Today, we look at how The Blacklist did an unusual “homage” to L.A. Confidential in its Season 3.
In Meta-Messages, I explore the context behind (using reader danjack’s term) “meta-messages.” A meta-message is where a creator comments on/references the work of another creator (or sometimes even themselves) in their work. Each time around, I’ll give you the context behind one such “meta-message.”
During the third season of The Blacklist (about a FBI task force that works with an international criminal, Red Reddington, played by James Spader, to take down other criminals that he delivers to the FBI via his “Blacklist” in return for immunity, and, of course, for the help that taking down these other criminals do for Reddington’s own secret plans), Elizabeth Keen (the new FBI agent that Reddington’s whole empire was built around protecting due to their mysterious connection…well, not SO mysterious over time) is on the run after having seemingly murdering the Attorney General (he was a bad guy. It was a whole thing).
One of the more straightlaced members of the task force, Donald Ressler, doesn’t like the fact that the other members of the task force, including its head, are all secretly helping “Liz” escape arrest. He explains to Reven Wright (the new Justice Department liaison for the task force) why he is so intent on bringing down corruption, because a corrupt cop named “Tommy Markin” killed his police officer father.
In the 1997 film, L.A. Confidential, Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) and Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) are investigating a case that made Exley a star, because Exley thinks that there is something fishy about it. When Vincennes wants to know why he would go mucking around the case that made him a star in the police department, Exley explains that it is all about “Rollo Tomasi,” the crook who killed Exley’s police officer father and got away with it…
Later, after Vincennes discovers a key part of the conspiracy, he talks about it with a man he trusted, Captain Dudley Smith, who shocks Vincennes by shooting him! As he dies, Vincennes taunts Smith by saying “Rollo Tomassi.” Later, the same thing happens with Reven Wright when SHE goes to someone she trusts. As she dies, she says “Tommy Markin”…
Later, Dudley outs himself to Exley by mentioning “Rollo Tomassi,” which he couldn’t have heard unless he was with Vincennes (which he claimed he was not). Same thing happens with Reven Wright’s killer outing herself to Ressler…
Fascinating stuff.
It’s SO specific that it MUST be meant as an homage, but boy, I sometimes wonder if they thought they could just lift a cool plot point…
If anyone has a suggestion for a good Meta-Messages, drop me a line at brian@poprefs.com
In a Big Boss Game discussion, the most interesting question is often whether a contestant is playing with a clear strategy or simply reacting to every situation. Some housemates plan their moves carefully, while others rely on confidence and quick decisions. Pooja and I usually disagree about which approach works best. A sudden twist can change the entire game, though, and that unpredictability is a big reason reality-show fans enjoy following contestant rivalries and changing team dynamics.