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Is Lizzie's Husband Bad On Blacklist - Unpacking Tom Keen

Lizzie (2018) Movie Review

Jul 08, 2025
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Lizzie (2018) Movie Review

For anyone who has spent time watching "The Blacklist," the character of Tom Keen, who was Lizzie's husband, often sparks quite a bit of conversation. People really wonder if he was a truly good person, or if his actions were, you know, pretty much always on the shady side. From the very start, his presence in Elizabeth Keen's life seemed to come with a lot of hidden pieces, making fans question his intentions and his true nature.

When he first appeared, Tom seemed like the kind of person who was just a regular school teacher, a very calm and steady sort of guy, the perfect partner for someone like Elizabeth. Yet, as the story moved along, layers began to peel back, revealing a much more complex individual than anyone, especially Lizzie, could have ever guessed. This slow reveal of his real identity and what he was truly about certainly changed how viewers saw him, causing many to wonder if he was ever truly on Lizzie's side, or if he was just playing a very long game.

This discussion about Tom's moral compass, whether he was a force for good or, perhaps, someone who brought a lot of trouble, has been a big part of the show's appeal. His relationship with Lizzie was, to be honest, a constant push and pull, filled with moments that made you cheer for them and others that made you seriously doubt everything. So, we're going to take a closer look at the different sides of Tom Keen, to see if we can get a better feel for whether Lizzie's husband was truly a bad person, or just someone caught in a very difficult situation.

Table of Contents

Tom Keen - A Look at Lizzie's Husband

Tom Keen, whose birth name was Christopher Hargrave, lived a life full of secrets and different identities. He was, you know, a very complicated person, someone who had been trained from a young age to be a spy, a killer, and a master of disguise. His existence was, basically, a series of assignments and deep covers, which made it pretty hard for anyone, even himself perhaps, to figure out who he truly was underneath it all. His story is one of constant transformation, always shifting to meet the needs of his current mission or the people he was working for.

When he met Elizabeth Keen, he was operating under the guise of a mild-mannered elementary school teacher, a role that was completely at odds with his actual skills and background. This early deception set the stage for much of the drama that followed, as Lizzie, and the audience, slowly learned the truth about the man she had chosen to marry. His past was, like, a really long list of shadowy connections and dangerous jobs, stretching back to his childhood when he was taken in by a rather questionable organization. This background, you know, certainly shaped him into the person he became, someone capable of both great affection and chilling ruthlessness.

His connection to Raymond Reddington was, in a way, what brought him into Lizzie's orbit to begin with, even if she didn't know it at the time. Their lives became tangled in a very messy web of espionage, family secrets, and personal betrayals. Tom, you see, was often caught between his assignments and his developing feelings for Lizzie, which made his character even more fascinating, and, at times, incredibly frustrating to watch. It's almost as if he was always walking a very thin line between who he was supposed to be and who he might actually want to be.

Personal Details and Bio Data of Tom Keen

DetailInformation
Full Name (Birth)Christopher Hargrave
Alias(es)Tom Keen, Jacob Phelps, Christian Hargrave
SpouseElizabeth Keen (Deceased)
ChildAgnes Keen
Occupation(s)Undercover Operative, Assassin, Elementary School Teacher (Cover), Mercenary
AffiliationsBerlin, The Major, Alexander Kirk, Scottie Hargrave / Halcyon Aegis
StatusDeceased
First Appearance"Pilot"
Last Appearance"Ruin"

Was Lizzie's Husband Really a Villain at First?

When Tom Keen first appeared, he seemed, to be honest, pretty much the picture of an ordinary, kind partner. He baked muffins, he taught kids, and he seemed to genuinely care for Elizabeth. This portrayal was, you know, a very clever trick, designed to make his eventual reveal as a trained operative for a mysterious man named Berlin even more shocking. So, was he a villain from the jump? Well, in some respects, his initial role was certainly that of an antagonist, someone actively deceiving the show's main character, Lizzie's husband playing a part.

His early actions, like hiding weapons and communicating secretly, clearly showed he was not who he pretended to be. He was, after all, working against Lizzie's best interests, at least as she understood them at the time. His job was to get close to her, to gather information, and to manipulate her. These are, you know, not exactly the actions of a hero. He caused her a lot of emotional pain and put her in danger, even if he was just following orders. It's kind of hard to look past that initial deception and see him as anything but someone doing very questionable things.

However, it's also worth thinking about his circumstances. He was, apparently, a child soldier, taken and trained by a man known as The Major. His life had been, basically, about being whoever he needed to be for a mission. So, was he acting out of malice, or was he simply doing what he had been conditioned to do his whole life? That's a question that makes his early actions a bit more complicated to judge. He was, in a way, a product of his very unusual upbringing, which makes the idea of Lizzie's husband being inherently bad a little less clear-cut.

