As a dedicated gamer and binge-watcher of TV series, I can confidently say that The Blacklist has been one of my favorite shows to follow. However, the way it ended left me with more questions than answers, not just about Reddington’s fate but also about what could have been if Season 8 had been the final season.
The following contains major spoilers for The Blacklist.
It’s been more than a year since the last episodes of “The Blacklist” were initially aired, yet it was just a few months ago that I completed a marathon re-watch of all 10 seasons. Although I’ve previously discussed how the main mystery of “The Blacklist” wasn’t much of a mystery, this doesn’t mean that I didn’t have lingering questions after finishing the series. In fact, I have quite a few, and most of them revolve around alternative ways the show could have concluded, rather than focusing on how it actually ended.
Many viewers found the conclusion of “The Blacklist” unsatisfying, especially regarding Raymond Reddington, a character who appeared to be capable of anything extraordinary. However, it’s not just Red’s ending that seems disappointing; I often ponder how Elizabeth Keen’s story might have unfolded if “The Blacklist” had ended two years earlier.
Season 8 Of The Blacklist Was A Major Endpoint, Even Though The Series Continued
Back in January 2021, The Blacklist was officially given a green light for its ninth season, hot on the heels of its eighth premiering. In essence, this implies that the show’s creator and writing team had a good chunk of Season 8 to prepare for more episodes, most likely wrapping up the final episodes of Season 8 with the knowledge that the series would continue.
Nevertheless, they were aware that the series could continue even without one of its main characters. It was reported that Megan Boone, who portrayed FBI Agent Elizabeth Keene in The Blacklist, had announced her departure before the renewal for Season 8. This implied that the show would have to find a way to proceed without her significant character.
After Boone leaves, the creator of The Blacklist, Jon Bokenkamp, will choose to relinquish his role as showrunner. However, he will continue in an executive producer capacity, but will no longer oversee the series’ daily operations. The narrative that Bokenkamp had been shaping came to a close with Liz’s demise.
Seasons 9 And 10 Of The Blacklist Almost Feel Like A Different Show
Two years after Elizabeth Keene’s untimely death at the end of Season 8, Season 9 begins with Raymond Reddington having vanished. The task force that was formed to apprehend criminals he tipped off no longer exists. The characters we’ve grown attached to are in diverse stages of their lives and have moved forward. They’ve found new paths.
The last two seasons of “The Blacklist” seem to deviate noticeably from the preceding episodes, resembling more a contemporary take on a “legacy sequel.” In the context of movies or TV series, such sequels or new seasons that emerge after several decades tend to acknowledge the lapse of time and proceed from significant events that occurred off-screen. This is exactly what happens in the last two seasons of “The Blacklist.”
As a devoted fan, I find it challenging to assert that the latter seasons of “The Blacklist” don’t live up to the brilliance of its earlier episodes. However, they are still enjoyable in their own right. The sudden leap in time that separates these final two seasons from the first eight seems to suggest that the main storyline might have reached its climax, which is an interesting perspective to consider.
I have a lot of opinions about The Blacklist, but the cynic in me feels like fans were robbed of the real ending of The Blacklist due to the curse of a successful TV show. Few who have a hit series ever want to see it end, and we know that sometimes that need to keep the story going impacts the storytelling. The show feels like it was supposed to end after Season 8, but if it had, would it have ended the same way?
How Would The Blacklist Have Ended If Season 8 Had Been The Last?
Suppose Seasons 9 and 10 of “The Blacklist” never existed, and the series ended after Season 8. Would the creative team have been able to explore new directions without the constraints of continuing the storyline? Could this hypothetical ending have been significantly different from what we actually saw?
It’s hard to imagine that The Blacklist would have concluded in the same way if Liz’s death episode had been its last. Two years later, Red’s anticlimactic ending was somewhat expected, but wrapping up the series without any resolution after such a heartbreaking finale seems less likely than not.
If events hadn’t unfolded as planned, then what would have transpired instead? Would the scheme concocted by Liz and Red have been successfully executed according to their design? Given the circumstances, such a conclusion likely wouldn’t have been joyful, but it would have marked an ending of some sort.
Perhaps The Blacklist Could Have Ended The Way red Wanted It To End
Picture this scenario: Liz takes Red’s life, feeling deeply sorrowful about it. Yet, Red appears calm and tranquil. In the closing sequence, Dembe hands over a letter that Red had pledged to Liz, which contains an astonishing revelation – something we as viewers are already aware of: Red was not actually Liz’s father but her mother, disguised as the crime world’s concierge, all in an effort to ensure the safety of their family.
In her demise, she accomplished her mission. Now, Liz stands at the helm of Raymond Redington’s criminal empire, a feat many others had attempted but ultimately failed. From this powerful position, Liz is virtually immune to retaliation from the criminal underworld, ensuring both her and her daughter’s safety.
One scenario is that Season 8 might have taken a completely different turn if it was intended to be the final season from the start. In this hypothetical situation, each episode would have played out differently than what we saw on screen.
In an alternate scenario, Season 10 might have unfolded somewhat similarly, with Red using the task force to strategically destroy his empire so no one else can claim it, while ensuring the safety of those who’ve stood by him over the years. However, in this version, Liz would have been there alongside him, leaving their past behind. This hypothetical turn of events might have given us a more joyful resolution for the family. It’s highly improbable, but that’s the charm of contemplating such possibilities. If circumstances had been different, anything could have transpired.
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2024-08-27 05:37