The character of Red from The Blacklist is elusive and mysterious, marked by guileful manipulation and charismatic charm. His enigmatic nature ensures that he stays a mystery that can captivate viewers deeper into a web of intrigue surrounding him.
U.S. Marshal Ian Garvey, who is also a drug kingpin is found with a suitcase full of bones that topple Red's alliances. Ultimately, the skeleton was revealed to belong to the real Raymond Reddington who had been dead for 30 years.
Red was the FBI's Most Wanted fugitive on The Blacklist and turned himself in after 20-plus years of escaping the FBI.
Famed as the consummate mind, with a pool of different sources for all his crimes and unprecedented shape-shifting abilities that turn situations to his advantage, he is most definitely a criminal mastermind.
He offers to help capture high-profile criminals under the condition that he works exclusively with profiler Elizabeth Keen. As one of TV's most infamous antiheroes, Red proved to be the most formidable Blacklister to overcome. Dive in to revisit Red's thrilling journey on The Blacklist.
The Blacklist: Reddington is not who you think he is
Red excelled at eliminating his enemies, whether through firearms or cutting words, particularly when those he loved were in danger. Throughout season 1 of The Blacklist, Red grew closer to the task force, especially Liz, hinting at a deeper connection.
Red and Liz were on the run in The Blacklist season 3 from the authorities and The Cabal. Red targeted a key member of The Cabal, Peter Kotsiopulos, while also dealing with suspicions from the criminal underworld about being an FBI informant.
Liz's efforts to clear her name and their encounters with various blacklisters added to the chaos. Season 3 also saw Liz giving birth to her daughter, Agnes, and the introduction of Mr. Kaplan, who attempted to hide the baby from Red.
Mr. Kaplan's actions revealed Red's dark past to Liz and the task force, ultimately failing to dismantle his criminal network but uncovering a suitcase containing bones.
In Season 5 of The Blacklist, it was revealed that the bones belonged to the real Raymond Reddington, who had been dead for 30 years, exposing Red as an imposter.
Liz sought to uncover more about Red's true identity, leading to significant developments, including Red's imprisonment and the kidnapping by Katarina Rostova, Liz's mother.
Season 8 saw Liz seeking revenge against Red, aligning with Neville Townsend, and ultimately being killed before she could take over his criminal empire.
What did the series' finale ending imply?
The season finale of The Blacklist saw Red constantly on the move, evading vengeful blacklisters who had discovered his informant status, including Wujing, The Freelancer, Robert Vesco, and Dr. Laken Perillos.
After Red kills Wujing, the remaining blacklisters fade into the shadows. However, to stop Wujing's crusade, Red devises a plan and implicates the task force as accomplices to murder.
Realizing his criminal lifestyle endangered those he cared for, Red began dismantling his criminal empire with the help of the Reddington Task Force. He deceived the agents into believing they were capturing new blacklisters to keep them unaware of his plans.
Meanwhile, Congressman Arthur Hudson sought to expose the task force's illegal activities. After a shootout with Hudson, Red's health deteriorated significantly. Ultimately, Red became the final blacklister on the task force's list as he fled the country.
Red fled to Spain and challenged task force colleagues to follow him. One tracker, Donald Ressler, who had used years following Red, finally got hold of his target but, unfortunately, it was too late.
Red's condition had worsened. As he was taking a walk across the countryside in the peaceful afternoon, he was fatally gored by an angry bull.
The reveal of Red as the impostor puts into question the truth behind Reddington's actions throughout, staging several possibilities for storylines moving forward. At the same time, the finale also leaves many dark fates for characters, making fans hopeful about the next season with more answers.
To relive all of Red's exploits on The Blacklist, tune into NBC or stream on Hulu or Peacock.
