The Blacklistwas an incredible crime TV show, but it almost ruined its legacy with its most controversial death. There are many engaging figures inThe Blacklist’s cast, but the two most important characters are James Spader’s Raymond “Red” Reddington, a mastermind criminal working for the FBI, and Megan Boone’s Elizabeth “Liz” Keen, a profiler who keeps a close eye on him.
The Blacklistis one ofthe best crime shows of all time, but it nearly destroyed its reputation with certain story decisions. Unfortunately, this also means that notevery season ofThe Blacklistis held in high regard by audiences.
The relationship between Red and Liz is an integral part ofThe Blacklist’s narrative, but sadly, Boone’s departure from the show threw a spanner in the works.There are several shocking deaths throughoutThe Blacklist,but none were as controversial as Elizabeth Keen.
Liz’s Death In The Blacklist Season 8 Only Made The Show’s Problems Worse
Killing Off Liz Also Killed Some Of The Blacklist’s Major Story Arcs
Unfortunately, the show was already on a downward trajectory beforeMegan Boone leftThe Blacklist. In the season 8 finale, “Konets,” Liz is shot by one of Townsend’s (Reg Rogers) associates just after Reddington asks her to kill him, as he is terminally ill. It was shocking to see Red cradling Liz’s body, and something audiences remembered forever.
Boone’s departure from the show was planned in advance, soThe Blacklisthad plenty of time to craft the perfect exit for her character.
Although Liz was far from a fan favorite, she was a crucial figure in the show.Killing Liz off meant that her seemingly never-ending search for Red’s real identity wouldn’t get a satisfying conclusion,and it had already been dragged out by this point. There were also several other arcs that, when they were wrapped up, could’ve benefited from Liz’s presence.
Liz Never Knew Who The Bones Belonged To
One of the most irritating things about Liz’s death was that the twist inThe Blacklist’s season 5 finalenever got a good conclusion. Who those mysterious bones belonged to was a great subplot,and it resulted in several deaths, including that of Liz’s husband.Liz never found out they belonged to the real Red Reddington,annoyingly.
This also meant thatwhen Liz died, she was unaware of just why Red cared about her.The bones twist heavily implied that Liz would finally discover the truth, butThe Blacklistdidn’t resolve this whatsoever, which was a huge disappointment for such an important character in the overarching story.
The Blacklist Should Have Handled Megan Boone’s Exit Better
Liz’s Early Demise Made The Conclusion Of Certain Storylines Rather Anticlimactic
Audiences have frequently voiced that the show could’ve written a better departure storyline for Boone. “Konets” is widely considered one ofThe Blacklist’s worst episodes, and it fundamentally changed the show’s story, and not for the better.The show was motivated by Reddington and Liz’s complex connection,so it felt strange forThe Blacklistto continue without her.
The mystery surrounding Red’s true identity was seemingly abandoned in seasons 9 and 10,
The mystery surrounding Red’s true identity was seemingly abandoned in seasons 9 and 10, and instead,the story refocused on who was the real mastermind behind Liz’s demise.It is frustrating and rather jarring, especially because of the time jump.
Red’s hunt for the person responsible for killing Liz is somewhat interesting, but it would’ve been more impactful if the show had been setting up Boone’s unexpected return, perhaps revealing she was actually alive, or even just as a vision. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t as endearing as the storyThe Blacklistspent 8 seasons setting up.
