Ep 4. The Stewmaker

As a deemed mastermind of the criminal underworld, Raymond "Red" Reddington resumes his clandestine work of exposing dangerous criminals who have eluded the law for an extended time. In the show's fourth hour-long episode entitled The Stewmaker, the team focuses on the titular character who is the cartel's favorite method of body disposal. A taxi driver discovers his latest victim in his trunk that's still alive, but barely. The plot thickens, and the FBI discovers a website where the Stewmaker auctions off his services.

The FBI race against time as they begin to unravel the network of operations the Stewmaker had with the cartel. Alexander Kirk, the FBI's chief forensic scientist, examines the hotel room where the Stewmaker has just finished his latest job, but to no avail. He finds nothing out of the ordinary, except for a Rubik's Cube in the closet. As the investigation progresses, it becomes evident that the Stewmaker won't rest until his latest victim, who witnesses the murder, is silenced, too.

Meanwhile, FBI agents Ressler and Keen have grown suspicious that Reddington has ulterior motives for working with them and sharing his knowledge of the criminal underworld. They manage to find one of the Stewmaker's victims who miraculously survived and bring her in for questioning. Reddington, who knows about their interrogation, arrives at the FBI offices to ensure the victim's safety is the utmost priority.

The Stewmaker's M.O. becomes evident as the police further investigate him. He doesn't like the idea of leaving behind evidence, so he removes any evidence from a crime scene and burns the body with a unique chemical to turn it into a stew-like consistency. The Stewmaker's motive, however, remains a mystery. The use of Rubik's Cubes, a recurring theme, raises more questions than answers.

As the FBI eventually tracks down the Stewmaker's location, the team is forced to infiltrate his hideout and save his latest victim, a young woman. The rescue turns into a race against time as they also discover that the Stewmaker may have other traps set in place. Agent Keen, who has been struggling to come to terms with her husband's infidelity, becomes emotionally invested in the case's outcome.

Overall, The Stewmaker is a thrilling episode of The Blacklist that boasts the perfect blend of suspense, action, and just enough twists and turns to keep viewers hooked. It's also another opportunity for James Spader to shine in his role as the enigmatic Raymond Reddington and solidifies Megan Boone's character Elizabeth Keen's place as a tough but compassionate FBI agent. The storyline is engaging, fast-paced, and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.