Did Liz really die on Blacklist Season 3

*WARNING: Spoiles ahead for season 8, episode 22*

It was announced on June 15th that Megan Boone would be leaving The Blacklist after eight seasons on the show where she plays FBI Agent Elizabeth Keen.

The news broke with just two episodes of season 8 remaining and speculation quickly began to bubble over how the show would deal with her departure.

But just how does Megan Boone leave The Blacklist? Does Liz Keen die in the season 8 finale or does she sail away into the sunset?

• READ MORE: The Blacklist season 8s lingering questions explored

Episode 22 recap

After episode 21 ended with Liz getting wounded, it seemed to set up a season finale of more flashbacks as she drifted towards a slow death.

However, the was not the case as Reddington, Dembe and Liz all make it back to the US in one piece following their Latvian excursion.

The episodes plot is kicked into gear when Reddington reveals something that has been teased all season, hes gravely ill and is in the process of dying.

Knowing that his death would leave Liz vulnerable to his many enemies, Reddington organises a plan that would see her protected even after his death.

Against the wishes of Cooper and the team, Reddington plans to have Liz shoot him dead after leaving Pascuals newly reopened restaurant so that she can take over his criminal empire as the statement would make any of Reds rivals wary of taking on Liz after he was gone.

Does Liz die in The Blacklist?

• Yes, Liz does die in the season 8 finale as Reddingtons plan to keep her safe fails.

Throughout episode 22, Liz explains that she wont be able to pull the trigger on Reddington despite the number of time shes wanted to kill him in the past.

Reddington hoped to persuade Liz to carry out the deed by tempting her with an unopened letter from her mother that supposedly contains all of the secrets that Red has hidden from Liz over the years.

However, as Liz comes face-to-face with Red in the episodes final moments, she again has doubts and while she stands there, deciding whether or not to shoot, we hear a gunshot ring out but not from her weapon.

Instead, one of Townsends henchmen had followed the pair to the restaurant and shot Liz as she debated pulling the trigger.

Red wastes no time in dispatching the henchmen before comforting Liz as she dies in his arms, her life flashing before her as she passes, never knowing what was in the letter that Red promised to give her.

Megan Boones departure already announced

Thanks to Megan Boones pre-announced departure from The Blacklist, we already knew that she was due to leave the show before June 23rds finale.

Deadline reported that Megan Boones departure was her own choice and that she gave the shows writers plenty of notice so that they could craft a satisfying arc to round out her story.

The only lingering question ahead of the season 8 finale was how her departure would come about. After episode 21 left Liz wounded, fans feared that she would die as a result.

But after she pulled through and spent much of episode 22 planning a trip to Europe with her daughter, it seemed as if Liz would simply sail off into the sunset.

Sadly, that wasnt to be the case as Lizs story on The Blacklist ended with her dying in the street after being shot, never learning the true significance of Raymond Reddington.

Season 8 of The Blacklist concluded on NBC on June 23rd, 2021.

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