Movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017

★★★★/★★★★★

Main characters:

Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man

Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes

Jon Favreau as Harold "Happy" Hogan

Zendaya as Michelle "MJ" Jones

Marisa Tomei as May Parker

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man

Director: Jon Watts

With his first appearance in the movie Captain America: Civil War last year, Spider-Mar surely excited everyone for his new solo movie Spider-Man: Homecoming which is one of the most anticipated movies this year. I've seen the movie with my sisters and a friend the other day and we really enjoyed it!

Tom Holland plays the new Spider-Man and seeing him on the big screen is refreshing. Spider-Man is much younger in the movie and trying to prove he can be an Avenger too, he does what Tony Stark always does and what Tony Stark shouldn't do, always looking for trouble. Lol. Honestly, I was waiting for more action but what I got were more laughter and entertaining scenes. Tom Holland played his role very well and I think he was born to be Spider-Man! 

*****

If you haven't watched Spider-Man: Homecoming, watch it now, you guys!

Movie: Assassin's Creed 2016

★★★★/★★★★★

Main characters:

Michael Fassbender as Cal Lynch / Aguilar

Marion Cotillard as Dr. Sophie Rikkin

Jeremy Irons as Alan Rikkin

Ariane Labed as Maria

Michael Williams as Moussa

Director: Justin Kurzel

IMDb:

When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society. 

***

A friend of mine told me that if you've played the game, then you won't like the movie because (as always) there have been some major changes on it. My friend used to play Assassin's Creed so she didn't like the movie that much but I, on the other hand, loved it! I watched the movie with a friend (and his friend) last Thursday and surprisingly, even though they've played the game, they loved the movie! Well, I guess we all have our own opinions about things (and movies!). Anyway, I enjoyed it too and I think the action was great and the stunts were impressive. It was a bit bloody but I'd already expected it since from the title alone, you'd expect it to be. I also think that the plot was well-developed and Michael Fassbender gave justice to his role. 

Overall the movie was good, for me anyway. The story line was a bit vague at first but as the movie went on I started to get it and enjoy it. I was also actually expecting my friend to talk while watching, comparing the movie with the video game or explaining things to me, but he didn't. He was actually focused and by the end of the movie he was asking for more. HAHA. I guess he and his friend loved it that much.

Anyway, you should watch the movie if you want an action-packed and fast paced movie!

Book: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner

★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does.”

Maybe I was too excited to read this series because of the movie but now that I finished the first and second books I'm not too excited to pick up the third book anymore. It was also recommended to me by a friend, saying she really enjoyed it and things but for me it was a little disappointing. But either way, it was engaging and intriguing and a bit frustrating.

The first book in the series tells the story of Thomas when he wakes up in a lift called the Box and next thing he knows he's surrounded by dozens of teenage boys. He remembers nothing, only his name, and to his luck no one tells him anything about the Glade, his new home. He tries hard to gain information, asking this and that, who and where but even his new-found  friend, Chuck, tells him only the basic things he needs to know. But spending a day in the Glade, seeing the runners, the walls closing, knowing about the Maze, witnessing what happens when a glader undergoes in the Changing, and hearing the Grievers, Thomas knew he has to find a way out of the Maze, one way or another. The next day, the Box brings them another newbie glader, but this time it's a girl, Teresa, with a note saying she'll be the last one ever. Whatever that means, they all know it couldn't be a good thing. And true enough, after Thomas and Teresa showed up things start to change and others start to blame them both.

“Holy crap, I’m scared.”
“Holy crap, you’re human. You should be scared.”

I liked the concept of the book with dozens of boys trapped inside a big Maze, the scary Grievers that roam around the Maze at night, the Changing when get sting by Grievers, the mystery behind the Maze and everything else and it was kind of intriguing why it's happening to Thomas and the other gladers. I was glued right from the beginning until the middle part but when I realized that the book wouldn't tell me anything about what's happening, I started to get a little frustrated. The characters are also likeable but underdeveloped and there were times when I can't tell them apart. I mean, Alby was the leader but Newt was running things around and I honestly still get confused about who is who even after reading two books. Who I liked a lot is Minho. He's the Keeper of the Runners in the Glade and probably the best  among the gladers. Chuck is also a cute character. I liked that he became friends with Thomas and that he's the youngest and therefore the all-around glader. 

 “I just...feel like I need to save everyone. To redeem myself.”

