THE BLACKLIST Review: Why Red Still is, And Always Will Be, A Villain

NATURAL BORN KILLERS

While a major plot point is Lizzie’s growing acceptance of the morally grey and black, as an audience we have had to become somewhat desensitized to these actions as well. Red in particular has left a consistent number of bodies in his wake, but most of the characters in the show have killed someone this season.

The Blacklist has a high body count but almost all on screen deaths have been by gunshot or explosion. In doing so they have allowed scenes like Tom’s remorseful killing of Asher to retain emotional power. Whilst the situation he found himself in was horrible, the simple use of a knife instead of a gun was what made the whole experience uncomfortably intimate for both Tom and the audience.

Since the latter half of season 2, the show has focused on Red’s relationship with Lizzie and so has shown more of his compassionate side, moving away from the mysterious trigger happy pseudo-villain of the first season. His penchant for tying up loose ends with death this season shows that mask slipping. Red definitely has motives to be good – to Lizzie and Dembe, and is loyal to a fault – to Lizzie and Dembe. It is the most interesting villains, such as Walter White, that have these traits as it makes them rounded and somewhat relatable characters, but for all the fine hats and sardonic laughter, Red was introduced to us as, and still is, a villain.

The Blacklist continues Thursdays on NBC.