That unexpected heartbreak hit me like a freight train. If so, dont forget to let us know in the comments! With the help of Ilya Koslov (Gabriel Mann), the pair come up with a plan to steal $40 million from the real Red in order to finance their escape from the KGB's grasp. The Blacklist season 9: Charlene exposed as Dougs killer? Hes even enlisted the help of the FBI to ensure her protection. The American C.I.A spy who befriended Illya Kuryakin on their mission earlier in series Man from Uncle. We finally found out the truth about Raymond Reddington's (James Spader) real identity, from one of the only living people in the world who knew it. One more or less enemy doesn't really do much. Ilya was apparently also there when the house burned down, the night Raymond Reddington died. He did that. Or did we? Luli was walking around only wearing his shirt early in the first season. Elizabeth is the child of Raymond and Katarina Rostova, while Jennifer is the child of Raymond and Naomi Hyland. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The warm light in the windows, the smoke from the chimney. However, just when it felt like things were starting to make sense, The Blacklist dropped another bomb on its viewers with another revelation about Reddingtons identity. But the next scene we see is Liz showing up in Hong Kong to joyfully tell Red that she knows the truth now: "I know you were Ilya, and the incredible thing you did to protect my motherto protect me. Never kissed anybody except the alleged Katarina in Paris. It's why I haven't shown up in a lot of places over the years. WithThe Blacklistseason 9 working its way down the pipeline, and with the confirmed season 10 renewal, audiences are left to speculate the true identity ofThe Blacklist's Raymond Reddington, aka Red. A hero or a villain? So from the start: what did tell her word for word?". And maybe he is. ", And the answer is, a whole hell of a lot! Rather, the man who had claimed to be Reddington for over six seasons was actually, back when she was only four years old. It's not as mystical or even as emotional as the landmark "Cape May" flashback episode, but the tradeoff is that it's more informative (or at least, seems more informative). You'll find points that reflect your thoughts, improving some and attacking others, that should help you decide whether you feel this holds up based on the entirety of the series. When Liz was only four she shot Reddington while he was attacking Katarina and then a fire broke out. Express. "Whatever your theory or whatever your camp is, you can probably turn the story a few degrees and make your theory make sense. Prior to the events on The Blacklist, Reddington spent 20 years creating a criminal network of spies, thieves, drug traffickers, etc. Known as The Concierge of Crime thanks to his involvement with deal-making in the black market, he earned the number four spot on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with his spot later rising to number one. The Blacklist: 5 Debunked Theories About Reddington's Identity (& 5 Plausible Ones) Blacklist fans have been dying to know more about the enigmatic Reddington, and, while some theories remain plausible, others have been debunked. All I saw was blood. (Warning: This post contains spoilers for the Season 8 finale of "The Blacklist.") "The Blacklist" has at long last revealed the answer to the show's central question who is Raymond "Red". With the help of Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq), Red gets Liz into a bunker before setting decades of intelligence, Neville, and his men on fire in the space above them. While it can be a lot to keep up with all the clues and details that make up Reds complicated character, we at Nerds & Scoundrels have compiled a thorough list of all the things you should know about this character. I got there. Viewers took to social media to unpack the bombshell episodes, which somehow combined podcasts, unrequited love, and a whole lot of plastic surgery. Its a story device, Doesnt contradict that its another possible answer as to why he knew, Any more enemies is bad and it wouldnt be 1 more, Katarina was hunted by the Russian agents its unlimited amount that would never stop chasing her had they known she is alive. While Ilya saved Liz, he saved Katarina from the fire and ended up getting burned too. Don't believe he turned himself in to protect Liz. All the twists and turns are going to bring us full circle. Red asks Liz, as she replies with both immediate and apologetic yeses. While Elizabeth is one of the shows main characters and has been around since Season 1, Jennifer was not properly introduced until her first appearance in Season 5. Despite being an outlaw and anti-hero, Reddington holds vast wisdom about morality and life. When Ilya wakes with a start that night, he goes into her room to find it destroyed, and