Anyway, Thomas as the main character is fine. He's driven, curious and well, the reason why things started to fall apart. He eventually wants to be a Runner like Minho, analyzing and solving the Maze so they can find a way out. He can be annoying and hardheaded at times but I understand his will on solving the Maze. Being stubborn and breaking one the rules also earns him a few haters and it doesn't help that people who went through the Changing seem to remember him from it. Thomas is also quite special from the others because of his ability to talk to Teresa in his mind. Or rather, he can hear Teresa talking to him in his mind. I didn't really get their telepathy thing because for me it wasn't necessary but well, it was there. Teresa is a so-so character. For the first part after she showed up in the Glade she is asleep and when she wakes she and Thomas start to feel connected with each other.

“It was you and me, Tom. We did this to them. To us.”

The writing didn't impress me that much. The prose is disappointing and I was actually hoping it would eventually improve but it didn't. It felt flat that even though I wanted to feel something, anything, about what's happening, I can't because the writing somewhat lacked emotion and it was very tell-y, just saying this and that and nothing else. The slang words are also kind of annoying sometimes. Okay, maybe a lot of times but you get used to it at some point. What infuriated me so much was the lack of information! Seriously! Because there are so many questions asked but the book only answered one or two and it didn't help that the characters also don't really know anything since their memories are erased when they were thrown inside the Maze. Ugh! But the turn of events are satisfying and I was resolved on just finishing the series for the hell of it. Like I said, it was fine but I really think it could be better if the writing is improved and the characters are well-developed.

So for me, The Maze Runner is an intriguing book with some infuriating aspects. A bit long (for me) but enjoyable enough. I also got to finish to second book in the series (will write a separate review soon) and thinking of reading the third book some time next week.

Movie: Doctor Strange 2016

I had a chance to win invites to an exclusive screening of Doctor Strange a couple of weeks ago courtesy of Cadbury Dairy Milk and Nuffnang Philippines. Since I scored two tickets, I went with my friend and we both definitely enjoyed the movie!

 ★★★★/★★★★★

Main characters:

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange 

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo

Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer

Benedict Wong as Wong

Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius  

Tilda Swinton as Ancient One

 Doctor Strange is a character from the Marvel Comics of the same name and tells the story of Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon who, after a tragic accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions in search of a way to heal his hands. 

Strange is a talented but arrogant doctor who chooses his patients and thinks highly of himself. After losing the use of his hands due to a car accident and not finding a way to heal them through traditional medicine, he ventures on a journey to Kathmandu after hearing the story of Jonathan Pangborn, a paraplegic who is able to walk again. Strange finds Karl Mordo in Kamar-Taj who then brings him to the Ancient One. The Ancient One shows Strange her power, revealing the astral plane and other dimensions such as the Mirror Dimension. Strange is skeptical at first but when the Ancient One shows him more, he begs her to teach him. The Ancient One initially refuses because of Strange's arrogance and because he reminds her of Kaecilius, a former student who turned rogue and now seeks greater mystic power. Eventually, the Ancient One agrees to teach Strange and soon Strange finds himself fighting to save the Earth from evil forces from other dimensions.

As expected from Marvel Studios, they did a good job with Doctor Strange. I admit I didn't have the chance to read the comics but I'm a huge fan of Marvel movies! And like their other superheroes, Doctor Strange is a brilliant, engaging and funny character.

 Visually satisfying and mind blowing, Doctor Strange will surely capture everyone's interest not only because it's a Marvel movie but also because the effects are incredible. I mean, how cool is it to see the whole Manhattan turning into a Rubik's Cube while Strange and his enemies, who can pull weapons out of thin air, can teleport and can leap out of their bodies into their astro form, fight each other?

  I also love the characters! Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange was an excellent choice and Rachel McAdams as Christine was perfect! I loved Rachel McAdams' character, a co-worker and past lover who puts up with Strange's not so good attitude. She cares for Strange and even though Strange is kind of a jerk for misinterpreting her kindness, she still understands him. Strange actually reminded me of Tony Stark for being arrogant, filthy rich and somewhat self centered at times. They're both invested in what they do but when life threatens to take everything they've worked on and a new opportunity to prove themselves appears, they decided to take the chance.

