May Sweeps Preview And Finale Spoilers
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CHICAGO FIRE
PRE-FINALE: Dawson's father "ends up moving in with Dawson and Casey, and that is a source of tension" for the couple, executive producer Derek Haas previews. "There's going to be some animosity surrounding Ramon's re-entry into their lives." Severide and Anna's relationship take turns both "sweet and sad" when her cancer resurfaces. "She wants to push him away because she doesn't want him to go through this," Haas shares. "Severide's not going to stand for that." Elsewhere, an off-site incident causes "conflict" between Mouch and Cruz, while another alderman accuses Casey of "self-dealing" after the firefighter proposes a bill that would help first responders. On a much lighter note, Brett moves in with Otis and Cruz — after they "put her through the wringer," of course.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 16): Herrmann offers a young boy an unforgettable Wrigley Field experience, but here's what you really want to know: There's "a giant-scope fire" that is "going to be a life [or] death cliffhanger for multiple characters," Haas teases. Before the action gets dangerous, expect "a lot of personal cliffhangers leading into that last call."
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CHICAGO MED
PRE-FINALE: The mystery of Robin's "worsening condition" causes "tremendous conflict between Connor and Charles, and Charles and Sarah, as they all have different ideas" about how to treat her, executive producer Andrew Schneider previews. Given Connor's history with mental illness – his mother committed suicide – "he really feels even more motivated to help" his girlfriend, EP Diane Frolov adds. As for the show's big love triangle, "the Nina part of it will resolve" before the finale, but Will and Natalie's status will remain "a little bit open," Frolov reveals. And there's even more relationship news: April finds romance with a doctor, while Sarah and Joey may be over as "Noah definitely has his eye on" the psych resident, Frolov says. On the professional front, Ethan becomes a full-time attending, and Noah graduates from med school.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 11): Robin's story takes center stage, but it's her father Dr. Charles who finds himself facing a cliffhanger ending. The hour also introduces a new heart surgeon, a South African woman (Falling Water's Norma Kuhling) who "is going to be a new second-year fellow along with Connor and a real competitor to him," Schneider describes.
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ELEMENTARY
PRE-FINALE: Determined to take down SBK, Shinwell "has the temerity to approach Joan and ask for a favor" after severely beating her partner, executive producer Rob Doherty shares. "He realizes that to move up into the upper echelon of the gang...someone has to go." So he wants the P.I. to prove that a particular lieutenant "committed a felony that will put him behind bars and allow Shinwell to ascend." The April 30 episode, in which Bell must contend with not being able to investigate his girlfriend's physical assault, offers "a much better sense of [the detective's] upbringing and why we don't hear much about [his] dad." Finally, a "significant person from Sherlock's past" makes her first appearance in the penultimate installment.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 21): "SBK lands squarely in Sherlock and Joan's cross-hairs," Doherty previews. "We're going to meet the brains behind SBK [and] more of the players and the people that Shinwell has alluded to." But the deeper the duo get into the investigation, "the more strain [it puts on their] relationship," the EP says. "We're going to see them not working at odds, but working very independently of one another."
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QUANTICO
PRE-FINALE: Showrunner Joshua Safran wants you to think of the rest of the spy drama's season "kind of like a four-parter," he says, starting with the pre-sweeps episode "MHORDER" (airing April 24). You'll recall that the final moments of Episode 18 found the joint CIA-FBI task force in possession of all of the names of the collaborators (aka the bad guys)." In [Episode] 19, the team and the collaborators meet face-to-face. Once that happens, it sends us hurtling in a new direction." He adds that Episode 20, which was directed by former Quantico writer Cherien Dabis, "pokes at a wound that is very fresh, and it is very emotional," and that the hour has made everyone who has seen it cry. "It's very complicated, because everybody on that episode has their own story," Safran says. "For a bit it's like you're walking down different paths in the woods and you've lost your friends, then you all come together at the end." But don't get too comfortable there, Alex & Co.: There's a time jump of "several months" between Episode 21 and the finale.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 15): Safran says he shot the final episode two ways, just in case the ratings-challenged series doesn't come back for a third season. As it stands, the hour ends in a cliffhanger. "If for some reason I hear that we're not coming back before [it] airs, I will just literally cut that scene off the episode, so it will be like it never existed," he tells TVLine.