finds Katarina on the edge of the balcony, prepared to jump. Raymond Reddingtons a pretty popular guyfor all the wrong reasons. Anyway there are many reason why people care about others. He has written words for Den of Geek, Collider, The Irish Times and Screen Rant over the years, and can discuss anything from the MCU - where Hawkeye is clearly the best character - to the most obscure cult b-movie gem, and his hot takes often require heat resistant gloves to handle. The Blacklisthas proven to be a highly entertaining procedural. Raymond Reddington is the protagonist of the crime thriller series, The Blacklist. Red is not a traitor. Red is convinced that his mysterious illness is terminal and the only way to keep the criminal underworld at bay in the wake of Townsends death is for Liz to rise up as a formidable enough threat herself. She didn't know he was her grandfather then, but now that she does, she shows up at Dom's doorstep all, What's up gramps, you got the deets? Just look at what happens in the second hour. If this were true then lots of stuff in season 1 was a lie, they called out. says the actress. Well, no one knows for sure. Katarina fears for her daughter; she fears for what the cabal will do to Reddington's reputation; she fears for Velov coming after her parents and Ilya. She is exiting the show, which was renewed in January for Season 9, after eight seasons of co-starring with Spader.). / Hasbro, Inc. Phantom 5E Guide | Rogue Subclass from Tashas Cauldron, Sons of the Forest Keep Cannibals Away Guide. If The Blacklistseason 9 or season 10does reveal the truth about his identity, it probably won't be until it's coming to an end. While it can be a lot to keep up with all the clues and details that make up Reds complicated character, we at Nerds & Scoundrels have compiled a thorough list of all the things you should know about this character. Red asks Dom if he's at peace with his decision to forgive Katarina, and Dom says that he is: "I am because I loved her. ", The episode ends with Red showing up on Dom's doorstep, a very popular place right now, demanding to know what he told Elizabeth. u/disevilletook issuewith the poll's results, pointing out the high amount of time Red would have to spend recovering from surgeries combined with the sheer number of plastic surgeons who would subsequently become a part of this top-level secret makes the theory untenable. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Elizabeth is the child of Raymond and Katarina Rostova, while Jennifer is the child of Raymond and Naomi Hyland. But the closer I got, the more I realized how funny the whole thing was, how much they'd love the story, daddy running out of gas, how every Christmas they'd get such joy from telling that story at my expense. The Blacklist has officially gotten more exciting and confusing than ever. Katarina was working with the Cabal with Fitch. Could Red actually be Katarina or is it someone else we have yet to uncover? When Elizabeth Keen was four years old, she shot Red when he was attacking her mother . The Blacklist is delving into long sought-after answers in its final Season 8 installments and the most recent episode, Nachalo, is teasing Reds (James Spader) true identity. Considering that Katarina Rostov's whereabouts are unknown it's entirely possible thatThe Blacklist's Raymond Reddington is actually Liz's mother. Dom and Liz arrive at the postal store where he tells her that Katarina gave both him and her mother a key to a P.O. The woman from Paris, aka Maddy Tolliver, is probably the wife of Dom or another mistress of the original Raymond Reddington. Red: It was Christmas Eve. What a different life he mightve led. No cars to come help. Ressler finally comes clean to Liz about continuing to research Reddington's true identity, and when he tells her that he found her maternal grandfather in the security footage from the P.O. Once a most-wanted criminal, now an FBI informant, he's able to do technically illegal things for the betterment of all mankind by bringing his unusual expertise to every case he's assigned to and, of course, to protect himself in the wake of the many, many things he's doing wrong during his time on the other side of the law. In Season 6, Episode 1 Dr. The prevailing theory is that he IS the real Reddington, who survived his apparent death and burning. Even then, The Blacklist is pretty amazing at subverting expectations, so even the "truth" may have an air of ambiguity to it. I can remember Red kissing at least 3 other women besides katarina. Another agreed. Check out our rankings for, The Blacklist: Three Things to Know about the Katai Fellowship, The Blacklist: 10 Ilya Koslov Facts Every Fan Should Know. She made the decision to remove herself from her life because it was the only way to keep her daughter safe. Katarina succeeded and built the extraordinary information network that supplied "The Blacklist." Hence, Red would be Liz's parent, after all. So: is Red really Katarina Rostova? He could be another boyfriend of Katarina who is the . Tonights finale episode, titled Konets, saw Red hatch a plan to have Liz kill him and take over his operation. The network announced the show would be coming to a close earlier this month, prior to the first episode airing. