‘The Blacklist’ Season 9: Is Diego Klattenhoff Leaving? Ressler Is Absent From Episode 6
The Blacklist Season 9 finally returned for episode 6. The new episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotion for fans’ favorite characters. However, an important member of the task force was noticeably absent. Diego Klattenhoff’s character Donald Ressler was not in episode 6. In a season that has already had so many significant changes, it’s hard not to worry that Klattenhoff could be leaving the show.
Who is Diego Klattenhoff?
Klattenhoff is well-known for his role as Donald Ressler on the NBC series The Blacklist. Ressler is a bit of a “boy scout” FBI agent, who nevertheless has his own demons. Ressler has suffered the loss of several love interests and dealt with addiction to prescription painkillers in the past.
Klattenhoff is also famous for playing Mike Faber, a Major in the U.S. Marines in Homeland. The actor has also appeared in his share of feature films, including Pacific Rim and Radius, according to IMDb. Fans might not have noticed that Klattenhoff even had a small role in the 2004 comedy Mean Girls. Klattenhoff played Shane Oman, boyfriend of queen bee Regina George.
Is Donald Ressler leaving ‘The Blacklist’?
The last fans saw of Ressler, he was comforting a distraught Park in The Blacklist Season 9 Episode 5. Ressler is noticeably absent from episode 6. However, the writers didn’t ignore Ressler’s absence. Cooper remarks that Ressler is taking a personal day, which is why he is not present with the task force.
It’s still a little jarring to see a main character missing from The Blacklist Season 9, especially after Jon Bokenkamp and Megan Boone exited the show. However, fans don’t need to worry that Ressler is gone for good. The fact that Ressler’s absence was written into the script could mean that the writers plan to explain things in future episodes.
Furthermore, Klattenhoff does not appear to be working on any other projects that would seriously conflict with his role in The Blacklist Season 9. The actor has made no mention of leaving the show, so its probably safe to say he will be back in the show soon.
What’s next for Ressler in ‘The Blacklist’ Season 9?
So far in The Blacklist Season 9, Ressler has had a pretty difficult time. In the season 8 finale, Liz Keen was shot and killed, which no doubt had a devastating effect on Ressler. The pair were becoming a romantic item, and this isn’t the first time Ressler has lost love interest.
Season 9 jumped forward two years and Ressler is coping with the pain of Liz’s death with prescription painkillers. After covering for him during a drug test, Alina Park tells Resler he needs to get clean, and he seems to heed her advice.
Hopefully, Ressler really was taking a personal day in episode 6 to take a little time off and get clean. All signs point to episode 7 being an atypical episode since it is not named after a blacklister. Ressler may be absent from this episode as well if it happens to focus on Red and the revelation he had in episode 6. Still rest assured Ressler will be back soon.