For me, Doctor Strange is a huge success for Marvel! And though it's not my most favorite from Marvel, Doctor Strange is a very entertaining movie. :)

KDrama: Descendants of the Sun 2016

Main characters:

Song Joong ki as Yoo Si jin

Song Hye kyo as Kang Mo yeon

Jin Goo as Seo Dae young

Kim Ji won as Yeon Myeong ju

I remember when Descendants of the Sun made a buzz when it was aired back in February and people went crazy over it! It was what everyone was talking about, how the scenes were sweet and how hot and handsome Song Joong ki was. Even my friends who don't really watch kdrama watched it and became addict since then. My sister and I didn't watch it until two months later when all the episodes were already aired and I admit it was addicting. But then we thought it was over-hyped since we've seen better dramas.

So the story revolves around the lives of Yoo Si jin, the Captain of Team Alpha, an elite special forces in South Korea, and Dcotor Kang Mo yeon, a cardiothoracic specialist. These two accidentally meet in the hospital where Mo yeon works and there Si jin quickly falls in love with Mo yeon's assertiveness. At first, Mo yeon is skeptical towards Si jin but soon sees that Si jin is really a soldier. They then begin dating but every time they go out something comes up. It's Si jin who usually needs to go because of his job and soon Mo yeon realizes how different the two of them are. Si jin is a soldier who kills to protect lives while Mo yeon is a doctor who saves lives. Eventually they stop seeing each other. 

Mean while, Sergeant Major Dae young (also Si jin's friend) struggles with his feelings towards Myeong ju, an army surgeon. He likes her but he can't risk being removed from the army by Myeong ju's father who is the commander of the South Korean Special Forces Brigade. 

Eight months later, these four meet again this time in Urk carrying their own mission. Si jin, together with Dae young, was sent there earlier to lead his team on a peacekeeping mission while Mo yeon is sent there to lead a medical team. Myeong ju, on the other hand, followed so she can be with Dae young. There, the four of them fall in love again and together they help save lives. 

I actually enjoyed this drama with all its kilig moments and funny scenes. I also understood why girls went crazy over this drama because the writers surely did a good job developing the relationship between Si jin and Mo yeon who had a great chemistry and of course, the intense feelings between Dae young and Myeong ju. And though they did a good job building the relationship between the characters, they did little to the sub-plots and to the plot in general, for me anyway.

 They also have good and funny secondary characters. Sang hyun (Lee Seung joon) and Ja ae (Seo Jeong yeon) were my favorites and Onew as Chi hoon was a surprise to me but nonetheless did a good job.

Descendants of the Sun surely captured a lot of hearts but I still think it was over-rated. Don't get me wrong, I loved it and enjoyed every single episode but like I said, I've seen better drama with better plot. I mean, the plot of this drama had lots of potential with its military and medical stuff going on but they settled on melodrama which is really not a bad thing. I'm just saying that maybe they should've developed the military and medical sides of the show which would be more interesting since I, myself, am a huge fan of action-romance! But either way, I guess DotS's magic worked on a lot of people seeing that the drama's ratings were higher than expected.

Overall I give it a 3-star rating out of 5! It wasn't that bad but it wasn't that great either. I guess people were just too excited to see Song Joong ki in uniform which I admit was really manly and sexy! This drama was also his first role after getting out of the army which I think also helped on gaining viewers since people were waiting for his comeback.

And, oh, I forgot to mention about the bromance in this drama because there was!

♥

TV Series: The Last Ship (2014) Season 3

Main Characters:

Eric Dane as Captain Tom Chandler

Adam Baldwin as Captain Mike Slattery 

Bridget Regan as Sasha Cooper

Travis Van Wrinkle as Lt. Danny Green

Marissa Neitling as Kara Green

Christina Elmore as Lt. Alisha Granderson

John Pyper-Ferguson as Tex Nolan

Jocko Sims as Lt. Carlton Burk

Charles Parnell as Master Chief Jeter 

As you all know, The Last Ship is one of my favorite series ever. The first season wowed me and the second just made me love it even more! But this season, well, I was mad when they killed off Rachel's character. Ugh! I mean, why would they do that? Rachel was like the center of it all but they killed her. I was so so so frustrated by the end of the second season and I was hoping they would revive Rachel's character but they didn't! But, now I get why they had to do it and actually it made the show better. (I can't believe I just said that!)

[Warning: This review contains some spoilers!]

