New crime drama The Blacklist hit UK screens last Friday on Sky Living and there has been nothing but praise towards it's first two episodes amongst viewers and critics. Twitter was rife with people stating that it was one of the best pilots they've seen, whilst the ratings were going through the roof beating Homeland in the same week.
The shows do bare many similarities in style. Both are serious. Both tackle the idea of crimes on a big scale. Whilst Homeland circles around the CIA, The Blacklist is all about the FBI, both agencies fighting criminals, but two very different kinds. Whilst the former is based in global politics, the latter concentrates more on individual villains.
If you're not familiar with the newest show of the two compared here yet, it revolves around wanted man, Raymond 'Red' Reddington, who has seemingly given himself over to the FBI in order to lessen the severity of his prosecutions, in exchange for valuable information about criminals they don't even know exist. But he will only confer with one agent, Elizabeth Keen, a young woman starting her time with the FBI the day Red exposes himself.
So, the battle of the US drama commences! My favour is in The Blacklist's corner, and here's 5 reasons why everyone should give it a try...
1. The protagonist is bad/good, but we know it.
Unlike the see-saw attitude towards Homeland's bad boy Brody of 'is he, isn't he?', Reddington is bad. They lay that on solidly within the first episode. He's No.4 on the 'Most Wanted' list, and this is what makes the show interesting. Why is he helping the FBI catch his supposed friends and allies? Why has he asked for rookie Elizabeth Keen specifically, when he's a dangerous man? It's too intriguing not to keep watching...
2. Plenty of twists and turns!
I defy you not to gasp at least once throughout the entirety of the pilot. There's violence, emotional pulls and a revelation right at the end that will leave you dying to watch the second episode.
3. There's a new bad guy every episode.
Whilst some people might like the developing stories of Homeland depicting Abu Nazir as the baddie in the first seasons and the confused motives of lead, Brody, but fans of the slightly more "fast-paced" action will enjoy The Blacklist much more. Each episode focusses on a different unknown criminal and it seems like that will a format continued throughout the whole series. After naming the criminal that each episode is focussed on at the beginning of each, it delves into Red's relationship with the target and just what they're planning to do.
4. It's lead by a male/female duo - but with none of the mushy business.
Even just two episodes in, the dynamic between Spader's Reddington and relative newcomer Megan Boone's Keen is palpable, but we know there's no chance of romance between the pair unlike in Homeland. Avid fans have already sparked theories that Red will be found to have some kind of hidden connection with Keen, hence his willingness to work only with her, but for now, that remains a mystery. But, the twosome's fraught yet functional team work makes for an interesting watch so far.
5. And lastly, it's new!
There's no doubting the first season of Homeland was nothing short of brilliant. But now we're entering the third season, it's starting to feel a little tired. The Blacklist offers us fresh characters, a fresh premise and more than enough intriguing reasons within the very first episode to continue watching. Need anymore convincing? I think not.
Don't get me wrong, I'll still tune in every Sunday to see what becomes of Carrie, Brody, Saul and the gang, but I'll be much more excited about Friday night's The Blacklist for the next few weeks, from now on.
The Blacklist airs 9pm every Friday on Sky Living whilst Homeland broadcasts at 9pm every Sunday on Channel 4.
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