FBI Season 6 Report Card: Storylines Stay Topical in Strike-Shortened Season
FBI Season 6 can finest be summed up in two phrases: Treading water.
Collins Dictionary defines treading water as “to be in an unsatisfactory scenario the place you aren’t progressing, however are simply persevering with doing the identical issues.”
OK, so possibly that definition is a little bit harsh relating to describing the most recent FBI season.
Its powers-that-be did give viewers a touch or two of character improvement. Not the common quantity they’d have acquired from a complete season, however some.
Questions in regards to the affect of these modifications within the characters’ lives should anticipate the subsequent full season to be answered.
But ever current had been these “ripped-from-the-headlines” storylines for which Dick Wolf is famend.
The terrorists, the potential for Armageddon, and the tense takes on horrible threats remained entrance and middle. If something, this procedural turned much more procedural, if that is attainable.
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The phrase “treading water” needn’t be pejorative. FBI’s producers deserve credit score for not doing what so many different collection did following the twin strikes that ravaged the TV trade.
They did not overreach. They did not try and stuff a season’s value of tales right into a half-season, leading to out-of-sync narratives and bewildered, nay offended, viewers.
Positive, once you’re the cornerstone of a well-liked franchise and haven’t got to provide a lot thought to cancellation, you’ll be able to plug your nostril, tread water, and trip out the storm. Too many exhibits did not have that possibility within the strikes’ aftermath.
Nonetheless, that does not imply that FBI Season 6 did not have its share of highs and lows, identical to any full season.
Greatest Episode – “No One Left Behind”
Shockingly, this season spotlight got here on FBI Season 6 Episode 11, one of many two episodes when Maggie was on a bereavement depart she lastly accepted.
Like that enormous chunk of the fourth and fifth seasons when Maggie was recovering from Sarin poisoning, OA is delivered to the entrance of the narrative.
He was the proper alternative to guide this investigation after three Taliban bought gunned down and the highest-ranking member of this celebration bought kidnapped.
Nevertheless, this case bought difficult in a rush on a few ranges.
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The primary was on the private degree for OA, as the abductors had been confirmed to be troopers trying to free a unit-mate who was nonetheless being held as a POW in Afghanistan.
The presence of the Taliban additionally stirs up recollections for OA, the soldier. He can not put into phrases the affect of his time at warfare on him for Gemma (who was a season low level).
OA additionally has hassle reconciling the truth that the terrorists he had been preventing at the moment are Afghanistan’s leaders.
The second entrance sees Isobel working interference for her crew after an assistant secretary of state arrives to disclose that the Taliban delegation is on the town for top-secret mineral rights negotiations.
Kate Burton is the standout visitor star of the season, showing because the duplicitous Evelyn Kates, who was extra involved with optics than a case decision that helped the most individuals.
OA connects along with his fellow troopers to assist convey the case to a satisfying shut, with the POW coming residence however has only a few different winners.
Worst Episode – “All The Rage”
The season began with a dud in FBI Season 6 Episode 1. Maybe this was inevitable.
Earlier than the season lastly started, there had been all this buzz about killing off a personality within the premiere.
But when you are going to kill off a personality, make it rely. Erase one of many huge six.
However no. The unlucky soul was Trevor Hobbs, a type of background brokers within the JOC who had appeared in 30 episodes earlier than his loss of life.
It had extra emotional affect than “Hey you” from the Postal Service. However it nonetheless felt like a cop-out.
The episode did cynically accomplish a few functions.
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It launched the Somalian al-Shabaab terrorists, who would go as the large unhealthy for this shortened season.
Additionally, it despatched Tiffany, who was on project with Hobbs when he was gunned down by cell chief Hakim, on a season-long spiral (extra on that later).
Character With the Greatest Storylines – Maggie Bell
Who else wouldn’t it be however the character who stands out season after season: Maggie?
This season showcased Maggie’s softer aspect as she toyed with the concept of changing into a single mom.
Jessica Blake, Maggie’s outdated buddy from Quantico, was launched on FBI Season 6 Episode 4.
Jessica had the life Maggie needed. A rising star within the bureau’s counterintelligence division, she can also be the mom of a younger daughter, Ella.
Jessica and the entire viewers ought to have seen what was coming. Shortly after naming Maggie as Ella’s non permanent guardian, Jessica died unexpectedly throughout surgical procedure on FBI Season 6 Episode 6.
Sure, Maggie bought to leap the road to motherhood with none messy relationships or taxing medical procedures.
After a Kevlar vest barely stored Maggie from being shot on FBI Season 6 Episode 10, Maggie gave into the burden of all of a sudden changing into a mom and took a little bit bereavement depart. Happily, she returned for the season finale.
Character With the Worst Storylines – Stuart Scola
Stuart barely qualifies as having multiple storyline: He is a brand new dad, and, man, is not it tiring?
His relationship with Nina, particularly after she bought pregnant, bought way more display screen time throughout FBI Season 5.
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That was particularly so when the pregnant Nina bought shot throughout the FBI crossover, with Isobel deciding to not inform the undercover Scola about that.
However after she gave beginning on FBI Season 5 Episode 23, they will need to have change into the boring new dad and mom that nobody needs to listen to from.
With Dougie’s calls for at residence, Stuart apparently has forgiven Isabel’s duplicity, as there was no signal of stress between them.
Additionally, Nina becoming a member of the Fugitive Job Pressure on FBI: Most Wished drew scant point out.
The couple did crew up on FBI Season 6 Episode 9, posing as patrons to seize harmful jewel thieves.
Most Improved – Tiffany Wallace
Since becoming a member of the squad initially of the third season, Tiffany has all the time been the beginner.
Whereas she’s the crew’s junior member, she was among the many most secure till this 12 months.
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On the opener, after Jubal had advised extra to be extra assertive, Tiffany pushed Hobbs, who hadn’t been out of the workplace for some time, to comply with Hakim into the boys’s room towards his needs.
Hakim noticed Hobbs’ hid gun and shot him. Since then, Tiffany has blamed herself for his loss of life — to a level, appropriately.
This led her to chase Hakim’s ghost, particularly on FBI Season 6 Episode 8, which led these round her to query her health to be within the area. However by the episode’s finish, she’s confirmed proper about Hakim returning.
Tiffany lastly will get justice for Hobbs when the crew takes down vital members of the al-Shabaab cell, together with Hakim, within the season finale.
Now, if solely Tiffany may get extra of a private life.
Most One-Observe – Isobel
Sure, Isobel is a lady in a person’s world. However cannot she get the stick out of her butt?
Positive, there was emotion when her neighbor and his lovable son had been critically injured in that explosion on FBI Season 6 Episode 7.
However would not the turnover be fierce within the JOC if she did not have Jubal as an excellent cop to steer the employees?
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She’s had her engaging moments previously, however she can be extra likable if she weren’t all the time involved with the politics of any scenario.
She’s one other one who may use a life outdoors the workplace.
However possibly that is endemic to the job, with solely Scola and OA (considerably) in relationships.
FBI Season 6 Last Grade
Like many different exhibits on this ultra-short broadcast season, FBI suffered. The perfect we will do for a present we think about treading water is to provide it an general grade of C.
If you look again on the per-episode scores, we had been way more (maybe woefully so) forgiving. However once you take the season and wrap it in a bow, it is askew and never so fairly.
What do you suppose had been the highlights of this mini-season?
Who was nicely served, and who wasn’t? What must be mounted for subsequent season?
Remark beneath.
Dale McGarrigle is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Observe him on X.