After discovering the cure in the first season and fighting their way to distribute it in the second, the third season focuses on further healing the sick world. Tom Chandler is now the Chief of Naval Operations appointed by President Michener. Mike Slattery becomes the new Captain of Nathan James and the other crews stay aboard except Kara Foster, now Kara Green, who takes a job in St. Louis as Deputy Chief of Staff. She and Danny also have a son now, Frankie. We also have new characters like Sasha Cooper, a former Navy Intelligence Officer now operating under diplomatic cover in China for the newly reformed U.S. government and Takehaya, a former Japanese Navy officer and legendary pirate captain in post-plague Asia, who is affected by Peng's poison that neutralizes the effect of the cure. Peng is the new leader of China, the now enemy of Tom and his crew because he wants to gain control of all Asia. We also have Allison Shaw, the Chief of Staff of President Michener, and the other regional leaders who later plot the death of Michener because they want to gain control of the federal government.

This season was really action packed and the turn of events were unpredictable. Tom went back aboard Nathan James after someone tried to kill him in China and right that moment Mike and some of his crew were ambushed in some thank you party in Indonesia. It happened simultaneously so by the time Tom was back in Nathan James, Mike and the others were held hostage by some pirates. Later we found out that these pirates were led by Takehaya.

But all throughout the season we also lost some good characters, starting with Val who I grew to love in the first episode. Then there was Mason when Mike and the others were held hostage by Takehaya. By the end of the season we also lost Tex, oh my god Tex! I was happy when I found out he was back and seeing him in action again was exciting. But, but, but! In the end he was killed, trying to save Tom from Shaw. Huhu :"(

This season may not be my favorite but it surely was thrilling and action packed! I loved the new characters and the story kept on getting better. And as if finding the cure and distributing it to the world weren't enough, Tom and his crew must also save Asia and now America from the hands of greedy leaders.

I really thought Allison Shaw could be trusted, that she shared the same vision as President Michener but no, she was a one big fat liar and a scary beach! At first my sister and I thought that Alex Rivera was the traitor but it turned out that Shaw was the bad guy. Grr. And because of her Tex died!!!!

Anyway, it'll be a long wait until the fourth season (2017) and I can't wait to find out what happens next! Tom can't leave Nathan James for good because he just can't! First they killed Rachel and then Tex and now Tom is leaving. But I know they have something else up on their sleeves for the next season. 

Anime: Psycho-Pass Season 1

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

"This is a world where the mental state and personal tendencies of a human can be quantified. While all sorts of inclinations are recorded and policed, these measured numbers used to judge peoples' souls are often called 'Psycho-Pass'"

Psycho-Pass has been on my anime watch list for a while now and since I was preoccupied with books, tv series and kdramas I didn't have time to watch it until now. And man, I was hooked right away!

So, so, so! Psycho-Pass takes place in an authoritarian future dystopia under Sibyl System where people's Psycho-Pass is continuously scanned by sensors which measure their mental health, emotional state, stress level and more importantly their probability to commit crime or crime coefficient. When a person's Psycho-Pass exceeds the acceptable level, the Public Safety Bureau will be alerted which will then sends Inspectors and Enforcers, a special group of latent criminal, to investigate that person. Inspectors and Enforcers carry a Dominator, a large handgun designed to fire only at those with a higher-than-acceptable crime coefficient.

The story mainly focuses around a new and young Inspector, Akane Tsunemori, who on her first mission shoots an Enforcer, Shinya Kogami, when he tries to shoot a girl whose Crime Coefficient immediately rises when she is taken hostage by a latent criminal. Instead of getting angry, Kogami thanks Akane for stopping him on becoming a murderer. It motivates Akane to stay on the team and from then on she works along side Inspector Nobuchika Ginoza, a strict man who looks down on Enforcers, and other Enforcers, Tomomi Masaoka, Shusei Kagari and Yayoi Kunizuka, each has their own story for becoming a latent criminal and later on being an Enforcer. Together they hunt down criminals.

[CHARACTERS]

Akane Tsunemori 

(c)
"Protect the things you believe in till the end."
 I like Tsunemori because she's headstrong, smart and always does what she knows is right. She has a strong sense of justice, always wants to do things by the book. After shooting Kogami on her first day, though ashamed, she's resolved to continue working as an Inspector so she can go after latent criminals who disrupts the system. She works hard to protect the system even after learning its true form, which she hates, because she knew that without it, society cannot live peacefully. I also love her relationship with others especially with the Enforcers. She treats them with respect so in return they trust her.

