The show was halfway through filming Episode 19 — out of a 22-episode order — when production was suspended.
Then, inspired by the digital comics that already exist for The Blacklist, Bokenkamp and Eisendrath decided to make the remaining material animated, resulting in a finale that will feature both live-action and animated scenes.
And no need to worry that this ersatz conclusion will be The Blacklist‘s last episode ever: The show has already been renewed for Season 8.
Cast members recorded dialogue from their homes for the animated sequences, while editors and animators also completed their work remotely.