Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 2, 2021

'The Blacklist' is a complexly interwoven show that offers both episodic and serialized components, though narratively favoring the former as its characters and world dynamically evolve with regularity. In that light, viewers are strongly encouraged to begin at the start rather than jump in with season eight. Find below links to the previous seven seasons on Blu-ray.

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three
• Season Four
• Season Five
• Season Six
• Season Seven

Official synopsis: With his back against the wall, Raymond Reddington (James Spader) faces his most formidable enemy yet: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Aligned with her mother, infamous Russian spy Katarina Rostova, Liz must decide how far she is willing to go to find out why Reddington has entered her life and what his endgame really is. The fallout between Reddington and Keen will have devastating consequences for all that lie in their wake, including the Task Force they helped to create.

Season eight is another roller coaster ride through the world of The Blacklist, building towards a singular event that, in classic series fashion, is rewritten in the season's final few moments. It's a shocking turn that promises, yet again, an intensive regrouping as the show enters its ninth season, just now (at time of publication) getting underway on NBC. Of course, the turn comes with great momentum build-up, at times almost to the point of frustration with the teases and tickles of revelatory dumps, of opportunities for the show to answer longstanding and intensely burning questions about the characters and the world they inhabit. Instead, it's another twisty turn of events that could offer more answers or reset the game clock and allow the writers to extend the story even further.

Either way it's a well done finale, emotionally gripping and in some ways satisfying and in others frustrating. The writers certainly know their Blacklist protocols, building a compelling season story with a more personal inward focus, at once building on top of past events and towards a new reality that will begin with season nine. The cast is certainly game, up for the challenge of simultaneously looking back, building in the present, and aiming for the future. Performances are thoroughly convincing with expressive depth and heartfelt stimulation propelling the story forward. The core is on-point and committed to growth, which will have to be the amplified forward-moving component in season nine and whatever may lie beyond.

The following episodes comprise season seven. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• Roanoke: Red directs the Task Force to investigate Roanoke, a legendary criminal who orchestrates elaborate extractions. Meanwhile, Liz continues to communicate in secret with Katarina Rostova.
• Katarina Rostova: Conclusion: As Liz pushes a source for answers, Red and the Task Force grapple with the implications of her actions.
• 16 Ounces: Fueled by his betrayal, Elizabeth Keen seeks vengeance on Reddington.
• Elizabeth Keen: As Red and the Task Force search for Liz, she sets a new plan in motion that has catastrophic consequences.
• The Fribourg Confidence: The Task Force investigates an organization of bank robbers with special expertise in stealing from other criminals. Meanwhile, an old Blacklist case resurfaces.

Disc Two:

• The Wellstone Agency: Red and Dembe go to great lengths to fulfil the final wishes of a dear friend. Aram goes undercover as an interpreter to a company that provides services to criminals, while Park helps a friend in trouble.
• Chemical Mary: That Task Force must race to stop simultaneous dangers presented by two Blacklisters. Meanwhile, Cooper approaches a Congressman for intel.
• Ogden Greely: The Task Force investigates the apparent disappearance of a defense contractor. Meanwhile, Cooper receives an unexpected offer and Red makes a connection.
• The Cyranoid: The Task Force is thrown for a loop when they encounter a nefarious enterprise that provides doppelgängers for criminals. Red scrambles to counteract a bold move by Liz.
• Dr. Laken Perillos: Red and Dembe land in peril when Townsend deploys a torture specialist who uses unorthodox methods to interrogate her victims.

Disc Three:

• Captain Kidd: The Task Force attempts to stop an abduction by searching for a "treasure man" who uses geocaching to hide illicit goods and facilitate transactions between otherwise waring criminal factions.
• Rakitin: The Task Force's determination to identify a Russian asset in the U.S. government puts Cooper Reddington in increasingly treacherous positions.
• Anne: Red enjoys a quiet visit with a friend at her home in rural America.
• Misère: In a retrospective look at key turning points, we retrace the steps that led Elizabeth Keen to align with a powerful enemy.

