NBC's "The Blacklist" ended on an incredibly weird note forced by the pandemic shutdown — a semi-animated season finale to wrap up the season's story. On Nov. 13, the show returns to the screen — and returns to live action — to continue the twisting saga of Raymond Reddington (James Spader, "Boston Legal) and Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone, "Family Games," 2018).

The show was partway through shooting a late-season episode of Season 7 when the pandemic shut down production. Rather than just give up on the season, the producers had the innovative (and maybe desperate) idea of animating the unfilmed scenes of that episode and adding a bit extra to turn it into a finale.

That was a hard decision, for them and for the network executives ("they thought it was crazy at the time," showrunner John Eisendrath told Variety magazine), but it left the show in a good position for Season 8. Eisendrath has said that the leftover episodes from Season 7 will form the beginning of new season.

The show, which is filmed in New York City, was able to start shooting again after the state opened up production in July.

Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.

Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.