The Blacklist fan argued that James Spader essentially played his on-screen persona in the series creating a major plot hole.
The Blacklist proved to be one of the most-watched shows on network television during its ten-season run. It starred James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and was filled with mysteries that kept the audiences invested. However, the performances of its stars, including Spader anchored the narrative and proved to be the reason for its longevity.
Despite the popularity of Spader’s performance, one fan pointed out why it led to a major flaw in the series. On social media, the fan highlighted how Spader’s acting in the series although commendable created an issue for one of its major theories. Here is what the fan had to say about Spader’s performance and the flaw it caused for The Blacklist after season 1.
The Blacklist Fan Highlights the Show’s Biggest Flaw Since Season 1
The Blacklist premiered on NBC in 2013 and lasted for ten seasons. James Spader played the role of enigmatic Raymond “Red” Reddington, a former fugitive turned FBI informant. Despite acclaim for his performance and receiving two Golden Globe nominations, Spader inadvertently led to one of the show’s biggest flaws.
In a Reddit post, user @wolfbysilverstream explained how Spader’s performance as Red, who is later revealed to be an imposter created an issue for the show’s indication that his real identity was that of Katarina Rostova. The user explained that Spader’s performance as Red had shades of his past roles.
Spader rose to prominence with his performance as Alan Shore in The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal. The user pointed out how Spader’s mannerisms, hand gestures, and vocalizations as Red were reminiscent of his role as Shore.
Is that portrayal of Red one which portrays the things we see in Katarina? At what stage do writers start writing for the actor, as opposed to the other way around?
The user made the above remark in the post, highlighting how Spader essentially wasn’t playing Red but his on-screen persona.
Since the character is an imposter impersonating the real Reddington, this creates a problem with the show’s overall story. As a result, the user wondered whether the show’s writing was changed to incorporate Spader’s on-screen persona, which affected the character’s persona.
The Blacklist Creator Admitted the Writing Was Changed to Suit James Spader
The Reddit post raised an interesting question regarding Spader’s performance in the series, which exudes charisma and also has undertones of humor, something that is uncharacteristic for a criminal of Red’s stature. As a result, fans were curious to learn if the writing was changed to suit Spader’s persona.
During an interview with TV Goodness, creator Jon Bokenkamp was asked about one aspect of Red’s character that was added because of Spader. In response, Bokenkamp singled out Spader’s humorous touch while praising the actor.
In a separate interview with Variety, Bokenkamp explained how the show’s writing changed after Spader was cast as Red. He said:
Once James stepped into the character during the pilot, adjustments were made to fit a voice that he had in mind.
Bokenkamp’s statement suggests that the direction of Red’s character, especially in terms of performance was altered after the pilot. Moreover, it also implies that Spader wanted to underline the character’s humor. Therefore, it is evident that the writing for the show slightly changed to incorporate Spader’s on-screen persona.
