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Summary
-
The Blacklist
excelled by focusing on the complex relationship between Red and Elizabeth, not just the villains. - Memorable villains like Dr. Linus Creel and Milton Bobbit elevated single episodes into standout moments.
- The best episodes, like “The Djinn” and “The Director: Conclusion,” expertly intertwined procedural plots with overarching narratives.
The Blacklist might have been a procedural crime drama, but it was much more than that, and the best episodes prove what a stellar piece of television it is. The series stars James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington, a Naval Intelligence officer turned criminal mastermind who works with the FBI to keep him out of prison in exchange for helping them catch the world’s most notorious criminals. Alongside him is the FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen, played by Megan Boone, who has a hidden connection to Red that is the major question on the audience’s lips until the end.
Running from 2013 to 2023 for a total of ten seasons, The Blacklist is one of the best modern procedural TV shows, and though its ratings dipped in the later seasons, it maintained a dedication to quality of content. Many critically lauded and beloved episodes involve dramatic twists and the series’ best villains. However, those aspects aren’t necessarily what makes a memorable storyline. At its core, The Blacklist thrived when delving into the relationship between Red and Elizabeth, and when it focused on the interpersonal aspects of the series as much as the dangerous criminals.
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15 Dr. Linus Creel
Season 2, Episode 4
Many of the best episodes of The Blacklist are defined by their villains, and this is definitely the case with season 2’s “Dr Linus Creel”. The episode introduces viewers to the sinister psychologist Linus Creel, from whom it gets its title, and his incredibly dangerous experiments. Creel had previously worked on a secret DIA project researching the “Warrior Gene”. Years later, he is still continuing his research on his own terms, using his position as a professional therapist to manipulate his patients into committing violent acts and, in some cases, even murder.
The premise is intriguing enough in its own right, but it’s the performance of David Costabile as Creel that truly makes this single-appearance villain, and the episode of The Blacklist focusing on him, truly stand out. Of course, the procedural plot is also buoyed by the unfurling overarching mystery of the show, which in this episode includes Elizabeth trying to gain clues about Red’s identity from Naomi. However, while the wider narrative is a key reason many of the best episodes of The Blacklist are so beloved, “Dr Linus Creel” is one that stands out mainly for its self-contained elements.
14 Milton Bobbit
Season 1, Episode 18
Just like Linus Creel, Milton Bobbit (played by Damian Young) is a villain in The Blacklist who manages to elevate the single episode he appeared in to being one of the best in the show overall. “Milton Bobbit” is the 18th episode of The Blacklist season 1, and few since have managed to top it when it comes to having an incredibly gripping procedural plot. In some ways, “Milton Bobbit” has a similar plot to “Dr Linus Creel”, as it involves ordinary people being coerced into becoming murderers.
Milton Bobbit isn’t a psychological expert, however, which in some ways makes him much more sinister. He’s a life insurance claims adjuster who manages, somehow, to manipulate many of his clients into taking up contract killing. Bobbit was especially conniving, as he selected the terminally ill for his crimes, and then used his position in his workplace to make his involvement impossible to trace. It’s an incredibly complex and layered scheme that could easily have been used as the premise for an entire show, so it, of course, works incredibly well as an episode of The Blacklist (especially with Red, who wants Milton’s client list, thrown into the mix).
13 The Djinn
Season 3, Episode 4
The fourth episode of The Blacklist season 3, “The Djinn” is so memorable because it featured a character almost as mysterious and enigmatic as Raymond Reddington himself. However, that’s not the only reason it’s considered one of the best episodes in The Blacklist, as it also contained some pivotal moments in Red and Liz’s quest to clear Liz’s name and finally locate the Cabal. What makes this episode particularly well-crafted is how the procedural plot and the overarching narrative intertwine, as the single-episode antagonist the Djinn (real name Nasim Bakhash) was both memorable in her own right and an integral part of the show’s wider story.
The Djinn herself is an incredibly complex villain. Nasim Bakhash was a facilitator of contract killings, specifically specializing in revenge fantasies. However, there was also a personal aspect to her crimes, as she saught to punish her father for forcing her to undergo a sex change (she was born male, and was made to have gender reassignment surgery after her father found out she was gay). This makes her story incredibly sympathetic in many ways, though she’s also no less dangerous despite inspiring empathy in both the viewers and Red.
12 Mr. Solomon
Season 3, Episode 17
There were many memorable villains who appeared in more than one episode of The Blacklist, and several who managed to redeem themselves by the time the show concluded, and one of the best, as far as many viewers are concerned, was Matias Solomon (Edi Gathegi). So popular was Matias that he had his own short-lived spinoff series The Blacklist: Redemption. While he appeared in multiple episodes of season 3, one of the highlights was his self-titled episode “Mr. Solomon”.
“Mr. Solomon” was the 17th episode of The Blacklist season 3, and featured some of the titular character’s best moments up until that point. However, that’s not the only reason it’s considered one of the best episodes overall, as the rest of the plot is just as gripping. Red and the team are trying to stop Solomon and his group of thieves from getting their hands on a tactical nuclear weapon, making it easily one of the most high-stakes episodes of the show.
