The Blacklist: Liz and Red closer than ever [Review season premiere]

The blacklist is back for a new season and lays the foundation for a relationship between Liz and Reddington very different from previous seasons. Warning, spoilers.

Remember, during the season-finale of the previous season, we finally learned the secret. The true relationship between Reddington and Liz had finally been revealed. The suspicions we had from the beginning turned out to be correct: Reddington is indeed Liz's biological father.

A mix of humor, adrenaline and danger: The new relationship between Liz and Reddington offers a perfect combo!

This new season seems to want to exploit this new momentum in the relationship of the two characters since this first episode was very focused on their new dynamic. Not only does it breathe new life into the series, but it also gives it a certain sense of lightness. Reddington is broke and can't even afford a car so is forced to take a job as a headhunter. We would have thought that Reddington would be uncomfortable with his new situation and yet, he seems to be having a blast! One can't help but adore such a cool and relaxed Reddington, who is not ashamed to admit that he is in a rather delicate situation and who, nevertheless, is convinced that he will manage to regain what he once had.

Liz follows him on his adventures hoping to obtain, as best she can, a blacklister. At times, we do not know if she follows him out of interest in justice or simply because she wants to stay with her father and it is this doubt that makes this episode EXCELLENT. The two protagonists do not even hide their relationship anymore and will even have some sweet words and a serious discussion vis-à-vis their relatives. We did not expect to see Liz so comfortable with Reddington, and yet, she lives it very well!

Reddington being equal to himself, he begins to look for a person who will be very useful to him to recreate his empire: a master of logistics who has also become bogged down in a money affair with skinheads. Unfortunately, for the young FBI agent and her father, they will find themselves in the middle of a big story with one of the most dangerous neo-Nazi gangs in the USA. A story a little wacky but which adds to the comic of the episode and which continues to delight Reddington who admits to having fun. After multiple chases, some badass moments, many moments of doubt, etc… Reddington finally succeeds and recruits the man he was looking for while Liz gets the name of the leader of this neo-Nazi gang.

Everything is going well in the best of all worlds for our new dad / daughter duo. This new relationship is excellent and paves the way for many storylines that promise to be as interesting and intense as they are funny. One thing is certain: the dynamic is now totally different, which is timely knowing that the series was starting to run out of steam.

The other storylines: Between love, murder and secrets.

Good news: Aram and Navabi are finally together. We suspected it after seeing the final season, but they seem to be ready to finally assume and live their relationship to the fullest. Aram is still so adorable and can't help but tell Cooper. It remains to be hoped that nothing will disturb them once again given the time it took them to get together.

For his part, Ressler faces an unexpected threat. He who had always followed the rules had to go against his own principles by contacting a blacklister to hide the evidence of his altercation with Laura Hitchen who ended up killing her. Unfortunately for him and despite his precautions, the blacklister learns that he is from the FBI and does not hesitate to blackmail him. The evolution of the character is incredible and we can only feel sorry for Ressler who finds himself in the middle of a big mess following an unfortunate combination of circumstances. However, this storyline promises to be very interesting and will surely take us to see a new facet of this character that promises to be intriguing.

Finally, the episode ends on a scene that leaves us perplexed. As Liz returns home and sees Tom for the first time in several months, he is about to tell her that he has found a suitcase containing a secret kept by Reddington. Liz prepares him by announcing that Reddington is his father and Tom gives up confessing it to him knowing full well that this suitcase is not a good omen. But while Tom claims that what he wanted to tell her was simply that he loved her and would not leave again, we get a glimpse of a few scenes from the future and they are disturbing. For good reason, we see the latter bleeding in a very very bad state and Reddington / Dembe who breaks the door to reach him. While he is on the ground, Reddington aims at him, fires 2 shots and we see Tom's eyes close, dead. It remains to be seen whether this scene will take place in the near future or the final mid-season – which is more plausible. In both cases, it's hard to believe that the producers will get rid of Tom knowing how vital this character is. In addition, one cannot imagine the mess it will create in Liz's life who seems, finally, to have found some semblance of balance.

In short, you will understand, it was a very good episode, pleasant to see, funny at times and that sets the tone for the next episodes.

And you, what did you think?