Is The Blacklist Worth Watching? (10 Reasons It Is)

 

The Blacklist is an American crime thriller series that originally aired on NBC and is now available on Netflix in several countries.

The series follows Raymond Reddington, played by James Spader, as he gives up his life of crime in exchange for helping the FBI catch wanted criminals.

Each season has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and it was just renewed for its tenth season in February 2022.

Now is the perfect time to start The Blacklist.

If you binge it, you might even be able to catch up with your peers and be able to watch it live on NBC.

There are several reasons to watch The Blacklist including the talented actors, global fandom, and intelligent mix of crime and drama.

 

Is The Blacklist Worth Watching? (10 Reasons It Is)

 

1. James Spader’s Character

 

James Spader is a gifted actor, and he has the ability to completely inhabit each role in which he is cast.

As Reddington on the show, he has eclectic behavior that can land him into a host of troubles, but it actually ends up doing more good than bad.

Spader is a dynamic actor who puts his all into every role.

It is entertaining to watch him completely transform into Reddington and it is, quite honestly, the performance of a lifetime.

In the pilot episode, Raymond Reddington turns himself in to the FBI after being a fugitive on the run from the law for over 20 years.

What might be the end of the first part of his story is just the start of part two.

Reddington enters a whole new world of law enforcement where he can use his criminal expertise to help enforce justice rather than run from it.

Of course, viewers are still left wondering what happened before Reddington turned himself in.

Why did he turn himself in?

The show starts brilliantly by posing these questions at the outset, encouraging people to become invested and keep their eyes glued to the screen, in the hopes that the answers will eventually come out.

 

2. It’s A Global Favorite

 

The first season of The Blacklist saw more than 14 million viewers.

Not only was it loved in the United States, but it has viewers all over the world.

It is available on Netflix in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

It also is available to viewers in Australia, Latin America, Finland, India, Israel, Pakistan, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Sweden, The Netherlands, Russia, Norway, and Poland.

Part of the show’s massive appeal is the many awards it has won.

So far, it has received an Emmy and an ASCAP Film and Television Award, but it has been nominated for many more.

Its long list of nominations includes the Golden Globes, People’s Choice Awards, Entertainment Weekly Season Finale Awards, Saturn Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and more.

People all over the world pay attention to these awards shows and watch series depending on what wins.

For people who are interested in the plot but not in watching it on television, the storyline is also available as a comic book or game.

Rumor has it there is also a spin-off in the making.

Viewers can watch in several languages.

If you enjoy traveling and finding common ground with people from all over the world, this show is a perfect conversation starter.

 

3. Unlikely Partnerships

 

The main unexpected partnership is the one between Reddington and the FBI.

Reddington, as a former fugitive of the law, is an enemy of the FBI.

In turn, the FBI is an enemy of his.

In the past twenty years, Reddington has compiled a list of criminals called “The Blacklist”—people who have committed the most heinous of crimes.

The FBI doesn’t even know that some of these criminals exist.

Reddington agrees to help the FBI catch these people under one condition: that he speaks only to Elizabeth Keen.

The friendship between Reddington and Keen is another unexpected yet intriguing one.

When they first start working together, the audience doesn’t know why Reddington will only speak to her.

She is a rookie FBI profiler who was just starting at Quantico the very day Reddington is brought in for questioning.

We get to see how Keen and Reddington’s unlikely friendship plays out onscreen.

While working together, they form an unlikely bond that exhibits their vulnerability, trust, and personal and professional growth.

 

4. Good Mix Of Crime And Drama

 

The Blacklist is about a former U.S. Naval Intelligence officer who later became one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives until he surrenders himself to the FBI Assistant Director Harold Cooper and J. Edgar Hoover in Washington D.C.

At first, viewers question Reddington and wonder why someone who has been successfully on the run for so long would turn himself in.

Then we see that he has a greater plan in mind.

He can offer intelligence about his blacklist in exchange for the FBI’s ability to track down and arrest wanted fugitives whom they have been unable to catch for several years.

