The Blacklist

Series one, episode one
A man strolls into FBI Headquarters and turns himself in. Given that this man is played by James Spader, we can take it as read that this particular wrongdoer will radiate sleazy charisma and be several steps ahead of his captors.

And so it transpires, as international criminal facilitator ‘Red’ Reddington offers up his blacklist of co-conspirators, starting with a terrorist long thought dead – but will only communicate through FBI greenhorn Liz Keen (Megan Boone). ‘You know I’m not going to let this job come between us and our family, right?’ says Liz to her adoring hubby. ‘Homeland’ this is not, in spite of the presence of Diego Klattenhoff (Brody’s chum, Mike), frantically channeling Matt Damon. And no one could accuse ‘The Blacklist’ either of making much sense or of ducking a cliché when it spots one.

But Spader is of course a delight, and his familiar Clarice-Hannibal dynamic with Boone (do we sense a paternal interest on Red’s part?) is given a filip by a genuinely intriguing closing twist. Daft, disposable fun.