When Katarina explosively entered the picture of The Blacklist, she turned it upside down. There is no going back for her, Liz, or Red. All that is left is settling a familial feud amid the backdrop of Red’s declining health and Liz’s new mission in an effort to bring down her mentor. As you can imagine, Katarina will prove pivotal to Liz’s journey in Season 8.
Liz has seemingly learned nothing from nearly getting Red executed due to her insolence, moving full steam ahead by joining forces with her mother, Katarina. The shocking decision will lead to even more drama, and Katarina will be at the center of Liz’s saga. How will she come into play? On the impending fireworks, The Blacklist’s creator Jon Bokenkamp told EW:
[Katarina] is a linchpin for Liz. The choices for Liz become even more binary this season because of information that Katarina has uncovered. Both Katarina and Liz share a deep, sometimes frustration, sometimes anger, sometimes hatred toward Reddington for the way he entered and uprooted their lives. For Liz to finally have somebody that understands what that's like is pivotal. Her mother and the story that we're telling with her mother will define who Liz becomes as we move forward.
Well, this is not comforting for those of us who want to see Liz leave this ridiculous vendetta she has against Red behind. I've certainly been one of those fans ever since the plot twist unraveled at the end of The Blacklist’s shortened seventh season. While there is a lot to this quote that is juicy, there is an especially intriguing tease towards the conclusion.
The Blacklist had strongly hinted that Liz’s ultimate path would be a dark one, and while I was reticent to accept that notion at the time, it seems the show is doubling down on the assertion. Since Katarina is part of defining who Liz will become, it makes me nervous. In light of the facts so far, I believe that Katarina is the true villain of The Blacklist and not Red. Thus, making Katarina into Liz’s pivotal piece problematic to say the least.
Red is not sharing who he really is. Liz knows the essence of the person, and that is what I think she should trust. Her obsession with unraveling Red will only lead her down a darker path akin to Anakin Skywalker’s journey in Star Wars. While The Blacklist is no Star Wars, Liz's journey could take her on a Vader-esque path!
It is startling that Liz is on this much of a warpath over everything. Do you agree? Are you Team “Lizarina” (Liz and Katarina) or Team Red? Vote in the Blacklist poll below and then tune in tonight for the Season 8 premiere. It airs this evening, November 13, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. For more entertainment, check out 2021’s winter/spring schedule and relive Liz and Red’s happier times in past seasons streaming on Netflix.
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