The Blacklist

Former government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington turns himself in to the FBI, claiming he can help them catch criminals they don't even know exist. He brings with him a curated list of high-profile targets, people whose crimes have been hidden or overlooked, and offers to cooperate in exchange for immunity. The catch is that Reddington will only talk to Elizabeth Keen, a new FBI profiler whose presence puzzles many on the task force. As Reddington guides the bureau to dangerous figures, the team balances standard investigative procedure with the secrets he protects, and tensions rise between loyalty to law, personal agendas, and the unresolved questions about why Reddington chose Keen.

Created by Jon Bokenkamp, the series premiered in 2013 on NBC and stars James Spader as Raymond Reddington alongside Diego Klattenhoff, Hisham Tawfiq, Anya Banerjee, and Harry Lennix. Its procedural-meets-serialized format helped it become a long-running network drama.

The show and its cast have drawn industry attention, earning several nominations across television award circuits, particularly for lead performances. Rather than listing specific trophies, it's been notable for recognition of James Spader's portrayal and for steady critical interest in later seasons.

The Blacklist left a mark on pop culture with the idea of a secret roster of criminals and a charismatic, morally ambiguous fixer at its center. Reddington's manner and the phrase "the blacklist" entered fan conversations and online communities, sparking memes, theory threads, and frequent references in crime-drama discussions.

Critical response has generally praised Spader's magnetic performance while noting unevenness in plotting across seasons. Audience ratings reflect steady approval, with a vote average around 7.64 out of 10. Major themes include trust, secrecy, institutional limits, and the price of using shadowy contacts to pursue justice, all framed within weekly investigations that feed a larger, serialized mystery.