FBI - General Discussion

[CheshireCat]

On ‎24‎.‎10‎.‎2018 at 1:33 PM, Xantar said:

The disagreement between Maggie and OA was just....kind of there? It came out of nowhere for me. It would have been much more interesting if OA had taken the side of the whistleblower, and I think it would have been much more in character, too. If there's anybody who understands that the government can screw up, it's a Muslim in post-9/11 America.

I think this one was supposed to be about him having been in the army and I can sort of see where he was coming from. If someone leaked a different kind of classified information, it could compromise military operations and/or operatives and it can get people killed. But he had tunnel vision about it and didn't see the other side, until the end. I thought it was very cliché. One partner just had to jump on the "the leaker did it" bandwaggon.

 

On ‎24‎.‎10‎.‎2018 at 10:20 AM, JackONeill said:

I still wonder if Maggie and OA like one another. I missed a little of the premier episode—have these two been working together awhile, or just now formed a team?

I think they're a fairly new team. OA worked undercover for six months and it sounded like he only recently got out and partnered with Maggie.

 

I didn't mind the argument. I'm under the impression that they're still getting to know one another, so I thought it felt sort of natural. Well, aside from the fact that I found OA's point of view a bit forced. From the first time they mentioned the whistleblower you just knew that he was going to jump to conclusions and think that he's guilty.

I appreciated that this episode didn't deal with mass murder. But it was fairly easy to figure out who the bad guys were.

Sela Ward's comment about the 60 mile zone made me laugh. As if radiation stuck to any zone and didn't move any further.

So, we finally know how Maggie's husband died. Too bad they killed him, I think an investigative journalist and an FBI agent could have been an interesting dynamic. And, of course, she didn't pick up when he called her. At least, they didn't also have an argument before he was killed. Just once do I want to have a character say, at least, we had this great conversation before he died or at least, we had this last dinner. The death of a loved one is tragic enough. It doesn't need to be made even more tragic.

[Raja]

5 hours ago, CheshireCat said:

I assumed that Maggie was the Senior agent since her partner was in the military. They appear to be around the same age so if Maggie went to the FBI academy straight after college, she would have been with the FBI longer.

 

Right out of grad school to the FBI while OA was on active duty and perhaps working on his advanced degree, plus the language skills which supposed to set the FBI apart from most law enforcement agencies. I don't know if agencies actually work that way. It that seems to be left over from Law & Order with Sergeant Greevy and Detective Logan team where one had actual rank on the other or it is more like Homicide Life On The Street where one takes a lead on a specific case and the others support him while also being the point man on their own assignments?

[Rambler]

Why was the best friend so concerned about the people at the plant losing their jobs due to a bad inspection? It was stated that the plant would be closing in two years so they would be losing their jobs anyway. She would risk a nuclear catastrophe to have people stay in their jobs for a couple more years. I predict a bright future ahead of her under the Trump administration.

[Netfoot]

On 10/25/2018 at 4:21 AM, CheshireCat said:

I don't think that a passport lists dual citizenship but I'm not sure.

As far as I know, a passport can only specify citizenship in the country that issued the passport.

I hold triple citizenship, but none of my passports mention the fact that I am a citizen of any country other than the country of issue.

[illdoc]

From TVLines "How to Improve 18 New Fall Shows:  

FBI (CBS)

WHAT WORKS: The cast is comprised of compelling actors, and when the show gives them the tiniest sliver of character work, they shine. And if you’re into procedurals, uberproducer Dick Wolf has shepherded yet another solid one that will probably air for years and years, but…

WHAT NEEDS WORK: It’s just another routine Case of the Week show that doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from the pack. Plus, Jeremy Sisto — who was sofunny on Suburgatory — is too often saddled with simply barking instructions at FBI HQ

[dargosmydaddy]

On 10/25/2018 at 5:33 PM, Waterston Fan said:

Who did Haddi play? Miller or Fletcher? 

Like I said, I didn't tune in till the end of the episode, so I didn't catch his character's name. But he was the one who OA rescued, and who seemed to be having a "moment" with Maggie at the end before he was driven away.

[WendyCR72]

Oh, good! Not a mass casualty episode, for once!

After a senator’s daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom, the FBI is called in to assist with finding the little girl before their time limit expires. However, in order to do so, they must dig into the senator’s past for clues to who did this to his family.

[Brookside]

On 10/10/2018 at 9:54 AM, illdoc said:

In fact, one of the FBI agents said "Haley? Doesn't sound Ukrainian" and was told "her mother was American" (at the time, they only knew of the one girl). Weirder was the fact that I couldn't hear an accent from either girl. Having an American name (with an American mother) is one thing, but if you've been living your entire life in the Ukraine, you'd have an accent!

 

On 10/10/2018 at 10:46 AM, threebluestars said:

I thought that was weird too. And all of the "Ukrainian" girls were saying "the Ukraine" too instead of just "Ukraine" which stood out to me.

Plenty of people are completely fluent/bilingual/accentless.

It's quite possible the girls' mother spoke exclusively in English with them.. This would also explain why they called it "The Ukraine", since that's what their mother would have known it as when they were growing up. 

[WendyCR72]

Another Dick Wolf show, another crazy chick named Nicole! I was half expecting Olivia D'Abo's Nicole Wallace to pop up, searching for Goren and Eames. Just me? Okay. (Honestly, did someone named Nicole break Dick's heart back in the day? Nicole Wallace from L&O: Criminal Intent, L&O: Special Victims Unit had a crazy perp in one of its episodes last season or so named Nicole, and now this.)

Missy Peregrym's "Where. IS. SHE?!" near the end was laughably AWFUL. And I'm tired of everyone falling all over her. Frankly, I wish Sela Ward or anyone else was the female lead.

Finally, how timely, all the talk of dirty politics so close to the midterm elections.

All I got!

[catrice2]

 I haven't even watched the episode yet. I don't know about falling all over her I don't even know who she is. Apparently she's some actress that was good in some other role but on this show she's not that great

[solea]

The senator is at home for hours and never once unbuttons his jacket or loosens his tie. *eyeroll*

[Dowel Jones]

New York young'un goes into construction, makes mad money.  Check.  Gets involved with shady business man who does favors for him.  Check.  Goes into politics.  Check.  Has an affair while he is married.  Check.  Has shady friend pay out hush money during the campaign.  Check.  Nothing to see here, folks.  Moving on.

[mxc90]

I was more concerned about where Nathan was going to end up after his mother died than any other character in this boring episode.

[JackONeill]

I know it's been commented on before, but Missy sure dresses like a slob. (Of course, the t-shirt she was wearing probably cost more than my house.) Seriously, I thought the FBI had regulations. I mean, fine, if she were undercover as a babysitter fine, but she wasn't. Another thing (and sorry to harp on Missy), she doesn't seem old enough to be assigned to a senator's case. Then again, it was good that she's not superwoman. Her last kidnapping it sounds went badly. So, she's not perfect. Having said that, shouldn't Sela Ward's character should have known that BEFOREHAND? Seems like she only learned of it half-way through the investigation. 

[LisaM]

My favorite part was when the wife asked about adopting her husband's son. 

I really like Sela Ward and wish she would get more screen time. Not thrilled with the lead character. Ward and Jeremy Sisto should get more screen time.

[Raja]

1 hour ago, LisaM said:

 

I really like Sela Ward and wish she would get more screen time. Not thrilled with the lead character. Ward and Jeremy Sisto should get more screen time.

I really don't know why Jeremy Sisto is in the show, beyond being a Law & Order alum. It reminds me of NCIS LA with an extra boss put on top for no reason other than giving an older actor and a sick actor time off as they split the work load. We have a Special Agent In Charge for the unit but then we have a  second supervisor yelling at one speaking character role and the extras in the office. Maybe if it was more CSI  like with an increased forensics and computer work reoccurring characters at the expense of the field agent duo he would have a function

[rhys]

Seems like Jeremy's yelling was toned down some this episode. Maybe we need a kid in every episode.

[Xeliou66]

Not a bad episode and I’m enjoying the show, but there were some loose ends that needed tying up IMO, such as what exactly Nicole’s role in the plot was and why she killed herself, and who exactly were the guys at the end. Also, give us more of Jubal, he’s severely underused!! I like all of the characters a lot and they have good chemistry together.

[rove4]

On ‎10‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 10:24 AM, TV Anonymous said:

Actually, that is one of the TV tropes that is also my pet peeve. While it looks cool in the movies or TV but shooting the tires of a moving passenger vehicle is a virtually impossible shot. The target is a very narrow strip of tire wall - even narrower if one uses low-profile - and it is moving, many times not in constant speed and direction. So Dick Wolf's shows are somewhat tied to reality, I would appreciate their not adding fantasy aspect in the action.

Amen!  I much prefer the stab at a more realistic approach.

I'm enjoying the show and the chemistry between all the cast.  I think they all work well off each other.  And while it's a serious show, I don't find it especially bleak.

[illdoc]

18 hours ago, Xeliou66 said:

what exactly Nicole’s role in the plot was and why she killed herself,

I thought that the FBI came around to the idea that she wasn't involved and didn't kill herself---she was framed and murdered. In fact, I believe they charged Finn with 2 counts of murder--the nanny & Nicole.

[Waterston Fan]

I thought this was an okay episode but it seemed like more than 2 people were in involved and I think the manager had something to do with it as well. 

Of course, they don't even take Gracie to the hospital, they take her right to the parents and she as usual looked clean. 

Is there a new episode next week? 

[illdoc]

57 minutes ago, Waterston Fan said:

Is there a new episode next week

No. "Election Coverage Special" on CBS from 8-10 (central time), bumping FBI & NCIS:NO

[Waterston Fan]

13 minutes ago, illdoc said:

No. "Election Coverage Special" on CBS from 8-10 (central time), bumping FBI & NCIS:NO

Ah, that's right.. I did vote but I forgot it was coming up soon. lol 

[rove4]

On 10/17/2018 at 1:22 PM, icemiser69 said:

But still, it was almost like the writers of this episode felt they had to redeem Maggie's character somehow after she called for the kill shot against the sniper.  That very sniper that OA promised to protect from being killed.  

 

Why in the world would the writers have to redeem Maggie on that point?  The man killed 10 innocent people.  I can't even comprehend how one gets from mourning a loved one to executing people who had absolutely nothing to do with her death.  I felt zero empathy for him and, frankly, I don't know why Maggie would even bother to feel badly about making the call to have him taken out before he shot and killed his 11th victim.  No redemption needed IMO and I didn't see that last scene with the wife that way at all.  

[rove4]

When did they tell the Senator and his wife that he had a son?  I totally missed it.

[Rambler]

Whoa they actually let the SWAT guys take the lead in the rescue mission and shoot the bad guy. Usually in these types of shows only the lead actors are allowed to shoot the bad guys and the SWAT guys serve as glorified target practice dummies.

I also liked how little Gracie was all smiles when she was reunited with her mommy and frowning at her daddy like she knew exactly what he had been up to. I predict some turbulent teenage years in the future.

[Raja]

12 hours ago, Rambler said:

Whoa they actually let the SWAT guys take the lead in the rescue mission and shoot the bad guy. Usually in these types of shows only the lead actors are allowed to shoot the bad guys and the SWAT guys serve as glorified target practice dummies.

The Dick Wolf productions outside of Chicago have been relatively good at having non speaking specialist do their special skill while the stars stand behind them.

[kili]

Quote

Then who drugged her son?  If it was the kidnapper, and he was willing to kill Nicole, the nanny, and Nicole's (and the politician's) kid, then why did he give two shits about whether the politician's daughter he kidnapped lived?

I think he was willing to kill people when his plot still had a chance at success. He had to keep the daughter alive for proof of life, but she probably would have died if the money had been paid (he badly needed the money and wanted revenge). Once he was caught, he was confronted by his former friend and it turned out Finn still had a little empathy left in him somewhere (probably saw some of his son in his son's friend). Plus, he can now claim to have cooperated.

Nicole didn't appear to know about the kidnapping. The FBI stated they hadn't told her (when they were trying to figure out the leak). She could have killed herself coincidentally because she was facing a bleak future, but there really wasn't much of a trigger to do it that day. Finn was already framing her with the gun, so it makes sense that he had her killed. Plus, I could see him wanting to kill both of the senator's kids.

Quote

I wanted to see the politician and his wife argue rather than have her stand by her husband, and why would she so willingly want to adopt her husband's "love child" so quickly?

She just got her own child back and is filled with love for the universe. It seems natural that she wants to save another child. The son has done absolutely nothing wrong. She might be mad at her husband for the affair, but it would be pretty heartless to send this child into the system when they have so much to give.

[Whimsy]

On 10/30/2018 at 9:59 PM, WendyCR72 said:

Missy Peregrym's "Where. IS. SHE?!" near the end was laughably AWFUL. And I'm tired of everyone falling all over her. Frankly, I wish Sela Ward or anyone else was the female lead.

I agree. It was SO bad. Took me right out if the show. 

On 10/31/2018 at 12:55 AM, catrice2 said:

 I haven't even watched the episode yet. I don't know about falling all over her I don't even know who she is. Apparently she's some actress that was good in some other role but on this show she's not that great

Which role was that?  IMO, she’s always been terrible. I think I tolerated her the best in Reaper. 

