My friends are going to cringe upon seeing this article title, I can feel it now. They’re going to cringe because they all know how much I love the television show "The Blacklist."
I’m proud to say that I’ve been an avid viewer of this show since it went on the air in the fall of 2013. Since then, I’ve followed all of the episodes from the three seasons, and I am eagerly awaiting season four’s premiere. I’m totally okay with admitting how crazy I am about this show – and my friends will vouch for this, seeing how much I talk about it. So I’m going to keep on talking: here are some of the many reasons why I’m obsessed with NBC’s The Blacklist.
Raymond Reddington may be one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever seen.
Ah, Red. James Spader plays this character incredibly well, and I’ll admit that I constantly flip-flop between loving him and hating him. He is a criminal, there’s no denying. He’s done terrible things to get his job done. But then suddenly you’ll see this glimpse of vulnerability, a moment of light, and then you’re drawn in. Plus, Red’s monologues and one-liners are some of the greatest moments in the whole show. Raymond Reddington is perfectly imperfect, and it’s why I find him so intriguing.
Elizabeth Keen is a queen.
Personally, Elizabeth Keen is my favorite character in the entire show – I’m Team Liz all the way. One of the things I love most about the show is the incredibly transformative journey that she has gone on since the show has begun. Her life has been turned completely upside down. She’s been constantly tested, but yet she has remained strong. Yes, she’s made mistakes, but she’s human, and it makes her very relatable. She is headstrong and brave and a devoted mother. Despite what people say, I love Elizabeth Keen.
Harold Cooper is a total father figure and I love him for it.
Harold Cooper is the fearless leader of the Task Force. He has dealt with his own trials and tribulations on top of the duties of running this unit. Not to mention, he’s had to deal with each individual member of the task force and all of the hardships they’ve gone through. Through these three seasons, he has made tough calls and even gone into the action himself. This is why I love Harold Cooper. But another reason I love Harold is how much he cares and watches over the members of the Task Force.
Aram Mojtabai is a gem.
I think we can all agree that everyone loves Aram. Aram’s adorable nature and incredible work ethic makes people head over heels for him. He is kind hearted and incredibly smart, and some of the most memorable scenes of the show include him. Also, as these seasons have progressed, he has evolved into an even stronger person than he was when the show started.
Samar Navabi is a boss and I’m totally here for it.
Ever since Samar has entered the show, she’s been taking care of business. She is smart, calculating, and cunning, but we can also see she has a heart. Her wit and occasional brilliant bursts of sarcasm are incredibly refreshing. Also, as a young woman myself, it’s really empowering to see such a strong woman right out there in the fray. Samar’s a force to be reckoned with, and I absolutely love her for it.
I respect Donald Ressler.
Ressler is another character who has definitely evolved as the show has progressed. His morals have always been strong and he’s always there to see justice served. But working with Reddington has definitely changed his way of thinking, and therefore we have seen a shift in his beliefs. We’ve seen a bit more of his heart working its way into what he does, as opposed to strictly logic and law. Ressler is tough. He’s intelligent. I have major respect for him.
Tom Keen. Just… Tom. Yes.
I’ll start this off by saying I love Tom Keen. If there’s anyone on this show as intriguing as Red, it’s definitely him. You started off loving him… Then you didn’t trust him. Then you HATED HIM. And then you started to learn about him, and you questioned how you felt. Okay, is Tom that bad? He did a lot of bad things. But can he be redeemed? We have seen his love for Liz and for Agnes swell as season three came to a close. Tom is one of the reasons I keep coming back to the show, because I’m always interested to see what he’ll do next. Plus… Ryan Eggold. Enough said.
So many other incredible characters have graced this screen – Dembe, who is undoubtedly the unsung hero of this show. Mr. Kaplan and the newly introduced Scottie Hargrave have me oh so intrigued. The characters and the transformations they have gone through are the reasons I love this show so much and cannot wait for season 4. So… is it September 22nd yet?
