Season 04

[WendyCR72]

Description for S04.E10: "Fostered", airing January 4, 2022:

Quote

As the team investigates a string of jewelry store robberies that culminate in a double murder, they uncover a connection to a 16-year-old boy trying to survive the foster care system. Also, Tiffany becomes personally invested after learning about the boy’s ill-fated upbringing.

 

[Xerxes036]

Isabel is a hypocrite she got on Scola for doing almost exactly what she did to get Vargas to give her the code to disarm the bomb. If Isabel didn't like what Scola did she should consider resigning. Maggie OA and Isabel are hypocrites and borderline unlikable to me.

[Johannah]

On 12/31/2021 at 4:34 AM, Xerxes036 said:

Isabel is a hypocrite she got on Scola for doing almost exactly what she did to get Vargas to give her the code to disarm the bomb. If Isabel didn't like what Scola did she should consider resigning. Maggie OA and Isabel are hypocrites and borderline unlikable to me.

Your post made me realize that the things I don't like about these characters all revolve around their personal connections to the cases.  I like them all normally, but whenever they start making decisions based on personal experience or feelings, they become annoying.  This show (for me, at least) should be more procedural, less touchy-feely.

[mommalib]

I don't like Maggie at all, she's so smug and cold. Seeing her partner with Tiffany tonight and being able to compare their styles reminded me of how much I can't stand Maggie. Please more Tiffany less Maggie.

[mommalib]

On 12/31/2021 at 4:34 AM, Xerxes036 said:

Isabel is a hypocrite she got on Scola for doing almost exactly what she did to get Vargas to give her the code to disarm the bomb. If Isabel didn't like what Scola did she should consider resigning. Maggie OA and Isabel are hypocrites and borderline unlikable to me.

Not borderline just plain unlikable. 

[Xeliou66]

Strong episode overall - I liked the case and investigation, compelling from start to finish. I liked seeing Maggie and Tiffany partner up in this one, it was a change of pace that worked well. I liked how even though Tiffany had a personal interest in the case, she was still professional and did her job well, all too often when things get personal the characters lose their heads and it was nice to see this wasn’t the case here. Good detective work on tracking everyone down, even though I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of Jubal and the command room, most of the action took place in the field. But everyone had a nice role and it was a good case.

I didn’t feel much sympathy for Jamal, he should do time for obstructing justice and helping the criminals, yes his life was tragic but he could’ve helped the FBI and instead he helped the villains. If they had killed anyone at the final bank robbery I would say charge Jamal as an accessory.

This was a good episode and I enjoy this show the most of the 3 FBI’s.

[hifihifi]

So who murdered the people in the Jewelery Store and the Pawn Shop Owner? Why was the Pawn Shop Owner killed. FBI no longer thinks this stuff is important? 

[shapeshifter]

9 hours ago, hifihifi said:

So who murdered the people in the Jewelery Store and the Pawn Shop Owner? Why was the Pawn Shop Owner killed. FBI no longer thinks this stuff is important? 

They were pretty vague about all of the murders.
The guy proposes to his wife and she gets shot by a rando thief? 
Doesn't the jewelry store owner have insurance and know better than to engage in a shootout with 3 armed robbers?????

If the jewelry store owner survived, the customer whose almost-fiancée got killed should have sued him for stupidity and putting him and his girlfriend in a crossfire situation. 

Were we supposed to forget about this stuff? 

And, yeah, it was unclear why they killed the fence, but I think during interrogation Tiff or Maggie proposed a reason they killed him, but it wasn't confirmed, IIRC.

Jamal was a tragedy, but I'm going to assume he eventually at least gets a GED in prison. If he survives.

Edited January 5, 2022 by shapeshifter

[MountaineerBro10]

12 hours ago, hifihifi said:

So who murdered the people in the Jewelery Store and the Pawn Shop Owner? Why was the Pawn Shop Owner killed. FBI no longer thinks this stuff is important? 

I’m pretty sure it was by Jamal’s three stepbrothers and/or his stepdad, the mastermind. They had a thing for robbing jewelry stores & shops. Used Jamal as their cover. Poor guy.

