The Blacklist Timeline Explained: A Complete Guide to the Series' Major Events

The Blacklist tells a sprawling story filled with international conspiracies, hidden identities, and one of television’s most mysterious antiheroes. Premiering in 2013, the crime thriller follows notorious criminal Raymond “Red” Reddington, who unexpectedly surrenders to the FBI and offers to help capture dangerous fugitives known as “Blacklisters.” However, his insistence on working only with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen immediately raises questions that drive the series for all 10 seasons.

As the show progresses, the timeline expands far beyond weekly criminal investigations. Flashbacks reveal events dating back decades, including Reddington’s military career, the mysterious 1990 fire, and the origins of Elizabeth Keen’s family. Understanding the major events in chronological order makes the series’ complex mythology much easier to follow. Here’s a simplified timeline of The Blacklist from beginning to end.

The Blacklist Timeline in Order

The earliest events take place decades before the series begins. Raymond Reddington serves as a decorated U.S. Naval intelligence officer before disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Around 1990, a devastating fire changes several lives forever, leading to the disappearance of the real Raymond Reddington and leaving young Masha Rostova—later known as Elizabeth Keen—with fragmented memories of her childhood. The years that follow introduce international spies, secret organizations, and the criminal empire that eventually becomes known as Reddington’s network.

The main story begins in 2013 when Raymond Reddington voluntarily surrenders to the FBI. He proposes the creation of a special task force dedicated to capturing criminals from his secret “Blacklist,” insisting that Elizabeth Keen become his exclusive FBI contact. Over the next several seasons, each Blacklister uncovers another piece of the larger mystery surrounding Red’s true identity, Liz’s family history, and the shadowy Townsend Directive.

Across 10 seasons, The Blacklist blends weekly criminal investigations with an overarching mystery spanning decades (Image via NBC)

The middle seasons dramatically expand the mythology with revelations involving Katarina Rostova, Alexander Kirk, Neville Townsend, and the secret archive known as the Sikorsky Archive. Elizabeth gradually learns more about her past while repeatedly questioning whether the man calling himself Raymond Reddington is actually the person he claims to be. These mysteries become the emotional core of the series, extending beyond the procedural crime format.

Following Elizabeth Keen’s departure in Season 8, the story shifts toward Raymond Reddington’s final years as both law enforcement and former allies close in on his criminal empire. Seasons 9 and 10 focus on the consequences of Liz’s death and Red’s efforts to settle unfinished business before his journey reaches its conclusion. By the series finale, The Blacklist completes its decade-long narrative, bringing Raymond Reddington’s remarkable story to a definitive end while leaving some of its biggest mysteries intentionally open to interpretation.