Disc Four:

• The Russian Knot: The Task Force hatches a plan to steal a Soviet-era cipher machine needed to decrypt coded messages. Meanwhile, Townsend puts Liz's loyalty to the test and Red and Dembe are called to an unexpected meeting.
• Nicholas Obenrader: Liz and the Task Force track new leads in their investigation of N-13, while Red takes steps to infiltrate Townsend's criminal organization.
• Ivan Stepanov: Red tries desperately to rescue an old friend at all costs, while Liz and Townsend conduct an interrogation.
• The Protean: The Task Force springs into action to stop an elusive assassin who's on Liz's trail.

Disc Five:

• Balthazar 'Bino' Baker: Hoping to move some precious cargo quietly, Red enlists the assistance of an enforcer who specializes in transporting items through an underground network.
• Godwin Page: Liz, Red and Dembe are forced to work together to survive an attack from Townsend, while Cooper and the Task Force attempt to de-escalate the increasing danger to all.
• Nachalo: When Reddington takes Liz to the mysterious epicenter of his empire, their shared past reveals itself and long buried secrets are divulged.
• Konets: Reddington makes a disturbing request to Liz in exchange for the truth about his identity.

The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony brings the eighth season of Blacklist to the Blu-ray format with a high yield 1080p transfer. Clarity and definition reach the heights found in a quality feature film production; as it is this is certainly near the zenith of television productions on Blu-ray, particularly for a network program. This is high quality stuff. Facial intimacy and intricacy rate very highly. Viewers will be able to count wrinkles, analyze pores, and gaze deeply into crystal-clear eyes. Clothing definition is excellent and environments are crisp, stable, and perfectly revealing. Color output is terrific. The palette is natural and balanced. There's no whacky contrast, no needlessly tinkered temperature variations and fluctuations. Whites are bright and crisp and blacks are inky deep. Assorted tones pop with determined intensity and natural accuracy. Flesh tones are spot-on true to life. The picture is free of all but minor noise in very low-light shots. There are no major encode troubles of note. This one looks great.

The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony brings The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season to Blu-ray with a well engineered and finely executed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Musical engagement plays with terrific low-end depth as necessary. Listen to the deep, stringy notes that begin the season's final episode. The depth is intense and, in what seems like a movie world that is happy to neuter bass, it's a welcome accompaniment, particularly, again, for a network TV show soundtrack. The audio elements are in fine shape, revealing ample surround extension though never so much as to overwhelm the main front end. The track finds a well balanced flow around the listening area, and as with the low end accompaniment surround extension finds itself in good balance, never out of tune or either overwhelming or underutilized. The track makes clarity a top priority for music and sound effects alike. Whether light atmosphere or intense action elements, such as gunfire, there's no shortage of well defined detail to go around. Dialogue is clear and true as it emanates from a natural front-center position.

The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This five-disc release includes several extras, all located on disc five. Note that the title of one supplement spoils part of a key plot device for this season. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 9:37 total runtime): Various scenes with no identifying markers; scenes simply play consecutively one after another with jarring transitions.
• Blooper Reel (1080p, 3:28): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Liz's Farewell (1080p, 2:03): A very brief look back at the longstanding main character.

The Blacklist: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The season eight finale will likely divide audiences but even so the season's bulk is everything The Blacklist fans could want: more of the same, but with a foot forward into the future. The writers have turned the future upside down, again, with season nine promising something of a refresh and focus shift to accommodate the season eight finale. It's good stuff, but even with the show granted the opportunity for something in the ballpark of a fresh start in season nine, one can only wonder how much gas is left in the tank. Sony's five-disc Blu-ray set is a delight, at least for the picture and sound presentations. Supplements are very thin, well lacking in both breadth and depth compared to past seasons. At this rate, the season nine Blu-ray will be all but featureless. Recommended.