The Blacklist
The Blacklist is a crime thriller TV series on NBC. The show first premiered on September 23, 2013. The show follows Raymond “Red” Reddington, who is played by James Spader. Red is a former U.S. Navy officer turned high-profile criminal who voluntarily surrenders to the FBI after avoiding capture for years. He tells the FBI he has a list of the most dangerous criminals in the world that he has collected over the years and is wiling to help their operations in exchange for immunity. However, he insists with working with rookie FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone).
The series also stars Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, and Harry Lennix. Executive producers for the series include Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath, and John Davis for Sony Pictures Television, Universal Television, and Davis Entertainment.
The show has received mostly positive reviews, many critics praising Spader’s acting performances. On February 20, 2020, NBC renewed the series for an eighth season, which premiered on November 13, 2020.
What is the show about?
Raymond “Red” Reddington is a former US Naval Intelligence officer who disappeared decades go to become one of FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. He surrenders himself to FBI Assistant Director Harold Cooper and is taken to an FBI “black site”. Reddington claims he wishes to help the FBI crackdown criminals and suspected terrorists he spent the last few decades working with. These individuals are so dangerous that the United States government does not even know of their existence.
Reddington offers Cooper his knowledge and assistance in exchange for two things — immunity and working with a rookie FBI agent, Elizabeth Keen. After Cooper tests Reddington’s offer in the first episode, Reddington reveals this man was only the first on the “blacklist” of global criminals, and states he and the FBI have a mutual interest in getting rid of them. The mysteries of Reddington’s lives are gradually revealed. Each episode focuses on one of the global criminals, and Reddington helping them track them down.
Blacklist Cast:
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington
Megan Boone as Elizabeth “Liz” Keen
Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler
Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen
Parminder Nagra as Meera Malik
Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper
Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai
Mozhan Marnò as Samar Navab
Laura Sohn as Alina Park
Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma
