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When the first season of The Blacklist entered my life three years ago I was captured by the overwhelming dark character of Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader). A complex character whose untold secrets forced me to watch every episode religiously. In the beginning of the series I yearned to know the identity of Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone) and the reason why she was important to Reddington. Of course this question has already been answered, which I won’t spoil for those of you who are planning on binge watching this series. Suffice it to say the writers keep you in suspense for a good amount of time so prepare to salivate.
Here is the basic plot of Season 3 for those who have not seen it yet.
In the third season of the hit drama The Blacklist, FBI Agent Elizabeth “Liz” Keen is now a fugitive and on the run with criminal mastermind Raymond “Red” Reddington. With Assistant FBI Director Harold Cooper under investigation, a conflicted Agent Donald Ressler leads the FBI Task Force on a massive manhunt for Liz and Red. As they struggle to stay one step ahead of their former colleagues, Liz immerses herself into Red’s underworld of disreputable contacts and covert operations. Liz is on an unpredictable journey of self-discovery and all the pieces of her life, including her indefinable relationship with Tom, will be drastically challenged as she continues to believe Red holds all the answers.
In my opinion, from episode one this season hit the ground running with twist after twist. No character was safe, which made every life threatening scenario all the more teeth clenching. The peaks and valleys that the characters experience will make you wonder how they’ll ever be the same, which none of them will ever be. Overall this season is the best thus far in the series and I’d recommend anyone who hasn’t seen this series at all to take the time to watch the very first episode. If you do I can almost guarantee you’ll get hooked.
Now I could go on about the acting and the plot, however, when I took the time to think deeper about this season I realized something interesting relating to fatherhood. The message I received through all the neck breaking drama was that Red symbolized a father doing all he can to protect his child in this case Liz, which ends up pushing her toward the danger he had so desperately tried to protect her from.
Without going into too much detail, Red through a warped sense of right and wrong, tries to protect Liz by keeping her close and telling her what she needs to know but not what she wants to know. Truth is withheld from Liz and she knows it, which pushes her away from him and into the arms of someone he thinks is dangerous. Sounds like every father who has a daughter, right. in the end, all the bad things he was trying to keep from her would eventually come. All his worst fears would be realized and part of it if not most of it is on him.
This story arc is not much different from many fathers or mothers who are trying to raise their children in this crazy world. With so much temptation and peer pressure it’s hard for parents not to restrict their children from doing things that seem fun. Like going out with friends until the wee hours of night or dating that boy or girl that you just “know” is not good enough for your child. We as parents try to force them to comply with what we think is best for them. Now for some parents their willing to explain why while others like those who raised me it was more of a I said you do type of relationship. Either way if the child feels like they are being controlled to tightly they may act out and do the things that you had forbidden.
In the end, I believe that not only Red but if parents were to be honest with their children about their fears, hopes and dreams for them that there could be more opportunity for open dialogue. Conversations could be shared that will help all parties come to an understanding of why parents fear and why children want to spread their wings. However, unlike Red we as parents may not get a second take and the decisions our children make will last longer then a television series.
The new season of The Blacklist begins January 4.
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