Edited January 5, 2022 by MountaineerBro10

[Xerxes036]

16 hours ago, mommalib said:

I don't like Maggie at all, she's so smug and cold. Seeing her partner with Tiffany tonight and being able to compare their styles reminded me of how much I can't stand Maggie. Please more Tiffany less Maggie.

She had the audacity to ask a colleague not to interfere in her dead husband's investigation into her murder yet Maggie begs her boss to remain involved in her dead husband's investigation 

[preeya]

17 hours ago, mommalib said:

I don't like Maggie at all, she's so smug and cold. Seeing her partner with Tiffany tonight and being able to compare their styles reminded me of how much I can't stand Maggie. Please more Tiffany less Maggie.

Is it Maggie (the character) or Missy (the actor) that you don't like?

[mommalib]

7 hours ago, preeya said:

Is it Maggie (the character) or Missy (the actor) that you don't like?

Probably a combination of both. I think the actress is where the smugness comes from I don't Maggie is supposed to come across that way. 

[hifihifi]

On 1/5/2022 at 10:14 AM, MountaineerBro10 said:

I’m pretty sure it was by Jamal’s three stepbrothers and/or his stepdad, the mastermind. They had a thing for robbing jewelry stores & shops. Used Jamal as their cover. Poor guy.

Usually the FBI is very well written and original as opposed to most Dick Wolf's shows but this episode was terrible. So we're suppose to feel bad about characters who murdered 3 people? What Jeweler unless on contrived TV is going to shoot people who robbed his insured jewels? For someone who was supposidly smart the kid was an idiot

[WendyCR72]

Here is the description for S04.E11, "Grief", airing January 11, 2022:

Quote

As the team searches for an abducted college co-ed, Jubal becomes intent on obtaining lifesaving leads from the father of the abductor’s previous victim. Also, Jubal continues to grapple with the aftermath of Rina’s condition, leading to a tense encounter with her mother.

 

[gatopretoNYC]

Wow. Poor Jubal. That's how he has to find out?? Rina's mother is a cold, cold bitch.

[mythoughtis]

6 minutes ago, gatopretoNYC said:

Wow. Poor Jubal. That's how he has to find out?? Rina's mother is a cold, cold bitch.

What was the point of Rina being on this show at all?  Just to rub people the wrong way?  To give Jubal even more of a tragic love life story? 

So the mother blamed Jubal for her death.  It was Rina’s choice to be in the FBI.  She took risks every day. It was Rina’s choice to transfer to this office.  Not Jubal’s. 

 

[shapeshifter]

Every viewer was no doubt immediately cued to the accomplice when Maggie addressed her as "Miss Paige" and she responded with "Call me Beth." 

[MerBearHou]

53 minutes ago, mythoughtis said:

What was the point of Rina being on this show at all?  Just to rub people the wrong way?  To give Jubal even more of a tragic love life story? 

My gut reaction is that the writers THOUGHT we’d enjoy a powerful additional female leader, Jubal love interest, foil to Connie Rubirosa (what’s her name on the show?) and learned really quickly how poorly Rina (and frankly, the actress) was received.  So the write-out process began and they made it a love tragedy for Jubal. 

Good case tonight, but for sure, it was no big shock that theater manager was involved.  

I’m really loving the Tiff/Scola partnership.  I also liked that Maggie and OA were background — they were useful and involved, but not front and center.

[preeya]

The guy that runs the computer for Jubal is like a HUMAN GOOGLE ON STEROIDS.

He gets answers before he completes his input.

Do the show-runners envision the viewers as naive idiots and think we buy into this obvious bullshit (i.e. never a typo, never a delay, never an error). GMAFB!!!  

Edited January 12, 2022 by preeya

[Xeliou66]

This was an excellent episode - maybe my favorite of the season, it was really well done all around.

The case was great, really intense with good detective work from everyone and good suspense. Everyone got a nice role. I love a Jubal centric episode and he was great tonight, and I liked how everyone got to play a good role in the case, and the intensity was good from start to finish. Like others, I called the accomplice’s involvement from her first scene, but it didn’t really detract from the show and I liked watching them put the pieces together. Everyone, from Jubal and Isobel to Maggie/OA and Scola/Tiffany and the background people, got a strong role tonight. 