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JANE THE VIRGIN
PRE-FINALE: Jane is officially back in the dating game, and setting her sights on Rogelio's hunky new co-star Fabian, executive producer Jennie Urman teases. But when her book finally gets published, Urman says, it "brings her back to Michael... and what it means to let go and not lose him." Meanwhile, Rafael is "looking at Petra in a different way" after their recent rekindling, and Petra's twin sister Anezka returns to mix things up. Plus, Rogelio and Xiomara are happily back together, but "there are definitely, definitely going to be challenges" for them, the EP hints.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 22): Teen Wolf's Tyler Posey makes his debut in the Season 3 finale; Urman will only say that he plays "someone from Jane's past." Brett Dier, who played the dearly departed Michael, also returns for the finale, "so that was very emotional," the EP admits. But with Jane having faced so much trauma already this season, Urman and the writing staff decided that "Jane could not be traumatized at the end of this" finale. (Whew!) Still, she promises "all the usual twists and turns and cliffhangers" for the rest of the characters. Well, it wouldn't be Jane the Virgin otherwise, would it?
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RIVERDALE
PRE-FINALE: Homecoming takes on a whole new meaning when Archie's absent mom Mary (played by Molly Ringwald) returns to Riverdale. And she and her estranged husband Fred aren't quite ready to finalize that divorce, executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa hints: "The question of 'Is she maybe going to rekindle with Fred?' is definitely in play." Fred and Archie aren't the only ones happy to see her back in town, either: "It's a good thing that Mary Andrews is a lawyer, because someone needs a lot of legal advice." Plus, "there's definitely more trouble" in store for teen lovebirds Betty and Jughead, with an event that "one of them considers a big betrayal."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 11): Riverdale isn't making us wait for an answer to its season-long mystery. Aguirre-Sacasa says the reveal of who killed Jason Blossom will actually happen the week before the season finale, so the finale "can really focus on the relationships, once the mystery's been solved." That said, the killer's identity "opens the door on a lot of new mysteries," the EP teases, with the finale packing "a couple of cliffhangers that will give you a hint of what's to come" in Season 2.
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SUPERNATURAL
PRE-FINALE: As the British Men of Letters start to make their move, "people that Sam and Dean know/love pay the price," forcing the brothers to take "a much stronger role in the wider hunter community" as generals, executive producer Andrew Dabb previews. Mary also faces a difficult battle with the Brits: She, "more than Sam and Dean, is on the inside, so her journey out may be a little bit more complicated," Dabb notes. Meanwhile, Cas' return brings "a lot of clarity" about "why he's been in Heaven for so long" and "his own point of view on why he went." And as the impending birth of Lucifer's Nephilim offspring nears, "everyone is going to activate more and more." Also on tap: the returns of Jody Mills and her surrogate daughter Alex, and "two surprise appearances, one by a relative newcomer and one by an old favorite."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 18): The two-hour finale – the first episode deals with the Brits, while the second is Lucifer-centric – is "big and, I hope, somewhat bold and, in some ways, heartbreaking," Dabb shares. The closer "also opens up some new stories for Season 13 in a very interesting way."
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EMPIRE
PRE-FINALE: Look for the Cookie-Angelo romance to reach a major turning point that may or may not be sparked by a certain P-word (the word is "proposal.") The penultimate May 17 episode, meanwhile, kicks off a Vegas-themed caper storyline that executive producer Ilene Chaiken dubs Cookie's Eleven, likening Taraji P. Henson's spitfire to "the George Clooney character in Ocean's Eleven. She drives the whole storyline."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 24): The caper plot climaxes in "the biggest finale we've ever done," declares Chaiken of the Season 3 closer, which marks the introduction of Demi Moore's mysterious nurse character. "She kicks off the next season of the show," teases the EP of the Ghost actress. "I can't tell you much without spoiling it, but it's a while new storyline. And you'll know the minute you see her what Season 4 has in store."