How Did Lizzie's Husband Influence Her Path?

Tom Keen's presence in Lizzie's life had, you know, a truly profound impact on her journey. His initial betrayal shattered her perception of reality, forcing her to question everything and everyone around her. This experience, in some respects, hardened her, pushing her further into the dark and dangerous world that Raymond Reddington already inhabited. She became, arguably, more cautious, more suspicious, and a lot more capable of handling herself in dangerous situations because of what Tom put her through.

He also, rather ironically, became a kind of dark mirror for her. As Lizzie herself got deeper into Reddington's operations, she started to bend rules and make difficult choices, sometimes crossing lines she never thought she would. Tom, in a way, showed her what it meant to live a life of deception and moral compromise, and she, you know, started to pick up some of those traits herself. Their relationship, filled with lies and violence, pushed her to become a very different person than the bright-eyed FBI agent she once was. It was, pretty much, a constant learning experience for her, though not always a pleasant one.

Later on, despite all their past troubles, Tom actually helped Lizzie in many ways. He used his skills and connections to protect her, to find answers, and to fight alongside her against common enemies. His influence was, like, a double-edged sword; he caused her immense pain, but he also equipped her with the tools and resilience she needed to survive. So, while Lizzie's husband might have been a source of much heartache, he was also, in a way, a catalyst for her growth and her ability to handle the very dangerous world she found herself in.

Did Lizzie's Husband Ever Change His Ways?

The question of whether Tom Keen truly changed is, you know, a very central part of his story. After his initial exposure as a spy, he spent a good deal of time trying to reconnect with Lizzie, to prove his loyalty, and to show that his feelings for her were, apparently, genuine. He went to great lengths, putting himself in harm's way repeatedly, to protect her and to help her uncover truths about her past. This certainly made many viewers wonder if Lizzie's husband was truly turning over a new leaf.

His actions during the "Marvin Gerard" storyline, for example, where he risked everything to help Lizzie, or his efforts to protect Agnes, his daughter, suggest a shift in his priorities. He seemed, in some respects, to care more about his family than about his assignments or his own survival. He started to make choices that were not about his mission, but about the people he loved. This was, basically, a pretty big departure from the cold, calculating operative we first met.

However, it's also true that the world he lived in, and the skills he possessed, meant he was always just a step away from violence and deception. Even when he was trying to be "good," he often resorted to methods that were, you know, quite brutal or morally grey. So, while his intentions might have changed, the way he operated, the tools in his personal kit, often remained the same. It's almost as if he was trying to be a different person, but the old habits were still very much there, making the idea of Lizzie's husband being completely changed a little complicated.

What Makes People Question Lizzie's Husband's Character?

A lot of the reasons people question Tom Keen's character come from his early actions and the sheer amount of deception he was involved in. He lied to Lizzie for years, built a fake life with her, and was, you know, essentially a paid operative sent to spy on her. That kind of betrayal is, to be honest, pretty hard to overlook. It makes you wonder if anything he ever said or did was real, or if it was all just part of his act. The fact that Lizzie's husband could maintain such a deep cover for so long is, apparently, a testament to his skills, but also to his capacity for calculated deceit.

Then there's the violence. Tom was, pretty much, a trained killer. He committed murders, tortured people, and engaged in all sorts of illegal activities throughout the show. Even when he was supposedly on Lizzie's side, he often used very brutal methods to get things done. While this might have been necessary in the dangerous world they lived in, it still means he was someone who took lives and caused a lot of harm. So, even if his motives changed, his actions were often, you know, still very much those of a person who operates outside the law and conventional morality.

Finally, his constant shifting allegiances, even after his initial reveal, made it hard to pin him down. He worked for Berlin, then The Major, then Reddington, then Alexander Kirk, and then Scottie Hargrave. While some of these were forced upon him, others were choices he made to survive or to get information. This pattern of working for different, often opposing, forces made it very difficult to trust him completely. It's almost as if Lizzie's husband was always playing his own game, even when he seemed to be on someone else's team, which makes his overall character a bit of a mystery in terms of his true alignment.

The Double Agent Life - Was Lizzie's Husband Just Doing His Job?

For a good chunk of his time on the show, Tom Keen was, essentially, a double agent, or even a triple agent, depending on the season. He was, you know, caught in a web of conflicting loyalties and secret assignments. From one point of view, you could argue that he was just doing his job, following orders from people who had, apparently, trained him since childhood. His life was, basically, about fulfilling these roles, and survival often depended on his ability to play whatever part was needed at the moment.

In the world of espionage, the line between good and bad often gets very blurry. Agents do things that are morally questionable, sometimes even terrible, all in the name of a larger mission or to protect themselves and their assets. Tom, you see, operated in this very grey area. His initial mission was to spy on Lizzie for Berlin, but then Reddington got involved, and Tom ended up working for him too, sometimes against Berlin. It was, pretty much, a constant balancing act, trying to keep multiple powerful figures happy while also staying alive.

