Start Blacklist, Get Hooked
By Lauren Clymer
Currently in its second season, The Blacklist has already become a show to remember. While most shows involving criminals and the FBI are all about catching the suspect, The Blacklist revolves around the suspect who has already surrendered himself to the FBI. With the FBI relying on one of the most wanted criminals to solve important cases, unlikely partnerships form, only adding to the show’s uniqueness.
James Spader drives the viewers wild as The Blacklist’s main character, Raymond Reddington. Originally a government agent, Reddington is one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted criminals. After eluding capture for decades, we see Reddington walk into the FBI headquarters and ask to see a specific agent, taking his clothes off and getting on his knees as the sirens go off for his arrest. Once detained, Reddington is brought to a secret FBI underground site as he is a high profile case. He’s put in a glass, bullet proof box and secured to a chair. After giving us a brief background of his criminal life- long story short, he was a military officer who suddenly disappeared and eventually turned up connected to various national security threats and more- the show cuts to Reddington offering up an elusive terrorist to the FBI team. His detailed knowledge about the man and his plan ends up helping him. While Spader’s character offers to help catch this terrorist, he does so at a price.
Raymond Reddington refuses to discuss anything more with the FBI unless he is in direct contact with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen, played by the talented Megan Boone. We learn that Keen raised herself and that, in some way, she is connected to Reddington; however, Keen is unaware of their connection as well. Throughout the season, we’re left wondering what it is that connects the two main characters, making the big mystery of the show all about Keen and Reddington.
While The Blacklist is on primetime television, it definitely exceeds people’s expectations. The show can be in the same category as hits like Scandal and House of Cards, but its consistency to surprise viewers every episode is what makes it stand out on its own. With every episode comes a little piece to the puzzle that is Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keen’s relationship. We learn that every character plays a role, some more than others.
In addition to leaving viewers curious about Reddington and Keen, we’re constantly trying to figure out what is going on with Tom- Agent Keen’s husband. We discover clues hinting at his secret life, similar to those Keen arrests. While there are so many little plots within one large one, the viewers aren't left confused- and that’s what makes The Blacklist even more of a success.
Like most criminal/FBI shows, The Blacklist tackles a new case every episode. In this series, Reddington is giving the FBI a new name on his “blacklist” every episode. The crimes these people commit vary from human trafficking to mob bosses, making each episode exciting and different every time. While the show falls in to the typical pattern of solve a case, receive another piece of the big puzzle every episode, The Blacklist never fails to leave a viewer wondering. It never gets old, like Law & Order or Bones.
The perfect episode(s) to watch to really get into this series would be “Anslo Garrick (No. 16)” parts one and two. After the entire main cast is taken hostage by an assassin looking for Reddington, two characters are killed off. The episode was so intense at every second that it felt like the series finale. In fact, I remember specifically saying out loud, “What?! There are still eleven more episodes?!” after Netflix asked me if I wanted to watch the next one. After viewing all of season one, it’s safe to say that that episode can be considered the climax of the entire season.
Another wonderful aspect of The Blacklist is the clear, and not so clear, transformation of the characters over the season. At first, Elizabeth Keen is seen wearing bright pink lipstick for her first day of work and Reddington is quiet and serious. However, after a couple of episodes, Keen’s lipstick gets darker and Reddington begins to soften. Although it’s not an obvious change, Reddington’s character begins to become more emotional. We learn more about what he wants in life and what he’s been through. The same thing goes for Keen’s character. At first, she’s too attached to each case, letting Reddington’s games drive her crazy. However, she eventually stops worrying and lets things play out. Because of this, we see her discover more about her childhood and the truth about her life- which helps us put the puzzle all together.
The Blacklist’s intensity and clean cut plot lines keep the viewers interested- very interested. It’s no surprise that the second season has more viewers, thanks to Netflix for supplying us with the entire first season so we can binge watch it and obsess over it all at once. The Blacklist is mysterious, addicting, and probably one of the best things to hit NBC in a very long time.
James Spader drives the viewers wild as The Blacklist’s main character, Raymond Reddington. Originally a government agent, Reddington is one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted criminals. After eluding capture for decades, we see Reddington walk into the FBI headquarters and ask to see a specific agent, taking his clothes off and getting on his knees as the sirens go off for his arrest. Once detained, Reddington is brought to a secret FBI underground site as he is a high profile case. He’s put in a glass, bullet proof box and secured to a chair. After giving us a brief background of his criminal life- long story short, he was a military officer who suddenly disappeared and eventually turned up connected to various national security threats and more- the show cuts to Reddington offering up an elusive terrorist to the FBI team. His detailed knowledge about the man and his plan ends up helping him. While Spader’s character offers to help catch this terrorist, he does so at a price.
Raymond Reddington refuses to discuss anything more with the FBI unless he is in direct contact with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen, played by the talented Megan Boone. We learn that Keen raised herself and that, in some way, she is connected to Reddington; however, Keen is unaware of their connection as well. Throughout the season, we’re left wondering what it is that connects the two main characters, making the big mystery of the show all about Keen and Reddington.
While The Blacklist is on primetime television, it definitely exceeds people’s expectations. The show can be in the same category as hits like Scandal and House of Cards, but its consistency to surprise viewers every episode is what makes it stand out on its own. With every episode comes a little piece to the puzzle that is Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keen’s relationship. We learn that every character plays a role, some more than others.
In addition to leaving viewers curious about Reddington and Keen, we’re constantly trying to figure out what is going on with Tom- Agent Keen’s husband. We discover clues hinting at his secret life, similar to those Keen arrests. While there are so many little plots within one large one, the viewers aren't left confused- and that’s what makes The Blacklist even more of a success.
Like most criminal/FBI shows, The Blacklist tackles a new case every episode. In this series, Reddington is giving the FBI a new name on his “blacklist” every episode. The crimes these people commit vary from human trafficking to mob bosses, making each episode exciting and different every time. While the show falls in to the typical pattern of solve a case, receive another piece of the big puzzle every episode, The Blacklist never fails to leave a viewer wondering. It never gets old, like Law & Order or Bones.
The perfect episode(s) to watch to really get into this series would be “Anslo Garrick (No. 16)” parts one and two. After the entire main cast is taken hostage by an assassin looking for Reddington, two characters are killed off. The episode was so intense at every second that it felt like the series finale. In fact, I remember specifically saying out loud, “What?! There are still eleven more episodes?!” after Netflix asked me if I wanted to watch the next one. After viewing all of season one, it’s safe to say that that episode can be considered the climax of the entire season.
Another wonderful aspect of The Blacklist is the clear, and not so clear, transformation of the characters over the season. At first, Elizabeth Keen is seen wearing bright pink lipstick for her first day of work and Reddington is quiet and serious. However, after a couple of episodes, Keen’s lipstick gets darker and Reddington begins to soften. Although it’s not an obvious change, Reddington’s character begins to become more emotional. We learn more about what he wants in life and what he’s been through. The same thing goes for Keen’s character. At first, she’s too attached to each case, letting Reddington’s games drive her crazy. However, she eventually stops worrying and lets things play out. Because of this, we see her discover more about her childhood and the truth about her life- which helps us put the puzzle all together.
The Blacklist’s intensity and clean cut plot lines keep the viewers interested- very interested. It’s no surprise that the second season has more viewers, thanks to Netflix for supplying us with the entire first season so we can binge watch it and obsess over it all at once. The Blacklist is mysterious, addicting, and probably one of the best things to hit NBC in a very long time.