Last week, I watched the series premiere of NBC’s The Blacklist – twice. I did so because it was an enthralling, fast-paced thriller that packed so much into one hour I felt as if I needed to view it again to make sure I caught everything. That, and it stars one of my all-time favorite actors, James Spader, who is exceptional as the show’s antihero, Raymond Reddington. Prior to this show, Spader’s most well-known role, and one for which he received three Emmy awards, was as Alan Shore on Boston Legal.

If the first episode of The Blacklist is any indication of the quality of what’s to come, then I think we’re in for a hell of a season. If you haven’t seen the first episode yet, make sure you do – you can check it out here. It has the makings of one of the most entertaining shows in quite some time, and it’s nice to see Spader back in top form.

Below is the show’s trailer, The Blacklist panel at San Diego’s Comic Con and the opening scene from the first episode: