NBC Canceling Its Best Series After 10 Seasons
Season 10 of The Blacklist will be the hit NBC series' last run, as the network cancels the show.
The Blacklist, one of the biggest shows on NBC, is ending after a decade on the air. Screen Rant has confirmed that Season 10 of the long-running James Spader crime drama will be its last. The news comes two years after Blacklist creator and original showrunner Jon Bokenkamp exited the series.
Bokenkamp created the series for NBC in 2013. In the decade since, The Blacklist has become one of the most successful and beloved series on broadcast television. This is thanks in no small part to the dynamic acting work of James Spader. Spader has played Raymond “Red” Reddington on the NBC drama since the series debut and will continue until the 10th season finale.
The Blacklist follows Red, a former naval intelligence officer who turned to a life of crime before landing on the FBI’s most wanted list. Red turns himself in and strikes a deal with the FBI to avoid his inevitable capture. In return for his freedom, Red helps the FBI track down criminals even more dangerous than him.
John Eisendrath, the current showrunner, released a statement expressing his gratitude for the show, its actors, and most importantly, the loyal fanbase The Blacklist has built over 10 seasons. Eisendrath made a note of his appreciation for the show’s “dedicated fanbase,” compared the show to a “wonderful ride,” and expressed his excitement to “share this final season” with the fans.
Eisendrath and NBC might be ending the series at just the right time. Season 9 of The Blacklist saw actress Megan Boone’s Elizabeth Keene die after eight seasons on the show. The loss of Boone, in addition to Bokenkamp’s departure the year before, may have made continuing The Blacklist more of a challenge than it’s worth. Airing for 10 seasons is a long time to avoid jumping the shark. Who knows if Spader and Co. could pull it off for an 11th?
Giving the series one last season to wrap things up gives fans a chance to see lingering plot threads resolved. Hopefully, Eisendrath will use the opportunity to solve some of the biggest mysteries still plaguing The Blacklist. For example, Red’s mysterious connection to Elizabeth has never been explained. Perhaps Eisenderath can even coax Megan Boone back for a flashback or two.
Of course, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is what happens to Red. Will the last season end with Raymond Reddington riding off into the sunset after finally fulfilling his deal with the FBI? Or will Red face a much darker fate?
The former option is probably the preferred option when it comes to the bigwigs at NBC. Leaving Red alive makes him available to come back for a spin-off or revival sometime down the road. Red’s death, however, might be the more believable outcome after living such a risky life.
The most sensible choice might be a compromise between the two. Perhaps Red will end his tenure on The Blacklist, rotting in a prison cell somewhere. This would give NBC the option to bring James Spader back at some point while also giving Red his comeuppance for living such an immoral life.
However Eisendrath and the other writers choose to conclude Red’s story, it’s a sure bet that it will be a blast getting there.
