Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – The Blacklist

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Blacklist Sep 2013 Crime Drama Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
For decades, ex-government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington has been one of the globe's most wanted fugitives. But then he agreed to work with the FBI to catch his "blacklist" of mobsters, spies and international terrorists -- on the condition that he must work with profiler Elizabeth Keen. Red's true intentions -- choosing Liz, a woman with whom he seemingly has no connection -- are unclear. Does Liz have secrets of her own? Red promises to teach Liz to think like a criminal "to see the bigger picture," whether she wants to or not.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Blacklist — Season 1

The Blacklist — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

James Spader is riveting as a criminal-turned-informant, and his presence goes a long way toward making this twisty but occasionally implausible crime procedural compelling.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Allison Keene The Hollywood Reporter 12/08/2018
Blacklist came out like gangbusters, quite literally, even though James Spader is really all the reason we need to keep watching for now. Go to Full Review James Poniewozik TIME Magazine 12/08/2018
The Blacklist, though, seems to be setting itself up to be largely a bad-guy-of-the-week show, and the pilot's first caper is not too promising in that respect. Go to Full Review Jeff Jensen Entertainment Weekly 05/09/2017
B+
Here and now, The Blacklist is top-of-the-list escapism. Go to Full Review Matt Roush TV Guide 12/08/2018
Blacklist is the more purely and criminally enjoyable of the night's new melodramas, largely because James Spader is so good at being playfully bad. Go to Full Review Tim Surette TV.com 12/08/2018
A lot of the snazzy action and spiffy pacing may be a cover-up for subpar writing, but the pilot kept things entertaining enough that I'd like to see the second episode. Hopefully it will clear up a few things. Go to Full Review Adam Sweeting The Arts Desk 07/23/2018
The Blacklist, a slick and surprisingly brutal spies-and-black-ops drama that speeds along blithely without an original thought in its head. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Gregory R Nov 15 I know v.late to this show but seen so many great clips thought would now enjoy especially able to binge so many series but if the pilot is anything to go by know it’s going to annoy the hell out of me. Really like James Spader so such a shame. 1. First day at work, super essential important job but after a couple of hours going to have to leave for family planning with her hubby. I guess in the FBI you can up & leave anytime you want. 2. Using a mobile at what I assume should be a fairly secure location but also having the swat/army escort hang on while she finishes her call, I guess no rush. 3. If pulled generals daughter from dance class/school early morning why would the kidnappers A) be expecting her any time soon, road closed all day, truck sat waiting for several hours? B) be along that route, perhaps taking her home the same way fair enough but still seems unlikely. 4.swat team expecting a kidnap attempt not at all suspicious of chemicals spill/road block, easily overwhelmed despite being on high alert but newbie manages to kill 2 or 3 with handgun whilst soldiers with assault rifles did not get off 1 shot. Gave up after that, might revisit but will struggle. Happy to suspend belief to a point but not this much. See more Frank F Sep 28 Wow, it's got everything. So, if you're a fan of killin', torture, blood, secret government black sites, bodies galore, betrayal, plot twists, oh, and love, then this for you. Unfortunately, not for me. See more Tony Z Sep 19 This show it ridiculously entertaining, which is remarkable considering the plastic mannikin cast to play Liz. You can't blame it on the great James Spader being afraid of a strong second, since he has gone toe to toe with the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Laura San Giacomo. Very pretty and very bland women crop up in this kind of show (think of Jamie Alexander in Blind Spot, which unfortunately had nothing in it to prop her up). It's a network show in an episodic format, 22 of them a season; surprising that it lasted ten years. The credit goes to Spader. See more Gregory S Aug 17 I really loved everything about this show. Except for the Elizabeth character. The whole reason Reddington is who he is is her, and I can’t stand her character at all. See more Noah B. @nbrahm2008 Jul 29 Fun, witty, and a interesting premise. Some episodes were pretty dark for network TV See more Vernon B Jul 27 Great show but dang the Elizabeth Keen character is pathetic, can’t stand her See more Read all reviews
The Blacklist — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