So, while his actions were often harmful, it's worth considering the context. Was he a malicious person, or was he a product of a system that demanded such behavior? This perspective suggests that Lizzie's husband was, in a way, a victim of his circumstances, forced to live a life of deception and violence just to survive. It doesn't excuse his actions, but it does, arguably, add a layer of complexity to whether he was truly "bad" or just someone trying to fulfill a very difficult, dangerous job.

Lizzie's Husband's Actions - A Closer Examination

Let's take a closer look at some of Tom's specific actions that made people wonder about him. Early on, he kidnapped Lizzie, tied her up, and left her in a burning building. That's, you know, a pretty extreme thing to do to someone you're supposedly married to. Even if it was part of a larger plan, it showed a coldness and a willingness to put her life at risk that was, to be honest, quite chilling. This act, more than almost any other, solidified the idea for many that Lizzie's husband was definitely on the wrong side of things.

Then there was his involvement with the various criminals and blacklisters. He often worked with, or against, some truly terrible people, sometimes engaging in their illicit activities himself. He was involved in arms dealing, illegal operations, and countless violent encounters. While he sometimes did these things to help Lizzie or to get information, the fact that he was so capable and willing to participate in such a dark world made his moral standing very questionable. It's almost as if he was very comfortable in those shadows, which is not something you'd expect from a truly good person.

However, we also saw him risk his own life repeatedly for Lizzie and Agnes. He went undercover into dangerous situations, took beatings, and faced down powerful enemies, all to protect them. He even, you know, stood up to Reddington on several occasions when he felt Lizzie was being harmed. These moments, where he showed genuine care and self-sacrifice, complicate the picture quite a bit. So, while some of Lizzie's husband's actions were undeniably terrible, others suggested a deeply conflicted person who, perhaps, just wanted to do what was right for the people he cared about, even if his methods were still quite rough.

Could Lizzie's Husband Have Been Redeemed?

The idea of redemption for Tom Keen is, you know, a very compelling part of his story. For a while, it seemed like he was on a path to truly becoming a better man, someone who could leave his past behind and live a normal life with Lizzie and their daughter, Agnes. His efforts to be a good father and a supportive partner suggested that he was, perhaps, trying to atone for his earlier deceptions and violent deeds. It was, basically, a very hopeful possibility for a character who started out as such a clear antagonist.

His death, however, cut short any real chance for full redemption in the eyes of the audience. He died protecting Lizzie, a final act of self-sacrifice that, in some respects, cemented his love and loyalty to her. This ending left many wondering if he had truly found his way to being a good person, or if his death was just another tragic outcome of the dangerous life he led. It's almost as if the show left that question hanging, allowing viewers to decide for themselves if Lizzie's husband had, you know, truly earned a spot on the side of the angels.

Had he lived, he might have continued to struggle with his past, but his actions in his final moments certainly leaned towards him being a person who deeply cared. His journey was, you see, one of constant moral struggle, and his end was, arguably, a testament to the love he developed for his family. So, while we never got to see a fully redeemed Tom Keen, his story does suggest that he was very much capable of change, even if the world he lived in rarely allowed for truly clean slates. It's a pretty sad thought, that he never got to truly live a quiet life.

The Legacy of Lizzie's Husband on The Blacklist

Tom Keen's legacy on "The Blacklist" is, to be honest, a very complicated one. He was, in a way, the first major betrayal in Lizzie's life, and that experience shaped her in profound ways. His presence, even after his death, continued to influence her decisions and her relationships. His story is a powerful example of how people can be both incredibly destructive and deeply loving, often at the same time. He left behind a daughter, Agnes, who is, you know, a living reminder of his connection to Lizzie and the life they tried to build together.

For fans of the show, Tom remains a topic of much discussion. Some see him as a redeemed anti-hero, someone who found his moral compass through love. Others view him as a fundamentally flawed individual, whose dangerous nature always overshadowed any good intentions. His character provided a lot of excitement and tension, and his relationship with Lizzie was, pretty much, one of the central emotional anchors of the series for a long time. It's almost as if his very existence kept everyone on their toes, never quite knowing what he would do next.

Ultimately, whether Lizzie's husband was "bad" is, you know, a matter of personal perspective. He committed terrible acts, but he also showed moments of deep care and loyalty. His life was a whirlwind of secrets, violence, and unexpected tenderness. He was a product of his training and his circumstances, yet he also made choices that reflected his growing feelings for Lizzie and Agnes. His story reminds us that people are rarely just one thing, good or bad, but often a very messy mix of both, especially when they live in a world as dangerous as the one on "The Blacklist."

Lizzie (2018) Movie Review
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