The third season finale features a surprise, yet predicted return and a major bombshell about Liz's paternity.
- May 20, 2016
AceShowbiz - Guess who's back in the season 3 finale of "The Blacklist"! [SPOILER ALERT!] Yes, Liz is alive and the Thursday, May 19 episode revealed that Liz faked her death, after a lot of speculations following what looked like her demise due to complications during childbirth earlier this season.
Apparently Liz faked her death to get away from Red, because she feared that her connection with Red would put her child in danger. Tom was in on it the whole time, with Kate Kaplan helping Liz with the plan.
By the time Red learnt of this from Kate, Tom has flown to Cuba with his daughter Agnes to reunite with Liz. But any hope of a sweet reunion between Liz and Tom vanished as Tom found out that Liz was gone and her apartment showed signs that she was taken by force.
Apparently Alexander Kirk's henchmen had been tailing Tom on his way to Cuba. Red and Kate also flew to Cuba, only to discover the same thing that Tom saw at Liz's apartment. Tom himself and baby Agnes were no longer there.
While Tom and Red had no idea where Liz was, audience at home saw Liz being kidnapped by Alexander Kirk. He then dropped a major bombshell, claiming that his real name is Constantine Rostov and he's Liz's father.
Star Megan Boone, who in real life recently gave birth to her baby, explains why the show faked Liz's death to allow her to take a maternity leave. "I can say that it's clear at this point that the answers Liz seeks about her mother, her past, and her connection to Red aren't going to come from Red. When Liz asks Red a question - possibly one she's asked him many times before - he is persistent in steering the conversation to a different subject. He is consistently evasive, so it's timely that she try other avenues to get the answers she seeks as well as actively seeking out the life she wants," she tells EW.
Executive producer Jon Bokenkamp has his own reason to include the storyline to accommodate Boone's maternity leave. "When we [found out] Megan was pregnant, it felt like something we couldn't ignore in a show that's all about the nature of identity. Elizabeth Keen was adopted, doesn't know where she comes from, and in a show that is so steep in that conversation, how do we ignore the fact that our lead actress is pregnant? As a natural progression from that, it seemed like Liz would want to protect her child from Reddington," he says.
But by staying away from Red, Liz's not necessarily safe as she's now kidnapped by Alexander, who claimed to be her father. "I know the father reveal is meant to be the dramatic event, but all I could imagine Liz caring about is her infant being gone. That's it," Boone imagines what her character would feel.
So, will Liz trust Alexander? "Oh no, I don't think she trusts this guy. He took away her family and possibly the anonymity she tried to gain by faking her death," Boone says. Bokenkamp has a different answer, though. He says, "I don't know why we wouldn't believe him. Red's said before that he's not Liz's father. This man shows up in her life and says he's her father. Liz should take him at his word."
EP John Eisendrath thinks the real answer is what Alexander is going to do with Liz. "He says he's her father, but is he going to hurt her, help her, be kind to her, or does he want to destroy her?" Eisendrath says. Bokenkamp additionally promises that "Alexander Kirk and his relationship to Liz will ultimately give us a far deeper understanding of Red's relationship to Liz in season 4."
On how Red will feel after learning that Liz faked her death, Bokenkamp reveals, "Red is devastated. On one hand, he understands the danger he's brought to Liz by being part of her life the past three years - he knew the dangers - but on the other hand, he's only cooperating with the FBI so he can be part of her life. Emotionally, Reddington is in a very tricky and precious place. There is nothing worse than blatant rejection."
