With new cases popping up every week, one thing NBC show every week, one consistent storyline was the relationship between Elizabeth Keen and Raymond Reddington. Is he her father or not? While that has been a question for the past several seasons, that's not the only relationship the show has focused on.
With Katarina Rostova back, will we finally get answers about her and Red? Others to watch out for are how close Red is to either Harold or Samar. In fact, fans already knew of the bond that Reddington and Dembe share, and they're sticking around to see where it goes. Here are the 5 best and the 5 worst relationships involving Raymond Reddington on The Blacklist.
BEST: Harold Cooper
At first, their relationship was one on a strictly professional level. We would later find out they shared a bit of a past together but that wasn't even enough to salvage a friendship. As time ed with Raymond Reddington's involvement with the Task Force, a mutual respect grew.
Harold has gone to bat for Reddington a few times to make sure he stays out of jail. But when he went toe-to-toe with the President of The United States, it was at that moment we knew Harold was Team Reddington all the way.
WORST: Jennifer Reddington
So much hate there. And while Reddington may deserve some of it, Jennifer has no interest in hearing him out. In her eyes, Reddington left her and her mother to fend for themselves while he was out indulging in criminal activities which placed him on the FBI's Most Wanted list.
Her pairing with Liz to take down their father was the ultimate betrayal. While Liz did take part in that, she has tried to make amends with her decision. Jennifer, on the other hand, has appeared to have washed her hands with Liz and Reddington. Raymond never had a shot at redemption with his other daughter.
BEST: Ilya Koslov
As thrilling as the Katarina Rostova reveal was, the Reddington and Ilya connection was just as important, if not more. We were led to believe that Ilya was actually Red thanks to Liz's grandfather. However, the truth revealed that he and Red are actually great friends.
While not as close as Dembe, there is still a bond there that has only grown over the years. What's the endgame for them? We don't know but what we do know is that they hold some haunting secrets in their friendship.
WORST: Donald Ressler
There was never any love lost between these two. Well before the Task Force, Ressler was an agent assigned to track down Reddington. Safe to say, it didn't go too well for him. But now that they're working together, Ressler has had to face his demons while staring one of his biggest failures in the face daily.
There have been moments where the two can work together but more times than others, Ressler wants nothing more than to place the handcuffs on Reddington ad haul him off to jail. Ressler is the one who informed Liz of her mother, grandfather and Reddington's shady business behind her back.
BEST: Mr. Kaplan
The first scene of Mr. Kaplan was that of a flunky of Reddington's. Over time we would learn that she was way more than that. Kate was the female version of Dembe and truth be told, she may have been closer to Red than Dembe is. Kaplan was there from the very beginning.
She was there when Red and Katarina started their love affair. She was there when Liz was born and she also vowed to protect Liz from anyone, including Reddington. Theirs was a perfect union. They had one another's backs and would go against any force to make sure they both came out on top. This was one of the greatest friendships on The Blacklist until it wasn't anymore.
WORST: Samar Navabi
Their relationship, in the beginning, was as if Samar was going to be some sort of spy for Raymond Reddington while working on the Task Force. He was the reason she was there in the first place. Their history together was a good one but as the seasons moved forward, it's as if they grew apart instead if closer and Samar often went against Reddington. When did it change?
Red would still go against the grain for Samar but she was not willing to do the same for him. Samar had become a female Ressler. She would do what she had to do but only for the FBI side of things and not because she and Red were on ever friends. By the time she left, Samar was not on Red's side.
BEST: Elizabeth Keen
Is Elizabeth Keen his daughter? At this point, do we really care? What they share is just as precious as any father and daughter relationship. They have their good and bad times. One moment she wants him dead or in jail and the next she's going against the government or armies risking everything to save him. It's confusing but intriguing at the same time.
Reddington will do the same for Liz as well. He's always looked out for her even when she didn't know it or needed it. Even with Liz seemingly siding with her mother now, does that mean that she's trying to take Reddington down again? Somehow, this will get worked out as it always has in the past.
WORST: Katarina Rostova
What started out as a love affair turned into something beautiful. Maybe there was a child involved and maybe not. That secret is still locked away by the writers. Before her return, we were led to believe that Red and Katarina were close. At some point they were, but since her return, the truth begins to unravel that there is some serious bad blood between the two.
Katarina may not want Reddington dead but she does want to hurt him. How far is Red willing to go to stop one of the best ing characters on the show? Are we missing anymore to this story that may have us take Katarina's side over Red just as Liz has done?
BEST: Dembe Zuma
As close as we would like Reddington and Liz to be, there is still no better bond on The Blacklist then Red and Dembe. While Dembe is described as his trusted companion, their relationship is more brother-like than anything. Red saved Dembe, and in return, Dembe has offers his protection and life. While they will have had their spats and Dembe has left Red's side before, he always finds his way back.
Their interactions can be serious but they can be a bit on the comical side as well. Red can get out of control from time to time and it's usually Dembe who can ease is anger and make him see the error in his ways. Dembe is easily one of the best characters on the show.
WORST: Mr. Kaplan
For as great as their friendship was, it was just as bad. In the early stages of The Blacklist, we knew Mr. Kaplan and Red were as close as Dembe and Red. She knew every secret and he knew hers. But their showdown is still the best encounter we've had on the show.
While Reddington was hesitant to kill Kate, Kate wanted revenge and was willing to go the distance to make sure he never hurt her or anyone else. But can you blame her? After all, Reddington did put a bullet in her head and left her for dead in the woods.