The Blacklist: What James Spader series needs to do to secure season 5 renewal
A mere matter of days ago, The Blacklist went on hiatus over at NBC. With that, we were left waiting in the wings in order to see The Blacklist: Redemption.
Unfortunately both shows have something in common at the moment — the ratings aren’t great. The latter is probably dependent on the struggles of the former. The Blacklist remains a very good show — it’s hard its struggles along the way (season 3 was a rough one for us), but we still think that it has some of the strongest characters and performances out of anything on network TV. It’s unfortunately been stuck now with a rough timeslot, and with that, it has the misfortune of being a show that you can’t quite dive into without prior knowledge of what’s going on.
For the time being, NBC’s yet to hand down a season 5 renewal. Will that happen before it returns in April? Maybe, but in the event that it doesn’t, we like to think that we’ve got some handy suggestions for what it should do to help facilitate the process.
1. Pair up Liz and Red more – The main focus of the pilot was the dynamic between these two as they collaborated to take down Blacklsiters. It’s easier said than done given that he’s not stuck somewhere that he has to work with the FBI anymore, but it could be essential to bringing the show back to prominence and getting some previously-loyal fans back.
2. Big-name guest castings – During the first two seasons, the show was exceptional at this. It’s a little harder with smaller ratings, but we do still like to think that there are some people out there the producers should be able to recruit for this.
3. A streamlined narrative – Keep things simple, and balance out a case-of-the-week story with a larger arc. With network shows that run 22 episodes, this at times is the best option to keep things from getting too convoluted.
The biggest reason to have hope here for the future is probably the sole fact that this timeslot has shown itself to be so terrible for so many different NBC shows. If The Blacklist can continue to hover near a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic, that may be enough to keep them happy as opposed to throwing a new show to the wolves there.
What do you the needs to be done to secure The Blacklist season 5 renewal? Share in the comments below! (Photo: NBC.)
red
May 9, 2017 @ 1:06 am
… bring back this bring back that …
just let Katarina Rostova show up, there you have season 5 material
Carol Vermast
May 7, 2017 @ 10:19 pm
Just get Red (James Spader) back for at least one last season! Write some storyline about a Russian syndicate who kidnaps his granddaughter bc some former KGB agent finally finds out how to tackle Red (via an assignment of her dad (Ryan Eggold) and inn some old debt. It will get thru another 22 sequels. Stories, as in life, have a tendency to repeat somehow :) Bring it on!!
julianne
May 7, 2017 @ 4:30 am
Im In Australia i love the Blacklist Please continue seasons 5 onwards great great SHOW
Brennan
May 4, 2017 @ 1:09 am
I don’t agree with everyone saying to kill off Tom. I’ve always been a stickler for happy endings and the ability that a good person has to change someone who was raised bad.
To me, I think Liz is exactly what Tom needs to become a different person and I think the show needs to focus a little bit more on Tom and Liz’s relationship.
Breaking Tom and Liz apart would probably make me quit watching the show. While the rest of it is interesting as well, that would be a deal breaker as it’s been made pretty clear that Tom actually loves Liz and was conflicted in loyalties around the beginning.
Keziah
April 29, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
#Keenler needs to happen. So many fans want it and I think more will turn back to it if that spark were to occur.
Eveline Jansen
April 28, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
For me its one of the best shows on Dutch tv. TG still some episodes to go for season 4. But I wouldnt want it to end there, so please continue the show in september with season 5.
June Uhl
April 27, 2017 @ 7:31 pm
My family loves Blacklist and hope it does come back !
Ted Slattery
April 19, 2017 @ 2:44 am
Kill off Keen’s husband either by his past catching up with him or a freak accident of some sort. I don’t mean to be mean but I just don’t like what he brings to the table. Plus this would create a way for Liz & Red to work together as well as working on mending their wounds.
Bianka
April 11, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
Back to Red and Liz. Let them explore cases…
JJ
March 20, 2017 @ 7:51 pm
Red & Liz make the show. It’s why I watch. At the same time I would like to see the writers reveal more into Red’s past. It also would be super if Liz could meet her Grandfather.
James's Fan
March 7, 2017 @ 1:50 pm
Get back to the way the show was. Red needs to get back his rythym he lost his footing after Liz faked her death( that whole story arc should never have happened, it really screwed up the dynamics) Get Red to start being agressive again, give him back his backbone and have him taking names and kicking butt!!! The new show bored the socks off me, eggold is no James Spader, there is no magic in him that makes you want to watch, let alone care about him!
Kristi
March 1, 2017 @ 8:52 am
Do a “look back” episode… market widely, make available for free on as many outlets as possible.
