The Blacklist, the popular crime thriller series on NBC, ended its eighth season with a stunning twist: the apparent death of Elizabeth “Liz” Keen, the FBI profiler and the daughter of the mysterious Raymond “Red” Reddington. But is Liz really dead, or is there more to the story? Here is what we know so far.
The Death Scene
In the final episode of season 8, titled “Konets”, Liz and Red finally confronted each other after a long and complicated cat-and-mouse game. Liz wanted to know the truth about Red’s identity and his connection to her mother, Katarina Rostova, a former KGB agent who was killed by Red earlier in the season. Red, on the other hand, wanted to protect Liz from his enemies and his secrets, which he claimed were too dangerous for her to know.
The confrontation took place at a remote cabin in the woods, where Red revealed that he had a terminal illness and that he planned to pass on his criminal empire and his blacklist of dangerous criminals to Liz. He also offered to tell her everything she wanted to know, but only if she agreed to kill him. Liz hesitated, but before she could make a decision, she was shot in the back by one of Neville Townsend’s henchmen, who had followed them to the cabin. Red held Liz in his arms as she died, telling her that he loved her and that he was sorry.
The Exit of Megan Boone
The death of Liz Keen was not only a shock for the fans, but also for the actress who played her, Megan Boone. Boone announced that she was leaving the show after eight seasons, and that the season 8 finale was her last episode. According to several sources, the decision was mutual and amicable, and the writers had enough time to craft a fitting farewell for her character.
Boone thanked the fans and the cast and crew of The Blacklist for their support and love, and said that she was proud of the work they had done together. She also hinted that she was ready for new challenges and opportunities in her career. Boone had been with the show since the beginning, and had become one of the main protagonists alongside James Spader, who plays Red.
The Future of The Blacklist
The death of Liz Keen has left many questions unanswered and many fans wondering what will happen next. Will Red ever reveal his true identity and his relationship to Liz? Will Liz’s daughter, Agnes, inherit her mother’s legacy and her father’s secrets? Will the task force continue to work with Red and pursue his blacklist? Will Liz ever return from the dead, as she had done before?
The showrunners have promised that season 9 will explore the aftermath of Liz’s death and the impact it will have on the characters and the story. They have also teased that there will be new threats, new allies, and new surprises in the upcoming season. The Blacklist has been renewed for a ninth season, which is set to premiere on October 21, 2021, on NBC.
