FBI: International 3×05 Review: Death By Inches

Sometimes I am so blown away by an episode of television that I just have to rewatch it because I have no idea what to say about it. I don’t even know what to say because it is not what I expected and I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. All I do know is that I love an episode and I do love the way that I was surprised at what happened.

I do think that what is special about FBI: International is that we really don’t know what to expect. I think that to a certain point, part of the reason that we do get that with this show is that we’re early in it’s airing. Sometimes shows become repatative and this hasn’t reached that point. It’s like Madonna. It keeps reinventing itself.

And so here we are. FBI: International knew that it needed to take a moment to find itself. What it did is remind us that Scott Forrester is in charge, that Vo has stepped up to the plate, and that Tate is not going to just be a back seat driver. And in the same breathe what it did was remind us that not everyone is meant to be a member of the team.

The team is finding its ground and what that means is that they need to go and put a former cabinet member in his place. There was a tip that classified documents were being sold and he’s been detained for doing just that.

Forrester makes the decision to leave Powell in Budapest. At first I wondered why, but I do believe that it was a form of punishment. Then again, I do believe that it was also because he knew that he needed to see that Powell could be a team member.

When the team is in Vienna, Scott and Vo rise to the occasion. They make sure that the put the screws to Cabinet Douche (that’s what I am gonna call him, cause here I am and this is what I want to do) and his assistant.

Part of what I loved so much about this episode was the fact that we really see Vo rise to the occassion. She’s becoming the FBI agent that she wants to be and I don’t think that she would be that if Kellet was still there. Lord, I hated it when Jamie left, but I also think that I am beginning to see that it wasn’t the worst choice. It’s definitely given a lot of growth to other characters – growth they have needed.

The other part that I loved? Well that was Tate really continues to show that she’s a leader and she’s really smart. She’s definitely able to see things that others can’t and don’t. She offers something the team needs and I think that is something it took me a few episodes to see. I can appreciate that, and I am so sorry that I haven’t seen that.

Tate is able to uncover that the documents that Cabinet Douche is peddling actually can cause a nuclear meltdown. That meltdown in Europe can be the next Chernobyl. He, of course doesn’t care, and is making all sorts of excuses. He’s literally selling a cyber weapon to Iran.

Forrester isn’t willing to let this happen and that’s no surprise. What I did love was that it felt as though Vo and Forrester were on the same wave length and they were both ready to kick ass. For once, I can’t say that Smitty was the MVP of this episode. It happens to be a tie between Vo and Tate.

When it comes to this episode, Forrester going undercover is something I can definitely get behind. He should wear a suit and glasses more often.

The undercover opp doesn’t go as planned, but what we do see is Vo, Smitty, Raines, and Smitty bond in a way that I hadn’t seen before. Cabinet Douche tells the Iran spy that Forrester is the FBI and well, chaos ensues. When Forrester is getting his a** kicked by some big goon, Vo steps in to save the day. Sure, it would have been nice if she showed up a little earlier, but everything happens in time.

My favorite moment, when Cabinet Douche is on the run and Raines stops him to arrest him. I about died with Raines dead pan reaction. I laughed and I loved it.

Smitty may be hard core 90% of the time, but we do get to see a side of her here that really shows who she is. Theres this man who was taking pictures and the team grabs him. We find out that he’s a former spy that has all but disappeared and has a fake passport. Smitty basically gets him to help find where Forrester has gone.

When she lets him go, she keeps her word to let him go. She doesn’t turn him in. She is there for him. She asks him why it is that he turned on his country. He tells her that he’s proud to be from Iran, but he can’t love who he loves there and so he can’t be there.

And I was quickly reminded of the things going on in Iran and I went online to read the news and stay informed.

I live in a world where I don’t know a lot of what is happening in the world, because I don’t see it on the news (and I leave the news on all day). Yes, these shows are not reality, but it’s a reminder to look outside our own world and see what is happening.

Smitty may be the best and hard core, but she’s always the most understanding person and I admire that about her.

The other person I admired in this episode – well, that would be Forrester. He realizes that Powell needs to be out in the field all the time, so he transfers him and makes sure that he has an assignment he would love. He is set to go undercover. Now, where I am partially mad because I wanted a love triangle, I also get it.

I may not be getting a love triangle, but what I got was a reminder of what the essence of this show is – a family. It’s a team that really wants to change the world.

And that, my friends, is what makes it great television and in my opinion, the best show of the FBI franchise.