5 Reasons We're 'Keen' on Watching NBC's The Blacklist!

We knew we wanted to watch NBC’s hot hit The Blacklist way before it debuted on September 23, because we loved Emmy-winner James Spader in his queerish role as Alan Shore on The Practice. (That series ended with Spader’s character marrying his longtime law partner and friend Denny Crane, played by William Shatner.) Spader has lived up to that role and more.

The Blacklist has all the tension of 24, all the psychopathology of Homeland and all the humanity of the Bourne series. It’s fast-paced, yet has a deep emo thread. The action feels real, not cartoonishly over-the-top, as opposed to MARVEL: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.The acting and writing are superb, the characters believable.

The Blacklist has made every Top Ten Best New TV Shows list, landing in first or second place and is NBC’s number one show this season. Now that NBC has renewed The Blacklistfor a second season (which will start in January), you can catch up on season one over the holidays in that down time when shopping ends and family begins.

Episodes of The Blacklist are available online at NBC.com or on hulu.com. Be sure to watch from the very beginning since this is one of those shows where the revelations come fast and furious.

5. This Show Has Queer Backstory

Keen is the main female character, but there are other intriguing characters in play, all of them mysterious. Parminder Nagra (ER, Alcatraz, Bend It Like Beckham) plays the sexually ambiguous Agent Meera Malik and Arnat Mahendru plays the lovely Agent Rosen. Harry Lennix is Keen’s frustrated boss, Harold Cooper. Diego Klattenhoff is the sexy Donald Ressler and Ryan Eggold is Lizzy’s dangerous husband who is not at all what he seems and is definitely leading a double life, because those cameras installed in the Keens home without their knowledge are watching him, not her.

4. It’s Not Just About Killing

There’s a bond between Reddington and Lizzy that is established early on. It’s not romantic, it’s...what? The truth has yet to be revealed. Is Reddington her father? What about the man who raised her? Reddington is protective of Lizzy in ways he isn’t of anyone else–even himself. Yet there’s a piece of the puzzle that’s missing. Reddington is tortured and so is Lizzy. Is it for the same reason? 

3. The Killers Are...Killer

Reddington’s blacklist is replete with the worst of humanity. These are the true terrorists–soulless men and women (Isabella Rossellini plays a humanitarian in one episode who leads a double life as a trafficker in both drugs and humans) who care about money and power. Although some also just enjoy the killing, like The Stewmaker and Captain Ludd. 

2. We’re Keen on Agent Keen

On the surface FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) seems like just another pretty face. She’s anything but. From the first episode we see that although she’s planning to adopt a baby and appears to be in a happy marriage, her job comes first and she has a troubled past–a scar on her arm is a vestige of that. Also, Lizzy is hardcore agent–she can kick ass with the best of them.  

1. Everyone Loves A Good Conspiracy

Most of us are suckers for conspiracies, especially those involving government agencies. When Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) turns himself in to the FBI, where he has been on the “Most Wanted” list for years, we know something is up. But when he says he will only talk to profiler Elizabeth “Lizzy” Keen (Megan Boone) and that he has a list of killers even the FBI doesn’t know about to share with her and her alone, our interest is totally piqued.