11 The Apothecary
Season 4, Episode 15
Season 4’s “The Apothecary” was a highlight of The Blacklist for several reasons, but a key one is that it showed viewers Raymond Reddington at one of his most vulnerable points. Throughout most of the episode, Red is trying to stave off the effects of a fatal poison. To make matters worse, Red knows it was one of his closest allies who managed to get the deadly toxins into his system, meaning this episode is both a race against time and an intensely intricate “whodunnit”.
However, it’s not just this plot thread that makes “The Apothecary” one of the best episodes of The Blacklist. The installment also has an incredibly memorable single-appearance antagonist in the form of Asa Hightower (played by Jamie Harold). Asa is an expert in creating tailored poisons that can mask the deaths of those affected as natural causes. He makes for an incredibly intriguing character who, like the Djinn, could easily have reappeared in the show.
10 Pilot
Season 1, Episode 1
Few shows can get off the ground without an unforgettable pilot, and The Blacklist pilot did an excellent job of kickstarting the narrative and introducing the audience to the world of the story. With a show like The Blacklist, this is no easy task, as the rules of the procedural are familiar, and FBI shows saturate the market, but convincing the audience that Red is as powerful and important as he says can be difficult.
The pilot works well because it shows the audience what Red is capable of instead of over-relying on exposition. Additionally, it gives a realistic preview of what audiences can expect from a typical episode of the show without giving too much away about the upcoming character dynamics. This episode will always be iconic because it has the moment when Elizabeth and Red meet for the first time, and how quickly Red inserts himself into her life and begins to unravel what she believes to be the truth.

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9 Raymond Reddington: Part 1
Season 10, Episode 21
Though the series finale will always hold a special place in
The Blacklist
canon, the first part of the two-part ending is the more memorable of the two.
Though fans were sorry that The Blacklist ended with season 10, the show had reached a natural conclusion, and it was time to say goodbye to Red and his team. Though the series finale will always hold a special place in The Blacklist canon, the first part of the two-part ending is the more memorable of the two. All the threads that have been woven together throughout season 10 start to come together, and it’s always a treat to see Red in action, evading capture and tracking down criminals on his terms.
It’s a fun turn of the tables as a send-off for the show to have the task force seek out Red instead of having his help to find a different criminal. Additionally, it’s a reflective episode and features many familiar faces, which is what every fan wants out of a series conclusion. Although the second part of the finale has a more satisfying conclusion, “Raymond Reddington: Part 1” feels like a fitting tribute to the show’s tone with its cliffhanger ending and amazing twist.
8 The Troll Farmer
Season 3, Episode 1
The Blacklist season 3 is one of the best seasons of the series, as it’s when the show hit its stride and began to play with the dynamic between Keen and Red. Season 3 is often the best season of a series because the rules of the narrative have been established, the characters have been tested, and all that’s left is for the show to experiment and break its conventions to shock the audience. Combining a new villain with the cliffhanger from the season 2 finale allowed The Blacklist to accomplish all of this.
In the premiere of The Blacklist season 3, Red and Keen are on the run as the FBI is trying to put Keen away for murder. This thrilling beginning perfectly evokes the themes for the remainder of the season and shows how much both Red and Keen have changed since the start of the show. There was a time when Keen would never have trusted Red to help her hide from the FBI, let alone allow a criminal to help them, and the fact that Red does so much to come to her aid says just as much.
Season |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
Season 1 |
82% |
Season 2 |
83% |
Season 3 |
93% |
Season 4 |
90% |
Season 5 |
100% |
Season 6 |
100% |
Season 7 |
71% |
Season 8 |
43% |
Season 9 |
67% |
Season 10 |
66% |
7 Anslo Garrick
Season 1, Episode 9
In “Anslo Garrick” the audience begins to gain insight into why it’s in Red’s best interest to put away the criminals on his blacklist, and what kinds of grudges they hold against him. Additionally, it’s the first episode of the series when a major loss comes into play, and a cliffhanger is introduced. By this point in the series, the procedural format and the criminals of the week had been well-established, and The Blacklist was ready to shake things up.
It changed the tone of
The Blacklist
because it incorporated increased elements of action and fight sequences, which were something the show typically shied away from.
Including elements of a bottle episode, and splitting up Keen and Red were two wise decisions that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. It changed the tone of The Blacklist because it incorporated increased elements of action and fight sequences, which were something the show typically shied away from. Though little in terms of the central dynamic between Red and Keen was expanded upon, it’s come to be known as a standout of the show.
6 Tom Connolly
Season 2, Episode 22
The season 2 finale brilliantly primes The Blacklist for the excellent arc of season 3 and utilizes the excellent supporting character, Tom Connolly (Reed Birney). Though Red and Keen are the heart of the show, the stories thrive on the introduction of new characters every episode, and The Blacklist characterizes these new people and their motivations quickly and effectively. While Connolly wasn’t a new addition to the series in the final episode of the season, his arc throughout season 2 and its successful conclusion changed the show forever.
