After an acclaimed ten-season run, The Blacklist ended on a surprising and startling note that had its ardent fans gasping. NBC Insider has offered a detailed breakdown of the heartbreaking final scene and offered some insights into why the story ended on such an unexpected note.
Raymond "Red" Reddington, the fan-favorite anti-hero of the series brilliantly enacted by James Spader, tragically died in the last episode of the two-part series finale. The surprise came from the manner of his demise - not treacherous enemies, but an animal attack - leaving fans with a bittersweet goodbye.
The pivotal event of Red's death unfolded during a peaceful walk in the Spanish countryside. Here, Reddington was unexpectedly charged and trampled by a charging bull leading to his fatal end. The intensity escalated as Reddington and the bull stared each other down in a tense standoff before the bull launched its lethal attack. Although the actual moment of impact was not shown, the subsequent scene painted a gruesome picture - Red crumpled and bloodied, lying in a nearby ditch with the bull ominously close.
Donald Ressler, played by Diego Klattenhoff, who was tracking Red in Spain, discovered the morbid tableau from his helicopter. In an emotional gesture, Ressler placed Red's signature hat, dislodged during the bull attack, on his body, signifying a tangible goodbye to his former colleague.
Dembe Zuma delivered a poignant eulogy for Red capturing his unique perspectives about life and death. "Death is inevitable", Reddington used to say, suggesting how that inevitability only robs death of its significance.
Echoing Dylan Thomas' poem "Do not go gentle into the good night," Dembe spoke of Red's indomitable spirit, his adventurous life, and his unyielding resolve to protect the ones he loved.
The manner of Red's death, being rather sudden and unexpected, might seem jarring for some. The notorious mastermind had been fighting a mysterious illness most of the season, and fans were speculating about a health related demise. Moreover, considering his perilous line of work, a violent death seemed more likely.
However, the bull attack brings back one of Red's earlier monologues in the series.
In season 10, episode 5, "The Dockery Affair," Red is seen narrating the story of a legendary Spanish bullfighter, Manolete, whom he incredibly admired. The parallels of Manolete losing his life to a bull, and Red's death are striking. During his final stare-down, Red might have remembered the metaphorical relevance of the matador's fate, thereby choosing to bravely confront the bull, undeterred by the risk to his life.
Adding nuances to the scene, a Spanish version of Frank Sinatra's, "My Way," played in the background, symbolizing the autonomy of Red's decision, mirroring Sinatra's theme of doing things his own way.
James Spader, in speaking with The Associated Press regarding the final chapter, emphasized the completion of the narrative arc, suggesting an authoritative decision regarding the conclusion of the series. He commended the conviction with which the closure of the series was executed, stating that the ending didn't just mark a point from start to the end, but a complete circle of sorts.
In the end, the conclusion of The Blacklist is a stark testament to Reddington's tenacious spirit, his passionate embrace of life, and his compelling refusal to be overpowered by inevitable death. This unusual conclusion immortalizes the anti-hero in the hearts of the fans, with a powerful lesson about living life on one's own terms, regardless of the circumstances.
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