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THE 100
PRE-FINALE: Though most of your favorites will survive the impending "death wave" — which arrives in 10 days! — executive producer Jason Rothenberg says we should prepare to say goodbye to at least one more character this season: "The stakes are real. If they weren't, the show wouldn't be as emotionally involving for people." In the meantime, Clarke will attempt to "figure out who gets to go inside" the bunker, which fits roughly 1,200 people; Bellamy will continue working through his "crisis of faith," desperate to find "a way out of the darkness"; and Octavia's journey is "about to go into orbit. It's crazy what we're about to see from her." As for Becca, "These people have been in her house and her lab, and she might not be happy about that — you know, if she was still alive."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 24): "The finale unfolds almost in real time," Rothenberg reveals. "The season has been constructed around the idea that the clock starts ticking in the premiere ... and when the finale starts, we're at the 44-minute mark. The click is ticking loudly. It's breathless."
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THE ORIGINALS
PRE-FINALE: The Hollow will continue to target the people of New Orleans, exploiting "their loves, their weakness and their secret fears," executive producer Michael Narducci teases. Klaus & Co. will make it their mission to "find out who the people are that follow this entity. And where is it coming from?" And speaking of all of the above, Hayley's exploration of her parents' death will give her "a sense of why her life took the course that it did ... and how that threat is now coming for her kid." (As for her and Elijah, Narducci promises a "compelling" journey for the pair.) Meanwhile, Freya and Keelin's relationship will continue to develop in an "authentic" manner, and Marcel will attempt to reverse his position as the Mikaelsons' prisoner.
SEASON FINALE (JUNE 23): Following a fairly significant loss, the end of Season 4 will present an "all hands on deck" scenario "with everyone trying to figure out a way to not only survive, but to stop this thing once and for all." But don't start celebrating yet! "The victory does come with a pretty severe cost," Narducci acknowledges. "There's a price to be paid, and we're setting the audience up for that."
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ONCE UPON A TIME
PRE-FINALE: On April 30, viewers will get "answers to what makes the Black Fairy tick," says co-creator Eddy Kitsis — including why she never named Rumplestiltskin, and why she gave him up. May 7 of course cues up the musical episode, during which Emma and Hook are poised to trade vows. "Everyone was nervous and giddy and excited," Kitsis says of the musical endeavor. "You really felt like it was the pilot again." As for a possible wedding crasher, Jennifer Morrison hints, "There's evil stuff going on."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 14): Per its title, "This is the final battle," says Kitsis — and thus the end of Henry's storybook. "The two hours are devoted to everything we've set up for six years, and the final scene will let you know what we're going to do" in the event of a Season 7. "After 132 episodes, we wanted to be able to complete this chapter — and set up the new one," with help from characters played by Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead) and Alison Fernandez (Jane the Virgin). "They tie directly into our future plans," says co-creator Adam Horowitz, "as well as what we're currently doing."
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GOTHAM
PRE-FINALE: When last we tuned in, Nygma sent Penguin to sleep with the fishes, "But in Gotham you can't keep a bad man down," exec producer John Stephens warns. "Oswald's a hard one to kill." Nygma himself, meanwhile, "takes that next step towards becoming a supervillain," including the acquisition of the Riddler nickname. The emergence of Frank Gordon leads nephew Jim to "realize that he has sort of a family legacy with the Court of Owls, and he'll have to choose against that to take it down." Elsewhere, Raymond J. Barry (Justified, pictured) plays a shaman who "in a very iconic way" nudges Bruce toward his fate, while Ra's al Ghul (Deep Space Nine's Alexander Siddig), we come to realize, "has been a presence in Bruce's life for a long time" — a revelation that sets the stage for any possible Season 4.
SEASON FINALE (JUNE 5, two episodes): The end of the Jim/Lee storyline leads to a "rebirth" of the characters as "much darker, more dangerous, almost evil versions of themselves," says Stephens. Bruce meanwhile "takes his biggest step forward yet to becoming the Dark Knight," and Selina "get her whip." Reeer!
