The Blacklist series finale ending explained: How did the show end?

After ten seasons, The Blacklist came to its grand conclusion. So what was the final fate of James Spader’s Raymond “Red” Reddington, and did he finally escape or pay for his crimes?

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the series finale of The Blacklist. 

The two-part finale opened with Red on the run with the Task Force pushed by Congressman Hudson to truly hunt him down. While Red was trying to escape New York, Hudson figured out Dembe was the one who tipped Red off about the FBI going after his plane and arrested him. As Dembe was being transported to headquarters, Red and his men intercepted the convoy. A wild firefight had Hudson shooting Dembe, so Red shot Hudson in the head and shot Ressler a few times.

The second part opened with Ressler saved by his bulletproof vest as he brought Dembe to the hospital. Dembe recovered but decided he was done with both the FBI and his criminal life and wanted to live life “without any guns.” Red had offered his blood to Dembe but he turned it down, and the nurse told the FBI that Red looked rather unwell.

Does Red die on The Blacklist?

Agent Nixon decided to take Red down by any means, and Herbie quit, unwilling to participate in something that would result in Red’s death. Red himself had fled to Villa Lobo in Andalusia, Spain. He was living in a small village but coughing up blood, showing he had some ailment.

Red found himself in one of the local bull ranches and came face-to-face with a bull. They locked eyes for a long moment before the bull charged at Red, who stood there unafraid.

Ressler finally tracked Red down by helicopter, landing to find Red’s mangled body, gored by the bull but looking oddly at peace. Ressler confirmed to the FBI that Raymond Reddington was really and truly dead.

And so, Red Reddington met his fate, on his own terms, not in a prison cell, which is exactly the only way he could go out. We never find out what happens to the rest of the Task Force, but The Blacklist’s final takedown was Red himself.

The Blacklist season 10 is streaming on Peacock.