I won’t miss Rina and I’m glad she’s gone, but I liked that they used her story to give Jubal some meaty stuff and he was really good tonight.

I liked seeing the ME again, it’s been a while since he’s been on, Tiffany called him Neil, I think that’s the first time we’ve heard his name.

Overall this was really compelling, I’ve enjoyed the season and this was one of the show’s best episodes I feel like. 

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, mythoughtis said:

What was the point of Rina being on this show at all?  Just to rub people the wrong way?  To give Jubal even more of a tragic love life story? 

39 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

My gut reaction is that the writers THOUGHT we’d enjoy a powerful additional female leader, Jubal love interest, foil to Connie Rubirosa (what’s her name on the show?)

And/or they always planned to write out Rina permanently after she served the purpose of making Isobel realize she missed the boat with Jubal and now has a second chance?

[Netfoot]

A host of agents scour the park for Mr. Baddie. Whaddya know? Out of the host, Scola/Tiffany just happen to be the ones to find him. 

He runs! Whaddya know? Out of the host, OA & Maggie just happen to be the ones to bring him down.

Quick! Clone the guy's keys, so the host of agents can walk up and down going click, click, click. Whaddya know? Out of the host, Scola is the one to hear the beep.

1 hour ago, preeya said:

He gets answers before he completes his input.

What, you don't think the desk-jockey can do a facial recognition scan from a blurry, low-rez image of a guy in a darkened night club and get results in less than a second?

C'mon, man! Trust the science!

[jabRI]

I thought there were 2 pretty glaring plot misses in the show that would not have happened in real life:

1) If 2 agents are 2 cars behind a suspect's car stopped in traffic, I don't think BOTH would get out of the car.   The driver would stay in case suspect tried to flee, which he did.

2) Jubal would not have mentioned the hospital name to the grieving father, who earlier told Jubal he'd be the type to personally deal with anyone hurting his daughter.

[shrewd.buddha]

I get what they were trying to do with Jubal and the victim's father - but it was so heavy-handed and obvious.  It was far fetched that Jubal, who was leading the investigation, would have the time for so many side-trips to the father's house. 

[morriss]

Isobel tells Jubal to leave the grieving father alone, he says ok and 2 seconds later he's knocking at the father's door.  Seems to happen quite often in this show- ignore your boss and do whatever you want.

[Bobbin]

13 hours ago, mythoughtis said:

What was the point of Rina being on this show at all?  Just to rub people the wrong way?  To give Jubal even more of a tragic love life story? 

So the mother blamed Jubal for her death.  It was Rina’s choice to be in the FBI.  She took risks every day. It was Rina’s choice to transfer to this office.  Not Jubal’s. 

 

Character flaws aside, it's a common reaction to the death of a child to have to find someone to blame. Anyone, including police, doctors, paramedics, or oneself. It's a matter of looking for a convenient hook on which to hang your anger and grief. It's not rational, but it is common. 

[Jackie14]

Wonder if Isobel picked up a nice bottle of wine on the way home for a little private celebration now that Rina is gone?

[12catcrazy]

Well, I did the seated Happy Dance upon learning of Rina's demise.  

Jubal just bugged the hell out of me when he kept at the dead girl's father.  I was yelling at the tv - LEAVE THE GUY ALONE!    And the entire story happened in like the span of a day?? 

And as a person who lives on Long Island (Syosset got a shout out) I just roll my eyes how Isobel is directing agents in NYC to run to Long Island City and they're there in 20 seconds.  One has to watch this show as taking place in an alternate universe where there is no traffic and probably teleportation devices because in real life, you can't get there from here - not in under 2 hours anyway.  