Shinya Kogami

(c)

"Be gentle to others but strict to oneself."
Kogami is the kind of character I always always love. Intelligent, instinctive, but he always does things the risky way. He used to be a skilled detective, always keen on solving cases but due to an incident involving an Enforcer, Mitsuru Sasamaya, dying, making his Crime Coefficient rise, he was demoted to Enforcer rank. Now he works as an Enforcer under Tsunemori, solving cases and hunting down latent criminals. Later on, something lead them to Shogo Makishima who they think is behind all the incidents that are happening lately. Kogami also believes that Makishima has something to do with Sasayama's death. When they confirm that Makishima is behind all the incidents, and Sasayama's death, Kogami makes it his goal to kill Makishima himself to the extent of leaving the MWPSB.

Nobuchika Ginoza

(c)
"The fool learns from experience while the wise learn from history."
 Ginoza is strict and somewhat cold but behind that scowly face is a good man. He's an effective senior officer to Tsunemori, an excellent detective and despite distancing himself from the Enforcers, he cares for them. He warns Tsunemori on her first day not to get attached with the Enforcers, saying it won't do her any good. Later on it is revealed that Kogami used to be his partner and Masaoka is his father, now both Enforcers, thus Ginoza having feelings of abandonment. He feels like Kogami and Masaoka left him on his own by becoming latent criminals. He also works hard to protect the system and like Tsunemori, he wants it to work so society can live in peace. At the end of season 1, his Crime Coefficient exceeds acceptable level after witnessing the death of Masaoka.  

Tomomi Masaoka

(c)
"Do good deeds without expecting things in return."
I instantly liked Masaoka the first time he appeared. He's nice to Tsunemori and he tries to defend her when Ginoza is doubting her capabilities. He's the father figure of the group, always giving advice and making sure to watch their backs. Masaoka also used to be a detective but when the Sibyl System was introduced, he disagreed to follow it. He doesn't agree that people should solely rely on machines when determining one's criminal tendencies. Over the time it made him more frustrated and angry which eventually led to the rising of his Crime Coefficient. Now he works as an Enforcer and though he's not a detective anymore, he still believes that 

Shusei Kagari

(c)
"Whatever you do, you have to enjoy the process."
Of course there has to be a group clown and that titles belongs to Kagari. He was flagged by the system as latent criminal when he was only five so since then he was locked up. Until he was offered a job to be an Enforcer, which he had no choice but to accept otherwise he'll be locked up forever. Kagari is easygoing, always teasing people and carefree. He's somehow more serious when working but still, he finds time to joke around and others always need to remind him not to be reckless, since he has a tendency to be, especially when working on a case. I'm growing fond of his character but then by the latter part of Season 1 he faces a tragic end. *frowns*

Yayoi Kunizuka

(c)
"Do not make trouble for others." 
Before becoming an Enforcer, Kunizuka used to be a musician. Her band was Sibyl-authorized but when she met and befriended Rina Takizaki, a member of non-Sibyl-authorized band that is anarchistic in nature, her Hue suddenly got darkened. Eventually she was flagged and was sent into a rehabilitation center where Kogami tried to recruit her to be an Enforcer. At first she was reluctant but the thought of seeing Takizaki again dominated her. She agreed to help and on a mission, it turned out that Takizaki was a member of an anti-Sibyl System group who was planning on doing something dangerous. Kunizuka tried to stop Takizaki but she didn't listen. Emotionally devastated, Kunizuka tried firing the Dominator Kogami issued to her but to her surprise it didn't work. It gave Takizaki time to escape and after that incident, Kunizuka agreed to be an Enforcer in hope that one day she would see Takizaki again and by then she's sure to get her.

Shion Karanomori

(c)

"Believe your instinct."
Though Shion has a physician's license, she works as a lab technician in the Analysis Department of Public Safety Bureau. We always see the members talking to her, always asking her to do this or that. Haha. She's a smoker, always complaining that the Bureau is overworking her and she's bisexual. I'm not sure why I need to state that but given that we saw her and Kunizuka together a lot of times, I think it's just that. Anyway, she works best with computers and she provides back up whenever the team is working.

 Shogo Makishima

(c)

"To live is not merely to breathe; it is to act."

