The Blacklist's Tom Keen Spinoff: An Elusive Journey

Article Summary

Tom Keen's spinoff show, The Blacklist: Redemption, only aired for one season before being canceled due to low ratings and a failure to capture fans' interest.

The show's focus on spy thriller narratives and hidden motives eclipsed Tom's personal history, leaving fans further perplexed about his upbringing.

Given the opportunity for subsequent seasons to delve into Tom's roots and craft a more cohesive storyline, the chances of The Blacklist: Redemption making a comeback seem highly improbable.

As a beloved character from The Blacklist, Tom Keen (Ryan Eggold) getting his own spinoff show seemed like a promising concept. Transitioning from a missing boy to a ruthless assassin and even a dedicated stay-at-home dad, Tom's character had a lot to offer. However, his spinoff, The Blacklist: Redemption, faced a disappointing fate with only one season before its cancellation. The eight episodes aired on NBC in 2017 during The Blacklist's break from February to April, between episodes 15 and 16. Devoted fans eagerly tuned in to uncover Tom's mysterious past, but unfortunately, his backstory remained as enigmatic as ever. With its secrets and conflicting motivations, Redemption failed to provide a coherent backstory for Tom during its short-lived run in 2017, inevitably leading to the show's cancellation.

The Blacklist

Release Date September 23, 2013Cast James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, Hisham Tawfiq, Amir ArisonMain Genre DramaGenres Crime, Drama, MysteryRating TV-14Seasons 10

What Is 'The Blacklist: Redemption' About?

Image via NBC

Tom, Elizabeth Keen's (Megan Boone) questionable spouse, makes his debut in the initial episode of The Blacklist. Subsequently, in later seasons, we uncover his ties (or rather employment) to the mysterious mastermind of a criminal syndicate, Raymond Reddington (James Spader). During Season 4, Episode 13 titled "Annabelle Stone," Tom receives news that his father supposedly perished in a plane crash, intensifying his preexisting curiosities about his lineage. Consequently, he decides to board a flight to New York and join his mother in a specialized covert task force.

In Redemption, Tom discovers that his supposedly deceased father, Howard Hargrave (Terry O'Quinn), is actually alive and embroiled in a bitter conflict with Susan "Scottie" Hargrave (Famke Janssen), who unbeknownst to her, is also Tom's mother. In order to navigate this complex situation, Tom becomes a double agent for his father, while also joining his mother's corporation, Halcyon Aegis, alongside notorious criminals Soloman (Edi Gathegi) and Nez Rowan (Tawny Cypress) from Reddington's blacklist. He reverts back to his former life as an undercover operative, undertaking questionable missions and maintaining a carefully cultivated poker face. As the season progresses, the motives and agendas of the characters become even more tangled and uncertain. The season concludes with Tom making a phone call to Elizabeth and deciding to return home, setting the stage for the beginning of Season 5 of The Blacklist.

Why Was 'The Blacklist: Redemption' Cancelled?

Image via NBC

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Redemption struggled to attract a substantial audience, averaging only 6.3 million viewers and a low 1.2 rating. This was a significant decline compared to the flagship show. The fact that Redemption was produced by Sony Pictures Television, an outside studio, and had these underwhelming numbers, ultimately led to its cancellation. The show's soft launch in the time slot previously occupied by The Blacklist, combined with a complete shift in genre and storytelling, contributed to its downfall. During the Television Critics Association's press tour in 2017, executive producer John Eisendrath described Redemption as an "espionage thriller," emphasizing how it presented a completely different approach to storytelling. Eisendrath noted that the show depicted law enforcement in a distinct manner, with an inability to make arrests, offering a unique narrative style. While Redemption was a spinoff, it had its own specific way of conveying its stories.

However, the spinoff became so engrossed in its new narrative of "secret agendas and untrustworthy characters" that it failed to capture the storyline that fans initially tuned in to see. The mystery-filled spinoff lacked a cohesive exploration of Tom's backstory, leaving fans even more confused about Keen’s childhood. While the show delves into the conflict between his parents, it fails to explain their allegiances or decisions. Instead of focusing on Tom, the spinoff prioritizes introducing the spy thriller genre into The Blacklist universe, resulting in more unanswered questions. Additionally, the occasional strange moments between Tom and Scottie, before her revelation of being his mother, added discomfort to the viewing experience.

The decision to change the genre to spy thriller for the spinoff may have been questionable, considering that the flagship show primarily attracts police procedural fans. These fans appreciate the satisfaction of each episode's storyline concluding with the capture of one of Reddington's listed criminals. The Blacklist thrives on formulaic cases, family drama, and James Spader's eccentric performance, whereas Redemption only fulfills one of those aspects. Although both cop dramas and spy thrillers encompass elements of mystery, they differ greatly in atmosphere and storytelling. By immersing Tom into the world of espionage, which requires patience and mental acrobatics, the spinoff did a disservice to his character. In The Blacklist, Tom's nuanced and complex nature made him stand out, but in Redemption, he simply blended in as another spy.

Could 'The Blacklist: Redemption' Return With Future Seasons?

Image via NBC

Redemption's flaws could have been rectified with additional seasons, allowing the Blacklist team to delve deeper into Tom's origin story and create a more coherent narrative. However, the chances of Redemption being renewed for future seasons are highly unlikely. The season ended with a cliffhanger and was subsequently canceled, leading to Tom's demise in The Blacklist Season 5. With the show's final season airing and the absence of any potential for Redemption's return, fans of Tom Keen will never uncover his enigmatic past, leaving the show with no hope of redemption.

The Blacklist: Redemption is currently available to rent or purchase on Prime Video in the U.S.

Rent on Prime Video

Editor's P/S

As a Blacklist fan, I was thrilled to hear about the Tom Keen spinoff, The Blacklist: Redemption. I had always been intrigued by Tom's character and was excited to learn more about his backstory. Unfortunately, the show only lasted one season, and I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

One of the biggest problems with Redemption was that it focused too much on spy thriller narratives and hidden motives and not enough on Tom's personal history. I wanted to learn more about Tom's childhood, his relationship with his parents, and how he became involved in the world of crime. Instead, the show was full of confusing plotlines and characters that I didn't care about.

Another problem with Redemption was that it failed to capture the same magic as The Blacklist. The original show is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a great cast of characters. Redemption, on the other hand, was slow-moving and boring. The characters were not as well-developed, and the storylines were not as interesting.