‘The Blacklist’ season 7: Katarina not a ‘straight-up bad guy’

“The Blacklist” is just one of those shows that leave its viewers pondering and analyzing an episode, long after it ended. And ponder as they will, most fans are probably still uncertain on how to classify Liz’s mother Katarina, is she a bad guy or not?

Well, she has her ruthless and manipulative moments but most of the show’s characters are of the same mold as well. At least, she has shown that she is capable of telling the truth at times, such as when she said Red is not Ilya.

What matted at the moment is that Liz decided to trust her and help her escape in the end. Now, weeks after “The Blacklist” season 7 midseason finale came out, fans are probably still wondering if Liz made the right choice in helping out her mom.

Fortunately, the show’s creator, Jon Bokenkamp, offered a few words that might help fans decide how to feel about Katarina. In fact, he urged fans to trust Liz’s mom in the same way they can trust the series' other characters.

“So we put it in context of who Katarina is and what she’s looking for,” Bokenkamp said, according to Cinema Blend. “I think her intent is right and she wants answers and justice and it’s an interesting, if not potentially dangerous, relationship for Liz to connect to. But I think we can trust her, as much as we can trust anybody on the show.”

It does not help at all that Bokenkamp previously referred to Katarina as the “most formidable Big Bad.” But the more people got to know her, the more they understood where all her toughness came from.

“I think we have seen in her sort of an emotional resonance or emotional truth, a level of which she’s invested in this — she’s not just a straight-up bad guy,” Bokenkamp added. “She’s obviously pained and tortured by what’s happening and wants justice.”

On the other hand, he also wanted to remind everyone that while Red is protective of Liz, fans must not forget that he is a criminal as well.

“And I think sometimes people forget that Reddington is a criminal,” Bokenkamp explained. “He’s a murderer. He’s a bad guy. As much as he’s protected Liz and had her best interest at heart, he is still, you know, one of the most wanted men in the world.”

Asking who the bad or good guy, in this case, is practically pointless as everyone has their own inner demons to answer to. The more important question seems to be this – just how would Katarina’s presence affect Liz and Red’s relationship?