Blindspot Review: Existential Ennui (Season 5 Episode 3)

Sometimes, there’s a happy coincidence. That’s the case with Blindspot Season 5 Episode 3, “Existential Ennui.” While Madeline Burke presents a strong external threat, this season has been mostly about internal conflict.

Given that the team has been in isolation for so long, this episode has even more resonance airing now than it would have any other time this year. 

“Existential Ennui,” isn’t afraid to break open the wounds that the team has been nurturing; in some cases, for years. They’ve just come together in their makeshift home, and they’ve just started to make some progress.

On this episode, we see just how tenuous that situation is, and how important it is for them to step lightly. They could have lost everything–and each other–all over again, and that’s a frightening possibility so soon after finding their footing. 

This season is really stepping up the writing and character development. These are characters that the audience has followed for five seasons and who have made hard choices. Since these characters are operating in a more limited capacity with a smaller scope, it’s the perfect time to address some of the trauma they’ve experienced. 

Patterson and Rich are still working through their own traumas from the last couple episodes. Patterson is worried about her dad and his ability to stay hidden. Rich is trying to make Archie a home and keep his friends together.

Zapata’s grief, however, runs deeper. While their memorial for Reade on Blindspot Season 5 Episode 1, “I Came to Sleigh,” is a good send off, it doesn’t complete the cycle of grief. 

Zapata’s grief is going to be an ongoing process, and it’s important to address it. Other cop shows might send the character to therapy, but being on the run, doesn’t give them that option. So, she’s going to second guess herself, and she’s going to miss him.

That’s okay. It’s part of the process. But she needs to be able to open up to her friends, which is a concept Zapata has always struggled with.

Jane’s also dealing with an internal struggle in the form of her dreams. The recurring dream where she is watching Madeline poison everyone she cares about is disturbing, and it’s a very real possibility. While the execution and content of the dream feels a little cliche, it doesn’t diminish Jane’s anxiety.

The dream sequence excels in the moment that Jane confronts Madeline.

Jane and Madeline haven’t had many scenes together, but watching Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio lay out what Jane was really afraid of is spooky. It’s the same subtle delivery that she uses in most of her conversations.

It’s also striking coming from someone who doesn’t know Jane well. Since Madeline has this outside perspective, she can look at the facts objectively. While the dream could have easily had Roman or Shepherd appear and tell Jane the same thing, hearing those words from someone outside the situation makes it all the more biting. 

It would be easy to keep these characters in their own individual internal struggles. In fact, that’s what they’re all defaulting to given what happened in Iceland, but they need to come together to support each other so they can work together to stop Madeline. 

This is an essental episode that will galvanize the agents on the run, but the story itself feels a little overwrought. 

The dialogue and intelligence the team is about to gather about their house guest tries to paint a picture of a very resourceful killer, but it never goes beyond just talk. It could have been more, and could have been pushed further, but in the end it’s clear that bringing Hades to the bunker is just a vehicle for their reconcilation. 

As a result, Hades comes off as a one-dimensional character, and a plot device meant to get a step closer to finding out what Madeline is planning.

The stronger of the two plot points is Madeline and Weitz. Understandably, Madeline is not happy that Helsinki didn’t go as planned, and she’s grilling Weitz as to his usefulness. 

Weitz and Madeline are equally matched where strategy is concerned, and putting these two characters in an interrogration room and a car is just what we need to assess Madeline’s state of mind. We know what Madeline wants, but it’s been a struggle to find out her plan. These scenes fill that void. 

They also paint a disturbing picture of Madeline as a cold and calculated villain who will stop at nothing to achieve her end goals.

Madeline’s strength is in misdirection and false leads, and that’s what she did with Weitz in the car. She may have wanted him to make a political enemy disappear, but there was a more important message to send first.

That’s what makes the moment when the car stops and Madeline’s henchmen pull Brianna out of the trunk so shocking. It would be enough to have Brianna disappear and never heard from again. Killing her character in this fashion sends a clear message to Weitz and will make him think twice about who he gets involved. 

It doesn’t hurt that Madeline pulled the trigger herself.

His warning to Afreem when he gets back to headquarters is sobering. He’s wounded. He’s seen what can happen if they don’t cover their tracks, and he cannot risk anyone being seen as his collaborator. 

I don’t think this is the end of Weitz wanting to aid the team. They’re going to need to be smarter. They’re going to need to take a step back and think before they act, but I don’t think Brianna’s death is going to crush Weitz’s Resistence entirely.

Madeline’s actions are meant to isolate Weitz, to make him feel alone and hopeless so he’ll fall in line. He may have to play along for a bit, but there is likely a long game in there. 

This is an interesting counterpoint to the team’s time in the Bunker. While they find a way to work together, Weitz is having to cut ties and possibly work alone. 

One thing is for sure. The resistence can’t be down long with the chemical weapon attack imminent. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Rich DotCom is always good for some lighthearted comedy, and his addition of an espresso machine to the bunker is a nice touch. Considering he once again was the wise sage who got the team to come together, Team Weller really should appreciate him a little more. 
• It’s one of those things where, “it had to happen to move the plot forward,” but seriously…how did Hades just let it slip that he knew they were in Prauge? This is supposed to be one of Ivy’s best players? I feel like that’s a rookie move. 
• Jane and Weller’s relationship feels so much more compelling now that they’re stuck in a bunker together. In previous seasons it felt like they were always apart. After Jane was cured of ZIP poisoning is where they started to really gain footing, and seeing that continue has been a delight; even if it is under these strained circumstances.
• It’s interesting to see Jane repent about her decision to dose Roman with ZIP. That was so long ago, and at the time I remember watching that scene and thinking she really did want Roman to have the same changes she did, but time can be a powerful variable. Knowing what we do now, and the likelihood of ZIP poisoning, I would regret that decision too if I was Jane. 
• The litany of dead characters that Madeline recites doesn’t include David, and it should, because he died pursing a tattoo lead. Patterson shouldn’t have brought it home, but she also wouldn’t have been on the case if it wasn’t for Jane. 

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

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Blindspot airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC. 

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