[catrice2]

Never heard of her, but both she and Sisto are annoying me.  OA is just bland and trying too hard.  I don't even recognize what acting Sela Ward is doing.  I DVR this and watch it later, but I am starting to wonder why. With Sisto in there screaming, why do we even need the other lady that also provides information? Is she there solely for diversity.  They are checking boxes with a female boss, female lead, Muslim, white male and her.   I hate to think that way but she not well utilized so I can't really see the point to having her there.  I would like to see another team of agents in the field and switch off between them and the awful one with OA.....similar to Cold Case and Without a Trace. 

I am so not interested in their personal lives.  I am already tired of hearing about her husband, and are we going to find out that OA is a recovering addict? 

[mojito]

So you're the FBI and you drive to the victim's house in a landscaping van (of course, the kidnappers said no cops) and the FBI agents are wearing their work clothes? If anyone is watching--which is why you're in the landscaping van to begin with--wouldn't they notice a landscaper wearing a suit and tie?

[Netfoot]

6 minutes ago, mojito said:

wouldn't they notice a landscaper wearing a suit and tie?

With an automatic pistol prominent on their hip?

[WendyCR72]

Saw the description was up, so what the hell.

Maggie and OA hunt down a ruthless group of robbers who are posing as NYPD officers to target armored trucks.

Wonder if the 27th Precinct exists in this show's universe, considering its creator/producer? Hmm.

[WendyCR72]

Got busy, so I basically missed this. Will have to look for it later.

[rhys]

Not too bad except what's his face is back to yelling. Gah!

[WendyCR72]

1 hour ago, rhys said:

Not too bad except what's his face is back to yelling. Gah!

Did he ever really stop? It's a shame, because Jeremy Sisto is a good actor. (And did a good job at the tail end of Law & Order, probably why Dick Wolf remembered him for this show!) But, thus far, his character is a straw man here.

[Xeliou66]

This was a good episode, either the best or second best of the season, case was entertaining and felt very authentic, the show is much better when it deals with stuff other than mass casualty cases, I liked this case a lot. The characters are al very likable and entertaining, I thought Jubal had some funny lines tonight, I wish they would give him more to do though.

[Netfoot]

Guy is seconds away from firing at OA, who still has his finger a PC three inches from the trigger of his own weapon.  Then the guy goes for a fast-draw, and OA still doesn't put his finger on the trigger, but futilely shouts "Don't do it!..." as the guy brings his weapon up and aligns his sight-picture....

[JackONeill]

1 hour ago, Netfoot said:

Guy is seconds away from firing at OA, who still has his finger a PC three inches from the trigger of his own weapon.  Then the guy goes for a fast-draw, and OA still doesn't put his finger on the trigger, but futilely shouts "Don't do it!..." as the guy brings his weapon up and aligns his sight-picture....

Thankfully, I’ve never been in that situation, but how can instinct not force you to pull the trigger? Is that what they mean by “freezing”? If that’s the case, that’s bad. (Duh.) Seriously, how can a partner ever depend on you?!?

[mojito]

So you're wired and you are to talk to your (former) partners in crime at some storefront kind of location. You drive there in your car and park. You have your being-recorded conversation (I guess he was on a phone) and then you leave the building and cross the street and get into a black SUV instead of your car, chat for a bit, then walk to your own car and drive off. But that's not all. They follow right behind this witness/suspect who then walks into some kind of garage. The FBI decide that things have gone sideways, and they walk right into this garage because, you know, the steel door was left unlocked. 

It's raining when OA arrives at his Maggie's home. When she arrives, the sidewalk is dry and so is OA and Maggie. What a patient guy.

 I guess I wouldn't be a very good FBI agent. I'm far too cautious. Who writes this stuff--second graders?

Mosier: A decent employee working for a boss like her would thrive. Best boss ever.

[catrice2]

the fact that someone thinks this is the best episode so far is really telling. OA looks like a total incompetent fool which is ridiculous when in previous episodes had him cooly taking out snipers and everything else. The entire plot and the ease with which they solved it was ridiculous. Its as if the perpetrators were not even trying to hide or cover their tracks. Sisto is just useless. In the war room they have three people doing the job that it would take only one person to do. The little information gatherer is totally unnecessary. All she does is just zoom in with her computer while Sisto barks  out  information.

 

I'm appalled at how easily Sela Ward told the other agent that she had read his file. If that was pertinent information that she needed to know  she should have been made aware of that before they were partnered up otherwise that's not something she should have disclosed to her. It is ridiculous to think that he is going to have some type of difficulties with every vet that he runs into as a lot of them could be criminals and serve tours like he did. Someone who behaves as he did would be a liability in the field and it was almost her responsibility to report that. I'm sure the overdose drug he had a few episodes ago will soon come into play.

