WARNING: Major spoilers for The Blacklist season 8 finale.
Jon Bokenkamp, the creator of NBC’s The Blacklist, is leaving the series after season 8. Since its premiere in 2013, The Blacklist has starred James Spader in the role of Raymond Reddington. A former U.S. Navy officer who has turned into an infamous criminal, Raymond voluntarily surrenders to the FBI after he’d evaded capture for decades. Informing the FBI that he’s willing to share his information on the world’s most dangerous criminals in exchange for immunity, Raymond also insists on working with FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone).
Earlier this month, Deadline reported that Boone would be exiting the series. Making her last appearance as a regular cast member in the season 8 finale, Boone thanked the fans for the positive experience of working on the popular drama. She also expressed gratitude for having the chance to explore Keen’s journey since the beginning of The Blacklist. It has since been revealed that Boone has launched her own production company, in addition to signing a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Now, ahead of The Blacklist season 9, viewers will have to prepare for the departure of the show’s creator as well.
According to Deadline, Bokenkamp will be stepping away from The Blacklist. The exit had reportedly been in the works for some time, with executive producer John Eisendrath taking over as the lone showrunner on the drama. Eisendrath had previously served as co-showrunner, alongside Bokenkamp, from the beginning of the series. The duo recently co-wrote the season 8 finale together. For his part, Bokenkamp posted a letter regarding his decision to leave The Blacklist. You can read it below.
The news of Bokenkamp’s leave, coupled with the loss of Boone, may be hard to take for some viewers. Of course, The Blacklist has seen the arrival and departure of many characters over the years, including Samar Navabi (Mozhan Marnò). But, still, the loss of the show’s co-lead and its creator will likely echo differently. In her final appearance, Liz was killed. While this major development could allow for the long-running NBC series to go in new directions, it also may feel like a natural stopping point for some.
It remains to be seen how The Blacklist will return in season 9. But there are encouraging signs. Supernatural, to take one example, survived long after the exit of its series creator Eric Kripke. It’s certainly the case that many viewers felt the show should have ended with Kripke’s leave after season 5. But many more continued to enjoy the series for another decade. And given that Eisendrath has been with The Blacklist since its earliest days, it seems likely the drama will retain a familiar quality.
Source: Deadline, Megan Boone, Jon Bokenkamp