Blacklist Season 1 • Real

When The Blacklist premiered on NBC in September 2013, it introduced a magnetic new anti-hero to the television landscape: Raymond "Red" Reddington. This high-stakes crime thriller quickly became a breakout hit, anchored by James Spader’s riveting performance and a central mystery that would keep fans guessing for years. The Hook: Surrender and the Secret List

Season 1 introduces us to some heavy hitters:

Some notable episodes from Season 1 include:

Does the show get sillier and more convoluted in later seasons? Yes. But is lightning in a bottle. It has the confidence of a show that knows exactly what it is: a stylish, violent, soapy thriller anchored by one of the greatest TV performances of the 21st century. blacklist season 1

Tom is the enemy inside the house. It re-contextualizes the entire season and transforms a decent procedural into a serialized thriller about trust and betrayal.

Thus begins one of the most addictive, twisty, and stylish thrillers to ever grace network television. Let’s break down why Season 1 of The Blacklist is a masterclass in piloting a series.

| Episode | Airdate | Ratings (18-49) | Viewers (millions) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Sep 23, 2013 | 3.2/9 | 11.24 | | 2 | Sep 30, 2013 | 2.8/7 | 9.45 | | 3 | Oct 7, 2013 | 2.6/7 | 8.89 | | 4 | Oct 14, 2013 | 2.4/6 | 8.23 | | 5 | Oct 21, 2013 | 2.3/6 | 8.04 | | 6 | Oct 28, 2013 | 2.2/6 | 7.55 | | 7 | Nov 4, 2013 | 2.1/5 | 7.39 | | 8 | Nov 11, 2013 | 2.0/5 | 7.18 | | 9 | Nov 18, 2013 | 2.0/5 | 7.22 | | 10 | Dec 15, 2013 | 1.9/5 | 6.93 | | 11 | Jan 5, 2014 | 2.1/5 | 7.22 | | 12 | Jan 12, 2014 | 2.1/5 | 7.11 | | 13 | Jan 19, 2014 | 2.0/5 | 6.96 | | 14 | Jan 26, 2014 | 1.9/5 | 6.67 | | 15 | Feb 2, 2014 | 1.8/5 | 6.47 | | 16 | Feb 9, 2014 | 1.7/4 | 6.23 | | 17 | Feb 16, 2014 | 1.7/4 | 6.13 | | 18 | Feb 23, 2014 | 1.6/4 | 5.92 | | 19 | Mar 2, 2014 | 1.5/4 | 5.63 | | 20 | Mar 9, 2014 | 1.5/4 | 5.55 | | 21 | Mar 16, 2014 | 1.4/4 | 5.42 | | 22 | Mar 23, 2014 | 1.4/4 | 5.39 | When The Blacklist premiered on NBC in September

Here is a feature breakdown of the elements that defined the debut season.

Let’s be honest: You aren’t watching for the FBI procedural element. You’re watching for Reddington.

There are two types of people in the world: those who watched the pilot of The Blacklist and immediately cleared their schedule for the next 22 hours, and those who haven’t met Raymond "Red" Reddington yet. Tom is the enemy inside the house

Before the era of "Peak TV" was dominated entirely by cable anti-heroes and streaming giants, NBC delivered a masterclass in network drama with The Blacklist . Debuting in 2013, Season 1 didn’t just rely on a "case-of-the-week" format; it built a labyrinthine mystery around one of the most charismatic performances in television history.

9/10 Best Episode: Anslo Garrick (Part 2) – The shootout in the box is iconic. Worst Episode: The Courier – A rare filler episode that drags.