The Blacklist....

[Warped9]

Since the beginning I was intrigued to sample this series and yet somehow never got around to it.

Recently I finally took the plunge, watched the pilot and first couple of episodes...and haven't been able to stop.

I really like this series. And James Spader really shines as Raymond Reddington.

I'm just finishing Season 1 and am eager to start with Season 2.

 

[Warped9]

Watching Reddington in action is somewhat like a darker, edgier and sometimes more ruthless version of Simon Templar, The Saint.

 

[Greysun]

I agree 100%, it's a great show and Spader is excellent as Reddington.

 

[auntiehill]

Unfortunately, the writers on the show can't seem to construct interesting, logical storylines EXCEPT for Red. Lizzie, who is supposed to be the other lead, is written so poorly that later seasons become downright ridiculous with the number of times her character says, "I hate you,Red. I will never speak to you again!" Then 5 minutes later, she tracks him down to talk to him.

With the exception of Aram, the entire FBI crew come off as incompetent. That gets old pretty fast. The show is really only good when focused on Red and his crew.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I haven't seen the second half of the past season yet, and frankly, I'm not sure how much I really want to.

 

[auntiehill]

^ The only thing that's really good about it is getting know about "Mr. Kaplan." She is such a fantastic character.

 

[Warped9]

Reddington and his entourage are fantastic. Elizabeth Keen can really be an idiot.

 

[auntiehill]

^If the entire show was just about Red and his crew--with maybe ONE innocent person from outside--then it would've been a fantastic show.

 

[Warped9]

Keen simply doesn't understand Red and the world he moves in. She expects him to fit into a box or type that doesn't work. Red knows how the real world works.

 

[Greysun]

I think people might underestimate Liz. Yes, she's made a lot of mistakes, but she's been manipulated a lot too. The times I like her the best are when we see a glimmer of the Father-Daughter criminal team they could become. Her character wants to be an FBI agent, but I think she's better at being a criminal like Red. I like it when they work together on a mission.
I agree that Kaplan is an excellent character, I was glad she was heavily featured in this last season.