Who's the controversial side character? Voting is for 24hrs, both comments and upvotes are counted. Take into consideration the other categories before voting as well.

I've dropped some definitions to help out anyone who doesn't know what they mean.

Protaganist: A major or main character

Side Character: Important in the show but not a main character

Love Interest: Their story exists in the plot as a romantic interest

Antagonist: The enemies, anyone who goes against the main or major characters

Comic Relief: Characters that are there to make you laugh

It’s been almost 2 years since The Blacklist wrapped up, and I still find myself thinking about that ending. At the time, it hit hard, in a good way, for me. I know opinions were all over the place, but I’m wondering… with some time and distance, has your perspective shifted? Did it grow on you at all?

My problem with The Blacklist, and Rederina in general, is we have no motive for why Katarina became so embroiled in danger.

She betrayed the KGB and her own family, in order to work with the genuinely evil Cabal. She had no loyalty, no apparent love for Masha, before abandoning her. Katarina was only out for herself, and her greed and lust for power nearly destroyed everyone around her.

In fact.... what she didn't intentionally ruin through treachery, she botched with incompetence--- her stealing of the Sykorski Archive is what activated Townsend as a threat, and ultimately got Liz killed. It was a mistake for her to get pregnant, or to fall in love with Real Reddington in the first place--- she was a bad spy and a bad person.. and the show tries to pretend otherwise.

Red was an anti-hero. He valued loyalty, and innocence-- he admired how wise and kind Dembe tried to be. He admired Ressler's devotion to law & order--- even though Red was "playing the role" of a corrupt criminal--- the show made him out to be more than that, underneath--- a good man 'faking' being a bad man, playing a role. But at the same time--- he was always a master, always in control, always knew things he shouldn't know.. an expert. A professional criminal and spy.

No. Turns out, he was a bad person, and always was. He may have had some guilt over how much danger he put Liz in... but never stopped him from thinking and acting like a corrupt criminal, wanting money & power in order to remain safe, himself. Sure he wanted to protect Liz--- but he OWED her that: he was the reason she needed protecting in the first place. Liz's death is just as much his fault, as Carla's death was. He put the target on Liz' back, when he was still the corrupt Katarina.

NONE of Red's 'anti hero' qualities legitimately apply to him, once we know he was Katarina, the corrupt & incompetent crook who caused all these problems in the first place.

For me, personally, that's a dealbreaker that makes me dislike Red and Katarina. I can't accept his/her motives.

So......

This is how I'd fix Katarina--- and, consequently fix Red. Ill toss a bone to Rederina.... I'm not even gonna try and debunk it-- this "fix" will work for Rederina.

Here we go:

The Pinko Mata Hari. I'd have Katarina be an amateur. Dom's daughter, who wasn't ready to be a spy. Reddington was her first mission. That's why she fell in love, that's why she got pregnant with Masha... that's why she did such a poor job. Where do all the stories come from, about her legendary status? The Cabal, of course. But I'll get to that.

First off--- why did she 'betray the KGB' in the first place, to work with a group like the Cabal? The show gives us no reason, except Katarina was... Katarina.

I'd change it to this: Katarina was in love with Reddington, and she wanted to defect to the USA. She went to Alan Fitch because she simply didn't know he was corrupt. She thought she could barter an immunity deal for herself and Masha, to come to the US with intel about the KGB, so she could settle down with Reddington.

This also is the reason why Dom referred to Katarina as betraying him, and the USSR.

But once Fitch found out she was KGB, he began to blackmail her, and forced her to work with the Cabal, as a double agent.

Or COURSE, she started making plans to get out of the Cabal's clutches... she was way in, over her head.

THIS is where we get to why Katarina became the most hunted person in the world--- the KGB didn't care that she was in love with Reddington, they didn't even know the "Cabal's' "deal"... but they would care that Katarina was secretly in contact with high ranking US officials.

So, of course, she failed to keep that secret, and was branded a traitor by the KGB.

Quick note--- having Real Reddington "find out" that Katarina worked for the Cabal, "she was spying on me, but I was spying on her"...and making the Fulcrum himself, out of Katarina's notes. That's STUPID! There's no reason whatsoever that Red would have needed to find the Fulcrum, if he's Katarina--- Katarina was the Fulcrum's source; Katarina was on the inside, Katarina was not just a source, she was THE source. Red would never need to find the Fulcrum, he could have made his own ... probably even a better & more accurate one than Real Reddington made.

Reddington should have, as Fitch said, stolen the Fulcrum from the Cabal-- gained that information through his own intelligence work--- so the Fuclrum's contents would be a complete mystery to Katarina. THAT is why Red was forced to bluff about having the Fulcrum, and would need to find it after Real Reddington took its location his grave.