For anyone who loves crime or true crime, this show has no shortage of it.

You get to see all kinds of crime—from kidnapping to violence to money laundering—and all of the intelligence that goes into tracking down criminal masterminds who have successfully evaded the law for so long.

On top of the crime the show offers, there is a linear storyline that continues throughout the show.

Reddington’s character builds relationships with FBI officers while the supporting characters also build relationships with each other.

These partnerships evolve over time as viewers predict what will happen next and eagerly await new conflicts or resolutions.

 

5. The Bad Guys

 

As much as we want to think we watch shows for the good guys, a lot of times we are also watching for the bad guys.

On The Blacklist, the bad guys are that entertaining.

We might be better off as a society if we weren’t so interested in crime, but for some reason, we are.

Each criminal is interesting.

They have unique backstories that led them to their unique situations.

Even the crimes they commit are interesting in their own way.

The Blacklist is the first show to lean into the fictional world of crime, harping on the elements of illegality that people find most intriguing.

In season one alone, there were a series of incredible villains played by Justin Kirk, David Zayas, Robert Sean Leonard, Alan Alda, and Isabella Rossellini.

 

6. The Duality Of Good And Bad

 

Reddington walks a fine line between good and bad.

He is a character with a whole resumé of crimes that could lock him in jail for life.

The FBI learns to wield Reddington’s abilities for good.

As viewers watch the show, they may see his apathy, but beneath all of that is a softness and kindness they didn’t see when the show started.

To make matters even more complicated, audiences are given the chance to see why Reddington did the things he did in the past.

It creates a pretty sympathetic case as to why some people live their lives outside of the law.

 

7. The Twists

 

As you might expect from a crime drama, there is a plot with lots of twists.

The Blacklist is far from predictable.

It always keeps emotions and tensions running high.

You never know what side people are really on, which keeps curious and anxious viewers glued to the screen, always ready to click “play next episode.”

There are so many moving parts on The Blacklist, and it can be hard to keep track of who is allied with who.

Before you know it, the rug could be swept out from under you and one of the good guys can turn bad or vice versa.

It seems like everyone on the show has an ulterior motive.

There’s the Assistant Director, the tech guy, and the CIA field agent who all seem like normal guys just trying to do their jobs until their other intentions are revealed.

On top of the twists, there are always secondary storylines that are intelligently woven into the primary storyline.

It is done craftily so as never to be too complicated, but just enough to keep every viewer invested in something, even if the primary storyline doesn’t always hold their attention.

 

8. The Supporting Characters

 

As much as Spader makes the show, it also wouldn’t be the same without the supporting characters.

 

Tom Keen

Elizabeth Keen’s husband, Tom Keen, played by Ryan Eggold, seems to be hiding something that Reddington intends to expose.

 

Meera Malik

Then there’s Meera Malik, played by Parminder Nagra, a former CIA agent who is inducted into the FBI as part of Reddington’s immunity agreement.

 

Harold Cooper

The FBI director, Harold Cooper, is played by Harry Lennix, who is the ideal image of morality, responsibility, and integrity as he forms bonds with other agents and exhibits his character throughout the show.

Cooper also is somewhat of a father figure for Liz, as the caring and compassionate yet strong leader.

 

Donald Ressler

FBI agent Donald Ressler, played by Diego Klattenhoff, is the classic law-abiding citizen and agent who seems like a simple rule follower but actually has a complex narrative that adds layers to his story.

Ressler is a bit difficult to like at the beginning due to his strict attitude and sometimes overbearing behavior towards the other agents.

As we learn more about him, it’s easy to feel sympathetic for him and understand why he behaves this way.

 

Dembe Zumba

Dembe Zumba, played by Hisham Tawfiq, is one of Reddington’s confidantes and associates.

The relationship between Zumba and Reddington lets viewers see the more human side of Reddington as he maintains a loyal friendship.

He has admirable efforts to help Liz as part of his backstory, which makes him interesting and likable.

Still, he is a bit of a wildcard, which keeps things interesting.