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The Blacklist, Season 8 Finale, Wednesday, June 23, 10/9c, NBC. The Blacklist's Raymond Reddington is a robust man. She knows about every detail about Russian Secret service as well as FBI. This intelligent yet dangerous mastermind goes from the FBIs #1 Most Wanted Fugitive to suddenly offer to volunteer to help catch criminals. Dom's story was not true. "I forgave my child," Dom repliesmysteriously. Sexual relationship with Luli is implied. In the penultimate episode, after revealing that he is N-13, the elusive spy that Liz (Megan Boone) had been searching for all these years, Red brings her to the headquarters of his operation in Latvia. I need answers people! And she buys it hook, line, and sinker. as a very good reason for any of those awful things to have happened, And I don't think the writers want us to see this story as credible. It appears fans have a lot of different theories. Why show us Katarina's journey post-fire, post-death of the (alleged) death of Real Raymond Reddington? Red makes an offer to assist them in locating more wanted offenders from his personal "blacklist," which he has maintained. Not that strange she might have some feelings of revenge. And then, much, much later I thought: OOOOOOOOOH, I smell what you're cookin' here. Raymond "Red" Reddington ( James Spader ), a former government agent turned high-profile criminal, who had eluded capture for decades, voluntarily surrenders to the FBI, offering to cooperate on capturing a list of criminals who are virtually impossible to catch. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. The FBI file says that the real Raymond Redington, disappeared Christmas Eve. Both Katarina and Red were spies operating overseas during the cold war. The grief-stricken Liz tracks down her grandfather Dominic 'Dom' Wilkinson. Late 2021 then . Particularly notable are the tender moments from Lizs early life with her mother, which get cut together with scenes of Liz and Red from the last eight seasons. At that time, Red demanded to know where she was while talking with Naomi, her mother. It's also why she is upset with Red. He is an intelligent and charming criminal mastermind who became a part of the FBI. Makes sense only if he is the father imo, I still think its more likely a memory and the later episodes take us back there so it fits, She reached to her because she felt she had to at that point, because talk of Kat started going around, and even if not, why would Raymond do that? We Finally Know Who Red Is on 'The Blacklist', Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Two major theories are gaining traction as of now, one being that James Spader's Red is the real Raymond Reddington who faked his own death. Hans Koehler (No. As we know from the trial, Raymond Reddington had access to millions and millions of dollars in accounts that were ultimately drained shortly after his initial appearance. Ilya Koslov. Katarina Rostova had arranged for the procedure to happen and made sure Reddington could and would go through it. ; Some fans think Reddington survived and that it might be shown in season 9. We're going to find out who Red really is finally! #TheBlacklist pic.twitter.com/RM0hdOolSP. She asks one more thing of him before heading into an unknown future: "If they get to me, if they take metake care of Masha.". The Blacklist positively revels in shocking twists and reveals, and proved popular enough to spawn a spinoff in the form of The Blacklist: Redemption. Next:The Blacklist Season 10 Renewed At NBC. Raymond Reddington, played by James Spader, is a notorious criminal who is wanted by the FBI, and the first episode of the NBC drama The Blacklist begins with Reddington turning himself into the agency. She has consistently had the worst plans possible to find said truth, but she didn't ask Raymond Reddington to come out of the shadows and turn her life upside down six years ago. The Blacklist: Will The Show Ever Reveal Who Raymond Reddington Is? Luckily, season 2 of "THAW" is put to an abrupt end when the FBI finally catches up with Kimberly Owens and arrests her. She tells him she knows about Dom now too, and she knows he did it all to access Reddington's accounts, and she knows that it worked, but she still has just one singular question she's unsure about: "You became Raymond Reddington, but then you stayed Raymond Reddingtonand I don't understand why? Through black-and-white scenes featuring multiple