S5·E1 Smokey Putnum

Episode recap

The season‑five premiere of The Blacklist, titled “Smokey Putnum,” opens with Raymond Reddington confronting the aftermath of a shattered criminal empire. The collapse of his network leaves him without the resources that have long underpinned his operations, creating a sense of urgency that drives the episode’s central conflict. In response to this precarious situation, Red reaches out to Elizabeth Keenan, seeking her cooperation in a scheme designed to restore his financial footing while simultaneously advancing the Task Force’s agenda.

Red’s proposal to Liz is framed as a two‑part plan. The first component focuses on generating cash, a practical necessity given the recent loss of his empire’s revenue streams. The second component involves the identification and delivery of a new Blacklister to the FBI Task Force. By presenting a fresh target, Red not only supplies the Task Force with a high‑value adversary but also positions himself as an indispensable asset, thereby reinforcing his uneasy alliance with the bureau.

Throughout the episode, the narrative follows the development of this plan, emphasizing the strategic calculations of both Red and Liz. Their collaboration is portrayed as a calculated partnership, each party leveraging the other’s strengths to achieve mutual goals. The episode’s pacing reflects the tension inherent in balancing personal survival with the broader objectives of the Task Force, underscoring the series’ recurring themes of loyalty, manipulation, and the blurred lines between law enforcement and criminality.

“Smokey Putnum” thus serves as a launch point for the season’s overarching storyline, establishing the stakes that will drive subsequent episodes. By situating Red’s diminished empire as the catalyst for the new alliance with Liz, the episode re‑establishes the central dynamic that has defined the series while introducing the promise of a fresh Blacklister whose capture will shape the investigative focus of the Task Force moving forward. The episode concludes with the plan set in motion, leaving the audience poised to see how Red’s financial recovery and the pursuit of the new Blacklister will unfold.