FBI: International is fast becoming my favorite FBI show. Why? Because of Scott Forrester. Now, I love OA and Scola, on FBI, as you know, but there is something about the fearlessness of Forrester and the love he has for his team that is both infuriating, exciting, and makes me love him.
Also from time to time he gets a new jacket and I am thankful for that. I really hate that blue jacket.
The latest episode of FBI: International has me loving the show even more. Espionage, romantic troubles, hypocrisy, and getting to know other characters. It’s the natural progression of a show that is setting itself up to be a staple in a procedural lovers life.
In this episode, “The team investigates an American journalist’s death by poison after his attempt to meet with an anonymous source in Poland. Also, Kellett takes Forrester to task for being overprotective with her during the mission.”
Opening the episode, we see a journalist on the run after receiving a message that “they know”, which in any context is never good. It’s like a moment for the hot mess express to be activated at any point in your life. Dude is on the go, but after recovering something from his hotel safe, falls victim to whatever poison was in the room and goes down on the street.
When an American journalist is killed in a foreign country, that’s like an international incident, so the FBI was called in.
The journalist, Philip Blake, was so secretive on what he was working on. He wouldn’t say who he was working with or what he was working on. But that’s not about to stop Forrester and his team. They don’t stop.
Not even when they are being trailed by the CIA. Which FYI, CIA dude is a douche bag and needs to be slapped. I kinda loved it when Forrester and Raines threw his ass into a wall, and asked who he was. And then checked on who he was.
Part of the reason that I love procedurals is the drama. And if there is drama between anyone, I am for it. But drama between agencies – HELL TO THE YES. Do I know if this is how it is in real life? No. But I am watching a TV show and I am not expecting exacts here.
The CIA had a USB drive with Blakes files on it which they hand over to Forrester’s team. Does the team trust him? No. But they are going to look anyways – even though there are a lot of files on there. Because Forrester’s team isn’t ever about to give up on anything.
Turns out that Blake was sitting on the story of lifetime. Russia has a big brand new missile they were trying to hide and someone in their camp leaked it. Of course Russia doesn’t want the world to know, but now that a journalist is dead – if people find out – shit’s gonna get a lot worse.
I get that Kellett was shot and that makes Forrester afraid of her being hurt. He loves her and I kinda love that he loves her and doesn’t know how to show it. He’s had shit in his life and that has made him guarded. And you know, his Mom and that situation, I get why he’s hesitant with women. But I love the concern in his eyes and I love the way that he is trying to cover it up – but also the fact that his body language shows that he is not this hard ass.
But I think it is unfair to sideline Kellett. I also think that Vo deserves a chance to learn and do things. So I get why he brings her to the journalists apartment.
The trace Blake’s last interaction to a Polish journalist. Look, I get why she’s lying through her teeth to the team. I would be too. Not going to trust anyone when the person that I have been working with is murdered and I see him down on the ground. She’s scared, and she has ever reason to be. Russian hit men literally showed up at her place to kill her.
But Forrester and Vo are there to protect her. And hey, Tank was there to tear the would be assassin’s arm off if necessary.
What infuriates me is that the CIA is ready to use the journalist as bait, even though she’s literally shaking and if I didn’t know better I would be positive she was gonna pass out. And Vo brings up the fact that the journalist can’t handle it and Kellett brings that she wants to be the bait.
Forrester and her go outside and have an argument. She’s like if you’re gonna sideline me for feelings, then we’re done. Now I am the last person in the world to like or want to tolerate an ultimatum but I do get what she was saying. He’s afraid of loosing her – but dude legit needs to be put in check. He lays down the law that she can’t use their relationship, but I find that to be hypocritical.
Isn’t that what he is doing by holding her back?
Maybe it’s a good thing though that they are having this moment because they are finding their way. And he lets her be the bait.
There of course is espionage at play and the Russians have the phone tapped. They are able to follow the journalists phone, and when Kellett tries to loose them, she can’t. But what she can do is kick their ass. Of course, they can’t get the man to show himself, but he does leave them a clue and they are able to find the hard drive of evidence at a grave site.
I love this team.
Forrester doesn’t give up the drive to the CIA until he needs to. He doesn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks and he’s on the side of good.
But what does infuriate me (and yet excites me because the drama) that the CIA gives Forrester a reward. That reward is the knowledge that his mother is still alive. It tears him apart but I think that it’s going to be a great story line for the season.
JAEGER DON’T PLAY
One thing I loved about this episode is that we get to know Jaeger more. She’s there and she has a way to get more information. Of course it means going around the FBI, but she’s willing to do whatever to help the team.
She has connections and goes to Russia and puts them on notice. And eventually that is able to broker a deal to keep journalists safe.
I have to admire Jaeger, because shit goes down and she doesn’t have to use her contacts, but she is always on the side of good. The side of protecting people.
And I think that is why she gets along with Forrester so well.
FBI: International airs Tuesday on CBS.
