The Blacklist fans are super divided on the animated season finale episode. “The Kazanjin Brothers” drew a ton of reaction on social media when it was first announced. That scrutiny only intensified when people actually got to see some of what the show was working with. When the show aired tonight on NBC, viewers got a taste of what that fusion live-action/animation approach looked like. Some were huge fans and commended the show on taking such a risk. Others were ready to mock the low-poly/cel-shaded feel of the episode. But, you have to give it up to the production team for trying something new when it comes to getting that product out despite the coronavirus pandemic slowing production to a crawl.
For those who don’t have the backstory, the seventh season was almost complete. With an episode half-finished, they opted for comic book-style animation to make sure the show could go on. Executive producers John Eisendrath and Jon Bokenkamp talked to Comicbook.com about the episode and the process that led to its creation this week.
Videos by ComicBook.com
“We’ve always talked about The Blacklist being a big of a comic book. We’ve got a criminal anti-hero at the center of the show. A Rogues’ Gallery of criminals each week,” they explained. “The look and feel of the show has a slightly alt, graphic novel feel to it that’s baked into the DNA of what we do on a week to week basis. So we think when we started kicking around ideas for two to complete the season โ when we looked back at the comic books that had been written by Nicole Phillips โ an animated approach felt very organic.”
Liz is ready to embrace the darkness. What did you think of tonight’s season finale of #TheBlacklist? pic.twitter.com/ipZdeJyN1I
โ The Blacklist (@NBCBlacklist) May 16, 2020
Both producers continued, “The cast recorded all of their dialogue remotely while in quarantine. Those recordings were sent to our Post Production team in Los Angeles. We had animators working around the clock in London and Atlanta.The whole thing was a very virtual experience across multiple time zones, but we were truly impressed with how quickly and seamlessly everyone came together to complete the episode. Think we also welcomed the distraction from what was really happening out in the world.”
The Blacklist stars James Spader alongside Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Amir Arison, Hisham Tawfiq, and Harry Lennix. NBC has already renewed the series for Season 8, so it will be returning with new episodes this fall.
What did you think of The Blacklist finale? Let us know down in the comments! Check out the best reactions down below:
Incredible
My dad is watching the blacklist season 7 finale and these animated portions looks straight out of a swery or suda51 game itโs kinda incredible tbh
โ enkidu dm me (@eithi007) May 16, 2020
Very nice take
The Blacklist season finale is a testament to this trying times. Far from 100% – but a brillant show of ingenuity and the bravery of going on and make it happen…#cineast pic.twitter.com/djPL9p4OaQ
โ samreciter (@MrReciter) May 16, 2020
Super happy with it
This was an amazing, creative finale! So well done. Blacklist is the absolute best show out there.
โ Diane (@DianeDimax) May 16, 2020
Been fan from day one. On to another season! https://t.co/kZIHBFFjRY
Jeez
Well, The Blacklist finale sucked
โ Little Dead Goddess Persephone๐๐ป๐บ (@Synnamintwist) May 16, 2020
Salute
It’s impressive what The Blacklist team did with their season finale. Top tier. They did everything they could to give us a finale that wasn’t even planned for. I salute them ๐ #TheBlacklistFinale
โ Abuti MaSweets๐ญ๐ฌ๐ค (@KemmoneM) May 16, 2020
Some are sad
The Blacklist finale was just sad. I know, in these times, it couldn’t be helped….but the absolute worst animation ever. oh well, let’s hope next season happens as usual.
โ lesley melendez (@lesleymelende) May 16, 2020
Creative solution
Very creative finale of The Blacklist to ensure the final episode was able to be completed .
โ Jason Deger (@Jasondeger) May 16, 2020
Sure the animation at times was odd but it kept the story going .#TheBlacklistFinale
Deadly Premoniton
Upset there isnโt enough time to add a Blacklist finale CGI character to Deadly Premonition 2.
โ Josh Krehbiel (@Taquelli) May 16, 2020
Great review
Zoe’s reaction to S7 Finale of The Blacklist! Two paws up for the awesome creativity! Comic book/video gamer style mingled with live action was a fun twist! pic.twitter.com/mKeUjfVqAu
โ Heather Clark (@Heather10744024) May 16, 2020
Best of a hard situation
Yeah it was rough. But I’m grateful they did what they could to produce a finale instead of just going home with what was in the can like 95% of the network shows. #Blacklist https://t.co/ojY0aT3atT
โ Good Woman (@gwttds) May 16, 2020
Two thumbs up
#Blacklist season finale was great!
โ Precious77 (@Precious7714) May 16, 2020
Must see TV
i watched the first handful of eps of “the blacklist” a few years ago, didn’t get into it, stopped watching… def going to be watching this finale as soon as its available though it looks surreal https://t.co/8Tmwz1ook9
โ โ๐๐รโ๐๐๐โ ๐ฝ (@profoundcarnage) May 16, 2020
Look at this
Look at how the Blacklist made their season finale because of the pandemic!! This is why this is my favorite show…INCREDIBLE @NBCBlacklist ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ pic.twitter.com/S9MiFqNA0o
โ solstice fayemz ๐ธ๐ธ (@fayemzSolstice) May 16, 2020
Maybe so
This Season Finale of the #Blacklist is groundbreaking. More shows will be using novel animation.
โ Blaque Velvet (@morena_kat1) May 16, 2020
Ouch
The season finale of The Blacklist looks like a low budget video game rendering
โ ๐นRachel๐น (@xsacrilegiousx) May 16, 2020
What a deep cut!
The Blacklist finale has the vibe of that episode of Fringe that was CG animated
โ ellie!! ๐๐ (@snoothaver) May 16, 2020