James Spader

Raymond "Red" Reddington

Megan Boone

Elizabeth Keen

Diego Klattenhoff

Donald Ressler

Harry Lennix

Harold Cooper

Ryan Eggold

Tom Keen

Parminder Nagra

Meera Malik

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 23, 2013 Pilot One of the most-wanted fugitives in the country turns himself in -- under one condition: He'll only speak with newly minted profiler Elizabeth Keen. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 30, 2013 The Freelancer Red and Liz go under cover to stop an assassin known as The Freelancer from killing his next target; Ressler and a recently re-hired CIA agent try to protect Red from a distance; Liz wonders what she should do about Tom and the mysterious box. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 7, 2013 Wujing The FBI searches for a high-ranking Chinese spy named Wujing -- whom Red claims hired him to help decode a classified CIA transmission; Liz investigates Tom. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 14, 2013 The Stewmaker When a witness in a case against a drug lord goes missing, Red informs the team that the witness may have been taken by The Stewmaker; Red and Ressler work together for the first time. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 21, 2013 The Courier Red and the FBI try to stop a dangerous messenger (Robert Knepper) whose appearance is unknown; Liz is thrust into a kidnapping plot. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 28, 2013 Gina Zanetakos Tom claims he is innocent and wants to turn the box into the FBI; Red's next target is a beautiful and deadly corporate terrorist (Margarita Levieva). Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 4, 2013 Frederick Barnes The FBI searches for the man responsible for a chemical attack on a subway; Liz wants to avoid Red after he implicated Tom. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 11, 2013 General Ludd When Red reveals a new name, Liz learns of a plot to destroy the country's financial system; Tom helps Liz when a loved one falls ill. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 25, 2013 Anslo Garrick Anslo Garrick (Ritchie Coster), the newest person on the blacklist, tries to capture Red; Liz is caught in an elevator. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 2, 2013 Anslo Garrick Liz manages to disarm the signal jammers and call in backup, but hits a snag along the way; Ressler's fate hangs in the balance; Tom worries about Liz's situation. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 13, 2014 The Good Samaritan Killer Internal affairs tries to find the mole on the team; Red takes off on a mission to find who betrayed him; a serial killer from Liz's past strikes again. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 20, 2014 The Alchemist Red notifies the team that a man known as the Alchemist has been hired to protect a mob informant and his wife; Tom and Liz face another obstacle in their relationship. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 27, 2014 The Cyprus Agency Red informs Liz that an illegal adoption agency is responsible for a recent spate of abductions; Liz and Tom contemplate adoption. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 24, 2014 Madeline Pratt Liz helps Tom adjust to the impending adoption; Red reveals a woman from his past is a target; Red convinces Liz to pull off a heist at the Syrian Embassy. Details Episode 15 Aired Mar 3, 2014 The Judge Red believes he knows who was responsible for a prominent prosecutor's 12 year disappearance; Red investigates the woman who tempts Tom. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 17, 2014 Mako Tanida One of Red's former associates, a crime lord, becomes the next target; Tom decides to confront Jolene. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 24, 2014 Ivan After a cyber defense asset is stolen by a terrorist only known as Ivan, Red and Liz discover a cover-up; new evidence regarding Jolene's disappearance unravels some of the mystery surrounding Tom. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 31, 2014 Milton Bobbit Red and the team search for a life insurance claim adjuster who talks people into becoming contract killers; Liz and Red try to uncover Tom's secrets. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 21, 2014 The Pavlovich Brothers As the team tries to protect a target of the Pavlovich brothers -- specialists in abductions -- Red has a job of his own for the duo; Liz patiently pursues the truth about Tom. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 28, 2014 The Kingmaker Red thinks the Kingmaker (Linus Roache), a strategist, is responsible when a politician in Prague is framed for murder; Liz uncovers a secret Red has been hiding. Details Episode 21 Aired May 5, 2014 Berlin Knowing the truth about her father, Liz refuses to work with Red; Red brings the FBI a compelling case; Liz reveals what she knows about Tom's life. Details Episode 22 Aired May 12, 2014 Berlin: Conclusion The authorities lock down the city as they search for escapees from the crashed prisoner transport plane; Liz gets Red out of custody; the team searches for the prisoner, Berlin, who is somehow involved. Details

More Like This

View All
Hannibal 93% 94% Hannibal Watchlist The Blacklist: Redemption % 63% The Blacklist: Redemption Watchlist Taxi Brooklyn 35% 47% Taxi Brooklyn Watchlist Kidnapped 67% % Kidnapped Watchlist Chicago P.D. % 89% Chicago P.D. Watchlist TRAILER for Chicago P.D. Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related TV News

View All
10 TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch This December 2016 Emmy Winners Announced: Game of Thrones and Veep Win Top Awards 2016 Emmy Award Nominations
View All

The Blacklist — Season 1

The Blacklist The Blacklist The Blacklist View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath, John Davis, John Fox
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-14 (S|V)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 23, 2013
More Top TV Picks Netflix