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The Best Episodes of The Blacklist Season 1

Every episode of The Blacklist Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Blacklist Season 1!

Binge this in 15h 27m•Peaking at 8.8/10

Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, surrenders in person at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He claims that he and the FBI have the same interests: bringing down dangerous criminals and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.2/10(6543 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    The race to stop a terrorist begins in the premiere of this crime series about a most-wanted fugitive who works with a rookie FBI profiler to take down criminals and evildoers.

    Director:Joe Carnahan
    Writer:Jon Bokenkamp

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  2. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 2 - The Freelancer
    7.8/10(4702 votes)

    #2 - The Freelancer

    S1:E2

    Red and Liz go under cover to stop an assassin known as The Freelancer from killing his next target; Ressler and a recently re-hired CIA agent try to protect Red from a distance; Liz wonders what she should do about Tom and the mysterious box.

    Director:Jace Alexander
    Writer:Jon Bokenkamp

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  3. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 3 - Wujing
    7.6/10(4179 votes)

    #3 - Wujing

    S1:E3

    The FBI is on the hunt for a high-ranking Chinese spy, Wujing which Red claims has hired him to help decode a classified CIA transmission. Liz, posing as an FBI cryptographer goes with Red to decode the message while protecting US government secrets. Meanwhile, Liz proactively investigates Tom.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:Lukas Reiter

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  4. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 4 - The Stewmaker
    8.0/10(4209 votes)

    #4 - The Stewmaker

    S1:E4

    While continuing her investigation into the truth about Tom, Liz testifies against drug lord, Hector Lorca. Later another witness is abducted when he is forced to testify against the dangerous drug trafficker. Red’s interest is peaked and he informs the team that the witness may have been taken by "The Stewmaker" a man responsible for hundreds of missing and presumed dead people. Meanwhile, in an unlikely twist of events, Red and Ressler must work together for the first time.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writers:Patrick Massett, John Zinman

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  5. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 5 - The Courier
    7.7/10(3776 votes)

    #5 - The Courier

    S1:E5

    Red and the FBI try to stop a dangerous messenger (Robert Knepper) whose appearance is unknown; Liz is thrust into a kidnapping plot.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writer:John C. Kelley

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  6. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 6 - Gina Zanetakos
    7.7/10(3591 votes)

    #6 - Gina Zanetakos

    S1:E6

    Tom claims he is innocent and wants to turn the box into the FBI; Red's next target is a beautiful and deadly corporate terrorist (Margarita Levieva).

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writer:Wendy West

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  7. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 7 - Frederick Barnes
    7.5/10(3510 votes)

    #7 - Frederick Barnes

    S1:E7

    The FBI searches for the man responsible for a chemical attack on a subway; Liz wants to avoid Red after he implicated Tom.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:J.R. Orci

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  8. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 8 - General Ludd
    7.7/10(3412 votes)

    #8 - General Ludd

    S1:E8

    When Red reveals a new name, Liz learns of a plot to destroy the country's financial system; Tom helps Liz when a loved one falls ill.

    Director:Stephen Surjik
    Writer:Amanda Kate Shuman

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  9. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 9 - Anslo Garrick (1)
    8.8/10(4554 votes)

    #9 - Anslo Garrick (1)

    S1:E9

    Anslo Garrick, the newest person on the blacklist, tries to capture Red; Liz is caught in an elevator.

    Director:Joe Carnahan
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 10 - Anslo Garrick (2)
    8.7/10(4064 votes)

    #10 - Anslo Garrick (2)

    S1:E10

    Liz infiltrates the blacksite and disarms the signal jammers to call in backup but runs into trouble along the way. The fate of Ressler hangs in the balance as Red tries to bargain with Anslo Garrick. Meanwhile, Tom becomes increasingly worried about Liz’ situation and the fate of Red is unknown.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writers:Lukas Reiter, J.R. Orci

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  11. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 11 - The Good Samaritan
    8.3/10(3439 votes)

    #11 - The Good Samaritan

    S1:E11

    A serial killer from Liz's past strikes again while Red hunts for whoever betrayed him.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writers:Brandon Margolis, Brandon Sonnier

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  12. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 12 - The Alchemist
    7.8/10(3138 votes)

    #12 - The Alchemist

    S1:E12

    Red informs the team that "The Alchemist" - a man who relies upon science to transform a person’s DNA - has been contracted to protect a well-known mob informant and his wife. As the team goes undercover to catch him, Liz finds herself on the hunt for an unlikely couple. Meanwhile Liz and Tom find themselves at another bump in their relationship and Ressler debates whether or not he should give his ex-girlfriend his blessing.

