“I was personally upset”: One Actor from The Blacklist Was Very Frustrated His Character Was Going to Betray James Spader’s Red Reddington

Hisham Tawfiq reveals why Dembe’s betrayal of James Spader’s Red was so painful for him on The Blacklist.

The Blacklist has definitely transformed the landscape of crime shows on television. With James Spader playing the titular Red Reddington, what more can a crime buff ask from a show? They brought in several narratives and intricate plotlines that kept the audience hooked to their seats.

But it also brought in a lot of frustration for Hisham Tawfiq when he learned that his character on the show would have to betray Red.

Why Hisham Tawfiq Did Not Want His Character Dembe to Betray Red in The Blacklist?

While The Blacklist featured James Spader‘s Red and Meghan Boone’s Elizabeth Keen heavily. It also presented another duo in the forefront: Red and Dembe. Adding to this, in a past interview, Hisham Tawfiq added why it was upsetting for him to betray Spader’s Red in the hit show.

While the initial seasons showcased Dembe’s loyalty towards Red as his bodyguard. The later ones painted a picture where the relationship faced several cracks. Talking about a particular sequence, Tawfiq revealed a storyline in the show that didn’t sit well with him. He added:

When I read the script and I saw that, I was personally upset. Dembe’s always been honest with Red, and this is kind of the first time we’ve seen him not be honest. I struggled with that and I was going to call the creators and be like ‘what’s up with that?

Dembe was introduced in season 1 of the show as Red’s bodyguard, but his real-life story was kept under wraps. The only information available to the viewers about Dembe was that he was a former freedom fighter from South Sudan.

But as the show progressed, viewers delved deeper into his tragic and cruel storyline as well as his bond with Red. In the show, Dembe originally from Sierra Leone was the youngest child of a farmer.

But his childhood took a darker turn when the Mombasa Cartel, retaliating against his father’s report to the authorities, murdered his entire family. After this, Dembe was sold to human traffickers and was eventually abandoned and left to die. At the young age of 14, he was found by Red, who discovered him chained in a basement in Nairobi.

Not only did Red rescue him but also supported him in building a new life as well as pursuing a degree. So, it only makes sense why it was personally upsetting for Tawfiq when his character lied to the one person that was like a surrogate father to him.

James Spader Took His Dedication to Acting to a Whole New Level in the Blacklist

James Spader is indeed a terrific actor with several well-acclaimed projects under his belt. But along with that, he also has a knack for playing roles to the best of his abilities. And in order to fully embody his character Red Reddington in The Blacklist, he didn’t even think twice before shaving his head for the pilot episode. He added more on this in an interview with Collider and said:

It felt wonderful. I had my hair long for the last few projects that I had done, and it felt like the right thing for him. It was an idea that I instigated and I think it was the right choice. It just seemed to fit his lifestyle. He’s someone who has to travel lightly and move swiftly, and it seemed eminently practical for him.

The audience couldn’t imagine another actor playing Red Reddington, given the nuanced acting Spader brought to the role. Further, in another interview via The Associated Press, he detailed his thoughts about the series finale. He added that he was “very, very glad” that the show ended exactly as he wanted it to conclude.