The female detective tries to come across as hard and she is totally unbelievable. She's even more useless than the one with the computer in the war room. I keep seeing advertisement saying that this is the best new drama or the highest rated new drama and I shake my head. Right now I'm hate watching with the hope that something great is going to happen and it's going to get better. In my opinion they need a second team and switch off between the two of them. They are such a boring pair. I guess it was his week because usually we have her moping around about her husband or whatever else it is bothering her and he's the one being supportive and worrying about her

That last dramatic standoff was some poor acting by all involved

Edited November 15, 2018 by catrice2

[Dowel Jones]

16 hours ago, mojito said:

The FBI decide that things have gone sideways, and they walk right into this garage because, you know, the steel door was left unlocked. 

And then fling the door open while standing perfectly centered in the doorway, just like a good target would. 

I loved the dialogue in the storage room.  "The door's locked!"  "It's a trap!"  They should be instructors back at Quantico.  You would think that crooks who were competent enough to rig a  bomb for both remote and automatic detonation would set up a better device than that one in the room.

OA seems to bouncing between 'Kill him, he gave away sensitive information', and 'I don't care if the guy is a stone cold killer, he was a vet'.  That is just screaming removal from the field and a psychological evaluation.

[mxc90]

The criminals have the route and couldn't find a spot where there weren't any cameras? I wonder if we will get an episode where cameras or advanced technology isn't used. Let's see them solve a crime the old way.

Why did they quickly dismiss the man's girlfriend who supplied the route?

[Raja]

On 11/14/2018 at 3:58 AM, Netfoot said:

Guy is seconds away from firing at OA, who still has his finger a PC three inches from the trigger of his own weapon.  Then the guy goes for a fast-draw, and OA still doesn't put his finger on the trigger, but futilely shouts "Don't do it!..." as the guy brings his weapon up and aligns his sight-picture....

 

On 11/14/2018 at 5:18 AM, JackONeill said:

Thankfully, I’ve never been in that situation, but how can instinct not force you to pull the trigger? Is that what they mean by “freezing”? If that’s the case, that’s bad. (Duh.) Seriously, how can a partner ever depend on you?!?

I think it is the set safety officer not the script or the actor as I have seen in other shows where you would think that the character was in a squeeze the trigger, but didn't situation  his finger stays outside the trigger guard.

[Waterston Fan]

I forgot about this show. lol 

This episode was okay but I admit, I think OA should not have lied to Maggie about Iraq. I didn't think it was right with what Sela's character told Maggie either.

I thought the part about the werehouse was lame. 

The ending with OA sitting and walking to Maggie's apartment, I don't understand it. 

[WendyCR72]

Maggie and OA lead the search for an abducted former biological weapons chemist.

[Xantar]

Wait, what is that I saw at the end? OA cracking jokes at Maggie? Was that humor?!?

Also, what was with Maggie and OA charging right into the houses while SWAT guys have to hustle to keep up with them? That can’t be how breaching and clearing is supposed to work.

[LisaM]

The Russian following Dana home was the first unexpected event in a few episodes. 

[Xeliou66]

Not bad, but I’m getting tired of the constant terrorism cases, there is so much more the show can do and it is becoming very unrealistic how many terrorism incidents they are dealing with. Also there was way too much action and too little investigating in this one.

On the positive side, Jubal got a lot more to do, it was very nice to see him out in the field, and he wasn’t yelling. And I’m enjoying the fast paced nature of the show, it keeps my attention even if I don’t think the case is great.

I’m starting to dislike OA though, he seems to have a stick up his ass a lot of the time.

[Dowel Jones]

Back in the day, before Quantico, the FBI would set up an actual perimeter before conducting a rescue/raid operation like that.  Instead, we get a random van coming down the access road right up to the FBI tent/snack center. And the FBI overhead doesn't even track the family Craycray running out of the building and into another one.  And somehow little Koresh manages to get out on foot and get all the way back to New York, where, under the guise of a fake ID, gets right into the courthouse as a bailiff.  "The regular guy's sick.  I'm his replacement."  Works every time.

I wonder if OA has any guilt over the things the US military has done in the past.  He sure is angry at the rest of the world.

4 hours ago, Xantar said:

Wait, what is that I saw at the end? OA cracking jokes at Maggie? Was that humor?!?

And Maggie showing up to work with her hair down?  Special Agents. They're just like us!

I had to laugh a bit when Maggie told the techs at the embassy scene to dig the bullets out of the bodies and get them over to ballistics.  The techs nodded 'okay', but I bet they were thinking "Screw that, that's a job for the ME."

Menacing Russian heavyweight at the end!  Dun dun dun.