The Blacklist (2013 -)

So I needed a new show, and this one ticked a few boxes. Recommended by my dad, I’ve never heard of it before, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen any advertising or heard of anyone else that’s watching this. But I gave it a shot anyway, and I’m glad I did. I was hooked from the very beginning, obsessed with my new show, those that know me know I get into TV shows and watch them non-stop. So let the binge-watch begin, this one’s a good’un.

Ok, first off: this is a programme for older ages. There are gory scenes, thrilling ones and crime mysteries. Also, there could be considered some scarier scenes, especially for younger ages. You do need to pay attention, all things mentioned add to the mystery. It’s not the easiest watch ever.

‘The Blacklist’ is another FBI show, but don’t be so quick to presume it’s like the others. Because this one has a major difference. The first ten minutes of the first episode: one of the most wanted fugitives hand himself in to the FBI. Introducing Raymond Reddington (James Spader), a criminal who has managed to escape FBI custody for twenty years, but suddenly he hands himself in, and he’s got demands. Reddington has a blacklist, as he calls it, a list of criminals who he claims aren’t even on FBI radar, and he is willing to hand them over. But there’s one clause, he only will speak to one Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), an agent new on the job. Although, no one knows why she was chosen, neither does she. Agent Keen is brought in, and this is when her life changes. A new task force is created, one where Reddington hands over the criminals to the FBI in complete secrecy. This is where solving crime mysteries become exciting in thrilling action.

Reddington is a great character. He brings in unreliability and unpredictability into the show. As he says he will never tell the full truth, and you spend the episodes never knowing why he handed himself in. He constantly holds the shock-factor as you never know what he’s thinking or what he’s going to do next. Elizabeth Keen is another great character, as she’s confused by this fugitive’s connection to her, but also lost in her own unknown past which he knows something about. She becomes more and more drawn in, but with constant hatred of his criminal ways. Then there’s the trusting leader of the task force, Harold Cooper (Harry Lennix) and Keen’s new partner, Agent Donald Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) who’s a stickler for the rules down to a T. Finally, we cannot forget a great tech guy, Aram (Amir Arison). Of course there are other characters, and they are all fantastic, all add something to the programme.

‘The Blacklist’ is a very addictive show. There are minor and major story arcs throughout the series; each new episode brings in a new criminal to hunt and a new mystery to solve (not always solve). If you’re a fan of these shows, I would definitely recommend this one, it’s got all the FBI qualities with a criminal mastermind at the centre.