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HAWAII FIVE-0
PRE-FINALE: On April 28, the long-running procedural takes an overdue look at "what Danny's life was like, and the sacrifice he had to make, when he first moved to Hawaii," says showrunner Peter M. Lenkov. "He was hazed a bit when he first came to the island, and he was very vocal about not wanting to be there." (Major Crimes' Michael Paul Chan guest-stars as Danny's first HPD boss.) Then on May 5, McGarrett learns that a prisoner he captured and interrogated 10 years ago, and who is still being held at Gitmo, claims to have intel on a possible terrorist attack. Amid flashbacks to his Navy SEAL days, "McGarrett questions whether or not he's being played — how reliable is this information?" Meanwhile, Chin and Abby face a big decision.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 12): Whereas a March episode marked the "cerebral, emotional" start of a child sex trafficking storyline, the finale delivers the "action-adventure" half of it, in the form of "a 42-minute, high-speed chase around the island with very precious cargo in the back of a truck." And yes, Lenkov says there will be "a little Grace Park/Kono cliffhanger," as well as one involving McGarrett.
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LUCIFER
PRE-FINALE: Lucifer returns to town on May 1 with a plan to deal with both Mom and Chloe "and it's going to make neither of them happy," says showrunner Joe Henderson. "But it's something Lucifer feels like he needs to do." Subsequent episodes will take a look at the Lucifer/Trixie (see photo) and Chloe/Maze relationships; introduce Timothy Omundson (Psych) as a psych patient/murder suspect who is legally named God and "appears to know more than he should"; and dabble in "mismatched pairings" such as Chloe/Charlotte and Amenadiel/Dan, while putting Dr. Linda's career in jeopardy.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 29): In "The Good, the Bad and the Crispy," "Everything comes to a head, as Lucifer finally answers the question of: What do you do with a problem called Mom?'" says Henderson. "It's the biggest episode we've ever done," as well as the most special effects-heavy. "It's explosive, but most importantly, it wraps up the Season 2 storyline and then ends on a cliffhanger that sets up what Season 3 is going to be. I hope to have people throwing stuff at the TV when it ends!"
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ARROW
PRE-FINALE: While Team Arrow, A.R.G.U.S. and the SCPD launch a manhunt for Adrian Chase, Helix offers Felicity a solution to that problem — in trade for something big and illegal. On the heels of that, things get intense when Oliver and Felicity are trapped in the bunker together, while Lyla and Diggle deal with marital issues. Oliver also will deal with the forced release of violent criminals prosecuted by Chase as well as the delivery of a mysterious corpse encased in concrete.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 24): Chase keeps 10 steps ahead of Team Arrow, forcing Oliver to face his violent past and answer the question once and for all: Is he a killer, or a hero? To answer that, Oliver will be forced to let go of the fate his father burdened him with and aim for a new legacy. And as Oliver's five years' worth of flashbacks come to an end, you will see how he planned his escape from Lian Yu — while in the present, Oliver bids said island a final farewell.
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THE FLASH
PRE-FINALE: Barry travels to 2024 to find out Savitar's identity, where he encounters future versions of himself as well as his Team Flash friends. Upon returning to the present, Barry & Co. meet a scientist (House's Anne Dudek) who may be the key to stopping Savitar, but they must — literally, and with great difficulty — fight to keep Killer Frost from getting to her first. Afterward, Caitlin's icy alter ego makes an interesting proposal.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 23): After discovering Savitar's true identity, Team Flash prepares for a final, epic battle with the God of Speed... while struggling with a major setback. Expect a season-ending cliffhanger that will leave viewers — and the heroes — questioning how they will move forward in Season 4.
