The Blacklist is a series that has both incredibly gripping episodes complete with perfectly spun narratives, but also episodes that you can skip entirely. The Blacklist ran for 10 seasons, which is impressive but means that the show had its fair share of filler, recap episodes, or just episodes that were poorly made and written. Considering how long the The Blacklist is, some may be incline to skip those altogether.

Starring James Spader and Megan Boone, The Blackflist ​​​​​​follows criminal Raymond Reddington and FBI agent Elizabeth Keen and begins with Raymond’s capture. From there, he offers his services in catching other criminals, both in an attempt to save his own skin and also to get closer to Elizabeth herself. Most The Blacklist episodes follow a case of the week structure, but some are just not as interesting as others.

5

Anna-Gracia Duerte

Season 5, Episode 17

Set in the middle of the plot against US Marshal Ian Garvey, “Anna-Gracia Duerte” is named for the young woman at the center of the episode’s plot. The episode features the murder of a member of a group called the Nash Syndicate as well as a desperate attempt to secure evidence against the US Marshal, set against the growing interest in Samar and Aram’s relationship. However, when it comes to Anna herself, things take a needlessly dark turn.

In a plot that poorly tackles topics that revolve around agency and child marriage, “Anna-Gracia Duerte” fails to properly broach its themes in a way that engages the audience. Not only that, but the Brazilian laws addressed in the episode are not laws at all, creating a narrative based on incorrect information for the sake of shock value. Aside from this, it is only tangentially tied to the plot, with much of what happens not mattering much by the end of the episode.

4

Lawrence Dane Devlin

Season 5, Episode 21

Taking its focus on the character Samar, “Lawrence Dane Devlin” kicks off when Samar is kidnapped by the тιтular character on Raymond’s Blacklist. The episode that follows is a race to find her, with Samar’s life hanging in the balance throughout an episode that should, for all intents and purposes, be adrenaline-pumping and exciting to watch. However, the episode falls flat, both in Samar’s characterization and its relevance to the rest of the plot.

Not only is Samar’s character sidelined for the greater plot, but the episode makes her feel like an entirely different person. Until now, Samar has been a capable character entirely able to take care of herself. However, this episode not only takes that away from her, but it is also surrounded by what feels like constant incompetence from the other characters attempting to save her, and a side plot with Raymond that feels completely removed.

3

Between Sleep And Awake

Season 9, Episode 7

The episode “Between Sleep and Awake” is unique for The Blacklist, as it does not focus on the list that makes up the series’ тιтle. Instead, it focuses on Donald Ressler tackling what he has been doing in a series of flashbacks revolving around his life and his relationship with Elizabeth. Because of this, Raymond is not a focus whatsoever, and neither is the quest to take down the criminals on his list.

The focus moving to Ressler as opposed to Raymond is interesting to say the least, but it is a brief dalliance that pulls away from the larger plot. The story of the episode is interesting enough, but it feels like watching a completely different show. It is an episode that can be skipped by all but the biggest fans of Donald Ressler himself.

2

The Bear Mask

Season 9, Episode 19

One of the worst episodes of The Blacklist, “The Bear Mask” is another one-off that mostly focuses on the character Aram. Steeped in anxiety and hallucinations, the episode attempts to tackle the issues that Aram faces in the wake of the pressures he has been saddled with. It is another episode that Raymond does not appear in, immediately calling into question its relevance to the plot.

The hallucinogenic therapy that Aram undergoes is interesting from a story standpoint, but it distracts from the episode’s main plot and feels like an unearned break from the action. Aram is a compelling character, but his plot arc could have been propelled forward in an episode more relevant to the show. Because of its lack of focus on the main plot, it is another episode that can be skipped over if a viewer is looking to stay on track with the story.

1

The Major

Season 2, Episode 15

Appearing early on in the series, “The Major” is an episode set with Elizabeth being interrogated by a judge about the death of the DC Harbormaster. However, this is most of what is new with the plot of this episode. Aside from this, the episode is an excuse to reuse old clips, as it is mostly a recap of things that have already happened in the series.

Especially in this day and age of streaming services and easy rewatches, the use of recap episodes in series like this is only dwindling. The Blacklist was only in its second season, and yet the show dedicated time to creating a mostly useless episode to get viewers up to speed on what had already happened. If a viewer is binge-watching the show, they will have just watched most of what is presented in this episode, making it a waste of time.