Is The Blacklist’s Tom Keen a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Is The Blacklist’s Tom Keen a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Tom Keen is a master of deception. He can take on any persona, fool many people and kill without mercy. Tom has spent the majority of The Blacklist’s third season attempting to convince Liz that he is a changed man but what evidence has been given to support the “change”?

Is it plausible Tom Keen is a triple agent? Is he working for Liz’s mother? Is Tom once again just “doing his job”?

Can forgiveness really overcome the sins of the past and facilitate change in the future? Can the promise of change and forgiveness be used as a weapon to deceive?

Follow me “Into the Interrogation Room” to help analyze the evidence and figure out the answer.

Evidence that suggests Tom Keen is a triple agent and not a changed man:

• In season 1, Liz discovers Tom’s box under the floorboards in their home. The box is embossed with the mystery symbol. The symbol was also on the envelope containing photos of Red killing Sam and the box in Gina’s apartment. Thus far no one has claimed the symbol and it appears Tom is connected to the symbol in some way.
• It’s logical to conclude that the symbol may belong to an organization led by Liz’s mother. Perhaps Tom was working for Liz’s mother before being contracted by Red.
• In season 1, Tom tells Jolene he tracked Red for five years. That was not part of his mission for the Major nor Red. Why was Tom tracking Red? For Liz’s mother or simply tracking him for Berlin? If he was tracking Red for Berlin, why didn’t Berlin take Liz? It would be a sure way to draw out Red.
• Most assume Tom knows more about Red than he lets on. If that’s the case and he loves Liz, why not tell Liz the truth? Why keep it hidden?
  Tom is a master of deception. If he fooled Liz once and he is fully capable of doing that again. The first time around, Liz fell in love with Tom as a “good guy” but it was all a lie. All the puppy love and the goo goo ga ga looks from Tom are very reminiscent of the of season 1. Season 3’s Tom could very well be a lie as well.
• Liz thinks Tom is a good man in the beginning of season 1. Liz discovers the truth about Tom. Locks him up in a boat. Tom continues to kill.
  Now that his secrets are exposed, how does Tom get back into Liz’s life and good graces? He reverts back to the person Liz fell in love with. Liz becomes convinced he is a changed man.
• Is Tom a changed man? Or is that what he wants Liz to think?
• He has killed people and continued to do so while Liz was on the run. He goes with Gina to steal diamonds. He has a gun delivered to Liz’s apartment and sets out to find Gina. All of these actions are criminal and more importantly, they were all done behind Liz’s back. Not too much changing going on there!
• Some fans counter that assumption by stating all the things Tom did to help save Liz and clear her name. They conclude he must love her. Does he? Perhaps Tom was keeping Liz alive not for Liz or Red but for her mother.
• Tom immediately asks Liz to marry him and much too quickly. He’s desperate to be with her to the point it’s ridiculous and lame. But as soon as she turns her back, he’s up to his old tricks again.
• If that is true, why would he go to Gina and plead his case for getting out? Perhaps to close the chapter with the Major… but only with the Major. He could still be working on behalf of Liz’s mother.
• Who did Gina call after Tom left in episode 16? Most assume it was the Major and that may be true. But Gina has worked for Red in the past. Did she call Red? Did he call Liz’s mother?
• In season 1, Tom tells Liz, “Red is not who you think is”. He also tells Liz that her father is alive.
• Red has repeated the warning to Liz time and time again, “Tom is not who you think he is.” He said it in season 1 and is still saying it into season 3. perhaps Liz is nowhere near the truth in regards to Tom. Like Red Said, “I can only guide you to the truth, I can’t make you believe it.”

Clearly, this is purely assumption and speculation at this point in the game. You and I are profiling Tom Keen and facts are there to support the theory. What do you think? Do you trust Tom? Feel free to comment below!