The Blacklist pulled the trigger on another one of its big reveals on Friday night, fans could not handle it.
Spoilers ahead for The Blacklist Seasons 5 and 6.
Videos by PopCulture.com
The Blacklist’s Season 5 finale ended on the show-upheaving revelation that main character Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) was assuming another man’s identity for the entirety of the series. The real Red, who was the true father of Liz Keen (Megan Boone), was actually dead.
This reveal led to a manhunt for the fake Red and a rift in the core Blacklist duo. The fake Red’s true name and backstory was explained on Friday night’s episode, entitled “Rassvet.”
The man viewers have watched all along was actually Ilya Koslov (played by Gabriel Mann in flashbacks). Illya assumed Red’s identity during a heist to steal $40 million from the real Red following the later’s death. This was done in order to finance he and Katarina Rostova (Lotte Verbeek)’s escape from the KGB.
Finding out who Red and why he did it is the best episode ever released for #TheBlacklist 👏
— Lwanga 🐯 (@TheBossGent) April 27, 2019
Really happy about the reveal. The show did all it could to reveal the *basics* of who Red was. But just the basics. Who was the ballarina girl? And what about that house Red blew up where he raised his family? There is so much more to come. #TheBlacklist
— A Timeless Flight (@miller2275) April 27, 2019
As one would imagine, fans finally getting a payoff of one of the show’s biggest mysteries elicited some favorable responses.
Many declared the flashback-heavy episode turned out to be one of the show’s best. However, not everyone bought into the reveal.
Some questioned if Ilya’s story, which was told to Liz by her grandfather, was as real as the show passed it off.
Why does #TheBlacklist always have to be this infuriating? Great episodes, but everything was semi ruined in the last minutes. Red’s response to Liz and him questioning Dom opens up everything again. How much of what was revealed is actually true? What needs to be added? 😫
— Amber (@HisWayHome14) April 27, 2019
So…I can’t be the only person who doesn’t believe just yet that Ilya is actually “our” Red. The story took a huge turn with this & I can’t wait to find out more about him #TheBlacklist
— CC (@LeighMelone) April 27, 2019
The Blacklist airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Photo Credit: Will Hart/NBC
