The Blacklist season 7 finale will be a blend of live-action and animation, in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown. The television side of the entertainment industry has been going through a highly unusual run in recent months, reflected in the small screen’s output. Complying with social distancing rules, talk show hosts of all stripes have anchored their programs remotely. Saturday Night Live has done its best to create humor without a live audience, returning for two episodes since the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted Hollywood. The cast of Parks and Recreation, along with several special guests, reunited for a special episode that helped raise $2.8 million dollars for coronavirus relief. All of these efforts could be described as creative people trying to make the best of an unprecedented situation. Now, NBC’s The Blacklist has come up with an interesting way to provide closure for its fans in the season 7 finale.
Premiering in 2013, The Blacklist stars James Spader as Raymond Reddington, a former U.S. Navy officer who has turned into a notorious criminal. Voluntarily offering himself up to the FBI, after avoiding capture for decades, Reddington informs the FBI that he’s willing to share his information on the world’s most dangerous criminals in exchange for immunity. He also insists on working with FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). From this straightforward premise, the crime thriller has led to several theories. Along the way, many characters have arrived and departed.
To close season 7, in response to the coronavirus shutdown, The Blacklist will get creative. The finale, which is titled “The Kazanjian Brothers,” will consist of a unique blend of live-action and animation in the style of a graphic novel. The season’s 19th installment was halfway through filming when production had to be stopped because of COVID-19. With the season meant to consist of 22 installments, producers came up with the idea to add animation that would combine with the already filmed live-action scenes. Cast members recorded dialogue from their homes for the animated portions, while editors and animators did their work remotely.
The logline for The Blacklist season 7 finale teases an accountant who works for lucrative criminals will be investigated by The Task Force in order to find the brothers who are hired for his protection. Boone’s character will also have to make a “momentous decision” during the hour. The hybrid episode will count as the 150th episode overall for the series, which has already been renewed for season 8.
The shift to animation isn’t entirely new for The Blacklist. Series creator Jon Bokenkamp and executive producer John Eisendrath were inspired by comic books of The Blacklist, which were launched in 2015. For viewers who want to see how the animation unfolds in a different format, The Blacklist’s season 7 finale will air on May 15.