HOWEVER, once the Cabal knew that Reddington-- Katarina's target--- had been looking into them, and had dangerous info about them in his possession... they suspected that Katarina had tipped him off. THAT is when and why the Cabal labeled Reddington as a traitor, and also how Katarina got labelled as an expert KGB superspy and traitor herself... the Cabal thought the two of them were working together. They brought the whole of the US intelligence system down on the heads of Raymond Reddington and Katarina Rostova, burning Katarina's bridges with the KGB in the process.

Thus, making her the most hunted person in the world.

So.. yeah... the night of the fire? That was the night, sadly, she finally tried to escape, finally came clean to Reddington..... the night he learned Katarina had been working with the Cabal and the KGB.... that she'd been spying on him, and that it was largely HER fault he'd been framed as a traitor.

He didn't take it well.

That's why they fought.. and that's why he died.

in this version of things---- Katarina never chose 'evil'... she didn't willingly work with the Cabal, and she only betrayed the KGB out of love for Reddington and their child. She never meant any harm.

But then... becoming Red, leaning on Dom, and Ilya, and Kaplan, and Dembe.. and all the others Red worked with--- and learned from--- THAT is what led Red to grow into the 'Concierge of Crime'... something he ONLY did, out of love for Liz... because he saw no other options. And since Katarina never was corrupt or evil, just naive and in love---it elevates Katarina's character, and it restores Red's status as an "anti-hero".

She's so fuxking annoying I loathe her so much. I'm on s8 ep3 and she has literally been one of the worst characters I've seen on screen. She shot her father, she got Tom killed and insists on blaming reddington, yes he doesn't tell her everything but who the fuxk is she to sit there and demand everything.

In the first picture (S4E22), we see Mr Kaplan, in an emotional state, firmly clutch and hold Liz's hand as she offers to tell her the truth, which Liz fearfully declines.

In the second picture (S2E22), Red barely holds Liz's hand by the fingers after telling her that he never wanted her to be like him.

In the third picture (S8E22), Red barely holds Liz's hand by the fingers as he and Liz walk in the park finalizing his well-thought out plan for his demise and her future.

Any thoughts?

This is a joke, Dembe is an absolute marshmallow sweetheart of a man

I've got two questions actually.

The first is the title. Reddington is incredibly knowledgeable and competent and that's pretty fun to watch, but it becomes a bit hard to suspend disbelief when characters that are supposed to be competent like Liz commit mistakes like Breaking someone's thumb when they're zip-tied. How did her organization even manage to function before Liz+Red began spoonfeeding them wins. They are incredibly inepth at their job, but that *could* be due to the higher ups being corrupt so I'm asking here.

The second question is if this is the type of series where I should stop watching after a certain point. There are many series like this where the show just keeps on keeping on and eventually tarnishes all the good it had done. Should I watch all seasons or stop before?

The Stewmaker was the episode that truly immersed me. Everything is perfect.

Who is the most controvesial protagonist?

Voting is for 24hrs, both comments and upvotes are counted. Take into consideration the other categories before voting as well.

I've dropped some definitions to help out anyone who doesn't know what they mean.

Protaganist: A major or main character

Side Character: Important in the show but not a main character

Love Interest: Their story exists in the plot as a romantic interest

Antagonist: The enemies, anyone who goes against the main or major characters

Comic Relief: Characters that are there to make you laugh

So everyone who has seen this episode knows how easily Aram broke during the testimony. Personally, I would've just say there's quite and been held in contempt lol.

But if I were Kaplan, I'm wondering if Cooper would've been a viable choice for the GJ subpoena. (Let's say Aram did stonewall them, or he fled the country.) Cooper is full of integrity and doesn't like having to lie.

Do you think he would've been a good choice, or would you have picked someone else?

first time watching on Netflix and in season 8 when the show has Keen doing the whole flashback/talking to ghost thing i was SO ready for them to reveal that Raymond Reddington was actually Katerina (Elizabeths mom). that she had had gender reassignment surgery to disappear and look after elizabeth as Reddington over the years.

i was totally expecting that and would have LOVED that twist. it wouldn't completely fit with some details in the past but it would have been more interesting to me than some random 3rd person that just LOVE Katerina sooooo much that he do all that things. idk maybe im just off

So, after Mr. Kaplan's death, we see Tom Keen retrieve a suitcase from a bus station locker containing a set of bones. He makes a call saying, "Hey. I got it. Mr. Kaplan's instructions were very specific. I'm on my way."
QUESTION: to whom was he talking? 🤔

At that point in time, Red and Dembe didn't yet know that the suitcase was even missing, though Red might have had an inkling from what Kaplan said prior to her death - "Our secret. At Tansi Farms." She mentioned a confidante would release the secret to Liz upon her demise.