Blacklist characters we know and love reliving events in front of us, Liz is given a detailed explanation of how her then-married mother, Katarina Rostova, became a spy and struck up a relationship with her father, the real Raymond Reddington, to gather intelligence on the U.S. operative at the request of Dom, Katarinas father, and the KGB. While the theory may seem far-fetched to some, "The Blacklist" has made a name for itself making such notions seem quite possible. So The Blacklist fans are back to square one when it comes to the truth of Red's identity and his relationship with Liz. She manages to get a message to a man we've never seen before who works at the U.S. Russian Embassy: Ilya Koslov, played by Gabriel Mann. Red offers to help them track down other wanted criminals that he's compiled on his own "blacklist." Sons of the Forest: What to do at the Grave? After that, Katarina is on the run, knowing she needs to find a way to protect herself and her family. The Blacklist has at long last revealed the answer to the shows central question who is Raymond Red Reddington (James Spader) and how is he connected to Elizabeth Liz Keen (Megan Boone). Surely some of Dom's long and winding tale of how and why the man who plays Raymond Reddington on TV began playing him on TV was based on reality. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. 3. Nerds and Scoundrels is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. The Blacklist then revealed Katarina's friend and sometime lover Ilya Koslov a KGB agent took Raymond Reddington's place following his demise, changing his face with extensive plastic surgery. "The good thing is that we finally get some answers..The bad thing is that now there are more questions." Dom is a different story. With season nine returning to NBC next week, fans have continued to try and unveil the biggest mystery of the series. Check out our rankings for Best Blacklist Fan Fiction. Of all the scenes we have seen people dying, not a single moment have been devoted to even seeing Ilya rolling a dead body in a bag in a hole with Katarina watching. Dembe reminds Red that he keeps his secret out of loyalty even though he believes Red should tell Elizabeth to the truth. For example,u/Desdemona1231 admits they can't get around the level of cruelty Red would have to display toward Liz in Season 9 when the character leaves the show, by which time she's become a trusted friend to him to make the theory work for them. NBC fans also likely remember him from his iconic role as Robert California in the beloved comedy. #TheBlackList, Reddington/Ilya is back next Friday. ", "I appreciate that, Raymond," Dembe responds. .css-g0owdm{display:block;font-family:Memphis,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.625rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-g0owdm:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 40.625rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-g0owdm{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Tom Selleck Reunites with Former Co-Star, 21 Shows to Watch If You Like Yellowstone, 'WoF' Fans Say This Is the Biggest Choke on Show, St. Patricks Day Trivia Questions and Answers, Adam Sandler's Wife Jackie Shuts Down Red Carpet, The Reason Hoda Kotb Hasnt Been on the Today Show, Kelsea Ballerini Fans Lose It Amid Career News, The True History Behind St. Patrick's Day, St. Patrick's Day Movies to Feel Extra Lucky. "Popeye the Sailor Man. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whether you trust the new information or not (wed suggest being at least a little suspicious), one Twitter user summed it all up perfectly: The good thing is that we finally get some answers..The bad thing is that now there are more questions #TheBlacklist pic.twitter.com/LjUYcEUjbi. So how about a few quick Q's to get you rolling on what I'm confident will be a much-considered analysis in the comments: Sure, that's a great plan to hide Ilya in plain sight, but uhwhat part of that plan was for Katarina? The flashback-heavy hour saw Katarina Rostova seek to establish a new life and identity after avoiding drowning in the ocean. Keep up with your favorite shows delivered to your inbox! They give Dom his passport and part ways, with him promising that he'll get rid of the bodies and get himself to the United States. Was there a later reveal that I missed? He has a vast knowledge of international criminal activities and a penchant for violence. He knew they existed, he knew some players and he knew the fulcrum kept him alive. "We're talking about the Blacklist here, where loads of unrealistic stuff happens. Throughout the series, fans have come up with countless theories to identify Red after his bizarre appearance in season one. 90% was just a rehash of things we already knew. THE BLACKLIST Rassvet Episode 619 Pictured: Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC), 