In the world of Blindspot, few secrets caused as much damage as Project Dragonfly. This ultra-secret CIA operation, which unfolded throughout Season 3 of the hit NBC drama, tested loyalties, ruined friendships, and brought a character believed to be dead back into the fold. At the center of the storm was Tasha Zapata, whose involvement with the project forced her to make impossible choices that would change the team dynamic forever.
What Was Project Dragonfly?
Project Dragonfly was an extremely secretive project run by the CIA. The project involved Tasha Zapata and her CIA superior, Keaton. Its existence was first hinted at when some of the tattoos on Jane Doe’s body were discovered to contain information tied to the project, information that Zapata deliberately kept from her FBI teammates.
The core of the project was the resurrection of Dr. Robert Borden. The team believed Borden, a former CIA agent and FBI psychiatrist, had died in a Season 2 explosion. In reality, he survived the blast, spent days peeling burnt flesh from his body, and fled the country. About a year later, the CIA tracked him down and recruited him for a covert mission to resolve a serious terror threat. The codename for this mission was Dragonfly, and Borden was given immunity for his cooperation.
His mission was to infiltrate a dangerous group and help take down a man responsible for genocide, Goren Gorovich. Zapata was assigned as Borden’s handler, a role that required her to keep the truth about his survival and the entire operation a complete secret from the FBI team, especially from Patterson, who had been deeply traumatized by Borden’s previous betrayal and supposed death.
The Truth Comes Out in ‘Artful Dodge’
The secret held by Project Dragonfly could not stay buried forever. The truth was forced into the open in Season 3, Episode 16, titled “Artful Dodge.” The team, led by Patterson and Rich Dotcom, managed to crack a cryptic dragonfly tattoo, which led them to an empty message board forum that had suddenly become active. The messages were between two users: Atlantic17 and Dragonfly164.
Realizing the team was close to uncovering everything, Zapata had no choice but to confess. She revealed to the shocked team that she was one of the users and that Borden was the other. She explained that he was alive and that she had been acting as his CIA handler. This revelation was a massive blow to the entire team, but most of all to Patterson, who had to confront the man who betrayed her and learn that her friend and colleague had been lying to her for a long time.
The show’s executive producer, Martin Gero, explained the nature of the project to Entertainment Weekly back in 2018:
“It’s an ultra-secret CIA project that Keaton and Zapata are involved with, and they’re obviously worried about the rest of the team finding out.”
Despite the personal fallout, the intelligence from Borden proved critical. He provided a USB drive with information that helped the team stop Goren Gorovich from detonating multiple bunker busters in Manhattan, an attack that could have leveled the city. After the mission’s success, Zapata ensured Borden disappeared permanently to maintain the project’s secrecy.
The Fallout and Broken Friendships
The exposure of Project Dragonfly had devastating personal consequences for Zapata. Keeping the secret had already made her behavior seem suspicious, and when the truth emerged, the damage to her key relationships was severe.
Her friendship with Patterson was effectively ruined. Patterson felt profoundly betrayed, her trust shattered not only because Borden was alive, but because Zapata, someone she considered a close friend, had knowingly hidden this painful truth from her. The trust between them was broken.
The strain of her double life and the isolation from her friends pushed Zapata to another emotional brink. Feeling alone and disconnected, she went for a drink with Edgar Reade and finally confessed that she was in love with him. This confession came as a shock to Reade, who was already engaged to be married to someone else. He was left angry and confused, unsure how to process this information. In a single blow, Zapata lost two of her most important friendships.
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