User reviews

James Spader is superb in his roll as Raymond Reddington. I find all the characters in the show top rate and believable....except for Megan Boone and the character Elizabeth. This character is so sanctimonious and self centered it just grates against my nerves.This character does anything she "feels"is the best thing even if it's against protocol and puts the team in danger. Then berates Reddington, who is actually helping her, because he colors outside the lines.The fact that the show went from an interesting "get the really bad guys" show to all about "Lizzy" has gotten really very annoying and is starting to get old. There are 6 other characters to shed some focus on. I understand the background story between her and Reddington is important....I get that. But all the drama and, not to mention, all the dumb selfish things Elizabeth does is really starting to be a turn off. Whoever the writer is for this character needs to be fired. Also, what's up with Lizzy's miraculous healing powers? She can get punched in the face by a man and not only get up right away, but never has a scratch on her. She should have had black eyes for at least a couple of weeks. Everybody else on the show gets realistically (believably) injured and goes through the healing process. But not cast iron Lizzy. Come on guys, give it a rest. Please don't turn a great show of intrigue,espionage and edge of your seat stories into a soap opera with a bad leading actress. I TRULY want to continue watching this show. Needless to say, this is why I gave a 9 rating instead of a 10.

Once again I see people criticizing a good enjoyable show because it's not like reality and "Real governments and law enforcement organizations don't operate that way!!!!" Get a grip people! Batman isn't real either but he's fun to watch! The delineation of James Spader's Raymond Reddington is more important than any hang ups you could possibly have with the plot. I just can't see passing up such a good performance and character study because a fictional show isn't reality. It's not often a real good character comes along and I feel Spader has pulled this one off excellently in every respect. Don't cheat yourself people. It's a good show.

Created my account just to come in and praise James Spader. I'm late to starting the show but binge watched it and love it. He definitely knows what he's doing and it's been a pleasure watching.

This is indeed one of my favorite shows and one of the best i have seen. Spader is insane and the character is amazing. But for the love of god can someone please kill elisabeth and get her to dissapear from the show?? Terrible acting and iritating character makes a bad combo ... let her die so we can enjoy the series and not want to pull our eyes out ...

The Blacklist isn't the best TV show you've ever seen--it's not edgy or innovative with an original storyline or remarkable cinematography. It doesn't have distinctive, stylish features. Into its 3rd season, The Blacklist survives, it thrives despite its being no Breaking Bad, or Mr. Robot, or Fargo, or The Knick. How is this possible? Just what is its appeal?

James Spader as Red Reddington is the answer and the sole reason this show is so watchable. He's not only the captain of the ship, he's the crew and the ship as well. In short, his performance is everything that makes this show great and I suspect he's somehow improved the template like performances of his supporting actors over time. The man is just a joy to watch and makes an improbable character--govt spy turned international criminal mastermind-- delightful and believable. Every actor on that show ought to thank Spader for allowing them the opportunity to make money on a show that would have been cancelled its first year--perhaps mid-season--if he were not on it. It's the darndest thing, the difference one actor can make.

Still, I wish that the creators had chosen a different actress to play the part of Elizabeth Keen, the FBI profiler that Red Reddington is inexplicably fond of. Someone like Zoe Saldana would have been brilliant casting and added dimension to the mystery of the Keen-Reddington relationship. And perhaps better casting for that part would have inspired the writers to shape her role more credibly and sent the show into the stratosphere. While Megyn Kelly may be a solid actress, she does not yet have the chops to make something of the oddly inconsistent writing for her role. Too late to change this up now.

I'm hardly the only fan who tunes in to enjoy Spader's performance, marveling at how the dreamy young actor with long blonde hair evolved into this very charming, balding older man who can act his *beep* off. I give him an Emmy for just Being There.

Almost through the second season and as far as cop shows go, this one is a great watch so far. Reddington is badass and I like the side hustle he's got going while the FBI is investigating cases. Liz Keen is the worst though. Watch the show and you'll understand why.

Keen and her colleagues seems to fail again and again. They are useless at shootouts and are always surprised when the enemy comes. Why?

If it weren't for Spader I would stop watching. The rest of the characters are great, but suffer at the hands of script writers insistent on perpetuating the horribly contrived Elizabeth character.

