The Endgame

I'm not sure why the low reviews that seem to be based on similarity to The Blacklist. I see the comparison but I thought this was different and intriguing. Great cast, pro production, potentially exciting story... and all stories are derivative if you've seen a similar idea, so no points off for that. Morena is always excellent but the role of the queen really seems to fit her. I'm in.

I'm not expecting high art from an NBC serial, I just want to feel like I'm okay with losing the hour it took to watch. So far I'm okay with The Endgame. A Russian crime boss who seems to be looking for revenge but might be working for a higher cause, leading a straight-arrow cop down a path of discovery. Corruption uncovered, vendettas fulfilled. It certainly does remind me of early Blacklist, with a little early Revenge thrown in.

I only hope they don't make the mistakes those two shows made, such as constantly stretching out the mystery until it's no longer interesting, or throwing in nonsensical twists just to keep things going. Let the story progress, let it grow and go where it needs - even if it leads to an end. They have good leads and a lot of potential. Fingers crossed.

Not very likely to come to the same standing positions of the best seasons of a 24 but it has the potential of becoming the next (The) Blacklist and gain a good following if it improves and sticks to landing as the season progresses. What makes really makes the series are the performances of Morena Baccarin and Ryan Michelle Bathe who are both excellent and their chemistry very intense and entertaining to watch on screen. What I believe would help the show going forward is managing tone, the premiere went one way - dark and serious, and in the other - a bit more tongue in cheek. The imbalance doesn't hurt the program, but it's there and could be handled better.

NBC has got to be careful with this one, they've dropped the ball on too many promising series to name.

For those of you who think that this is a female "Blacklist" you're wrong. Elena Federova is captured and brought to a black site for questioning. In the meantime seven different banks are robbed by military precision motives unknown. Ms. Federova has begun her game of cat and mouse. It seems every scenario. Results into wrong doings by one of "the good guys" are brought to light thus taking out another criminal. What Ms. Federova endgame is who knows.

Her F. B. I. Counterpart. Val Turner seems to have Federova's respect. Turner herself wants to know what is what and despite some of her superiors misgivings she seems to be Federova's "Elizabeth Keene" to Raymond Redington. What would be interesting would be a Blacklist Endgame crossover..

While the similarity with The Blacklist cannot be understated or even unwarranted. I have to say Morena Baccarin's presence on screen is worth the 2-4 episodes worth of rope I'm willing to give this show.

Let's see where it goes and right now I cannot wait to hear another story from Elena Federova.