Pilot 

Ex-government agent and one of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives, Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) mysteriously turns himself in to the FBI and offers to give up everyone he has ever ... See full summary »

Director:

Joe Carnahan

Writers:

Jon Bokenkamp (created by), Jon Bokenkamp

Stars:

James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Spader	...	Raymond 'Red' Reddington
Megan Boone	...	Elizabeth Keen
Diego Klattenhoff	...	Donald Ressler
Ryan Eggold	...	Tom Keen
Ilfenesh Hadera	...	Jennifer Palmer
Harry Lennix	...	Harold Cooper
Chance Kelly	...	Daniel Ryker
Jamie Jackson	...	Ranko Zamani
Delphina Belle	...	Beth
Charles Baker	...	Grey
Donnetta Lavinia Grays	...	FBI Lobby Guard
Annet Mahendru	...	Agent Rosen
Jeremy Beiler	...	Tech (Hive)
Christine James Walker	...	Cooper's Aide (as Christine Walker)
Jennifer Kim	...	Analyst (War Room)

Storyline

Ex-government agent and one of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives, Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) mysteriously turns himself in to the FBI and offers to give up everyone he has ever worked with including a long-thought-dead terrorist but under one condition - he'll only talk to newly-minted female FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) with whom he seemingly has no connection. For Liz, it's going to be one hell of a first day on the job and what follows is a twisting series of events as the race to stop a terrorist begins.

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Plot Keywords:

series title spoken by character | worried wife | standing on a ledge | black site | sliding over the hood of a car | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United Kingdom]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 2013 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davis Entertainment, Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital DTS (HD MA) (blu-ray)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The birth date on the "Ten Most Wanted" poster for Raymond 'Red' Reddington is February 7, 1960, the birth date of James Spader.

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Goofs

Zamani is an Arabic name, not Serbian.

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Quotes

Harold Cooper: Ranko Zamani's been dead for six years. He's a non-existent threat.
Raymond 'Red' Reddington: Then a dead man just stepped off United 283 from Munich to Dulles.

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Connections

Featured in The Blacklist: The Freelancer (No. 145) (2013)

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Soundtracks

Ain't That a Kick In the Head
(uncredited)
Written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn
Performed by Dean Martin

User Reviews

Homeland Light with a Bit of Silence of the Lambs

The Plot: x-government agent and one of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives, Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) mysteriously turns himself in to the FBI and offers to give up everyone he has ever worked with including a long-thought-dead terrorist but under one condition - he'll only talk to newly-minted female FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) with whom he seemingly has no connection.

For Liz, it's going to be one hell of a first day on the job and what follows is a twisting series of events as the race to stop a terrorist begins.

I REALLY wanted to like this show because of all the buzz.

James Spader is very good,but the female lead is over her head. She's a weak actress who brings the action down.

Further, the story line is very derivative reminiscent of Homeland only not as good. And Spader is very much a throw back to Silnce of the Lambs without the fava beans and liver.

The show is also rather amateurishly directed.

I'm reviewing the pilot but will be giving a few more episodes a try.