The crime drama The Blacklist, starring James Spader, is proving to be a standout show in the streaming era, especially since we rarely see procedural shows with such long runs anymore. Spader is no stranger to this type of television; he first became known for his role as Alan Shore on The Practice and later led Boston Legal as the same character.
Throughout his successful television career, James Spader has appeared in popular shows like Seinfeld and Frasier. He revitalized The Office during its eighth season with his character Robert California, and he’s reprising his role as the Marvel villain Ultron in the new series VisionQuest. However, Spader is most known for his iconic role as Raymond “Red” Reddington in The Blacklist.
The Blacklist Has Aged Well Thanks To The Streaming Era
The TV show The Blacklist aired for ten seasons, from 2013 to 2023, totaling 218 episodes. This large number of episodes is a key reason why it continues to be popular with streaming viewers. While shows like this – long-running crime dramas – were once common on television, they’re now becoming less frequent in the streaming world.
Today’s TV landscape is different. Streaming services prefer to release fewer episodes at a time, spread out over several years, to keep viewers subscribed without spending a lot of money. Even traditional network shows are facing more competition, meaning few will run for as many seasons as The Blacklist, unless they’re already well-known franchises.
Why There May Never Be Another Show Like The Blacklist
In The Blacklist, James Spader plays a brilliant, dangerous criminal, much like Hannibal Lecter, who surprisingly starts working with the FBI. Despite being one of the FBI’s most wanted, this character, known as Red, helps them catch other criminals he’s compiled on a personal list – the “Blacklist” – throughout the show.
It’s unlikely we’ll see a show quite like The Blacklist again. The show follows a unique format where, in each episode, Red assists the FBI in tracking down a new criminal from his personal list. However, streaming services now generally favor shows with ongoing, complex storylines – more like long movies – and are less interested in shows that feature a new case each week like The Blacklist.
Procedural Thrillers Shouldn’t Become A Thing Of The Past
It’s understandable why some might want to move away from traditional procedural shows like The Blacklist, but these shows still offer a lot. One of the best things about them is that you can tune in to almost any episode and still enjoy a complete, self-contained story. Unlike serialized shows that leave you hanging, procedurals provide a sense of resolution with each episode.
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2026-02-18 03:08