Raymond Reddington

- Raymond Reddington to Argo

Often referred to as "the concierge of crime," Reddington is notorious for brokering agreements among various criminals. He willingly turns himself in to the FBI and offers valuable insights into a group of criminals known as "the blacklist." These individuals are adept at avoiding any evidence of their crimes, to the extent that the FBI wasn't even aware of their existence. Reddington's moral compass appears ambiguous, as he justifies certain unlawful acts, such as extortion, counterfeiting, torture, and even murder, as being in service of a greater good. He leverages his alliance with the FBI to advance his covert agenda, with the revelation that he required their assistance in locating Berlin, an enigmatic adversary who posed a significant threat to his organization.

## Biography

Raymond "Red" Reddington is a former officer of the United States Navy, with strong indications that he held a position within the Office of Naval Intelligence. He currently ranks as the fourth most-wanted individual on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Reddington received his education at the U.S. Naval Academy and had a promising career in U.S. counterintelligence, even on the path to becoming an admiral. However, his life took a drastic turn during his journey home for Christmas. Subsequently, it came to light that Reddington was accused of treason, allegedly for sharing sensitive information with the Soviet Union, which resulted in the deaths of several American naval officers.

Reddington exhibits a peculiar fascination with Elizabeth Keen and possesses confidential information about her that she never disclosed publicly. He goes to great lengths, even suppressing her memories of a traumatic fire she experienced as a child, to shield her from the truth. Eventually, Elizabeth recovers her suppressed memories, discovering that her mother killed her father when she was young, following his attack on her. Reddington clarifies that his intentions were to prevent Elizabeth from following a similar path as his own. He also alludes to a romantic liaison with Elizabeth's mother, Katarina Rostova, and on several occasions, hints that he might be Elizabeth's biological father. However, no concrete evidence supports this claim, and Reddington initially denies it when directly confronted by Elizabeth, although he acknowledges a close relationship with her father.

One of the people on Reddington's list is No. 126, Maxwell Thorn. Thorn is a former Cyber Security Technologist with the Air Force. Thorn was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force. After Thorn released a series of attacks on political officials and Air Force personnel, Argo Harper started to get on Thorn's trail. This caught the attention of Reddington and the Taskforce, and Reddington met with Argo to bring him into the inner circle that was hunting down Thorn. A mutual understanding begins to take shape between Argo and Reddington. Argo, realizing the gravity of the situation and the need for allies, agrees to join forces with the FBI Taskforce to tackle the elusive cyberterrorist. Argo's unique perspective and abilities prove invaluable to the team as they work tirelessly to decipher the intricacies of Thorn's nefarious plans. After defeating Thorn, Reddington acknowledges Argo's role in their victory and passes on a debt of gratitude. Almost immediately, Argo requests that Reddington use his connections to investigate Luke Castellan and anyone else who might be connected to him in order to help Argo uncover his parents murderer and stop Luke from reviving Kronos.

## Personality

Raymond Reddington is a highly intelligent and deeply determined individual who exhibits well-developed sociopathic tendencies. These traits seem to have arisen as a consequence of his battle-scarred past, particularly his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rather than being inherent from birth. Red is characterized by his sly, manipulative, and charming nature, often staying several moves ahead of those around him while maintaining an air of mystery. He once stated, "I'm a criminal. Criminals are notorious liars. Everything about me is a lie." While there's some truth in this, the extent remains uncertain. Red has an aversion to impoliteness, a trait noted by Agent Ressler after Red allowed a notorious drug dealer to escape due to the dealer's discourteous behavior. Red explained his actions, saying, "He is on my jet."

Contrary to being classified as a psychopath, Red perceives his criminal actions as a response to the tragic murder of his family. He harbors a deep belief that his country and career were somehow complicit in his family's demise, leading him to forsake both. Red operates according to his own set of morals, often at odds with societal norms.

Red also possesses an exceptionally ruthless disposition, displaying no reluctance to take lives. On occasion, he appears to derive a grim satisfaction from his actions, although this is infrequent. His penchant for killing serves as an effective means to extract information, eventually leading to the demise of individuals on his blacklist. Red exhibits little empathy when ending lives, opting to conceal this with a genial facade that lulls victims into complacency, allowing him to exploit or eliminate them. He has articulated his view that he does not feign concern for the feelings of those he kills; he dispatches them with finality, considering it a matter of respect. Paradoxically, Red reveals a deep sense of compassion and protectiveness toward Elizabeth Keen, going to great lengths to ensure her safety. He extends this natural care to members of his inner circle as well. Red is courteous, warm, and nurturing to those he has known for an extended period, maintaining an amiable persona consistently. His reputation as a man of his word is well-deserved, as he remains steadfast in keeping his promises, most notably his vow to Katarina to safeguard her daughter, a commitment he has dedicated his entire life to upholding.

## Physical Appearance

Raymond Reddington is a Caucasian man standing at 5 feet 10 inches, with an approximate weight of 190 pounds and a medium build. While his hair is naturally brown, he currently maintains a bald look, having recently shaved his head. His distinctive features include striking green eyes.

Red is known for his impeccable fashion sense, meticulously choosing attire suitable for any occasion. Typically, he can be seen donning a finely tailored three-piece suit of high-quality material, complemented by a colorful tie, a stylish fedora, Italian leather footwear, and his trademark rose-tinted glasses. Additionally, he consistently wears a wristwatch. Depending on the circumstances, he might opt for a custom-tailored tuxedo. For practicality, he occasionally layers a blue windbreaker over his suit or dons an overcoat when the weather is cold. In extremely frigid conditions, he possesses a fur-trimmed parka. However, given his dual role as a master criminal, he is also adept at adopting nondescript, inconspicuous attire when the situation requires blending into his surroundings.

## Appearances in Harper Studios

Seasons