For those who thought that “The Blacklist” was losing steam for season three, I felt the fourth season, writers really needed to bring back fans who were thinking the story was not as exciting anymore. And I feel the fourth season taking the characters to their lowest of lows and having to deal with major life-changing situations. The build-up to the final episode was not what I was expecting and that’s great. Now I can’t wait until the fifth season and I’m hooked on watching the series again. “The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season” is recommended!
TITLE: The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season
FILM RELEASE: 2016-2017
DURATION: 22 Episodes (946 Minutes)
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 1:78:1 aspect ratio, English, French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Subtitles: English, English SDH and French
COMPANY: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
RATED: Not Rated
RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2017
Directed by Michael W. Watkins, Andrew McCarthy, Donald E. Thorin Jr., Bill Roe, Terrence O’Hara
Written by Jon Bokenkamp, Jim Capolongo, Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier, Lukas Reiter, Brian Studler, J.R. Orci, john Eisendrath, Daniel Knauf, Daniel Cerone
Produced by Timothy Silver, Douglas Rowell, Tony Salama, Trever Stewart
Co-Producer: Alex Cuthbertson, Matt Fusfeld, Timothy Silver
Executive Producer: Tristram Shapeero, Jaes Fino, Joe Russo
Co-Executive Producer: Erik Sommers
Associate Producer: Andres Anglade
Consulting Producer: Adam Countee
Music by Ludwig Goransson
Cinematography by Gary Hatfield
Edited by Christian Kinnard, Luke Guidici
Casting by Josh Einsohn
Production Design by Denise Pizzini
Set Decoration by Denise Pizzini
Art Diretion by John B. Vertrees
Costume Design by Sabrina Rosen
Starring:
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington
Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen
Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler
Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen
Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper
Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe
Amir Arison as Aram Mjtabai
Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen
Rachel Brosnahan as Jolene
Mozhan Marno as Samar Navabi
Susan Blommaert as Mr. Kaplan
Baz as Baz
Adriane Lenox as Reven Wright
Liz works to resolve the mystery of her lost childhood, but every day without the truth holds more danger for her and her family. Meanwhile, the Task Force reels from Liz’s resurrection and friendships are fractured. Betrayed by those closest to him, Reddington’s specific moral code demands justice, all the while battling an army of new and unexpected blacklisters.
Liz, Tom and their children have been captured by Alexander Kirk. Kirk tries to get Liz to believe that he is her father and wants revenge against Reddington. Reddington and Mr. Kaplan try to rescue Liz and her child. Meanwhile, Liz’ co-workers are shocked to find out that Liz is alive and the reason why she pretended to be dead was to get away from Red.
Meanwhile, someone is trying to take down Red and the origin of Mr. Kaplan is revealed.
All this and more for season four of “The Blacklist”!
What is “The Blacklist” about?
In 2013, the series “The Blacklist” starring James Spader (“Boston Legal”, “Stargate”, “Lincoln”), Megan Boone (“My Bloody Valentine”, “Step Up Revolution”), Ryan Eggold (“90210”, “Queen”, “Trophy Kids”), Parminder Nagra (“Bend It Like Beckham”, “ER”) and Harry Lennix (“Man of Steel”, “Ray”, “The Matrix Revolutions”) became a breakout hit for NBC.
“The Blacklist” revolves around former government agent and one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, Raymond “Red” Reddington (portrayed by James Spader) surrendering at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Because of the terrorist threats against America, Reddington offers to help the FBI under one condition, he will only work with one person in the FBI, rookie FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen (portrayed by Megan Boone).
For Megan, she looks at her new job as a great paying job that she and her husband Tom (portrayed by Ryan Eggold) can finally start having a family. But in the first case to capture the terrorist, her husband was captured, tortured and nearly was killed.
And as she continues to work with Reddington, it is unclear why he chose her and why he knows so much about her. But he appears to also know something about Tom and that he may not be the man that she thinks he is…or is this part of Reddington’s way of getting closer to her?
And after the first case of capturing the first terrorist, Reddington reveals that there are more criminals with the intent to do great harm and he can help the FBI neutralize them, as he has created a “blacklist” of criminals/terrorists worldwide. Especially those that the FBI are not aware of.
Thus forcing FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Keen to work closely with Reddington. But what is he hiding?
Since that first season, Reddington is now a confidential informant for the FBI, Liz’ husband Tom is revealed to be a covert operative and it was revealed that Reddington may be Liz’s father.