[Hedgehog2022]

This an hour long TV show...things move quickly (and unrealistically) because it is an hour long TV show! I live in a neighborhood with a lot of FBI and Secret Service employees and agents...they like the FBI shows...in particular the "war room" where the cases are discussed and investigated is pretty realistic...the agents that work the computers are an integral part of investigative work now. Some stuff is drama driven and the speed with which an investigation is resolved is unrealistic but it is a network show with advertising that has to be slotted into the time frame. All in all, the people I know that work in these agencies seem to be OK with most of the episodes. If HBO or a streaming service were to do this show and the other FBI shows I think they might have less time restraints and more realistic case resolutions.

Edited January 12, 2022 by Hedgehog2022

[LisaM]

I liked that we barely saw the perp but instead focused on the victims' families. 

Glad that Rina is done. I never saw the point of having Rina and Isobel and much prefer the latter. 

[Broderbits]

6 hours ago, Hedgehog2022 said:

All in all, the people I know that work in these agencies seem to be OK with most of the episodes.

Also, they're probably relieved that this is one of the few shows that doesn't portray the FBI as "Feebs"- incompetent, arrogant assholes. Original L&O used to do that all the time, so maybe this is Dick Wolf's mea culpa.

[TimetoShine]

On 1/11/2022 at 6:24 PM, mythoughtis said:

What was the point of Rina being on this show at all?  Just to rub people the wrong way?  To give Jubal even more of a tragic love life story? 

So the mother blamed Jubal for her death.  It was Rina’s choice to be in the FBI.  She took risks every day. It was Rina’s choice to transfer to this office.  Not Jubal’s. 

 

 

On 1/11/2022 at 7:22 PM, MerBearHou said:

My gut reaction is that the writers THOUGHT we’d enjoy a powerful additional female leader, Jubal love interest, foil to Connie Rubirosa (what’s her name on the show?) and learned really quickly how poorly Rina (and frankly, the actress) was received.  So the write-out process began and they made it a love tragedy for Jubal. 

Good case tonight, but for sure, it was no big shock that theater manager was involved.  

I’m really loving the Tiff/Scola partnership.  I also liked that Maggie and OA were background — they were useful and involved, but not front and center.

No kidding. I was like: "who is Rina?" I never bothered to learn her name. 

 

@Hedgehog2022. Agreed, it's only 40 min long. Some stuff has to get cut. It has never bothered me on any show. 

Edited January 13, 2022 by TimetoShine

[AnnA]

On 1/11/2022 at 10:22 PM, MerBearHou said:

 

I’m really loving the Tiff/Scola partnership.  I also liked that Maggie and OA were background — they were useful and involved, but not front and center.

Me too!  I don't like Maggie and I'm tired of the OA/Maggie team working every case.  I love Scola and think adding Tiffany as his partner was a smart move.  I really enjoy them and hope to see more of them and less of OA/Maggie.

ETA:  I wasn't the least bit sorry to see Rina go.   She was an unnecessary and unlikeable character.

Edited January 14, 2022 by AnnA

[Cristofle]

Oh, dear. Rina is gone. What a tragedy. *examines nails*

On 1/11/2022 at 9:24 PM, mythoughtis said:

So the mother blamed Jubal for her death.  It was Rina’s choice to be in the FBI.  She took risks every day. It was Rina’s choice to transfer to this office.  Not Jubal’s. 

Agreed. Logically I could never hold a mother's irrational grief against her, but I don't care about this one-off character, so that scene just grated. Jubal certainly didn't make Rina do anything. 

I did like the case! Generally a solid use of all the characters. And thankfully it wasn't Tiff, Scola, Maggie, or OA's turn to be overly involved and inappropriate, lol.

[Dowel Jones]

52 minutes ago, Cristofle said:

What a tragedy. *examines nails*

(Coroner's report indicates that Rina was killed by a slashing sharp object...)  Can you account for your whereabouts before this episode aired?

[Johannah]

On 1/11/2022 at 10:45 PM, preeya said:

The guy that runs the computer for Jubal is like a HUMAN GOOGLE ON STEROIDS.

He gets answers before he completes his input.

Do the show-runners envision the viewers as naive idiots and think we buy into this obvious bullshit (i.e. never a typo, never a delay, never an error). GMAFB!!!  

