'The Blacklist' season 4 episode 3 spoilers: Red's 'kill' part of a plan to destroy Kirk?

James Spader as Red in a still from "The Blacklist" season 4, episode 3 "Miles McGrath" David Giesbrecht/NBC

When "The Blacklist" season 4 returns to the small screen with episode 3, it is expected to shed some light on the shocking conclusion of last week's installment.

If there is one thing that Reddington (James Spader) cannot stand, it is betrayal. He could not accept his supposed-to-be loyal ally, Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert), failed him.

In the final moments of the previous episode, Red appears to have killed her by shooting her in the head.

However, as he walked away, Mr. Kaplan clenched her hand, suggesting that she might not be dead after all. It also felt like she curling it into a fist, implying hatred and need for revenge.

This surprising turn of events had fans speculating on the true fate of Mr. Kaplan. The promo for "The Blacklist" season 4 episode 3 titled "Miles McGrath" suggests that she is alive but not well.

Fans surmise that either Red deliberately intended not to kill her so that she will turn against him for his despicable actions and go straight to Alexander Kirk (Ulrich Thomsen) to tell him all of Red's dark secrets, which is what Red may have wanted.

Mr. Kaplan reaching out to Kirk will allow Red to destroy his rival from within and finally put Liz (Megan Boone) and her family to safety, which is what Mr. Kaplan had in mind when she betrayed Red.

If this is the case in episode 3, the question now is whether Mr. Kaplan knew of Red's plan or not. It is unclear if she was willing to put her life on the line for it, although it is clear that Mr. Kaplan wants Liz and baby Agnes, who is now at the hands of Kirk, out of harm's way.

There are also speculations that Mr. Kaplan intends to exact revenge on Red and that he did not know she survived after shooting her.

Whatever the case, it looks like Red will be busy, for now, with going after one of Kirk's allies — the "criminal incubator" Miles McGrath — in the next episode.

The episode will see Red in his most ruthless once again as he proves he has no problem shooting a person during a conversation to scare his target and get what he wants.

Meanwhile, "The Blacklist" season 4 episode 3 will also allow Liz to learn more about her family.

"The Blacklist" season 4, episode 3 "Miles McGrath" airs Thursday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

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