 

Samar Navabi

Samar Navabi, played by Mozhan Marno, is a strong female FBI agent with a long list of experiences.

At the beginning of the show, it’s easy to dislike her because she has a seemingly bitter attitude towards the other agents for no apparent reason.

As the show goes on, viewers’ opinions of her start to change as they learn more about her.

 

Aram Majitobi

Last but not least is FBI analyst Aram Mojitabi, played by Amir Arison.

Aram is intelligent—maybe even slightly nerdy—and quite funny and charming.

He is presented as a bit of a dork at the beginning of the show, but audiences get to see a different side of him as the show develops.

We see how he behaves under pressure, especially during the story arc when Liz was on the run, and Aram wanted to help and defend her.

Each supporting character brings unique and vital characteristics to the show that make it special.

They give The Blacklist depth and meaning.

No one is left one-dimensional as writers and producers are aware that viewers are curious about the backstories of everyone in the show.

No character is left undeveloped.

Viewers learn to either hate or love everyone in the show, but no character is left with a lukewarm fanbase after their stories are presented.

 

9. Powerful Female Roles

 

The Blacklist makes a statement in the pilot episode by placing Elizabeth Keen at the forefront of the drama.

She is given a leading role and plays an important part in the unfolding of the plot.

Perhaps the most notable female role is Elizabeth Keen played by Megan Boone.

In the show, Keen was born as Masha Rostova and is a special agent and FBI profiler on Harold Cooper’s team.

In the pilot episode, we see her as a rookie agent who is just learning the ropes.

For some reason, she is the only agent that Reddington is willing to work with.

Viewers watch as she forms a partnership with Reddington and they work together to solve puzzles and locate the whereabouts of various criminals.

She starts as a beginner who is less than confident in her skills, but we get to see as she evolves into a gifted agent who finds some of the most wanted people in the country.

Another powerful female character is Meera Malik, a CIA field agent who works with Cooper’s FBI team.

She often takes the reins when the teams collaborate.

Viewers watch as Malik shares ideas with her team that often steer them in the right direction.

There’s also Alina Park, played by Laura Sohn, who is an FBI field agent whose previous experience includes working at Anchorage.

She is a successful agent who demands respect and attention every time she is on screen.

Even though the main character of The Blacklist is a man, feminists should not be dissuaded.

There are plenty of powerful female characters who continuously prove their intelligence and wit.

 

10. The Plot

 

While many shows are either plot-driven or character-driven, The Blacklist excels at being both.

It is not common for a series to do well at this, and it’s one of the reasons The Blacklist is one of the best shows on television.

There is, of course, the primary storyline, which centers on Reddington and his collaboration with the FBI to take out The Blacklist.

In addition to that, though, are the numerous other storylines that are intricately yet effortlessly woven into the plot.

There are a lot of shifting parts at any given moment, but it’s never too much to keep track of, so viewers never feel exasperated or overwhelmed with the show.

The storytelling methods are ever-changing, and through it all, the show tells a story with messages much bigger than what the characters themselves can explain.

It shows us how the people around us may appear two-dimensional, but there are reasons for their behavior and everyone has a unique story that makes them who they are.

Almost anyone can be liked if we just give them a chance to share their narrative.

The Blacklist shows us that life is never black or white—you can be a bad person who does good things or a good person who does bad things.

It adds layers of complexity and moral ambiguity that keep audiences coming back for more.

It also shows us some of the nuances of the legal system—how some people are pushed to commit crimes out of a need to make a better life for their families even if it means sacrificing their personal freedoms.

Where other crime shows are simply about catching the bad guy, The Blacklist challenges this bad guy trope by adding nuance to each character and plot point.

 

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a series that is as complicated as it is enthralling and nuanced, then The Blacklist is for you.

With several seasons on Netflix, it is the perfect binge-able show that will keep you coming back for more.

There are nuanced characters, strong female roles, complicated plot points, and incredible acting and storytelling.

James Spader excels as the anti-hero, and the entire ensemble of supporting characters presents a unique dynamic to an already-complex narrative.