'The Blacklist' recap: The death and birth of Raymond Reddington. He is an enigmatic figure who looks quite similar to his daughter, Elizabeth Keen. Reddington stumbled across the Cabal and he tried to destroy it. Reddington is a criminal mastermind, making it to #4 and later to #1 on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, who suddenly turns himself in after 20+ years of evading the FBI. So then why introduce us to Ilya at all? They get in the car together because Dom wants to show her something, and from there, the majority of the episode is spent in flashback after Katarina Rostova stumbles out of the ocean, very much not dead, as she was presumed all those years ago. All there was was blood. The big truths we do have by the end of the hour are that Lizs mother Katarina Rostova is still alive because the now-dead woman Liz thought was an older Katarina Rostova (played by Laila Robins) is not Katarina Rostova. Megan Boone to Exit The Blacklist After 8 Seasons. He/She is N13. It was so still. #TheBlacklist twist at its finest. So is everyone else. Related:Blacklist: Why Samar Navabi (Mozhan Marn) Left After Season 6. Not kind of vague suggestions real, concrete footholds for the audience that has allowed them to feel like we're not stalling, we're not giving them lies or half-truths," he said. Without Reddingtons care and guidance, Zuma would likely have died in the gutters all alone. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. We've seen or heard about many romantic relationships Red has had with women. , Reddington spent 20 years creating a criminal network of spies, thieves, drug traffickers, etc. After 10 seasons of thrilling NBC drama, fans of "The Blacklist" are in shock after hearing the news that their beloved show has been canceled. Red spends most of the episode at Dom's house, asking him veiled questions if he ever forgave Katarina after she betrayed him by secretly working with the cabal and going against Russia. Where Lizs mother actually is remains unclear, but Tatiana initially assumed Katarinas identity to help the woman escape and protect Liz. #TheBlacklist, #TheBlacklist Me trying to keep the story straight. So what are we to make of "Cape May," the episode that was very much a precursor to "Rassvet" and featured the current Raymond Reddington having an extended flashback that presumably only the real Raymond Reddingtonor, ahem, Katarina Rostovawould have been privy to? Your email address will not be published. Well, it happened. She returned because the Townsend Directive was reactivated and thus she was in danger again. Does Elizabeth find out Reddington is her father? Despite this, a viewer has spotted a major clue which could suggest The Blacklist may never reveal Raymond Red Reddingtons (played by James Spader) true identity. That's why I didn't show up in Florence. Hopes are dashed for Liz once again when inThe Blacklistseason 8, the woman who Liz thought was her mother reveals that she's actually just a spy named Tatiana Petrova (Laila Robins). As shes about to go through with the plan and kill Red, Liz is shot through the chest by Townsends right-hand man Vandyke (Lukas Hassel). Others made light of Lizs excitement that she finally figured it all out, responding with, Of course you are, Lizzy, alongside sarcastic gifs, while others tried to figure out the next set of clues. Unfortunately, that plan never came to fruition, as he disappeared while on his way home to his family for Christmas back in 1990. I ran out of gas. All signs point to the Redarina fan theory that has been circulating online among Blacklist fans for years. Who is Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) of "The Blacklist," really? While I readily admit that it was naive of Liz to think that she could just get Red put in a holding cell for a few weeks while she put on her detectives' cap and got to work figuring out his true identity, I don't begrudge her stance that she deserves to know the truth. "But I can't forgive you.". But it seems odd to me if this turns out to be true. The Blacklist: Red to be exposed as Liz Keens uncle? The results of a poll posted to the subreddit by u/LizIsRedsMother indicates two things fans are frustrated with the show's lack of answers when it comes to Red's real identity, and many of them think he might be related to Liz just not in a fatherly way. Plenty of time to learn. However, just when it felt like things were starting to make sense, dropped another bomb on its viewers with another revelation about Reddingtons identity, shocked viewers once again with Season 7, Episode Katarina Rostova when Katarina reveals to Liz that Reddington has been lying once again. Koehler was also the one who surgically altered Reddington's face into Raymond Reddington's and Reddington wanted Koehler's ledger to erase that file after he heard Koehler was compromised.