But now a man named Alexander Kirk has come and captured Liz, her husband and her baby, Agnes. Alexander wants revenge against Red for taking his wife (Liz’ mom) and his child (Liz) away from him.
The main characters of “Blacklist” are:
- Raymond “Red” Reddington – A former government agent and FBI fugitive who aids the FBI in capturing criminals/terrorists worldwide. While a master criminal, he is now a confidential informant for the FBI and may be FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Keen’s father.
- FBI Special Agent Elizabeth Keen – An FBI special agent who had a tragic childhood. Married to Tom Keen and recently gave birth to a baby girl named Agnes.
- FBI Agent Donald Ressler – An FBI special agent and Acting Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division.
- Tom Keen – A covert operative married to Elizabeth Keen.
- Aram Jobtabai – An FBI computer specialist.
- Agent Samar Navabi – A Mossad agent working with Cooper’s FBI team.
- Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, Harold Cooper – Always watching over his agents’ backs but trying to figure out why Reddington is so interested in Elizabeth Keen.
- Dembe Zuma – Reddington’s bodyguard.
- Mr. Kaplan – A former associate of Red with a mysterious past.
VIDEO:
“The Blacklist” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 aspect ratio). For the most part, television shows on Blu-ray can often exhibit noise and artifacts but this latest Blu-ray release for “The Blacklist” looks very good. Close-up details are good, black levels are nice and deep and picture quality is very good.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“The Blacklist” is presented in English and French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and features crystal clear dialogue and music.. While surround channels capture environment ambiance and action sequence.
Subtitles are in English, English SDH and French.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“The Blacklist” comes with the following special features:
- Audio Commentary – Featuring three episode audio commentaries such as “The Thrushes” commentary with Zee Hatley and Emily E. Greene and “Requiem” commentary with Jon Bokenkamp and Daniel Cerone.
- Deleted Scenes – With most episodes, under episode selection, you can access deleted scene(s) for each episode.
- A Darker Shade of Red – (7:50) A featurette about Red seeing his empire coming apart. Interviews with cast and crew.
- Mr. Kaplan: End of an Era – (10:24) A featurette of why the mysterious Mr. Kaplan is popular among viewers.
- Gag Reel – (3:42) “The Blacklist” Season 4 gag reel.
EXTRAS:
“The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season” comes with the Blu-ray and an UltraViolet HD code.
In the last three seasons, there are a few things that have remained constant. Liz has been looking for answers of why she was separated from her family when she was younger. And who is her true father? While, Red is the cunning criminal turned confidential informant of the FBI still doing things his own way.
Also, Liz’s husband’s past has always been mysterious and Aram, always looking for a woman.
But this fourth season, writers toyed with a storyline with the first half focusing on Liz and her husband Tom, along with their baby Agness being captured by Alexander Kirk who claims to be Liz’ real father and a man bent on revenge against Red, for taking his wife and daughter.
Liz’ co-workers are shocked because they buried her, thinking that she’s dead and now, she has become a fugitive and the FBI are now pursuing her and her family.
Meanwhile, Red receives help from Mr. Kaplan, a person he could care less for, as she screwed him over.
The second arc revolves around Liz and Tom trying to get their baby back, as Alexander Kirk still has the baby. Meanwhile, her co-workers in the FBI work on various cases and are concerned that someone is leaking information to Kirk from the inside.
And as for Red, to show his appreciation to Mr. Kaplan, he shoots her and leaves her out for dead. But she is discovered by a mountain man who nurses her back to health but he is overly creepy and chains her to his cabin.
And the third arc revolves around someone inside Red’s empire trying to take the empire down. Also, going as far to poison him.
But the most significant character in this fourth season happens to be Mr. Kaplan and we learn of her connection to Red and Liz’ mother but also setting things motion for the shocking last episode and also for season five.
As for the Blu-ray release, picture quality is very good, lossless audio also very good. You get three audio commentaries, several deleted scenes and featurettes for season four.
Overall, for those who thought that “The Blacklist” was losing steam for season three, I felt the fourth season, writers really needed to bring back fans who were thinking the story was not as exciting anymore. And I feel the fourth season taking the characters to their lowest of lows and having to deal with major life-changing situations. The build-up to the final episode was not what I was expecting and that’s great. Now I can’t wait until the fifth season and I’m hooked on watching the series again.
“The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season” is recommended!
