James Spader is the undisputed star of this awesome show, playing Raymond Reddington, a permanent resident of the FBI’s most wanted list. For reasons of his own, he voluntarily surrenders and starts working with the FBI, and one agent in particular, to take down members of the world’s criminal underbelly that Reddington himself considers the scum of the earth. He plays his anti-hero role perfectly, with dry acerbic panache, underpinned by a deep well of genuine ‘something’. What it is, we’ll have to wait and see, but there is obviously something important at his core driving him. This is definitely a thriller, but there is plenty of emotion, humor and finely edged wit to lighten the tension. Nobody can sneer quite like James Spader, although I read once that many people would pay good money to see a sneering contest between Spader and Kevin Spacey.
Reddington’s complicated relationship with his FBI go-to agent, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), is marvelous, as are his interactions with other FBI suits as well as associates and/or friends who aren’t precisely in strictly legal lines of work. There is a definite long story arc at play here, although each episode generally deals with another name on the List. If you watch out of order, I’d say you will miss about 50% of what’s really going on. Thoroughly entertaining to watch the FBI work with the devil they know to take down the truly evil, plus simultaneous other plots and subplots, this show is definitely worth watching. – BETHANY
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The image gallery has been carefully selected so as to give away no spoilers.
Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keen (James Spader and Megan Boone).
Assistant Director of the FBI Harold Cooper (Harry Lennix). You might recognize him from Dollhouse.
Agent Donald Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff). He’s a great character and gets quite a few good lines.
FBI team at work – second from left, Samar Navabi (Mozhan Marnò) and Aram Mojtabai (Amir Arison).
Agent Keen and Reddington under cover.
Tom Keen: Mild mannered school teacher or something else entirely? Ryan Eggold
Alan Fitch (Alan Alda).
Reddington is just too cool and never misses an opportunity to lounge.
Reddington’s ever-present shadow/chauffeur Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq).
Photos courtesy of Davis Entertainment, Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television and NBC (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)
 Bonus: Check out Megan Boone (right) in Welcome to the Jungle. |
Reviews by Bethany 
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