Blacklist bad acting

Reddington has often told Liz to "think like a criminal," and that advice may be his downfall.

The Blacklist, which was recently renewed for a ninth season, returned from hiatus after a game-changing event, the murder of superspy Katarina Rostova [Laila Robins]. Raymond Reddington [James Spader] has killed Elizabeth Keen's [Megan Boone] mother right in front of her, and she plans to avenge the death. After attempting to kill Reddington in the winter premiere, Agent Keen found herself earning the top spot on the Blacklist, starting a new, defining chapter for the NBC drama.

In the clip above, watch Reddington and his people hunt for Agent Keen, and see the title card listing her as No. 1 on the Blacklist. These new circumstances push the show into a new chapter. "How this unfolds is the great promise of this season," executive producer Jon Bokenkamp says, "It's totally, entirely new in every way."

Reddington's lessons will be beneficial to Liz as she tries to take the criminal mastermind down. Having her on the run allows viewers to see Liz thinking like a criminal. "She will be flipping, in a way, his pattern and aligning herself with Blacklisters," Bokenkamp shares. Looking ahead, the FBI agent is going to display what she's learned about the criminal underworld and use it as a source of power. Specifically, in the upcoming episode, she will be reaching out to Blacklisters she's crossed paths with and even Reddington's assets in an attempt to flip them.