 Makishima is the main antagonist and Kogami's nemesis. He's a manipulative bastard and a sociopath who uses his charisma to persuade people to do what he wants. He's criminally asymptomatic meaning his Psycho-Pass can't be measured and so the sensors can't flagged him. He believes that the Sibyl System is ruining people's true nature of thinking, deciding on their own and doing the things they want. In short, he wants to destroy the system. He has a plan but to execute it he needs the help of some people like Choe Gu sung, a korean immigrant hacker and some other pawns who later on he kills if deemed worthless after they've done their part. This plan includes chaos, deaths and some other horrific acts that surely keep MWPSB busy. For a long time Kogami and the others hunt Makishima down until finally they figure out what his final move is. By this time Kogami no longer works as an Enforcer and is determined to kill Makishima. 

At some point it is revealed that the real reason why Makishima hated the system is because he felt rejected by the system. Being able to control his Pshycho-Pass, the system is unable to recognize him and it somehow makes him like an outcast. So the feeling of being different from the others compelled him to destroy the system.

---

I really enjoyed this anime and now I can't wait to start with Season 2! I've seen that there's also a movie so, so, so! I'm very excited to watch that too. If you haven't watch this yet, you better watch it now. Like, seriously! It's a really good anime (a bit scary thinking that it might, just might, actually happen in the future), thought-provoking, addictive and suspense/action packed! Highly recommended if you're into post-apocalyptic-though-provoking kind of anime. 

TV Series: The Blacklist (2013) Season 3

Main Characters:

James Spader as Raymond Reddington

Megan Boone as Elizabeth "Liz" Keen

 Diego Klattenhoff as FBI Special Agent Donald Ressler

Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai

Mozhan Marno as Samar Navabi

Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper

Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen

Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma

Picking up where the last season ended, Elizabeth Keen is now a wanted fugitive. She's in the run with Reddington and his former partner, Donald Ressler, is hunting her down.

 It's really frustrating that Ressler has to go after Liz because "it's his job". Grr. But then I know that somehow Ressler cares for Liz.

I really love this show and this season gives me so many heart attacks. I mean, every episode surprises you with new story and now that Liz is fighting to prove her innocence, she must run away first and let Reddington and her friends save her. I'm also loving Aram more and more especially when he saved Liz when she was brought back in by the FBI and Peter tried to kill her in her confinement. I really loved that scene. 

Ressler and Navabi became partners now that Liz is gone.

I'm on episode 12 now and the previous episode showed us that Liz is pregnant and everyone knows who the daddy is. Ugh! And there I thought Ressler has a chance. Tsk. Anyway, I'm trying to finish the remaining episodes and I'm ready to find out all the secrets Reddington are keeping. 

And... can I hope for Liz and Ressler to have a little romance? :") 
  
(03172016)


UPDATE!!
I just finished episode 23 tonight and OH MY GOD I knew it! I knew Liz isn't dead because... she can't be dead!! She just can't die because what's the point if she is already gone in the show?

Anyway, after finding out that she is pregnant, Liz initially wants to put the baby up for adoption but decided otherwise when she realizes how hard Tom is working for them to have a future. In the end she decided to marry Tom on which Reddington strongly objects.

 But on their wedding day, Mr. Solomon shows up with his men, gun blazing and determined to take Liz no matter what method necessary. And of course, Reddington comes to the rescue and together with their other friends, they hold off Mr. Solomon until Ressler and his back up arrive to help. 

Liz and Tom escape but Liz gets injured in a car accident which endangers the the baby inside her. With the help of Mr. Kaplan who arranges a secure location and Nik who performs an emergency Caesarian section on Liz, they get to save both the child and Liz. They name the baby Agnes.

Reddington is happy that Liz and the baby are safe but Liz doesn't want Reddington anywhere near Agnes. It hurts Reddington but we can't really blame Liz for not wanting her child to have anything to do with Reddington after everything that happened to her because of him. Mr. Kaplan then tells Reddington she's going to talk to Liz about it.

But shortly after baby Agnes was born, Liz's life is in danger again as she falls in a critical condition. They immediately move her in an ambulance but on the way to the hospital, Solomon's men show up again, cornering them and giving Liz no chance to fight for her life. And in that ambulance, Liz dies. *cry a bucket*

 

I was skeptical when I watched this episode and I was like, "What? No, no, no. Liz can't die! No, she can't die. Seriously? NOOOOO!" And I remember ranting in twitter saying I won't watch the series anymore because what's the point when Liz is dead? But then I read an article about this episode with James Spader saying that Elizabeth Keen is dead. It was when I decided to accept it. But still...

Moving on... Liz's friends grieve for her death and they attend her funeral, remembering all the good things they've shared with her and how she became a family to all of them. It was actually heartbreaking and Aram made me cry.