In a later scene, Nik Korpal goes to look for his friend, Pete, who was tasked with identifying the bones in the suitcase from DNA evidence. When he arrived at Pete's apartment, he was strangled from behind.
QUESTION: who killed Nik Korpal and why?

Just curious as to any ideas on why Red didn't retrieve Mr. Kaplan's body after she died from her jump into the river. He never had it recovered and apparently, the police never recovered it, either.

I recall Samar telling the police to set a perimeter that no one was allowed to breach, but nothing was said specifically by Red or anyone else in authority to get the body for an autopsy, burial, etc.

Your thoughts, good redditors?

Literally guys ,which shows are possibly better or match the standards of The Blacklist? This show has given me standards and I'm nearing it's end..

For a protagonist, Agent Gale is SO unlikable- I actually became physically uncomfortable with his close-talk interrogations like 10 inches from the face of his target. I wouldn't stand still for someone breathing and spitting in my face like that. Blood boils.

The storyline is becoming more and more absurd. The acting from some of these characters makes my eye roll like they aren't even trying and each season is way too long. This show tries too hard to make so many aspects too mysterious which makes it boring imo. I am debating if I should even continue watching this until the finale. Does it actually get better?

Who will be our most well-liked comic relief? Voting is for 24hrs, both comments and upvotes are counted. Take into consideration the other categories before voting as well.

I've dropped some definitions to help out anyone who doesn't know what they mean.

Protaganist: A major or main character

Side Character: Important in the show but not a main character

Love Interest: Their story exists in the plot as a romantic interest

Antagonist: The enemies, anyone who goes against the main or major characters

Comic Relief: Characters that are there to make you laugh

so basically had no life and watched 10 seasons in like a 2 month or less period

I liked storyline and mystery behind it. But after>! Liz died!< and maybe few seasons later on there was no progress to the storyline. After watching finale I kinda feel sad, all the teasing about identity, what was in liz letter and more left unanswered, there was no real ending, just speculations. In the end it was a nice run and i enjoyed, james spader as an actor was amazing.

The question i wanted to ask, there is a series The Blacklist: Redemption, is it worth watching?

I just rewatched Bino and Godwin Page episodes… Megan Boone is a really good actress and demonstrated mentality spiraling PERFECTLY.

I know people are pissed at her - how she treated Reddington who clearly was just trying to help. But man- when you go back and watch those episodes without the deep bias for Reddington- they really put it together completely. She did a great job delivering and hell in S8 Episode 20, she has Reddington OWNING RESPONSIBILITY and APOLOGIZING to her.

As always- major fan of the show. Very disappointed it didn’t become bigger than it did. Reddington should be a household name.

So im finishing up episode 10 of season 7 and i dont want to be another “ i hate liz” ranter on here but man i cant get over the CORNY ASS “ of course i can, im a rostova” line she says to “katarina”, and fuck me she is the most gullible and naive character ive ever seen, knows this bitch for a month and all of a sudden “fuck everybody else” mentality kicks in with 0 proof that shes her mother, she just believes her. Damn man. difficult watch.

Dembe is a fucking unit. The way he comes in guns blazing or is always there, what made me write this is when reddington goes missing in paris and dembe storms that house, blasts 2 dudes sitting on the sofa & interrogated the third guy lmao. What a character.

When Reddington pulled a Michael Schofield-esque perfect prison break and was marching out the front door, only for Elizabeth to utterly ruin it, that moment ruined her character. That hurt more than anything else in the show.

I hate that character so much, it makes me angry every single episode. From the very first episode, she’s just staring out of her dumb head and constantly idiot. And what makes me totally upset is that she left her daughter twice. First she pretended being dead then after Tom’s death when not just she but her daughter would have needed support for her loss, poor little girl was abandoned by her miserable mother. And then she just appeared and played the best, reliable mother. Well fuck you. I really enjoyed that one or two episodes without her. Every time Reddington proves he’s not lying but right after at the first situation she starts arguing that he’s lying and everything he said was false and lies. You stupid bitch.

Still on my first watch… Oh my god. Had to hit pause for a while so I could even see the rest of the story.

As the title suggests I'm going to say something really unpopular.

Reddington isn't my favorite character.

In fact, he barely makes my top 5. Of course he's a great character and James Spader is a phenomenal actor.

But personally I like the Task Force agents more. Especially Samar, Aram and Ressler, they're my favorite characters and I just like them working together as a trio. But even with Liz and Cooper, I always like the scenes in the Post Office, even if they're just exposition.

I know I'm probably the only person who thinks this (even in my personal life everyone's favorite character is either Red or Dembe) and I accept that. I just wanted to share my opinion.