Photo: Courtesy Of NBC
Warning: Spoiler Alert
Perhaps one of the biggest injustices of this past Summer, was the choice of the people in charge of the nominations for the Emmy Awards, who decided that James Spader’s performance in the NBC series “The Blacklist,” wasn’t worthy of a nomination for best lead actor in a Dramatic Series. The decision was truly laughable, as Spader in the guise of Raymond “Red” Reddington, owned the screen whenever he was on it. Spader got blessed receiving the role of a lifetime and he’s played it perfectly. The first season was one of the few freshman hits of last season and season two may reach new heights over the next few months.
Reddington’s a former United States Intelligent Agent, who went rogue years ago and became a mastermind in the criminal world. Eluding capture and with authorities clueless about his whereabouts, he turned himself in at FBI Headquarters in Washington in the series pilot. He was willing to join forces with the Bureau, giving them information from his Blacklist, some of the most dangerous criminals on the planet. He did however have one condition, he would only work with rookie agent Elizabeth Keen, fresh out of the Academy. When contacted Keen had no knowledge of Reddington but agreed to join the task-force and be the interface with Reddington.
We would find out that there’s a connection between Reddington and Keen, although we don’t know what it is. The show has led us to believe that he’s Keen’s birth-father, but he has denied it twice. We do know however, that Red had a longtime friendship with Lizzie’s adopted father, who was dying of cancer last year. He wanted to tell Lizzie the truth of her existence, but Reddington smothered him with a pillow to keep the information secret.
Lizzie’s seemingly idyllic home-life’s just an illusion as the man she’s married to who she believes is a school teacher named Tom Keen’s actually an agent for a criminal named Berlin. He made Keen fall in love and marry him, so that he could exploit the connection between Lizzie and Red. The agent starts the season blissfully unaware, but events occur throughout the season that reveals who the man she married really is. We thought that Lizzie killed Tom during a physical battle in the season finale, but later found out he survived and escaped.
Berlin’s out to kill Reddington, ostensibly in retaliation for the death of his beloved daughter, but that story maybe concocted. However he most likely will be at least a part of the second season premiere, as Red attempts to elude death and eliminate Berlin as a threat. The first season was a wild and exciting ride and season two promises to bring more of the same.
The Blacklist Premieres Monday September 22, at 10:00pm on NBC.
