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Did CBS Miss a Chance to Integrate Spinoff Characters into FBI’s New Dynamic?

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In the 2025 TV lineup, CBS’s “FBI” universe will be reduced to a single show, as both “FBI: International” and “FBI: Most Wanted” have been cancelled by the network. There is currently no official premiere date for the “CIA” spinoff either. The original series has already been confirmed for two more seasons, but the ongoing seventh season has progressed without Scola having a permanent partner yet.

Initially, I was easily charmed by Emily Alabi as Agent Dani Rhodes on S.W.A.T., especially when she made her debut this spring. However, it now makes me ponder if the process of filling Tiff’s vacancy might have taken a different course if the shows Most Wanted and International had been produced before Alabi was cast.

FBI’s Open Slot After Tiff

Last summer’s break saw the announcement that Katherine Renee Kane would no longer play Agent Tiffany Wallace on FBI. Previously, she had shown excitement about continuing in Season 7. However, contrary to this, she ended up leaving. The actress reappeared in the premiere of Season 7 (currently streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), and her farewell scene was appropriately shared with John Boyd’s character, Agent Stuart Scola.

At first, it appeared that Lisette Olivera, cast as a series regular in “National Treasure: Edge of History,” would become Scola’s permanent partner. However, before her debut episode aired, Olivera was removed from the role as a series regular. This left Scola either trying out various potential partners or working with Maggie and OA for some time. There was a significant void on the team, but no one seemed capable of replacing the character played by Tiff.

The New Member Of The Team

In the thrilling Episode 17, I was introduced as Agent Dani Rhodes, an expert in undercover operations who seamlessly integrated into the team during a case in early April. My skills left quite an impression on Isobel, leading the SAC to extend an invitation for me to find a permanent home at 26 Fed. Yet, they also recognized my potential for future undercover assignments.

After being longing for Tiff’s presence throughout the season, I was delightfully taken aback by how Alabi managed to captivate me with a particular line in her debut episode. For the time being, it appears that FBI may resume its usual operations, with two teams operating under Jubal and Isobel. A sense of harmony seems to have returned to the world of FBI, at least for now.

Unfortunately, two out of the three current FBI series were canceled about a month after Emily Alabi was announced as Scola’s new partner. This means that in less than a month, more than half of the characters from these shows will be leaving the vast Dick Wolf TV universe. I can’t help but wonder if they would have filled this vacancy with someone from International or Most Wanted if they had more time to do so.

A Lot Of Characters Are Losing Their Shows

Under optimal conditions, it’s highly unlikely that the FBI would incorporate all characters from FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, as each spinoff has its own extensive cast. In fact, there are several actors I wouldn’t expect to see beyond a guest appearance. Not every FBI agent would be suitable for filling Tiff’s vacancy, considering the unique roles they play in their respective series.

It’s unlikely that Dylan McDermott or Jesse Lee Soffer, who have lead roles in their own spinoffs, will shift to ensemble roles in the original series. Since Smitty is an Europol agent, it seems she’ll remain in Europe regardless of how International concludes. As for Barnes on Most Wanted, it appears he’s about to transfer to D.C. and take on a desk job.

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Speaking of characters such as Ray, Hana, and Nina from “Most Wanted”, it’s worth noting that Ray has connections in the NYC region due to his wife and stepson. Hana’s technical abilities make her a versatile asset whether she’s working at a computer or in the field. Given her relationship with Scola and son, I anticipate seeing Shantel VanSanten again on “FBI”.

On the international front, could Vo, Raines, or Tate not be potential candidates? Both Vo and possibly Raines seem plausible for a role at 26 Fed, given their interest in advancement from the Fly Team should they receive a promotion. Despite some challenges in the field, Tate’s technical abilities are among the best of any FBI main character.

We can also take a peek at what’s happening with the international series during this fourth season. New characters have been introduced before being written off again, similar to Jay Hayden from Station 19 and Veronica St. Clair from La Brea. It would have been exciting to see FBI interacting with certain International and Most Wanted characters for a while without necessarily making them regulars. This way, fans wouldn’t have had to prepare for permanent farewells at the end of the television season.

Should FBI Have Waited Until Season 8 To Pick Scola’s New Partner?

Given all that, I can’t help but feel pleased about FBI recruiting Emily Alabi as their latest agent. Dani has indeed demonstrated her skills as a competent agent, and it’s slightly disappointing that the search for Tiff’s replacement stretched across almost the entire seventh season. I wouldn’t wish for Dani to be removed from the team (nor Alabi from the cast) simply because I’ll miss the International and Most Wanted characters.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t wait for the FBI universe to expand beyond just the original series. The upcoming CIA spinoff has been given a full season order and will debut alongside Season 8 of FBI in the fall. Similar to how Most Wanted introduced Dylan McDermott from The Practice and International brought in Jesse Lee Soffer from Chicago P.D., the new show has cast Tom Ellis, who was previously seen on Lucifer, as its leading man. There’s not much information available about this project yet, but it had originally been planned to launch via a backdoor pilot on FBI. Will we see some familiar faces from Most Wanted and/or International in the premiere of FBI: CIA? It could be an exciting addition to the mix instead of just adding them to Missy Peregrym’s show!

To be frank, I’m really hoping that the title gets updated to something more captivating than “FBI: CIA,” and I’m trying not to jump to conclusions until we find out how the spinoffs conclude their final seasons this spring. After all, it’s possible that some of the potential characters I mentioned might not be around (or even alive) for the next season of FBI.

At present, make sure to continue joining us on CBS every Tuesday for a thrilling dose of fictional law enforcement drama. The FBI series kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by FBI: International at 9 p.m. ET, and FBI: Most Wanted concludes the primetime lineup at 10 p.m. ET. The final episodes of all three shows will be aired on Tuesday, May 20.

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2025-04-30 07:10

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