal not to talk about the past is coming back to bite them in the form of a team of kidnappers who want revenge.

While I could see their breakup coming, watching them move through the obstacles in this story-line feels natural. Jane’s short-lived relationship with Oliver is sweet, but his behavior in this episode has me wanting to reach through the screen and slap him.

He’s the one who shuts down Jane’s gentle probe about his past, and Jane saves his rear at every turn, but still he breaks it off because he can’t deal with her baggage.

While Jane doesn’t seem too broken up about their relationship ending, I have to say “good riddance” because Oliver clearly can’t handle her.

If we break down their conversations, she gets a lot more of Oliver’s baggage than he does of hers. She takes it in stride, and I can only guess it’s because she’s finally met someone who’s past is as screwed up as hers and who doesn’t know her as Remy.

Oliver just scratches the surface.

Imagine his reaction if he stuck around, found out that she comes from a family of terrorists, that her brother is a killer, that she came up with a plan involving erasing her memory, and that she has at least two other names besides Jane Doe!

While her relationship with Oliver is over, Jane can smile about Roman being released from his cell.

I have wanted more Jane/Roman scenes ever since she wiped his memory, and I desperately want to see them try to be normal adults in the real world outside of Shepherd.

The small bits of Sandstorm we get this episode have to do with a murder that Roman may have committed, but the revelation isn’t earth shattering. It’s a much quieter moment and it works.

There are other story-lines that have good character driven moments as well.

Reade’s drug abuse is also coming to a head in this episode and I am legitimately worried about him.

I’ve always been worried about him, because I like Reade as a character, but I’ve been lukewarm about this storyline because it feels like it’s been done before in this type of setting.

It’s also a storyline that, until now, felt like window dressing.

This episode gives Rob Brown the moments he needs to make it work.

The other standout storyline I have to give some props to is Patterson. She’s working through the aftermath of the transmitter they found in her tooth and Borden’s death, but she isn’t coping well.

When she finds The Oregon Trail disc and proceeds to tear up her apartment searching for bugs –  it’s sad and moving at the same time. I’m looking forward to seeing how this affects Patterson and what the impending investigation means for her.

What did you think of this episode of Blindspot? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Blindspot airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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