    Director:Vincent Misiano
    Writer:Anthony Sparks

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  13. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 13 - The Cyprus Agency
    7.9/10(3138 votes)

    #13 - The Cyprus Agency

    S1:E13

    After a recent spate of abductions of babies from their mothers, Red informs Liz that the "Cyprus Agency" is the illegal adoption organization responsible. Coincidentally, Liz and Tom contemplate adoption of their own which fuels Liz to track down the organizations CEO, Owen Mallory.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:Lukas Reiter

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  14. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 14 - Madeline Pratt
    7.7/10(3106 votes)

    #14 - Madeline Pratt

    S1:E14

    Liz helps Tom adjust to the impending adoption; Red reveals a woman from his past is a target; Red convinces Liz to pull of a heist at the Syrian Embassy.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Jim Campolongo

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  15. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 15 - The Judge
    7.8/10(3078 votes)

    #15 - The Judge

    S1:E15

    Red believes he knows who was responsible for a prominent prosecutor's 12 year disappearance; Red investigates the woman who tempts Tom.

    Director:Peter Werner
    Writers:Lukas Reiter, Jonathan Shapiro

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  16. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 16 - Mako Tanida
    8.0/10(3078 votes)

    #16 - Mako Tanida

    S1:E16

    One of Red's former associates, a crime lord, becomes the next target; Tom decides to confront Jolene.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 17 - Ivan
    7.7/10(3025 votes)

    #17 - Ivan

    S1:E17

    After a cyber defense asset is stolen by a terrorist only known as Ivan, Red and Liz discover a cover-up; new evidence regarding Jolene's disappearance unravels some of the mystery surrounding Tom.

    Director:Randall Zisk
    Writers:Amanda Kate Shuman, J.R. Orci

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  18. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 18 - Milton Bobbit
    8.1/10(2938 votes)

    #18 - Milton Bobbit

    S1:E18

    Red and the team search for a life insurance claim adjuster who talks people into becoming contract killers; Liz and Red try to uncover Tom's secrets.

    Director:Steven A. Adelson
    Writer:Daniel Voll

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  19. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 19 - The Pavlovich Brothers
    8.3/10(2991 votes)

    #19 - The Pavlovich Brothers

    S1:E19

    As the team tries to protect a target of the Pavlovich brothers -- specialists in abductions -- Red has a job of his own for the duo; Liz patiently pursues the truth about Tom.

    Director:Paul A. Edwards
    Writer:Elizabeth Benjamin

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  20. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 20 - The Kingmaker
    7.9/10(2873 votes)

    #20 - The Kingmaker

    S1:E20

    Red thinks the Kingmaker (Linus Roache), a strategist, is responsible when a politician in Prague is framed for murder; Liz uncovers a secret Red has been hiding.

    Director:Karen Gaviola
    Writers:Lukas Reiter, J.R. Orci

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  21. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 21 - Berlin (1)
    8.4/10(3036 votes)

    #21 - Berlin (1)

    S1:E21

    After discovering the truth behind her father's death, Liz refuses to work with Red, just as his situation grows desperate.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writers:Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath

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  22. The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 22 - Berlin: Conclusion (2)
    8.7/10(3533 votes)

    #22 - Berlin: Conclusion (2)

    S1:E22

    Liz is forced to reunite with Red in order to track down Berlin.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Blacklist" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 6543 votes. Directed by Joe Carnahan and written by Jon Bokenkamp, it aired on 9/23/2013. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "The Freelancer".