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The Blacklist (2013)

2013 · Crime,Drama,Mystery · crime-procedural, spy-contemporary, crime-psychological-profiler

The Blacklist poster

The Blacklist is a US network crime-procedural built almost entirely around one extraordinary character: Raymond 'Red' Reddington, a charming, erudite, and ruthlessly dangerous international fugitive who surrenders to the FBI to help them dismantle a secret blacklist of criminals the government doesn't know exist. James Spader's performance is the gravitational center of the series — witty, theatrical, and deeply watchable — and most viewers tolerate or push through the show's considerable flaws (filler episodes, an increasingly frustrating lead female character, an overstretched run) solely to spend more time with Red. Best suited to viewers who can surrender to one star performance anchoring a plot-driven procedural with serialized mythology underneath.

From the reviewers

James Spader as Red Reddington is the answer and the sole reason this show is so watchable. He's not only the captain of the ship, he's the crew and the ship as well.
Raymond Reddington in a remarkably short period of time became one of my all time favourite characters and I mean that across television, movies and video games. He's just SO enjoyable watch made good of course by James Spader who puts in a simply legendary performance.
The delineation of James Spader's Raymond Reddington is more important than any hang ups you could possibly have with the plot. I just can't see passing up such a good performance and character study because a fictional show isn't reality.
With lots of mediocre filler episodes, plots that just didn't grip me and moments that honestly didn't make sense I would have phased out altogether if it hadn't been for Reddington who make whatever the show threw at me watchable.
Did it arguably last too long? Absolutely, undeniably yes! But did I enjoy the journey thanks to "Red"? Certainly.

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