Kristi
March 1, 2017 @ 8:49 am
What you should do to increase viewership- Blacklist is awesome BECAUSE it’s so complex and unique! But it is hard to follow if you haven’t seen it before. Solution- I can think of two… 1.) make a “special event” movie called “Before the Blacklist” or something like that and tell the story of both Liz and Red before they teamed up… this could be done in a few ways, I have some great ideas but the point is, to incorporate the recent past (as in the last 4 seasons) with the more distant past… If this proved to be too difficult (hard to imagine with the excellent writers on the Blacklist!- who make the show the masterpiece that it is!) there’s option 2- which is to make a 1-2 hour “look back at the past 4 seasons” show. Call it what you want. But show clips relevant to the storyline. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, market the show in wide circles. “You’ve heard how incredible the Blacklist is, but you’re too far behind to ever catch up? Not anymore!! Don’t miss the “???” Episode of the Blacklist and you will be as up to date as any hard core fan!” Make it available on Hulu, Netflicks, Amazon, etc FOR FREE, Longterm, and that way, everyone can “catch up” quickly whenever they choose to. The Blacklist is hands down the BEST series on TV now and perhaps ever. Our family enjoys a wide variety of shows, most of us have differing interests and shows unique to each of us. The Blacklist, however, is one show we all LOVE! After missing a few episodes of season four, we bought them! I will buy the entire series eventually just because I want to always have it. My daughter and I often watch old seasons, Blacklist binges, on our mother daughter nights. Please don’t cancel the show, what a huge mistake that would be! I watch less and less TV because I’m sick of the mindless reality shows. I’d rather read or something. (3.) a no brainer would be to put it back on its original time and night) Thanks!
Lynnae Colburn
March 1, 2017 @ 3:39 am
This s our family’s it show!! The thought of it ending is mortifying. This show deserves a better time slot. Moving this shows time slot set it up for failure. NBC has made some extremely poor judgements this past year and if this show is pulled then NBC will no longer exist in our home.
Ghibli
February 28, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
As previously said by posters, bring back the Liz / Red interaction and drop Tom. Having her go back to someone who nearly killed her and then play house, with child, is a disgrace to the strong character she used to be.
Perhaps she could out him as a cheater (he has done it before) and have her picking up the pieces in a badass way.
And perhaps ride off into the sunset with Red, but that’s optional. ( They did it with CSI!)
Private Person
February 27, 2017 @ 7:44 pm
Red has to tell Liz the truth
BlacklistDclassified
February 27, 2017 @ 8:33 am
I have a blog where I list and rate “M”ature Lizzington fan fiction. There’s been a huge increase in hits to this list in the last 3 weeks in particular. A year ago I ran a poll asking what “ships” people wanted. Lizzington won with 72% though it’s even higher in other countries. 701 people responded to the poll. Just FYI.
Personally, I still want to know a lot more about Katarina and Red’s relationship. Liz knows from her mother’s journal that Katarina really loved Red. Did Red ever really know?
Erika Vogler
February 27, 2017 @ 3:10 am
My whole family loves the Blacklist!! The only show we all love to watch together!!!
Barbara E Turner
February 27, 2017 @ 2:48 am
I love the blacklist. Please bring it back for season 5. It did struggle some in season 3, but I believe it’s getting better and better if people would just give it a chance. Best show on TV.
D Jackson
February 26, 2017 @ 10:08 pm
Bring back Mr Kaplan. Let’s get back more tension between Red and Liz over the subject of “who’s my Daddy.” Give Dembe’s character more substance in the form of his family ties, etc.
Shar
February 26, 2017 @ 10:36 pm
Excellent ideas. Best I’ve read. Also, as said above, connect the episodes with a “larger arc.”
Damon M.
February 26, 2017 @ 8:59 pm
As soon as I start liking a show it may get cancelled. If I have never seen an episode this would be on Season 10 by the time I realize it. ???
Hopeful
February 26, 2017 @ 3:26 pm
Bring back Agent Donald Ressler into the main storyline with Red and Liz. It is so obvious he’s being sidelined for a year since S3E11 that the story has not been in balance anymore. Bring Resslington (Red-Ressler interaction) and give Keenler (Liz-Ressler) personal conversation that’s been also missing since S3E11. And let the Blacklist and the Blacklist Redemption as a separate show including breaking Keen2 up so that Liz will be back in her strong character as Liz in S1 and S2, it will also make so much sense.
Tanya Kay Flathers
February 26, 2017 @ 1:05 pm
Go back to the 9pm time slot, having a show on at the 10pm time slot when most people want to go to bed.
Jules
February 26, 2017 @ 9:42 am
Leave tom in redmeption and get back to basics which Liz and red chemistry and is 100% the reason people watch (or not)
Beachie
February 27, 2017 @ 9:22 pm
Exactly!!!!
Deborah jean
February 26, 2017 @ 2:08 am
Break up Keen2, since Tom is a show-killer and everyone knows it. Give more screen time pairing Red, Ressler, and Liz. Daddygate, Keenler, and Resslington. That’s what sells the show for me.
nearvanaman
February 26, 2017 @ 10:07 pm
I keep waiting for the Tom twist where it turns out he *really* can’t be trusted just like Red said. But since he recently recruited Tom, it seems they’ve dropped that.
Beachie
February 27, 2017 @ 9:20 pm
Daddygate kills the show. Removes the mystery and excitement of why Red cares for Liz so much without them being related. The DG at the end of 04 x 08 was a huge flop. Otherwise agree with your comments.
Lynn Parish
February 26, 2017 @ 1:21 am
More Red and Liz. Get rid of the Keen family drama. Having the female lead go back to her abusive ex-husband and have his child was the worst decision they could have made. They have separated Liz from Red and the Taskforce and the chemistry is no more. As a result the majority of fans have lost their connection to the show.