I get what you're saying, but it's my favorite part of the show.  I love the bullpen.  I love the efficiency and how they can all read Jubal's mind and have his answers before he finishes telling them what to do.  I make enough typos, I don't need the show delayed with them or annoying autocorrects.  :-)

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Johann said:

I get what you're saying, but it's my favorite part of the show.  I love the bullpen.  I love the efficiency and how they can all read Jubal's mind and have his answers before he finishes telling them what to do.  I make enough typos, I don't need the show delayed with them or annoying autocorrects.  :-)

Same. Maybe in another 20 years we will be able to stream versions akin to those "choose your own adventure/ending" books/stories.
I would watch the version in which at least a third of the episode was quick bits in the "bullpen" with the running and shooting happening in a small inset screen.
Plus I enjoy imagining that Detective Lupo is now heading up an FBI task force.🙃

[topanga]

On 1/17/2022 at 3:21 PM, shapeshifter said:

Same. Maybe in another 20 years we will be able to stream versions akin to those "choose your own adventure/ending" books/stories.
I would watch the version in which at least a third of the episode was quick bits in the "bullpen" with the running and shooting happening in a small inset screen.
Plus I enjoy imagining that Detective Lupo is now heading up an FBI task force.🙃

I agree with your comments about the war room, which makes me miss Kristen even more. She was the queen of “looking stuff up.”

[millennium]

On 12/31/2021 at 4:34 AM, Xerxes036 said:

 Maggie OA and Isabel are hypocrites and borderline unlikable to me.

Been binging this show on Paramount Plus the last couple weeks.

I like Maggie and OA and think it's a shame that their story line has been cut in half if not more by the intrusion introduction of Tiffany and Scola (both of whom I don't care for much).

I've always had a huge crush on Alana De La Garza.  The only fault I can find with Isobel is that she lets her staff get away with too much, especially when she tells them to stay home or away from a case and they show up anyway.   

[Netfoot]

15 minutes ago, millennium said:

I like Maggie and OA and think it's a shame that their story line has been cut in half if not more by the intrusion introduction of Tiffany and Scola (both of whom I don't care for much).

I mostly agree with this. I don't think T&S are bad, but I do quite like M&OA and wish their roles weren't being usurped by a less interesting pair.

[millennium]

41 minutes ago, Netfoot said:

I mostly agree with this. I don't think T&S are bad, but I do quite like M&OA and wish their roles weren't being usurped by a less interesting pair.

They keep trying to make T&S happen.  Scola, so closed off because his brother was killed in 9/11 ...  Tiffany, so conflicted because she's still a cop at heart but working for the feds now (and when that didn't generate enough gravitas, they made her responsible for shooting the father of a wayward kid).   None of it works.  None of it rings true.   I don't know if it's the actors (and that may well be, both of them are pretty weak personalities) or the characters as written but IMO they seem like stock characters contrived on the fly,  nowhere near as interesting as a conscience-stricken Egyptian agent and his tough-as-nails female partner.  Yet for some reason T&S have horned in on the latter team's primary position.

Edited January 26, 2022 by millennium

[Netfoot]

55 minutes ago, millennium said:

They keep trying to make T&S happen.  Scola, so closed off because his brother was killed in 9/11 ...  Tiffany, so conflicted because she's still a cop at heart but working for the feds now (and when that didn't generate enough gravitas, they made her responsible for shooting the father of a wayward kid).   None of it works.  None of it rings true.

Scola is a fairly stoic, unemotional character. That's who they've made him, and that's who Boyd portrays, rather successfully. When ever they ask him to become emotional, it's an utter failure.

Tiffany is a poorly conceived character shoehorned into the show. She is supposed to be an ex-cop which comes off as unrealistic. The more back-story they try to glue on to the character, the more of a chimera she seems.

I'm obviously stupid, because I didn't realize they wanted T&S to be a thing. The idea horrifies me. That would be completely artificial and unbelievable. They have less eros than a lawnmower paired with a garden snail. The only thing worse would be to try and push OA together with Maggie.

I have nothing against the show being more than just M&OA. They could introduce several pairs of agents and let them each have a chance to shine while working with the rest of the team. But ultimately, Maggie and OA are the leads and I don't like to see them pushed out by the relative newcomers. 

