For decades, ex-government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) has been one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. Brokering shadowy deals for criminals across the globe, Red was known by many as "The Concierge of Crime."
Now, he's mysteriously surrendered to the FBI with an explosive offer: he will help catch a long-thought-dead terrorist, Ranko Zamani, under the condition that he speaks only to Elizabeth "Liz" Keen, an FBI profiler fresh out of Quantico. For Liz, it's going to be one hell of a first day on the job.
What follows is a twisting series of events as the race to stop a terrorist begins. What are Red's true intentions? Why has he chosen Liz, a woman with whom he seemingly has no connection? Does Liz have secrets of her own?
Zamani, we come to find out, is only the first of many on a list that Red has compiled over the years: a "blacklist" of politicians, mobsters, spies and international terrorists. He will help catch them all... with the caveat that Liz continues to work as his partner. Red will teach Liz to think like a criminal and "see the bigger picture"... whether she wants to or not.
From writer/executive producer Jon Bokenkamp ("Taking Lives") and executive producers John Eisendrath ("Alias," "My Own Worst Enemy") and John Davis ("Gulliver's Travels," "Predator") comes a global thriller that will become more mysterious with each name on the list. One-hour drama.


I'm not all that interested in this, but whoa, James Spader looks completely different now!
ReplyDeleteHoly hell, I want to watch this now. I'd also like CBS to somehow steal this show and put it on after Person of Interest.
ReplyDeleteAlan Shore as Keyser Soze...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun! XD
Although I do hope it does not fall into the same mold as The Following trying to be shocking more than building good stories.
This looks very interesting and James Spader is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly shit this looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis is what they should have done with the Following made him smart and cunning, not literary and vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't this resembles White Collar lol Would it been more awesome if Kiefer Sutherland played the criminal i mean he was said to be casted if it got picked up but idk why he wasn't casted lol
ReplyDeleteExactly. I may just give up on The Following and watch this instead.
ReplyDeleteNow there's the legendary James Spader!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like what the Following could've been - a group of intelligent, deep characters with real motivations and relatable actions. This looks truly amazing.
I already get the feeling that The Blacklist will rely more heavily on Spader being amusingly creepy and mysterious rather than straight-up shock value.
ReplyDeleteThere is some White Collar feel to it, but I always felt like Caffrey was not into the darker crime elements hence the name White Collar. Red looks to have his hands in the darkest and most violent criminal underground.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think Sutherland is overrated. He feels the same in almost every role and would not fit this role of being smarmy and snarky while toying with the FBI.
This role almost feels designed for James Spader honestly.
I hope so!
ReplyDeleteThe role plays to his strengths so I have high hopes for the series.
exactly my thought...
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
ReplyDeleteI would feel more secure with it on CBS since they have a larger built in audience than any other network it seems. Plus, the pairing with PoI would be incredible XD
Okay I had zero interest in this until now. It looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI have hopes, but not high hopes for the series. Might be a good popcorn-show with something more on the table like Person of Interest (a show that really delivers when it needs to).
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I totally agree with you, because NBC has been known for cancellation of its new shows, except few of them.
ReplyDeleteI hope all the best for them.
Exactly. My first thought was that this would be a much better companion for POI than Elementary. CBS should move Elementary to 10pm after their NCIS block. It would probably do gangbusters in that time slot.
ReplyDeleteHahah the bit when he is locked up like a supervillian in a movie
ReplyDeleteFirst two thoughts...
ReplyDelete"Lizzy" is his illegitimate daughter that no one knows about...
Red has cancer or some disease that will kill him and turned himself in to enjoy his golden years by toying with the FBI in comfort!
Maybe good medicla insurance coverage is part of hsi deal. XD
I've seen the "White Collar" comments before but always wrote them off as simple knee-jerk reactions. Only in the most basic, superficial sense does Blacklist hold any resemblance to that show.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the clear box he sat in and how awesome it opened and retracted lol i should build one for my house lol
ReplyDeleteBtw did you guys posted a article from deadline.com about the networks making pilot shows into Limited series?? it was released on 5/7/2013
This, for me, is one of those shows I will enjoy no matter what style it is because James Spader amuses me more than any other actor on TV I think.
ReplyDelete"Lizzy" is his illegitimate daughter that no one knows about...
ReplyDeleteThe first conclusion I jumped to months ago when reading the synopsis for the pilot was that there was some familial connection that only Spader's character was privy to.
This kinda resembles Arrow too where Oliver has his Dad's book with names of Criminals they had dealing with and in the Blacklist he's got every dangerous criminal on the list and i bet some of them don't know they on the list for they think it maybe a myth lol
ReplyDeleteThat's why I felt Keyser Soze worked better. Just like Virgil Red is inserting himself into the case. The FBI will be his puppets going after whoever he tells them to.
ReplyDeleteHe can use them to eliminate competition and then "Poof! He's Gone"
Back underground in a much better position like Keyser. XD
very Hannibal like? young inexperience FBI agent talk to criminal
ReplyDeleteYeah the box was fun albeit overkill! XD
ReplyDeleteSomeone posted that article on here, but I think The Blacklist is a 22-episode order. Don,t quote me on that XD
I just love the fact he used the familiar Lizzy when talking to her! XD
ReplyDeleteIn that general sense, I can't wait to see Spader's character inevitably frustrate the hell out of Harry Lennix's character. :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the many ways he'll get under everyone's skin purely for his own amusement, I'm sure. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you see Blacklist or any Pilots in 22-24 episode form?
