FBI season 2 has reached the top of the TV crime drama class
FBI was a success for CBS in its first season, but FBI season 2 has solidified the series as one of TV’s best crime dramas and a must-watch.
When FBI premiered on CBS last season, there was no doubt it was going to be a hit. Produced by Dick Wolf and on a network known for its TV crime dramas, it was no surprise when the show was an immediate winner.
But FBI season 2 has outdone itself. The changes made to the series between seasons have taken it from not just a great show, to one of the best TV crime dramas on the air today. And if you’re not watching it, you’re missing out.
What makes it work is that it’s a straight-forward, tightly written procedural that doesn’t get tied up in gimmicks or subplots. Every episode is focused on the case first and foremost, and the cases in the second season have had more to say—they’re not simple whodunits, but more crimes that reflect the world we live in.
The season premiere “Little Egypt” was one such episode, and one of the best crime drama hours so far this season.
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The bombing of a restaurant in Queens not only touched on hot-button topics like terrorism and racism, but also generated an emotional conflict for Special Agent Omar “OA” Zidan (Zeeko Zaki), whose moment of vulnerability at the end of the episode reminded viewers that crime dramas are about more than if the bad guy gets caught.
They’re platforms for us to look at the worst, but also the best, of humanity—and the characters in them have to face both every day. FBI hasn’t shied away from showing that emotional aspect of the genre this season, but has woven it into episodes organically, avoiding the melodrama that so many other shows fall into.
But adding these cultural and emotional layers only works if you have a cast that can do them justice, and in FBI season 2 we’ve seen the best of what this ensemble has to offer. The cast was sold in the first season, yet this season they’ve elevated their game. They’re noticeably more comfortable with their characters, and the writers made changes that have given them additional opportunities to shine.
A major plus this season has been the addition of Alana de la Garza as the new Special Agent in Charge, Isobel Castille. Not to take anything away from her predecessor Sela Ward, but de la Garza has brought a new energy to the FBI ensemble.
Isobel isn’t solely the team’s boss and she doesn’t feel like their friend; instead, she’s challenging them to make better decisions and doesn’t flinch when she needs to make a tough call. That gives the show a new dynamic, where there’s more internal tension and discussion, thus creating some additional depth that separates FBI from the pack.
And that’s not counting the fact that de la Garza is an outstanding actress, with experience in the Dick Wolf fold thanks to her role as ADA Connie Rubirosa in the original Law & Order. That’s where she developed her chemistry with FBI co-star Jeremy Sisto, which makes the scenes between his Jubal Valentine and Castille feel like a true partnership at the top. They’re as interesting a team as the agents under their command.
Meanwhile, the choice to make Kristen Chazal a field agent has worked wonders for Ebonee Noel, as we’ve gotten to see Kristen develop beyond being “the tech expert.” She’s already grown more, and Noel has been wonderful in showing us the journey Kristen has taken as she moves into the field. Episodes like tonight’s midseason finale “Ties That Bind” are allowing the viewers to grow along with Kristen, and allowing her to not be perfect.
They’re also moving FBI further and further away from what audiences expect from a TV crime drama. The show has a solid foundation, but that doesn’t mean it needs to rely on stereotypes or the same old plotlines.
There’s no better example of that than the main partnership between OA and Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym), which has flourished in FBI season 2. Zaki is giving an amazing performance this year, and should be getting far more attention for how he’s really digging into OA’s heart and mind, and the challenges and questions he has as an agent and a human being.
Maggie has not only been a tremendous supporter while OA goes through everything, but now that the show has resolved the storyline of her husband’s death, she’s getting to move forward as well. We now know her more than just that one portion of her life. These are characters who are looking forward and making some major decisions, and they’re doing it together.
Every TV show wants its second season to be bigger than its first, but FBI has truly delivered on that. It’s trusted its cast by giving them even better material, and made the few changes that have gotten the best out of them. It’s also not been afraid to stick with what works, the characters and the cases, when so many other shows feel the need to add in more sensationalism or romantic drama or big-name guest stars.
FBI has proven that you don’t need any of that to be a great TV crime series. What you need is to tell honest and genuine stories, with an excellent cast that is empowered to truly bring those stories to life. And that combination has made FBI season 2 must-watch TV for anyone who loves crime dramas.
Which FBI agent has doubts in tonight's episode?. dark. Next
The FBI winter finale airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.