“When she shall die… take her… and cut her out in little stars, and she will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun. Romeo and Juliet. Agent Keen loved Shakespeare. And Dr. Seuss. She loved dim sum and… and Beyoncé, and those little wooden, uh, foot massagers that go under your desk. (VOICE BREAKS) I know the things she loved because we were friends. Even though I called her “Agent Keen,” that was out of the respect I had for her. (BREATHING UNEVENLY) Her friends also called her Liz. (CRYING) I miss you, Liz. (SNIFFLES) Just… Okay. Thank you. (SPEAKING INAUDIBLY)
(The Blacklist Declassified)

Liz's death is hard for everyone especially to Reddington. It devastated him and it makes him somewhat vulnerable. He's in hiding for a while, taking his time to accept the fact that Liz is already gone. He also visits Dom, Liz's maternal grandfather, delivering the sad news. After some thinking, he eventually returns to the task force, offering his help on finding Liz's killer.

Now everyone is focused on finding who's responsible for Liz's death. Reddington tells them to find a woman named Susan "Scottie" Hargarve who he believes employed Solomon to kidnap Liz. They eventually found Scottie and it turns out Red and she go back a long way. Tom, on the other hand, is busy looking after Agnes but he also wants revenge for Liz. He's not also letting Reddington near Agnes in fear that Agnes would face the same fate as her mother.

In the end, Scottie has no choice but to give up the name of the one who ordered to kidnap Liz. Alexander Kirk. So then everyone focuses on finding Kirk, determined to get their revenge for Liz's death. Following their leads, they found out that Kirk is now after Tom and Agnes and in order to protect Agnes, Reddington convinces Scottie to team up with them. Tom also agrees on letting Reddington see Agnes in condition that he would do everything to catch Kirk. Reddington then put his men on watch over Agnes and Tom for protection.

 And together with Scottie's team, Reddington and the task force, which reluctantly agrees, make a move to draw Kirk out.

It is also revealed that Scottie is actually Tom's mother when he tries to kill her but Reddington stops her.

On the last episode, they are closing in on Kirk and Reddington is resolved on killing him. He sees Cooper to tell him that he's going to leave the task force now that Liz is gone. He also says goodbye and asks Cooper to look after the others. He then executes his next plan, waiting for Kirk to show up so he could kill him. But Ressler stops him, saying he wants justice for Liz's death not vengeance. Reddington tells him it's the same for him and it doesn't really matter as long as he kills Kirk.

Ressler tries to stop Reddington and at first he's so against him pulling the trigger but after contemplating, he finally lets Reddington do it. But unfortunately, or fortunately for Ressler, Kirk doesn't show up. It turns out that Kirk is on his way to Cuba after finding out that Tom gives Reddington's men the slip and he flies to Cuba with Agnes with the help of Mr. Kaplan.

It's then revealed that Liz is actually alive (Oh my god oh my god oh my god!) and she's waiting for Tom and Agnes in Cuba all this time. See? I told you she's not dead! :P

Reddington is furious with Mr. Kaplan when he finds out that she actually helped Tom flee the country. She tells him she doesn't regret it because now Agnes is safe but when Reddington tells her that Kirk knows that Tom and Agnes are in Cuba, Mr. Kaplan reveals that not only Agnes is in danger but also Liz.

She then tells Reddington how she and Nik had faked Liz's death in order to protect her from Reddington. She says she did it because it was Reddington's fault that Liz had to suffer and she doesn't want Agnes to face the same.

In Cuba, Tom returns home from the groceries only to find Liz gone and a man reaching for Agnes. He's able to grab the man just before he could touch Agnes and knocks him out. Reddington and his men arrive a little too late only to find the house already empty. Now Reddington is more furious and asks Mr. Kaplan what he should do with her. (Ugh! It's not Mr. Kaplan's fault!)

Ressler also tells Cooper that Liz is actually alive.

The season ends with Liz being held somewhere and Alexander Kirk showing up, telling her that he's Constantin Rostov, her father. Whaaaat?

Gahd, I can't wait for the next season and you don't know how happy I am to know that Liz is alive! :) I was actually convinced that Elizabeth Keen is dead but Marsha Rostova is not! HAHAHA xD Now I'm more excited to see what will happen in the next season. And I'm still not giving up hoping that there will be a Liz-Ressler romance even though we already have Agnes. Hihi :D

♥