[mythoughtis]

 I think the second pair of agents have been stepped up because Missy has a child while this show has been on.  So maternity leave has played a part. 
then covid… probably they  wanted each actor to be in less scenes to minimize risk 

Edited January 26, 2022 by mythoughtis

[Xeliou66]

This episode was better than I expected it to be - while the show has gone to the well of bombers and anti government extremists a bit too often, they shook up the formula some with this episode and it worked. I liked how the episode opened with Maggie undercover at the bar and continued that way throughout the episode with the rest of the team working the case as usual.

I thought Maggie made the right call in going to Colin’s house, she had good reason to believe he was in danger.

As usual each character had a good role, and it was nice seeing everyone working together, I love Jubal and his room of agents/analysts, I liked Kelly’s knowledge of trucks being useful.

Overall this was a good episode with a good use of each character, even if the plot of anti government people and bombs are overused, they shook up the formula enough and made it a compelling hour.

[Dowel Jones]

I liked Kelly speaking up, too, especially in a roomful of city dwellers.  On the other hand, sorry, but in what world can an F-350 carry 7,000 lbs. of cargo?  I know, Dick Wolf-world.  I used to drive one for work and they aren't that big, really.  An F-450 is getting closer, and the box truck f-650 would do it.  I'm guessing the production staff had a line on a 350 and worked that into the plot.  And that explosion.  I realize they couldn't actually detonate that much ammonium nitrate, but after Maggie said it would take out the block, it didn't even obliterate the chassis.  Mythbusters would be amused.

I noticed Maggie looked different, and finally realized that Missy Peregym was wearing her hair down for the cover assignment.  She has really long hair.

Uh, Tiffany, you've had two bombs go off when people opened packages.  So, what do you do when you catch the purported bomber?  You open his package!

I hope that bartender makes tracks out of NYC in a big hurry, because he's on a hit list as of this minute.

[MrWhyt]

9 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

.  And that explosion.  I realize they couldn't actually detonate that much ammonium nitrate, but after Maggie said it would take out the block, it didn't even obliterate the chassis.  Mythbusters would be amused.

 

if the bomb was as big as they said it was Maggie would have been killed by the shockwave alone.

[Trey]

5 minutes ago, MrWhyt said:

if the bomb was as big as they said it was Maggie would have been killed by the shockwave alone.

My thought exactly.  She was still pretty close to the truck when the bomb went off.

[Netfoot]

Typical FBI. Maggie rode rough-shod over the innocent in order to further her career save the chilluns. A bomb that would have leveled a block, didn't even break a bone at 25 feet range.

And I really think it was so moving the way Henry McCord Maggie drove the bomb to safety without care for her own life, so she could further her career save the chilluns.

The way how she showed up at the end to check on the guy whose life, whose daughter's life, she didn't give a shit about throughout the episode, was completely believable.

[illdoc]

BTW, if that bomb (which couldn't be stopped) was so powerful, what were the terrorists still doing there, sitting on the steps pretending to be homeless? Why didn't they get out of there? Did they want to die? They were sitting on the steps as the FBI arrived, so it's not that they thought "we can't escape so let's just try to blend in". 

[DaveL723]

Some random thoughts

This show seems to have fallen into a rut or has run out of ideas.  All their cases are some variation  of a 'ticking time bomb' scenario, all too often with a real bomb, that are all conveniently wrapped up by the end of the day.

At the end of last night's scheduled foot pursuit, Tiffany (maybe 120 lb dripping wet) manages to knock down and instantly subdue a 250 lb ex con by jumping on his back.  Not gonna happen.  Rather than be rendered passive by the touch of an FBI agent, just for once I'd like to see someone shake them off and get away.

Note that the bomb in the truck was supposed to be comparable to the one used in the Oklahoma City bombing.

Why, oh why does every bomb the FBI is faced with come with a digital clock telling them down to the second when it's going to go off.  Yeah, I know it's to heighten the dramatic tension for the audience but we all know it's not going  to go off.