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CRIMINAL MINDS
PRE-FINALE: On the eve of May Sweeps, April 26, Jane Lynch returns as Diana to indirectly deliver "a huge break" in the Reid case, says showrunner Erica Messer. In the same episode, Joe Mantegna's daughter Gia reprises her Season 3 guest star role, though a tight-lipped Messer files the why of that under "spoiler." For the final two episodes of the season, titled "Green Light" and "Red Light," the Case of the Week "is 100 percent centered around Reid," all building to what Messer calls "a satisfying end to the journey that he has been on" since midseason.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 10): As Reid's arc winds down, Messer says to expect "some surprises" — including one dropped on the BAU by no less than Derek Morgan (guest star Shemar Moore), who resurfaces for the episode as a civilian. Ultimately, the season ends with "a good, old-fashioned cliffhanger," which the following quote might shed some light on: "Scratch will definitely still be playing a part, all the way to the last frames of the finale." Adds Messer, "Just when we think we've got a handle on things, you get another curve ball."
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BLINDSPOT
PRE-FINALE: Rather than pack the FBI's showdown with Sandstorm into one episode, series creator Martin Gero says the season's last four installments "are one giant finale," featuring "some giant reveals — not only for this season, but questions that came out of last season." And if you've been an avid supporter of #Jeller since the beginning, Gero promises that Jane and Weller's relationship will be front and center during Sweeps. "They had to go through a healing period, but they're back to really trusting each other," he teases. "We really focus on their relationship in a huge way, and it gets to a very positive place."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 17): Though Blindspot has yet to be renewed for Season 3, Gero says the sophomore closer does not necessarily serve as a loose-end-tying series finale. "If this is our last season, I think everyone will be very satisfied," he reveals. "But if not, there's a pretty good cliffhanger into the next season. It will be a satisfying watch either way."
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THE BIG BANG THEORY
PRE-FINALE: Penny's ex Zack (Brian Thomas Smith) resurfaces and tempts her with a tantalizing job offer, much to Leonard's chagrin. "Leonard is definitely uncomfortable with the thought of Penny going to work for her old boyfriend," previews showrunner Steve Molaro. "I don't know if he thinks she'll be unfaithful, but according to Koothrappali, she's gonna leave Leonard eventually — why not get it over with." Speaking of Raj, his days of squatting with Leonard and Penny are "numbered," reveals the EP, before teasing, "But where he ends up is even less glamorous than Sheldon's old room."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 11): Keeping with this season's ex-factor theme, Sheldon's onetime admirer Ramona (Riki Lindhome) finds herself back in his orbit — and while Amy is away at Princeton no less. As Molaro notes, "Sheldon is smart, but he may not be smart enough to realize he's being aggressively pursued by a brilliant, former Olympic swimmer."
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SCORPION
PRE-FINALE: As CBS has revealed, Toby and Happy's wedding day will be upended by Team Scorpion's latest case — but that won't be the only thing standing in the way of their nuptials. Given Paige's dramatic exit from the team in Episode 22, her appearance at the wedding will be cause for concern, EP Nick Wootton tells us. "She comes back after having been away for a month, and there's a lot of tension, now that she's really no longer on the team." As for Walter and Paige's fraught relationship, EP Nick Santora says their will-they-won't-they dynamic will "come to a peak" in the season's last three episodes: "The fans will be blown away, and it will affect every single member of Team Scorpion."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 15): Unlike Scorpion's first two years, Season 3 will not end with a cliffhanger. But the two-part finale does conclude with something much more intriguing: "Season 3 has my favorite season-ending line of dialogue in the almost two decades I've been doing this," Santora effuses. "The fans are going to absolutely love it."
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NCIS
PRE-FINALE: In "Beastmaster" (airing May 2), Law & Order alum Elisabeth Röhm guest-stars as a Mounted Police Sergeant who helps the team investigate a murder inside Rock Creek Park, setting the stage for Leroy Jethro Gibbs to saddle up. "Mark [Harmon] is a great horseman, and he actually rides in the episode," says co-showrunner Frank Cardea. "He looks good!" Then in "Something Blue," McGee and Delilah decide to finally walk down the aisle, but as professional and personal pressures mount and collide, "there are hitches," warns co-showrunner George Schenck. "And there's a big twist at the end."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 16): The severed hand of a Navy SEAL is found in Paraguay... even though its owner is believed to be vacationing elsewhere at the time! As three NCIS team members make tracks for the South American country, "The investigation takes an extreme left-hand turn," Shenck teases (with no pun intended), "and they find themselves in a situation they were never expecting." Adds Cardea, "It becomes a cliffhanger of, 'Will they escape or not?'"
