The Blacklist WebSeries checks off its final name with an overdue series finale
“The Blacklist” lingered in Hollywood for two lackluster seasons beyond Megan Boone’s departure as Liz Keen in 2021, uncertain of when to call it quits. Nonetheless, the show managed to provide viewers with a rather definitive ending, concluding with a two-part series finale bidding farewell to James Spader’s enigmatic criminal mastermind, Raymond “Red” Reddington.
Amid another gripping cat-and-mouse game with Reddington, this time involving the FBI task force that he had supplied with names over the years, the finale witnessed him eliminating an annoying congressman who relentlessly pursued him, sacrificing his chance to escape to save the life of his longtime friend and associate, Dembe.
Dembe’s reflection painted the coda, describing Reddington as “at peace with death,” accompanied by Bob Dylan’s haunting rendition of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” from the film “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” which recounted the death of a legendary outlaw.
This foreshadowing led to Reddington’s serene yet peculiar demise at the horns of a bull in Spain, accepting his fate even as his longtime FBI contact Donald Ressler was closing in on him.
The producers added a touch of flair by incorporating a Spanish-language version of “My Way,” solidifying the impression that Reddington had departed as he lived – on his own terms, right down to his unconventional choice of executioner.
All things considered, it was a reasonably fitting exit for a show that had long lost the brilliance of its heyday. Back then, its swift success on NBC triggered a wave of “Blacklist” imitations, none of which could match its enduring appeal.
Much of that allure can be attributed to Spader’s captivating performance, particularly in the early seasons, where he infused the show with an aura of mystery surrounding his fascination with Agent Keen and the ruthless world of espionage he navigated.
Though the fate of the task force remained somewhat ambiguous, it seemed secondary. With Reddington’s departure, “The Blacklist” finally marked off the name that truly mattered. Despite its utility to NBC, the show should have allowed Reddington to rest in peace years ago.
