'The Blacklist' season 3 episode 9 recap: The good guys team up to protect Liz

Cast members (front L-R) Diego Klattenhoff, James Spader, Megan Boone and (rear L-R) Ryan Eggold and Harry Lennix participate in a panel for "The Blacklist" during the NBC sessions at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 27, 2013. Reuters/Phil McCarten

Before “The Blacklist” Season 3 Episode 9 started, Liz (Megan Boone) was already under the custody of the FBI, but was still in great danger considering that the Cabal is looking for her. The episode, titled “The Director,” provided a thrilling cliffhanger on the Director himself (David Straithairn) and the sinister group. The show aired Jan. 7.

Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) placed Liz in the box at the post office with the objective of keeping her safe until the U.S. Marshals can properly move her to her arraignment. The Director and Hitchin (Christine Lahti) were trying to keep Liz from testifying, and attempted to take her out of the box before the authorities arrive. Aram (Amir Arison) changed the door code leading to the box to protect Liz from the Director. In response, the Director flooded the box with nitrogen to suffocate and assassinate Liz, instead. Aram was forced to give them the door code.

In the meantime, Tom (Ryan Eggold) and Cooper (Harry Lennix) took Karakurt (Andrew Divoff) to an empty cabin owned by a Cooper’s neighbor. Solomon (Edi Gathegi) and his group were able to locate them to the cabin, but Tom, Cooper and Ressler were able to fight them off and arrest Solomon, as well.

Ressler returned to the post office in time to stop the Director from taking Liz. He warned Hitchin that he knows that she murdered Wright (Adriane Lenox).

Reddington and Samar (Mozhan Marno) were able to retrieve the special case that was previously taken by the FBI. The contents of the case were finally revealed, which included advanced plates to print money that were made using the software upgrades that General Ludd stole from the U.S. Treasury. It was supposed to be Red’s offer to the Foreign Minister of Venezuela to help him and Liz take down the Cabal.

CarterMatt writes that it was good that Liz and her friends were able to keep her safe from the Cabal and the Director so far. However, the threat still lingers and she is expected to go through more trouble in the next episode, titled “The Director: Conclusion.” It is still uncertain whether there is a means to fully rescue Liz and clear her name once and for all. Red and the task force members may need to gather and brainstorm how to exonerate Liz and take down the Cabal indefinitely.

“The Blacklist” Season 3 Episode 10 will air on Jan. 14 on NBC. Check out the teaser for "The Director: The Conclusion" here.