Megan Boone’s portrayal of Elizabeth Keen was a cornerstone of the hit series The Blacklist from its inception. Her journey as the FBI profiler intertwined with the enigmatic criminal mastermind Raymond “Red” Reddington captivated audiences for eight seasons. However, in the season 8 finale, fans were faced with Elizabeth Keen’s departure, leaving many to question: why did Megan Boone leave The Blacklist before its final seasons? For those invested in Liz Keen’s intricate storyline and her central role, Boone’s exit raised significant questions about the show’s future and the reasons behind this major cast change.
As a central figure in The Blacklist‘s narrative, Elizabeth “Liz” Keen was instrumental in driving the show’s complex plots and character dynamics. Her relationship with Red and the unfolding mystery of her past were key elements that drew viewers in. Given her prominence, it’s understandable why the question “why did Megan Boone leave The Blacklist?” became so prevalent among fans as season 8 concluded. However, the reasoning behind Megan Boone’s departure and Elizabeth Keen’s subsequent exit from The Blacklist is quite straightforward, rooted in personal and professional choices.
Megan Boone’s Departure from The Blacklist: Seeking New Horizons
Elizabeth Keen’s Exit Was Planned in Advance
Megan Boone’s decision to leave The Blacklist was not a sudden one. She made the choice to explore other opportunities well in advance of the show’s renewal for season 9. This early notification allowed The Blacklist‘s writers and producers to thoughtfully craft Elizabeth Keen’s storyline in season 8, ensuring a conclusive and meaningful arc for her character.
The departure of Elizabeth Keen from The Blacklist was a collaborative decision between Boone and the show’s creative team. The producers, NBC, and Sony Pictures TV were all aware and accepting of this significant shift in the series narrative. Following Megan Boone’s exit, the original cast members who continued with The Blacklist included James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, and Harry Lennix, marking a new chapter for the series without one of its leading figures.
Megan Boone’s Final Blacklist Appearance: Death of Elizabeth Keen
Elizabeth Keen’s Story Concluded with Her Tragic Death
In the dramatic climax of her storyline in The Blacklist, Elizabeth Keen found herself on the run. The season 8 finale brought her face-to-face with Raymond Reddington, who, revealing his terminal illness, urged her to kill him. As Liz grappled with this impossible choice, Red attempted to persuade her by promising a letter from her mother.
Tragically, before Liz could make a decision, Neville Townsend’s henchman intervened, shooting her in the back. Elizabeth Keen died in Red’s arms, a devastating end to her journey on The Blacklist and Megan Boone’s tenure on the show.
Elizabeth Keen’s death in The Blacklist season 8 finale definitively closed the door for Boone’s return in seasons 9 and 10. However, Megan Boone, who founded her own production company, Weird Sisters, has continued to pursue new projects. Even though Elizabeth Keen was no longer part of The Blacklist, her absence and the events surrounding her death significantly influenced the narrative of seasons 9 and 10.
The Blacklist Post-Megan Boone: Did the Quality Decline?
Viewership Remained Stable After Elizabeth Keen’s Exit, Fan Opinions Varied
Assessing whether The Blacklist‘s quality diminished after Megan Boone’s departure is complex. Viewership numbers had already begun to decrease during season 8, Elizabeth Keen’s last season. Interestingly, season 9’s viewership averaged just over 5.4 million viewers per episode, similar to season 8 (THR). This suggests that Boone’s exit did not drastically impact overall viewership figures. However, online fan reactions are diverse, with a notable segment believing that her departure positively impacted the show.
Some viewers argue that Elizabeth’s absence allowed the show to streamline certain long-running storylines, such as the ongoing mystery of Raymond Reddington’s true identity, potentially leading to a more focused narrative.
It’s worth acknowledging that Elizabeth Keen was not universally loved by The Blacklist fanbase. While central to many plots, James Spader’s Raymond Reddington was often considered the primary draw for audiences. Conversely, a considerable number of viewers and critics felt the show’s quality declined in its final two seasons, culminating in a somewhat underwhelming season 10 finale.
It’s debatable whether Megan Boone leaving The Blacklist was a primary cause of any perceived decline, as other factors likely contributed to the show’s trajectory. The question of whether Elizabeth Keen’s presence in seasons 9 and 10 would have improved the show remains open to speculation, as Boone did not return for the series’ concluding episodes.
Megan Boone’s Activities After The Blacklist
Boone Focused on Other Projects and Advocacy Post-Blacklist
As expected after an eight-season run on a major series, Megan Boone has pursued different roles since leaving The Blacklist, though not yet on the same scale. Her on-screen appearances have been relatively limited. In the same year as her Blacklist exit, Boone appeared in Barry Jenkins’ acclaimed period drama miniseries The Underground Railroad, in a single episode as Miss Lucy.
Boone took on a role in the second episode of season 1 of Accused in 2023, portraying Jenny, a woman whose child is taken by a surrogate.
In 2023, Boone returned to television in the crime anthology series Accused. This series presents different stories and casts each episode, centered around a court case from the accused’s perspective. Boone starred in the second episode of the first season, playing Jenny, a woman dealing with a surrogacy gone wrong.
Beyond acting, Megan Boone has become a vocal advocate for climate change awareness. Since 2017, she has been a spokesperson for climate and environmental legislation, a cause she remains actively committed to.
The Blacklist and Lead Character Exits: A Comparison
Elizabeth Keen’s Importance Made Her Exit Particularly Challenging
The Blacklist is not unique in continuing after a lead character’s departure, but the nature of Elizabeth Keen’s role presented specific challenges. Shows like The Office and Cheers navigated main character exits (Michael Scott and Diane Chambers, respectively) but these were ensemble shows. While impactful, the character loss didn’t fundamentally alter the show’s narrative structure. Megan Boone’s departure from The Blacklist was more complex due to the central nature of her character to the overarching storyline.
Other series have faced similar dilemmas. Yellowstone, for example, recently dealt with the abrupt exit of Kevin Costner. While John Dutton’s intended ending is debated, Costner’s departure created a sense of unresolved narrative threads. House of Cards similarly faced a major shift when Kevin Spacey was fired, leading to Frank Underwood’s off-screen death, which, while Robin Wright stepped up, felt like a narrative compromise.
That 70s Show, while ensemble-based, revolved around Eric Forman. Topher Grace’s season 7 exit impacted the dynamic, especially given the central setting of Eric’s basement. Two and a Half Men, however, demonstrated that a show can successfully pivot after a lead actor change. Despite Charlie Sheen’s firing, the show replaced his character with Ashton Kutcher, continuing for several more seasons.
Success!
The Blacklist TV series poster featuring Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keen
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The Blacklist
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Release Date 2013 – 2022
The Blacklist is an action/thriller crime-drama TV series on NBC from creator Jon Bokenkamp. The show follows former intelligence officer turned master criminal Raymond Reddington (James Spader) and FBI agent Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone.) Red, one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, known as “The Concierge of Crime,” mysteriously surrenders to the FBI and offers to help them catch a deadly terrorist, with the condition that he only speaks to Elizabeth- who just so happens to be starting her first day on the job. The two continue to partner to tackle Red’s “Blacklist,” which he offers in exchange for immunity for his past crimes.
Network NBC
Cast Harry Lennix, Megan Boone, James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Parminder Nagra
Showrunner Jon Bokenkamp
Directors Jon Bokenkamp
Writers Jon Bokenkamp
Seasons 10
Streaming Service(s) Netflix
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