As a spy story, the show works. But the mommy issues and daddy issues are tedious to endure.

Yes, the FBI does make deals with criminals. But the constant excuses Elizabeth's "team" make for her violent & illegal behavior are ridiculous & unrealistic. According to their logic, terrorists have "good reasons too" (if we got to know them). - Rubbish.

This used to be one of the most creative unique shows on television and James Spader is quite amazing also :-) but, does whole Keen mission to find out who he really is is really taking the TV show down the tubes. Go back to the original storyline! It was a great show why did you change it?

Reddington and Dembe must have their dialogue written by completely different writers than everyone else on this show. Of the regular cast they are the only two characters that aren't painful to watch and listen to. Spin-off these two actors along with their storyline and dump everything and everyone, including the writers who are scripting this corny cliched drivel. Spader carries this show on his back.

I am getting so tired of her character. She is getting tiring and irritating.

Only watched the series for redington but Elizabeth got so so much on my nerves she's actually the worst and most of the time got me angry by how many times she betrayed red and she thinks she's the smartest which without red she'd actually be a patrol officer at the red lights.Elizabeth keen she should be killed from the show asapppp

Spader is the reason this show makes it. Maybe at some point Boone will learn how to act from Spader. Hard to watch her act . Very one dimensional and flat.

Plot

A new FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen, has her entire life uprooted when a mysterious criminal, Raymond Reddington, who has eluded capture for decades, turns himself in and insists on speaking only to her.

Cast

James Spader gloriously leads and to an extent that even the worst supporting cast could have been saved by him. Supporting we have Megan Boone, Ryan Eggold, Diego Klattenhoff, Hisham Tawfiq, the excellent Harry Lennox and wonders such as Amir Arison and Mozhan Navabi. As you can imagine because of its length you see countless familiar faces in both small and recurring roles.

Verdict

The Blacklist was a recommendation, I'd have likely never watched it if it hadn't have been. I believe I assumed it to be yet another US drama/crime show in a world saturated by them. But The Blacklist isn't, not exactly anyway.

You see the first thing I noticed about the show was just how interesting and engaging our leading man was. Raymond Reddington in a remarkably short period of time became one of my all time favourite characters and I mean that across television, movies and video games. He's just SO enjoyable watch made good of course by James Spader who puts in a simply legendary performance.

The show itself is interesting and certainly has its moments but if it weren't for Spader I genuinely believe it wouldn't have worked, it would have been bland, lifeless and uninspired and though there's some talent in the supporting cast I don't think could have saved it.

I binged it, and I do think it became a chore. With lots of mediocre filler episodes, plots that just didn't grip me and moments that honestly didn't make sense I would have phased out altogether if it hadn't been for Reddington who make whatever the show threw at me watchable.

Did it arguably last too long? Absolutely, undeniably yes! But did I enjoy the journey thanks to "Red"? Certainly.

Sadly after over 10 seasons and 200 episodes people had high hopes for the finale and very few appreciated it including this guy. However though I found it questionable I don't think it killed the show like many claim, it was just a very strange writing decision. And the unanswered questions? Nothing wrong with a bit of ambiguity.

A flawed show certainly, but thanks to the incredible Raymond Reddington it's a journey worth taking.

Rants

Look at the lowest rated episodes, one was deemed an attack on the 2nd amendment and the other an attack on pro-lifers. I mean, they aren't in the slightest but some political stances and subjects cannot be touched upon without being believing themselves under fire. Lighten up, it's a tv show about a billionaire international super spy.

The Good

Raymond Reddington is truly one of the greatest characters put to film Some fantastic supporting cast Many great episodes and storylines

The Bad

A lot of senseless filler episodes Not every story was engaging That animated covid episode!

The killer robot episode, oh dear.

The most frustratingly irritating and annoying character is that of Elizabeth Keen . One wonders why is she so stupid - so erratic- so dramatic - so immature!!!

James spade Raymond is wow ! I like Aram! But Keen, I literally want to fast forward in each episode! She behaves like a dumb bimboo and not an officer of the law ! I wish they made her character more solid !!!

She is a trained profiler - yet she is so dumb !