The Blacklist returns from it’s mid-season hiatus with a two-part episode which will finally reveal Reddington‘s (James Spader) plan to stop the Cabal, clear Lizzie (Megan Boone), and (at least somewhat) restore the show’s status quo by targeting Peter Kotsiopulos (David Strathairn). While the first episode is spent primarily just keeping Lizzie alive and out of the hands of the Cabal, the second-half slowly reveals Red’s plan as the pieces put in place over the first half of the show’s Third Season finally come together (including a well executed con allowing the group to grab the Director from under the noses of his own security).
By the end of the episode the Cabal is weakened but not exterminated, Lizzie is free but no longer a FBI agent, and Red is able to achieve a personal victory over the (now former) leader of the Cabal. Lizzie’s distinction as an asset rather than agent certainly opens up a small shake-up in the show’s structure while getting her back to work with the task force beginning next week. Given that Lizzie’s freedom has been the primary focus of the entire Third Season to this point next week should see the show return to its regular format once again and begin taking down more members of The Blacklist.
