Konets

"Konets"
Season 8, Episode 22
Episode Information
Air date	June 23, 2021
Directed by	John Terlesky
Written by	Jon Bokenkamp John Eisendrath
Episode Chronology
Previous	“Nachalo”
Next	“The Skinner”

”Konets“ is the twenty-second episode of season 8 of The Blacklist and the hundred and seventy-fourth overall.

Synopsis

After killing Townsend and his men Reddington takes an injured Liz with him. While she recovers Reddington gives the Task Force details about those most likely to claim Townsend’s criminal empire following his death. Reddington plans for Liz’s future security and shares his idea with Liz: before Red’s illness claims his life, Liz will kill him publicly and prove to the world that she is taking over his empire by force. Only then will she learn the secret of his true identity. Liz half-heartedly agrees but finds it hard to pull the trigger when the time comes; one of Townsend’s associates shoots her in the back. Reddington kills the associate before holding onto a dying Liz, while her life flashes before her eyes. Ressler and the task force arrive at the crime scene while Dembe takes Reddington and escapes.

Press Release

Reddington makes a disturbing request to Liz in exchange for the truth about his identity.

Number on The Blacklist

• N/A

Unanswered Questions

1. How is the word ”Konets“ relevant to the episode?
   1. A: Its translates to ”ending“ in Russian.
2. Elizabeth Keen
   1. What will happen to the cash Keen stole in ”Elizabeth Keen”?
   2. Is Keen dead? She faked her death once to escape Red.
   3. What will happen to Agnes Keen? Her only remaining family is Susan Scott Hargrave (Tom Keen) and Katarina Rostova (Elizabeth Keen).
   4. Why did the writers kill Keen? It would have been equally effective for her to have been interrupted by the FBI and forced to escape.
      1. A: Megan Boone wanted to leave the series.
      2. Q: They could have had her make a guest appearance 1-2 times every season.
3. Neville Townsend
   1. Will Townsend’s syndicate be dismantled?
   2. How many of Townsend’s enemies and allies will be arrested?
   3. How did the fingerprints survive an explosion that removed the option of facial recognition?
   4. How did Elias VanDyke locate Keen?
      1. A: It is possible through the trace on Donald Ressler's phone.
      2. A: It is revealed in "Dr. Razmik Maier" that Elias was tracing Dembe who was betraying Red's trust by letting her know who Red really is.
4. Raymond Reddington
   1. Who is Red?
   2. What is Red’s illness?
   3. Why did Keen need to take command and control of Red’s crime syndicate? Red could have hidden Keen and Agnes.
   4. Why did Red not want Townsend’s criminal empire? It would have enhanced the crime empire he wanted to leave to Keen.
      1. A: As an empire dedicated to Red’s destruction, they are unlikely to have followed his leadership.
      2. Q: If enough of the leaders were arrested or murdered, then the others would have surrendered from fear.
5. Dembe Zuma
   1. Where did Dembe get Townsend’s fingerprint records to verify Townsend’s corpse?
6. Aram Mojtabai
   1. How did Aram learn of Townsend’s death?

Trivia

• It was announced on June 15, 2021 that Megan Boone is departing the show with the season 8 finale being her final episode as a series regular.
• This is the start of the possible new broadcast date.
• Red's unidentified illness is revealed to be terminal.
• Liz is briefly reunited with a grown-up Beth Ryker from the "Pilot."
• Reddington presents Liz with a letter from her mother containing his true identity that she can only open after he's dead. Red reveals that they were present when one of the few pictures Liz has of her mother was taken and that they are someone who knew Katarina Rostova better than anybody. It's also revealed that whoever Red really is, if Liz knew his true identity while he's still alive, she would never be able to go through with killing him.

Cast

Main star

• James Spader as Raymond Reddington
• Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen
• Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler
• Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai
• Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma
• Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper
• Laura Sohn as Alina Park

Guest star

• Victoria Clark as Mrs. French
• Delphina Belle as Beth Ryker
• Jose Febus as Pascual

Co-star

• Lukas Hassel as Elias VanDyke
• Jackson Loo as Red’s Doctor
• Ginger Mason as Agnes Keen
• Hazel Mason as Agnes Keen

External Links

• NBC.com
• NBC.com