Blacklist

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.

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.

I really enjoyed this show until they turned Keen into some kind of a goddess. It's all about Keen - Keen this or Keen that or it's about her daughter, her mother, herself - her, her, her. Even some female friends of mine are getting sick of her. As an FBI agent (heaven help them if they ever hired her in real life!!) she is terrible! If she goes in alone she somehow always gets taken out. She always has tears in her eyes (like I care??) She disobeys orders, puts other lives in jeopardy, and Boone can't act (anybody can shout, "FBI, stand down".) She looks lost ordazed.

When she left at the end of Season 3, I thought "thank God".

Now ... I like Reddington. The show is about him and the people he wants to bring down. If you want to focus on Keen, changed the name of the series to, "The Making of a Goddess".

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

This show has one thing going for it - Spader. Regrettably the producers focus too much on an uninteresting and annoying character. I dream of a new show concentrating on the time before the pesty and unlikable character of Elisabeth was introduced or at least only show here when she is talking to Redington. Nevertheless - Spader and his companions makes this show bingeworthy.