Like any good antagonist, Conolly revealed more to the characters about themselves. Through this, the episode unlocked a vital piece of the puzzle of how Red and Keen are connected. Much is answered about Keen’s backstory, particularly her history with her parents, which lets the audience get to know her better as a character and feel more connected to her. Though Red was always seen as the only one without moral scruples on the show, the season 2 finale changed that.
5 Mr. Kaplan: Conclusion
Season 4, Episode 22
In, “Mr. Kapan: Conclusion,” one of the best villains of the show, Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert) makes her exit as she reveals to Red what she’s capable of, and to Keen what Red has been hiding.
Season finales are always rife with drama and expectations, but The Blacklist consistently delivers its best episodes in the last moments of its seasons. In, “Mr. Kapan: Conclusion,” one of the best villains of the show, Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert) makes her exit as she reveals to Red what she’s capable of, and to Keen what Red has been hiding. There’s a tense face-off between Kaplan and Red on a bridge, which ends in one of the most shocking twists of the show.
However, the episode has merit for much more than its twists and should be praised for how well it raises the stakes and keeps a consistent level of tension throughout the episode. The audience gets to see a different side of Red and learns that even he can’t always keep his cool when up against a wall. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a good episode of The Blacklist if there weren’t a few loose ends at the end of the story, but that’s part of what makes the audience keep coming back for more.
4 Berlin: Conclusion
Season 1, Episode 22
Finishing out the first season of a show is a nuanced situation. The audience needs answers to the questions that have been brewing all season, there must be a satisfying payoff to the story arc, and the groundwork for the next season must be laid without it being too obvious. Luckily, there was little doubt that The Blacklist would get a season 2, and the best The Blacklist character introduced after season 1 were well on their way. However, before then, “Berlin: Conclusion” set the precedent for all future season finales.
Throughout season 1, Keen is never sure if she can trust Red or believe anything he says, but their dynamic and relationship have grown so much that their reliance on each other is clear in this episode. It delivered the blood and gore that a successful crime drama must incorporate, and packed an emotional punch, making the audience feel for Keen even more than they already did. It also provides a great villain who isn’t easily subdued and presents a real threat to Red, Keen, and the task force, which is what The Blacklist thrives on.
3 The Director
Season 3, Episode 9
Without the acting chops of Spader and Boone, The Blacklist wouldn’t have been half as successful, and when they get to put their talents on full display, it’s always a fantastic episode of the show. At the midpoint of season 3, Keen is still on the run and wanted by the FBI. It speaks to the longevity and skill of The Blacklist creators that they didn’t soften or shorten this plotline and allowed the beloved Keen to feel the full scope of being a fugitive. However, by this point, everyone was ready for her to clear her name.
“The Director” is full of double-crossing and switches, and by the end, Red and Keen are ready to assemble their team and take down the Cabal, the major antagonizing force of the season. One of the reasons that the episode works so well is because while there are complex and convoluted plot points, the main objective of the story is simple. Red needs to rescue Keen and clear her name before the Cabal gets to her and the audience gets to enjoy how big the narrative has become over the years.

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2 Ian Garvey
Season 5, Episode 8
The episode, “Ian Garvey” featured one of The Blacklist‘s most heartbreaking moments, as Elizabeth’s husband, Tom Keen (Ryan Eggold), doesn’t make it out alive. Elizabeth and Tom haven’t had the easiest relationship, and the lies and betrayals that kept them apart made it difficult to root for the couple. However, seeing their story end the way it did was a blow to Elizabeth and the audience, as he was an important connection to the person she used to be before Red entered her life and everything changed.
What
The Blacklist
has to say about love and trust is sad after the events of the episode, but delivering such an emotionally poignant episode was a feat for the series.
Throughout the episode, Red and Keen are on parallel journeys and have different objectives, and there was once a time when neither of them could have accomplished their tasks without the other. Particularly Keen, who goes off on her own to rescue Tom, and despite her failure, it’s still amazing to see her working so efficiently and brilliantly on her own. What The Blacklist has to say about love and trust is sad after the events of the episode, but delivering such an emotionally poignant episode was a feat for the series.
1 The Director: Conclusion
Season 3, Episode 10
The follow-up to “The Director,” “The Director: Conclusion” is, bar none, the best episode of The Blacklist. The stakes have never been higher, and Keen and Red have never been further apart, even though Red is doing everything he can to save her. There was a lot of ground that the episode needed to cover, and what makes the episode so good is how it wrapped up significant storylines and character arcs without feeling rushed or unearned.
Red is at his best as a character in the story, and Spader is working hard to deliver everything he has to the performance. While Boone doesn’t have as much to do since Keen’s role is primarily stationary in the narrative, she still exudes the confidence and wit that audiences come to love about her. By the end of the episode, the status quo has been reestablished and Keen is back with the task force, but nothing is quite the same after the events of season 3.
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