Spoilers for the March 27 episode of The Blacklist are discussed below.
The Blacklist has come back in 2020 with loads of intriguing developments. The March 27 episode marked a great follow-up to its midseason premiere. The installments were tied together by Red’s search for a rare art piece comprised of caskets. It all led to Red reuniting with his former flame. Joely Richardson guest-starred in the mysterious role of Cassandra and what a whirlwind installment it was!
The already renewed drama has not dropped a lot of jaw-dropping reveals during its 2020 return, but rather some tantalizing breadcrumbs that could prove helpful in the future. Remember, viewers were told to read between the lines. There are quite a few lines to read between.
If there is one thing that I have learned during The Blacklist’s nearly seven seasons, it is to listen carefully, and not be afraid to rewind. Previous episodes may have come in hot with a lot of shocking updates, but tonight’s engaging whodunit came in with a lot of fun as promised. Without further ado, it is time to jump into what 2020 has had for viewers so far.
Red Was Really Serious About Cassandra
Fans knew that Red was going to reunite with his ex, Cassandra. The Blacklist has been slim on other details. In truth, Red has been pretty much single ever since the series began. Most of his romantic side has revolved around his possible relationship with Liz’s mom, Katarina Rostova.
What It Means: Well, The Blacklist delivered a blast from Red’s past, and it turns out they were very serious about one another. Red was going to go off and be with Cassandra until the situation with Tom and Liz called him away from her. Just like that, the flames of Red’s love life have barely flickered.
Red Gave Up Love For Liz
In case you somehow doubted Red’s devotion to Liz, The Blacklist once again showed how strong it is. Red gave up a life with Cassandra to stay at Liz’s side before the show began and the March 27 episode gave them a second chance at a life together and Red was on the verge of taking it!
What It Means: When it seemed like Red was ready to go away with Cassandra, he stopped by to see Agnes’ recital. The result? Cassandra saw how devoted Red was to Liz and Agnes and urged him to embrace the love he had found with them. I really liked Cassandra and her chemistry with Red. I hope this is “see you later” and not “goodbye.” More on that in a bit!
Red’s Dad Taught Him Something Interesting
Remember how I mentioned the breadcrumbs that The Blacklist has left for viewers? This was one of them. Red told Cassandra that his dad had taught him about insects. In ever-eloquent terms, he also mentioned discovering a world that was before his eyes, and he had never seen. Who else loves a Red monologue filled with a double meaning?
What It Means: You might be wondering -- what makes this info so valuable? It is not necessarily groundbreaking in terms of The Blacklist’s canon. However, it does give some insight into Red’s relationship with his father, which I always got the impression was not fantastic. Apparently, they were close enough to share a hobby.
Aram and His Girlfriend Broke Up
I want Aram to find ever-lasting love and happiness, preferably with Samar. That is, if she ever returns to The Blacklist. For now, I have been willing to settle for Aram breaking up with his puzzling girlfriend, Elodie. I have made no secret that I have wanted Aram to dump his problematic flame.
What It Means: Cut to The Blacklist’s 2020 return, and one of my wishes has come true! Aram has dodged a bullet, in my opinion. Is this really the end? When it comes to their relationship, hopefully. I still think there is a chance that there is more to Elodie than she let on. If not, there are still a lot of unanswered questions where she is concerned.
Ilya Who? Red’s Friend Is MIA
The real Ilya Koslov’s status has not played heavily into The Blacklist’s 2020 return so far. That development (or lack thereof) has been sort of surprising given how important he was leading up to the midseason finale. Katarina kidnapped him, and she attempted to extract memories from Ilya. It was a whole ordeal.
What It Means: Have viewers seen the last of Ilya Koslov? Or will Red’s old friend turn up again? There is still a lot of mystery where Brett Cullen’s character is concerned, so a comeback seems feasible. Among the queries is why Dom (presumably) lied to Liz about Red being Ilya. That is if he intentionally did. PS: Still no update on Dom’s recovery.
Red And Cassandra Make A Great Couple
Red’s romance with Cassandra turned out to be even more entertaining than expected, and I have to admit, I had high expectations. It is somewhat strange to know that Red had such a deep and meaningful relationship before The Blacklist began because he has been so single, since the series start. Hence, it was nice to see him bask in the glow of his flickering relationship for a bit.
What It Means: I really hope that the March 27 episode is not the last viewers have seen of Cassandra. If the ratings continue to reflect the quality of the show, they should only increase if she came on The Blacklist full-time, in my opinion. I could actually see a Red/Cassandra relationship furthering the series’ with them going long-term.
I loved that the Task Force all came out to support Agnes at her recital. Cooper, Ressler, and Aram are the best! Liz is so fortunate to have them in her life. Speaking of wonderful people, Dembe’s birthday party at the start of last week’s midseason premiere was a terrific way to begin Season 7’s 2020 return.
That about wraps it up. The Blacklist has so far delivered two super-entertaining episodes. Fans have next week’s episode to look forward to as well as Season 8. In case you somehow lacked incentive, James Spader is already doing his part to bolster excitement with a fun tease. As for Liz, she will be busy as Season 7 continues. An investigation is ahead, so stay tuned.
New episodes of The Blacklist air Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC as one of the midseason’s many new offerings. To check out other intriguing developments, you can watch previous seasons of The Blacklist on Netflix alongside content arriving in 2020.
