Why Did Blacklist Let Tom Keen Die?

"Life and Death" acrylic ©Mary Montague Sikes

Because there is so much violence in the popular television show, "Blacklist," I wouldn't watch the program for a long time. Then, when I did take a look, I was hooked by the drama and the love story between Tom Keen and Liz. Also, the odd relationship between Liz and Raymond Reddington is compelling.

Everything on "Blacklist" seems to be life or death. That's one thing that keeps viewers returning week after week. But viewers also fall in love with characters and with relationships. Killing off Tom Keen is as wrong as the demise of Joe Dubois in the final episode of "The Medium."

Although Reddington told Liz that Tom is dead, the writers still have the possibility of bringing him back to life. In the season finale, we watched them put Tom into one of those morgue drawers. That could be a ploy to keep the killers off his trail in the future. Perhaps he is not dead after all; perhaps he left the hospital and is in hiding, awaiting an opportunity to return to his family. Perhaps he will try to contact Liz at some point. Perhaps the writers will come to realize that killing Tom Keen is a very bad move.