The Blacklist finale recap: There's no escaping Raymond Reddington
The season 9 finale of The Blacklist picks up where we left off: with Marvin (Fisher Stevens) on the run from Red (James Spader). The Task Force quickly traces Marvin to a private plane in another airfield, where they arrest him and bring him in for questioning. Red, however, is upset with the bureau for taking Marvin in — and he's far from pleased with Panabaker (Deirdre Lovejoy) and Cooper (Harry Lennix), too.
Cooper questions Marvin in the interrogation room, but the attorney says he'll only speak with Panabaker. He asks for his own Task Force, arguing that he has all the same resources as Red and his team, but is more reliable. They reach a deal, resulting in all of Cooper's charges getting dropped... as long as Marvin stays alive. The Task Force must do whatever it takes to keep Red away from Marvin.
Marvin waits at the Calvin Coolidge Corrections Center, which houses other high-profile villains, including No. 84 on the Blacklist, assassin Wujing (Chin Han). Wujing has a plan to escape, but needs legal advice on how to be taken to the courthouse. Marvin provides him the help he needs. Believing that Marvin is working for Red, Wujing asks for Red's help out of the country. Instead, Marvin tells him that Red was the man who put him behind bars in the first place. He provides Wujing a list of the Blacklisters that Red had helped the FBI put away.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington
Park (Laura Sohn) and Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq) are on Red surveillance duty. They spot Red giving money to one of the correction center's security guards. They bring him in and he reveals that Red wants to break into the center through a contraband passageway. The guard is supposed to meet with Red at the passageway so he can see Marvin. Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) takes Marvin to the courthouse to close his deal as the Task Force quickly disassembles the jail's secret entryway. Marvin knows he's on borrowed time until Red can get to him.
Meanwhile, Red calls a favor to Judge Carolyn Marquez (Lana Young), whose father owes him a blood debt. He asks she distract the judge who is handling with Marvin's deal. Ressler and Marvin arrive at the office, and Marvin enters the judge's chambers alone to find Red waiting for him. Red reiterates that Marvin was his subordinate and that he will never take his place in power. He says that Marvin will never escape from him. Marvin is freed, but is haunted by Red's threats, and takes his own life.
Red tells Cooper about his visit with Marvin. Panabaker tells them of Marvin's death, and says Red is back as the FBI's informant. Red is going to take a few weeks off to take Mierce (Karina Arroyave) and Weecha (Diany Rodriguez) back home.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper, Laura Sohn as Alina Park, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai
The Task Force meets up at Liz's grave on the third anniversary of her death, and things get nostalgic. Cooper remembers when Liz first arrived at the bureau. Ressler reveals he didn't initially like Liz, but she came around and got to him. Park shows up and updates them on her medical condition — it's not a neurological problem after all. She's pregnant! Both Park and Aram (Amir Arison) announce they're taking some time off. Dembe shares a memory of young Liz playing in a soccer match and just having so much fun. The group shares an emotional embrace.
Cut to Wujing, who is on the way to the courthouse. His contact tells him that he has a plane waiting for his return to Beijing. Wujing tells him that they're not going home. He is going to kill Red with the help of other Blacklisters from the list that Marvin provided.
Well, the legacy of Marvin Gerard is still alive as he exacts his revenge against Red from beyond the grave. Of course, we know this will be the main premise for next season, as Red will have to deal with the consequences of his actions — again. This reminded me of Mr. Kaplan's death leading to a literal skeleton from Red's past to be revealed. It also makes me think about how Red treats his employees, because there have been a few who have turned on him in some form or another. While The Blacklist has been renewed for season 10, there's been no word yet on whether that will mark its final season. Who knows how Red will handle the power of multiple Blacklisters — I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Related content:
