The Blacklist was an incredible crime TV show, but it almost ruined its legacy with its most controversial death. There are many engaging figures in The Blacklist‘s cast, but the two most important characters are James Spader’s Raymond “Red” Reddington, a mastermind criminal working for the FBI, and Megan Boone’s Elizabeth “Liz” Keen, a profiler who keeps a close eye on him.
The Blacklist is one of the best crime shows of all time, but it nearly destroyed its reputation with certain story decisions. Unfortunately, this also means that not every season of The Blacklist is held in high regard by audiences.
The relationship between Red and Liz is an integral part of The Blacklist‘s narrative, but sadly, Boone’s departure from the show threw a spanner in the works. There are several shocking deaths throughout The Blacklist, but none were as controversial as Elizabeth Keen.
Liz’s Death In The Blacklist Season 8 Only Made The Show’s Problems Worse
Killing Off Liz Also Killed Some Of The Blacklist’s Major Story Arcs
Unfortunately, the show was already on a downward trajectory before Megan Boone left The Blacklist. In the season 8 finale, “Konets,” Liz is shot by one of Townsend’s (Reg Rogers) associates just after Reddington asks her to kill him, as he is terminally ill. It was shocking to see Red cradling Liz’s body, and something audiences remembered forever.
Boone’s departure from the show was planned in advance, so The Blacklist had plenty of time to craft the perfect exit for her character.
Although Liz was far from a fan favorite, she was a crucial figure in the show. Killing Liz off meant that her seemingly never-ending search for Red’s real identity wouldn’t get a satisfying conclusion, and it had already been dragged out by this point. There were also several other arcs that, when they were wrapped up, could’ve benefited from Liz’s presence.
The Blacklist’s Raymond Reddington Twist Never Had A Satisfying Payoff
Liz Never Knew Who The Bones Belonged To
One of the most irritating things about Liz’s death was that the twist in The Blacklist‘s season 5 finale never got a good conclusion. Who those mysterious bones belonged to was a great subplot, and it resulted in several deaths, including that of Liz’s husband. Liz never found out they belonged to the real Red Reddington, annoyingly.
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This also meant that when Liz died, she was unaware of just why Red cared about her. The bones twist heavily implied that Liz would finally discover the truth, but The Blacklist didn’t resolve this whatsoever, which was a huge disappointment for such an important character in the overarching story.
The Blacklist Should Have Handled Megan Boone’s Exit Better
Liz’s Early Demise Made The Conclusion Of Certain Storylines Rather Anticlimactic
Audiences have frequently voiced that the show could’ve written a better departure storyline for Boone. “Konets” is widely considered one of The Blacklist‘s worst episodes, and it fundamentally changed the show’s story, and not for the better. The show was motivated by Reddington and Liz’s complex connection, so it felt strange for The Blacklist to continue without her.
The mystery surrounding Red’s true identity was seemingly abandoned in seasons 9 and 10,
The mystery surrounding Red’s true identity was seemingly abandoned in seasons 9 and 10, and instead, the story refocused on who was the real mastermind behind Liz’s demise. It is frustrating and rather jarring, especially because of the time jump.
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Red’s hunt for the person responsible for killing Liz is somewhat interesting, but it would’ve been more impactful if the show had been setting up Boone’s unexpected return, perhaps revealing she was actually alive, or even just as a vision. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t as endearing as the story The Blacklist spent 8 seasons setting up.
The Blacklist
7/10
- Release Date
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2013 – 2023
- Showrunner
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Jon Bokenkamp
- Directors
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Andrew McCarthy, Michael W. Watkins, Bill Roe, John Terlesky, Donald E. Thorin Jr., Christine Moore, Kurt Kuenne, Terrence O’Hara, Adam Weisinger, Mahesh Pailoor, Karen Gaviola, Stephanie A. Marquardt, Steven A. Adelson, Daniel Willis, Matthew McLoota, Bethany Rooney, Joe Carnahan, Paul A. Edwards, Alex Zakrzewski, David Platt, Jean de Segonzac, Jono Oliver, Michael Zinberg, Paul Holahan
- Writers
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Jonathan Shapiro, Kelli Johnson, Brandon Margolis, Daniel Knauf, Dawn DeNoon, Aiah Samba, Dave Metzger, Justine Neubarth, Dave Thomas, Kim Newton, Vincent Angell, David Merritt II, Chap Taylor, Daniel Voll, Elizabeth Benjamin, John Zinman, Wendy West, Anthony Sparks, Jim Campolongo, Kristen Reidel
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Diego Klattenhoff
Donald Ressler
