The Blacklist: Liz Got The Truth She Kept Ignoring
THE BLACKLIST -- "The Corsican (#20)" Episode 602 -- Pictured: (l-r) Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen, James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
Finally, Elizabeth Keen received the truth she deserved to hear but not the actual words she wanted. For years, the dynamic between her and Raymond Reddington has been the focal point of every storyline on The Blacklist. But it wasn’t until her back was against the wall that she decided to listen.
With Neville Townsend and his crew closing in, Red and Liz had a talk they’ve had before, but this time, Liz was all ears.
From the start of Season 8, Liz has been out for Reddington’s blood. To put it simply, she wanted him dead. There are many reasons for that but what it still boils down to is her inability to accept the position she put herself in. Not where Red placed her as she keeps telling anyone within earshot, but this is where she has put herself.
From the beginning, Liz had questions. And at that point, who could blame her? But countless times, Reddington has told Liz to back off. And, If she keeps refusing, she will put herself in danger. No matter the consequences, Red has been there to protect her. But Liz kept gunning for the answers Red has worked his entire life to hide. But Liz kept going. And for that, she’s now trapped in a life, she not built for.
Taking Red’s money, getting him arrested, and placed in the crosshairs of bad people was all fun and games until she realized she was in over her head. Now imagine how bad this could have gone for her if Red actually wanted her dead for all that’s she done to him.
This is not a game Liz wants to play. Now that Townsend is no longer on her side, Liz needs Red’s help.
She blamed Red for her mother’s death. When in fact, it was Liz who went against Reddington for a woman she didn’t even know, mother or not. Red didn’t force her to do that. The same with Tom. She blames Red for his death but who told Tom to fall in love with her, get married, and have a kid? Then, at what point did Reddington tell Tom to keep pursuing the suitcase with the bones?
RELATED: The Blacklist: This Is The Raymond Reddington We’ve Been Waiting For
As far as Jennifer goes, she was safe until Liz got involved and now she’s dead. It wasn’t Reddington who drew out the hitman that killed her. But yet, Liz still pins those deaths on Reddington and not herself.
As far as her team goes, well, she wanted to build a Reddington-like organization but there are repercussions that come with that. Her entire team was gunned down and yet, she still found a way to put that blame on Reddington.
Red warned her countless times to not push the envelope but she would not listen. In her mind, all she wanted was the truth but it was she who invited all those other people into her business which in turn got them killed. Hell, she even set Red up with the police which almost caused his death by lethal injection. Death doesn’t follow Red, it follows Liz.
It wasn’t until the end of “Balthazor “Bino” Baker” that Liz may have finally let the truth sink in. Red told her that if she didn’t listen this would be the result.
She can blame Red all she wants for keeping his secrets but she cannot blame him for the deaths that she caused. Yes, the secrets were the first domino but it was her actions that started the chain reaction.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