Supergirl May Sweeps
SUPERGIRL
PRE-FINALE: The final episodes of Season 2 will test Kara's friendship with Lena, first by introducing Ms. Luthor's ex-beau — the dangerous and shady Jack Spheer (iZombie's Rahul Kohli) — and then by setting up a potential alliance between Lena and Queen Rhea, whose mysterious plan quickly escalates. Meanwhile, Kara and Maggie will grow closer as they team up to rescue Alex from a life-threatening situation, and James will find a new purpose as Guardian becomes National City's only hope against a string of deadly attacks.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 22): In addition to meeting the infamous General Zod, viewers should keep an eye out for some returning favorites as the season comes to a climax. "With the return of Superman and Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart first resurfaces on May 15), we are poised for our biggest most exciting episode of the season," executive producer Andrew Kreisberg says. "Big fights, big guest stars, big emotion — it's going to be amazing."
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LAW & ORDER: SVU
PRE-FINALE: The May 3 episode, "Real Fake News," starts with a congressman who's been falsely accused — no, really! — of soliciting underage girls, and ends with the SVU team stumbling upon a sex trafficking ring, all while a sleazy website makes targets of Benson and Rollins. Then Stuart Townsend (Salem) plays a charming spiritual leader in the May 9 installment, "Spellbound," and you all know how these episodes go, so do we really have to tell you that he's accused of assaulting a client while she was under hypnosis?
SEASON FINALE (MAY 24): In back-to-back episodes, deportation plays a crucial, potentially deadly role in a hate crime case involving a Muslim family. And when community tensions erupt into violence, Benson does something kind of nuts in order to make an arrest.
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BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
PRE-FINALE: Co-creator Dan Goor is particularly proud of the May 2 episode, which finds an off-duty Terry getting racially profiled by a fellow officer (Dexter's Desmond Harrington). "It has taken us a long time to figure out how to tackle this issue [involving] the police since our guys are the police," he says. Capt. Holt and the rest of the squad will ultimately "help Terry determine... whether or not to file a complaint against the cop" in what is promised to be a "very moving" half-hour. Then, having "really liked the way last season ended" (with Jake and Holt in WITSEC), the May 16 episode kicks off "another high-stakes arc" involving Gina Gershon's Lt. Melanie Hawkins that will "signifciantly" impact a potential Season 5.
SEASON FINALE (MAY 23): Adrian Pimento returns in the first half of the hour-long closer to give Jake and Rosa a few pointers on undercover life, after they are chosen to work a case with Lt. Hawkins; things go horribly, horribly wrong, leading to a major court trial that endangers both of their careers. To counter that intensity, Goor promises a totally unrelated flashback to Terry dancing on MTV in the 1990s. So there's that.
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THE BLACKLIST
PRE-FINALE: The FBI task force will be chasing down some of the series' most dangerous blacklisters yet, including a mercenary known as The Debt Collector (who comes after Liz) and a bounty hunter (who targets Red's closest associates). But, as suggested by recent episodes, Mr. Kaplan is the one that Red should fear most as Season 4 nears its end. "Mr. Kaplan knows deep, dark secrets about Reddington and his past that will undermine his criminal empire in ways he never expected," series creator Jon Bokenkamp tells us. "Reddington has never faced a nemesis quite like this. Kaplan intends to take him apart piece by piece."
SEASON FINALE (MAY 18): To that end, the Season 4 finale will be a two-part affair centering on Red's onetime confidant — and the Kaplan/Reddington showdown will reach its climax, Bokenkamp promises. "Mr. Kaplan is not about firepower and explosions," he says. "She's an incredibly smart woman who will force Reddington into a desperate place. The season won't end how you might expect."