Their tumultuous relationship will come to a head in the final two episodes of Season 8, aptly titled “Nachalo” and “Konets,” Russian for “Beginning” (Начало) and “End” (Конец). After watching Raymond “Red” Reddington (Spader) kill her mother, Katarina, Liz turned the tables on her former mentor who now became her target. Season 8 has completed Liz’s transformation from a wide-eyed rookie FBI agent to a criminal on the run who has embraced her dark side. With Boone’s departure, Spader, Diego Klattenhoff and Harry Lennix remain the only original cast members on the show. Reps for NBC and Sony Pictures TV, which produces The Blacklist with Universal TV, had no comment. I hear the decision was mutual, and Boone already is plotting her next move. That allowed the writers to craft the arc for her character, Elizabeth “Liz”” Keen, this season as her final chapter.

The decision about Boone’s exit was made early on, well ahead of The Blacklist‘s Season 9 renewal in January.

The blacklist mega