Tonight on NBC their hit drama The Blacklist starring James Spader airs with an all-new Friday, May 21, 2021, episode and we have your The Blacklist recap below. On tonight’s The Blacklist Season 8, Episode 18 called, “The Protean”, as per the NBC synopsis, “The Task Force springs into action to stop an elusive assassin on Liz’s trail.”
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In tonight’s The Blacklist episode, the episode begins with a Rys Engel, who was hired by Neville Townsend to find Elizabeth Keen, he says she is more dangerous than she looks.
There is a knock at Liz’s door, it is Jax, Esi and Skip want to know what is going on. Esi asks her if Neville is looking for her or hunting. Liz explains that Reddington’s handler from Moscow, Stepanov, she and Townsend were questioning him and whatever he told Townsend, whatever he gave up is making Townsend want to kill her. Liz thinks that whatever Stepanov said, is what Red is so desperately trying to hide.
Dembe and Red arrive to see the task force, he is told that they are watching traffic cams, local police are canvassing the perimeter. Red says he has a lead on the hitman that Townsend hired to kill Liz, he is known as the Protean. He is an independent contractor, his allegiance follows the money.
He travels the globe hunting his victims and travels as a recently deceased from job to job. Cooper says they have to go through the proper channels, Dembe looks at Red and says this is a waste of time, Red advises Cooper that he will handle this on his own.
The Protean has arrived at Liz’s apartment, she is outside on the roof speaking to Cooper, she went out there because there were no bars on her cell phone. Inside the apartment, the Protean has shot Jax, Esi, and Skip. Esi is not dead, she jumps Protean, they fight for his gun, but he gets it and shoots her again, and shoots Skip again. Liz returns to the apartment, she finds everyone dead.
The Protean has left, he is next going to get to Liz through her half-sister or her daughter.
Red and Dembe make a visit to Max Frey from Customs and Border Patrol, Red wants access to the database. Max says he wants to help, but CBP has been good for him. Red says he needs the database to find a man in his thirties or forties, who entered the country alone in the last 48 hours. If he doesn’t get his information, he will nuke his budgie. Max does it, he gives up his computer.
Ressler is at the apartment with Cooper, they have recovered blood under Esi’s fingernails, they might be able to ID the killer. Ressler is worried about Liz, she doesn’t have any backup now. At Agnes’ school, she is pulled out of school early, her teacher takes her outside just as The Protean has arrived.
Red goes to Paula to help him go through the database. Liz calls Mrs. French, Agnes was picked up, she speaks to her and asks her about her day. Townsend is on the phone with The Protein, he tells him that things are back on track, but the target is a very clever fugitive in hiding, which makes it more difficult. It will take time, he tells Townsend to demonstrate some patients.
The task force is hitting a brick wall. Jennifer calls Liz, she says that someone was in her place, they found her and she is witness protection. Liz gives her an address to go to and asks her to meet her there at 9 pm. Little does Liz know, The Protean has a gun to Jen’s head.
Red is in a bingo hall, he says he is a good friend of Paula – Betty Loo has come down with something, so he is going to be the caller for this round. Red says they are going to do things a little differently, he gives them lists to call, if they finish a list – they get $100 and the grand prize could be there, it is $1000. The bingo goers are not excited about the game, Paula takes the mic and she tells them a sob story, Red looks at her in awe.
Liz meets with Jennifer, when she gets in the car Jen tells her it is a trap. All of a sudden The Protein is about twenty feet in front of the car and he shoots. Liz presses the gas and runs him over. In the car, Jennifer is crying that she is going to die. Liz tells her she is not going to die, they are ten minutes from the hospital.
The Protean dropped his cell phone, Park and Ressler are on the scene, Park redials the last number he called and it is a hotel – they head there. Meanwhile, Liz is trying to keep Jennifer calm, she tells her they are going to live happily ever after – but Jennifer is already gone. Liz pulls over the car, hugs her sister, and cries.
Red’s bingo worked, he got the Protean’s name, he calls Cooper and gives it to him. Cooper tells Red about the hotel. Meanwhile, Liz is with her sister, she leaves her in the car, covers her with her jacket, and leaves her inside.
Aram, Park, and Ressler are at the hotel, but little does Ressler know, he passed The Protein on the in. Liz calls Ressler and tells him to send someone to pick up her sister, he got to her. She asks him to bury her, maybe somewhere with a view, she will pay for it. Ressler tells her that The Protean is after her, he knows where she is. We then see him, going room through room with his gun, but Liz is gone again.
The Protean calls Townsend and tells him that he has her location and will bring her to him at the same time tomorrow. Just then, Liz pulls a gun on him. Liz and The Protean are in a car, she tells him that she wants to know everything about Townsend. The task force arrives, Ressler tells Liz to get out and put the gun down. Liz tells Ressler that he killed her sister, Esi, Skip, and Jax, she is not letting him out, she has the gun pointed at his head.
The Protean takes off his seatbelt, he tries to grab for Liz’s gun, Ressler shoots him. Cooper calls Red and says he has Cooper, Red tells him to bring her to him, she is a criminal, she will never be a civilian or an FBI agent. Cooper tells him that he hopes he is wrong. Aram and Park walk away with Liz in handcuffs.
THE END!