The Blacklist has given audiences lots of twists in its run, with the past two seasons being particularly full of surprises. Since this is the kind of life that constantly follows Red Reddington, it won't come to a halt anytime soon, and an upcoming episode will bring with it the shocking return of Susan Blommaert's perma-survivor Mr. Kaplan. And not only will we get to find out what her situation has been since we last saw her earlier this season, but we'll learn more about Red's second banana then ever before.
Fans of The Blacklist sadly won't get their updates on the absent character in the super-near future, as Mr. Kaplan obviously can't return until the NBC drama does, and that's not happening until the middle of April. But take comfort in knowing that her comeback will be worth the wait, as it appears an entire episode's runtime will be devoted to The Tumultuous Tale Of Mr. Kaplan: Origins. The tightly focused episode will delve into Mr. Kaplan's past, and how she and Red first became partners in crime, so you know some fascinating details are going to emerge from it all. Just seeing the two characters reconnecting onscreen will be an intense treat.
In fact, star Megan Boone told TV Guide that the episode will make several big reveals about our central characters, with a specifically "surprising" secret coming out involving how Red, Liz and Mr. Kaplan are all connected. Fans know that The Blacklist has few mysteries and secrets as large and looming as who Liz's parents are. There's no telling at this point whether or not Mr. Kaplan has a big role to play in the bloodline, but that line of theorizing certainly gains a little ground now as we wait for the show's return.
When Mr. Kaplan was shot in the face last year, everything kind of changed on The Blacklist once again, beyond the fact that Red's motivations were unclear, since that's always the case. The incident is what caused one of Red's own group to attempt to poison him as not to befall the same fate of Kaplan. And with her return, there is a very good possibility that others will also find their way back into Red's personal bubble. Let's just hope nobody bursts that bubble under precarious circumstances.
With a recent appearance from Star Trek vet Brent Spiner to boast, The Blacklist will return for the remainder of its Season 4 run on Thursday, April 20, at 9 p.m. ET. In its absence, the spinoff The Blacklist: Redemption airs in the same timeslot. Head to our midseason premiere schedule to see what's coming to the small screen before and after Mr. Kaplan's big return.
