Samar (Mozhan Marnò) will once again come to Liz's (Megan Boone) rescue when the hit NBC series "The Blacklist" returns after its winter break.
Entertainment Weekly grilled showrunner Jon Bokenkamp to get inside details on what viewers can expect for the upcoming episodes of the crime thriller. The executive producer did not disappoint, as he revealed the major role Samar will be playing in saving Liz from a fate worse than death. During the midseason finale, the ex-agent-turned-fugitive got arrested by Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) and his FBI battalion. When the show returns, she will be seen imprisoned in the big glass box that used to house Red (James Spader).
When Samar previously helped Liz, Ressler kicked her out of the team and his life. The two shared a special moment after working on a case together, but that came to an end when Ressler found out Samar went behind his back to assist the fugitive. Liz was tracking down Red, who suddenly went missing. Samar decided to assist her in finding him, which Ressler eventually discovered. This time though, Bokenkamp said Samar will be teaming up with Red and Aram (Amir Arison) and take "bold measures" to ensure Liz's safety.
"In the back half of the season, she's not working with Ressler and the team. That would leave her open and available to potentially have some back-channeling with Reddington. Those two have a very unusual and very mysterious relationship. I would think it might be likely to see Red and Samar perhaps teaming up in some capacity," he explained.
The showrunner also shared that episode 9, titled "The Director" will be shown in two parts, where viewers will see Liz in great danger. He said that Red has to race against the clock to execute the "very complex, and yet simple plan" he has been working on for the last eight episodes. Aram will reportedly be "saddled with a huge job" for the midseason premiere, where things will be highly emotional for him.
"The Blacklist" season 3 return will return on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.
