Review: Blindspot ”Ohana’

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Warning: Post contains minor spoilers

“Blindspot” episode “‘Oana” delivers a solid tattoo case. With criminal mastermind Madeline Burke (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) behind bars, at least for the moment, attention turns to Madeline’s fixer Dominic Masters (Chaske Spencer). However, a tattoo case derails investigations into Dominic’s whereabouts. “So, bad news, Jane (Jaimie Alexander) has a deadly poison called tetrodotoxin on her body,” FBI consultant Rich Dotcom (Ennis Esmer) reveals. “It’s not in her body, it is on her body. It is a tattoo we solved,” FBI Agent Patterson reassures. In a single day, 26 fatalities result from the strange toxin.
Investigating the deaths leads the FBI to Spelta Labs where Patterson’s father Bill Nye the Science Guy (himself) is currently working. Bill and his research assistant Ginny Kelling (Colby Minifie) come in for questioning, where Rich and Patterson interrogate the pair of scientists. It appears that CRISPR technology was used to modify bees that in turn pollinated cantaloupes and turned them into deadly fruit. “Nobody say ‘Candyman’ more than four times,” Rich quips.

Meanwhile, MI6 agent Claudia Murphy (Britne Oldford) returns. Previously, Claudia aided FBI Agent, and then-CIA Agent Tasha Zapata (Audrey Esparza) in attempting to infiltrate HCI Global and take down Madeline. Like Zapata, Claudia appears dead set on finding Dominic, and thwarting Madeline and her mysterious, assuredly sinister, plan of Helios once and for all. Plus, Agent Kurt Weller (Sullivan Stapleton) and Jane return to the warehouse Shepherd left Jane.

Observations:

It’s a blast having Bill Nye back on “Blindspot.” As usual, Weller’s fanboy antics emerge. “I’ll go with you [to interrogate Bill],” Weller offers. “I mean, a familiar face might help things.” Patterson replies, “You mean like his daughter’s?” In a hilarious moment, Patterson begin breaking down CRISPR, when Weller interrupts “I bet Bill Nye has a video on this, I mean he makes science fun.” Patterson, frowning, retorts “I can be fun.”

As per usual, Rich pretty much steals any scene he’s in. “I can’t just touch things and figure out what happened to them. Who am I, Deanna Troi?” I love his near constant sarcasm and pop culture references. It’s refreshing to finally see another tattoo case in “Blindspot” S04E18. While “Blindspot” season four has mostly been superb, the past few episodes including “The Night of the Dying Breath” became bogged down saving the day at the last minute.

The sexual tension between Zapata and FBI Director Edgar Reade (Rob Brown) hits an all-time high. When Tasha reveals that she’s been living in an AirBnB, Reade gives her a key to his apartment, which Zapata accepts without argument. The final moments of the episode find Reade glancing longingly at Zapata, and I’m curious if Reade and Tasha will finally get together at the end of the season.

“‘Ohana” brilliantly fuses a tattoo case with the hunt for Madeline, and even a bit of investigating Shepherd’s mysterious warehouse for Jane. A lot happens during “Blindspot” season 4 episode 18 “‘Ohana,” but despite the multiple plot points, it doesn’t feel overburdened. Instead, it flows pretty smoothly.