ReplyDeleteThat box would probably be on Michael Bay's rader if he saw it lol Michael would use it in his transformers movie lol
Can't wait to see Spader in action, but it only took the young profiler 4 minutes to look annoying, which isn't a great sign.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
ReplyDeleteThe character feels so much like Alan Shore to in the way he is confrontational in a mercurial impish manner and not the "Look at me I'm evil and dangerous" way so many TV villains are.
Red is basically Alan Shore's devil on his shoulder.
This actually looks not bad! It does seem like they spoiled the entire first episode in this trailer, which is not as good.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have not been following all the pilot news as much as usual this year so I'm not the one to ask for any concrete answers.
ReplyDeleteI think the only short run series on NBC will be Crossbones and Dracula as it stands right now. IF Hannibal is renewed I'm sure it would be a short run mid-season replacement too.
But like I said, I'm just not sure honestly.
I'm already wondering if his hotel suite has a balcony he can drink scotch and smoke a cigar on.
ReplyDeleteThis looks pretty good, mainly due to James Spader in all his "Spaderness" I'll give this a look
ReplyDeleteHa!
ReplyDeleteWell we know Alan enjoyed living in hotels on BL too, so it is in character..... If he mentions an old friend with Mad Cow or asks for a lot of maple syrup I am going to really begin wondering!
I think James Spader is good also. But i think the script also needs to be exciting. And by looking further into the series there are some good producers on this show, so it looks like i can enjoy this series as a show extra to have (i miss having a bunch of popcorn-dramas or quality dramas on the side, and i dont have that this year except maybe a bit poppy Elementary).
ReplyDeleteThe director of the pilot is Joe Carnahan, and he can do action-stuff so i hope for something good. I feel it will be atleast better than The Following, and that`s an awful show for people who just wants things beaten in their heads without using a braincell to think for themselves.
Okay, I gotta admit that this looks good. I love the female lead.
ReplyDeleteBut at the same time, more crime dramas, ugh.
Ya I had hopes for The Following after the pilot, but it went downhill FAST!
ReplyDeleteTerrible writing.
I hope Joe Caroll is dead so James Purefoy can get on a new show.... or a show that will be filming its fourth season in a few weeks.
*cough*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*cough*
Excuse me...
Actually looks like it has potential. I hope they show something new and exciting compared to already established crime dramas otherwise it would soon be booted.
ReplyDeleteThis looks good.
ReplyDeleteGotta say I have a soft spot for Spader and his quirky mannerisms!
ReplyDeleteLove this, looks like it has potential. :)
ReplyDeleteI believe shows that air 13 episodes would in fact make people wanna be glued to it lol meaning the 13 episode would serve as a season finale and with it ending on a cliffhanger it would want people to want more..Plus it would give actors/actress the option to back away from the show after season 1 or continue beyond it.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as Hannibal is 13 episodes i prefer it remain 13 episodes bc that way it can last longer in seasons and the story line won't get stale lol In my opinion many shows on the major network has lost its taste(no pun intended)
I don't think this will be cancelled after one year. It has the lead in from the voice(the only reason Revolution wasn't cancelled) and this looks good and I think many people are interested into this show.
ReplyDeleteI agree and think 13 episode seasons often have a tighter story that draws people in more than long seasons. The fact that there are no filler episode always helps! XD
ReplyDeleteI'd say that Red actually is an FBI agent, someone who went deep undercover a very long time ago and then was left there. No he has come back to set things right, if that is because he is sick or because he misses his daughter I haven't figured out yet.
ReplyDeleteLooks quite badass! I think I'm in....
ReplyDeleteI like it. A company man whose company betrayed him now paying them back in his own way.
ReplyDeleteThis actually looks really interesting, though so did 'The Following' and look how that turned out. The profiler didn't impress me, but Spader looks like he's having fun with the role. If the reviews are solid on this one, I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteThis looks great.
ReplyDeleteThat promo has a "silence of the lambs vibe" or "hannibal tv", I like it.
ReplyDeleteNo Jonathan Demme or Bryan Fuller creativity/talented-like at the head of this one though :-/
I'm already cringing a little at the overkill "I'm a really-really smart criminal that need cuffs, a shinny glassbox cell and twenty guns pointed at me permanently" decorum.
I'll give it a try; but, by the look of that promo, Bryan Fuller awesome "Hannibal" will remain my favorite new nbc show.
I have to agree, it looks good, but not great like Hannibal. It looks a bit more like The Following, and sadly that did not turn out so well.
ReplyDeleteI´ll give it a try aswell to see if Spader can pull it off.
Looks incredible. The written premise hadn't particularly captived me but this trailer... wow just wow. I think this has the potential to hit big time for NBC
ReplyDeleteSo far all the pilots been given 13 episode order but alot are assuming they gonna get the back 9 if they succeed well, but what they dont know is the networks may not do that this yr lol
ReplyDelete