Blindspot: Edgar Reade Was The One Worth The Sacrifice
The final season of Blindspot began with a shakeup to the main cast. Edgar Reade was killed off in the first episode of Season 5 and fans were not that disappointed. Anytime a main character is killed off, the writers should expect some serious blowback. However, this was a little different.
It was time to shake things up a bit and a death was needed. But why did it have to be Reade and not one of the others?
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Could it have been Jane? No. she’s the focal point of the Blindspot. Without her, there is no more show. Her tattoos lead to cases and she’s easily the best weapon the team has against whatever force they’re trying to stop. Besides, with Jane, there are too many storyline possibilities they could go with.
Could it have been Weller? Yes and no? Weller is another central character but taking him off the show would leave Jane in a very venerable spot. Besides, he’s been the leader of their FBI unit since the beginning and every team must have a strong voice to lead. But it would have been great to see if Jane would have reverted back to Remy with such heartbreak.
Could it have been Patterson? Yes. But she’s the tech guru and the one who holds the team together. Losing Patterson could be overcome with the addition of Rich but keeping her alive was the best decision. Besides, Patterson has been through enough heartache.
Could it have been Rich? He makes the most sense since he’s new to the team. However, while each character is FBI-based (minus Jane), Rich is the one who lightens the mood with his well-timed jokes and wild stories about his past. Losing Rich makes sense in terms of seniority but storyline-wise, it would suck to see him go.
Could it have been Tasha? She may have been the other member the writers went back and forth on in the room. Her presence has been all over the place. She’s been a mole, a spy, and has dealt with more confliction than any of the other agents. But yet, losing her would have meant more heartache for Edgar Reade and his character was quickly losing steam. It was time to see Tasha grow on her own.
It had to be Reade because while a central figure, he was still on the outside looking in. When Reade took over as Director, his days in the field were over. What kept his storyline alive was the cat and mouse game he and Tasha played regarding a possible relationship.
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Taking him away gives the team more to fight for other than clearing their name. They want revenge for that but also for the death of one of their own. Now that Tasha is pregnant and seeing her deal with the traumatic experience of losing Reade, it gives viewers a chance to forgive Tasha for her past mistakes as we grow with her.
True fans of Blindspot hate to see Reade go but it was necessary. While everyone could have gone (except Jane), the writers picked the right one.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
