The result, in this Blacklist viewer’s opinion, was an incredibly powerful scene of grief made all the better by Spader being there.
But then James Spader ended up doing it.
Worrying that you are going to punch your co-star (and boss) in the face has to be upsetting, and Amir Arison had some firsthand experience in the matter.
It turns out the punch was initially planned with a stunt double, which wouldn’t have been as stressful.