Madrid. We’re heading to Madrid.
I love when a procedural opens and they are chasing someone down. A reminder of my lack of ability to do any cardio is a good motivator to get up in the morning. Seeing cardio being done in Madrid is a reminder of my need to travel.
But on this show I will always love Budapest more.
This season of FBI: International is different, but in a good way. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. But, what I do love is that we’re seeing more support that we’re seeing amongst the Fly Team. Amanda getting called into work, because the Deputy Inspector wants to talk to her. See, as a person that has anxiety, I am already shaking for her. She’s nervous, but she drops her daughter with Cameron and heads on in.
She’s not introuble though. She is being asked to go on a mission. One that can seriously damage the FBI if she fails. So, of course Wes says yes. It is Amanda’s decision, because she would have to go into the field. She would be going after a DEA agent and he’s dirty.
It’s a honey trap operation, with Amanda as the honey. She may have never done anything like this before, but I think that my mouth dropped to the floor when she said yes.
The thing about Amanda, something that I have always loved, is that she wants to prove herself. She’s fearless and yet very afraid. She’s a good analyst – the best actually. But an undercover assignment scares me for her.
WHY ISN’T THE DEA CLEANING HOUSE
Lopez, the dirty agent, has apparently been stealing money from drug busts and another agent turned him in. They went to the Fly Team because Amanda looks exactly like the agent that tipped them off, Christina Bryant, was murdered.
The reason that the DEA can’t clean house is because Lopez’s godfather is some big wig in the DEA. That makes this even more dangerous.
When the Fly Team heads to Madrid, with Amanda in tow. The DEA team seems so kind to the FBI – increased cooperation. Wes and Lopez – well they seem to know how to play each other. Both are trying to out do each other with the mine is bigger than yours game. Lopez is on his best behavior and it’s really creepy, but then again, when isn’t it creepy when someone knows they are going to get caught.
With the Fly Team trying to figure everything out and the DEA trying to over compensate, there is something big going on there. Having Amanda there, with her able to figure things out, there is a lot more going on here. She believes that he’s in bed with the cartel and I wouldn’t doubt it. But I also have to imagine that all of the fly Team is a little paranoid trying to make this case.
TRYING TO PROVE HERSELF
The DEA seems to know that they are doing things wrong. When the team heads in at night to put in bugs, Wes finds a wireless signal detector. They have to get everything out, because Lopez is coming in. This is the perfect time for Amanda to make her way in.
I am honestly quite shocked that Amanda is doing so well. It makes me feel bad that I am shocked, because I know that she’s so good at what she does. It also scares me, because I don’t want her hurt. Her going to meet the informant with Lopez freaks me out. I don’t trust him and he seems so slimy.
I think that the way that she’s – from the beginning – stood out to Lopez makes her both a target and safe. If he did have his agent killed.
What I loved about her saying that she was doing this and talking to Wes, was that she told him to have faith. Amanda has gained a lot of strength from her job and though I can’t understand how she’s done all of that from an office, I admire her for it. I love that she’s this strong person who wants to prove herself, but I also admire that she is who she is.
MEETING THE INFORMANT
Amanda and Lopez head into the restaurant and the team is listening in. None of the team believe what Lopez is saying. He’s paranoid, he thinks that they are there watching him. He’s not wrong, but his paranoia hits him hard.
Lopez tries to tell Amanda that he can get her in at the DEA, that he’s got that kind of pull. Vo shows up at the restaurant and pulls Amanda out. No joke, I stood up and applauded for Amanda when she was able to make excuses to get herself out of the room.
I think that I have under estimated Amanda and her smartness. Lopez may think that he’s able to play her for a fool, but she’s also playing him. There is a lot of lies going on here, but it’s a necessary part of the job and one that is important for the success of the mission.
Though I love Amanda’s bravado, I do think that she’s being too over eager to prove herself and she’s making silly mistakes. She may not recognize these things as mistakes and may think that the team is trying to shield her, but the reality is that they are trying to help her. She is used to being the one with all the information and right now that’s the one thing she isn’t.
CONEJO
Well, Lopez is doing his best to keep everything from the FBI, this is the Fly Team and they are able to figure out things he doesn’t want them to. They are able to figure out from his movements, that the DEA didn’t trust this dude with the street name Conejo as an informant, but he seems to be the person that Lopez is trying to hide.
I will never understand why people run. If the Fly Team comes searching for you, you don’t run. You accept your fate. It was such a missed opportunity to watch Raines kick his a$$ in the back of a truck, but I did burst out laughing when the dude was like “Lopez can vouch for me.”
Raines and Wes are intimidating and when they bring him in for questioning, I watch this dude try to outsmart them.
When they arrest Conejo and Lopez shows up, Lopez tries to act as though he’s smarter than Wes. Wes isn’t going to ever let anyone win but his team and that’s part of the reason I love him.
LET IT LEAK
I love it so much that the team has so many great ideas. I do love that Smitty made it seem as though Europol is the one doing the leak. It makes Lopez call the cartel and make arrangements to meet to tell them about everything.
Who I feel bad for though is Amanda. She wanted to show so badly that she could handle anything and now when she’s placed in a situation where she’s scared. While I think that Vo gives a good pep talk to Amanda, if I was Amanda, I would have ran.
Lopez knows that he’s making mistakes and he’s going to try and get himself some cover. However, it’s when Amanda shows up to plant the bug, I felt my anxiety rise. There was no part of what Amanda said to Vo that I didn’t relate to – the fear, the anxiety. But I also believed all of the things that Vo said to Amanda about how great she is and she doesn’t have to prove anything to any of them.
But I also loved that it was about pride and vulnerability.
There is no part of me that isn’t terrified for Amanda. What if something happens to her? Seeing that the Cartel show up and Amanda getting stuck in the room – I am scared.
THE REAL LOCATION
Wait, Lopez found the bug. Luckily the team is close and are ready to swoop in. Lopez wants Mitchell dead, Amanda is in Lopez’s room, Wes and Raines are ready to move in…
No lie, I was shooketh.
There is no way seasons one through three of this show would have ever been like this. When I am wrong, I can say that I am wrong. The changes in FBI: International aren’t bad. They are bringing different emotions out of me than the first three seasons and that isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually exciting to be falling in love with a show you’ve loved, but it’s a new version. It’s a weird feeling also.
But isn’t that the beauty of television – the uncertainty and what happens when it shocks you. This season of this show is shocking me. We’re only a few episodes in and with every episode, I am wondering what could possibly happen that will shock me next.
With a new leader, we’re seeing characters that we’ve known take new chances. That’s a great thing called character development. It’s outstanding.
The Cartel may have left tipping off Lopez and Lopez may now know that something is up, but it’s Amanda that I am scared for.
WAIT SOMEONE HURRY
Seeing Amanda thrown around by Lopez, I would like to apologize to my neighbors for my yelling. Wes and Raines need to improve their cardio and get their faster.
Wes does get there, and Amanda is saved, but she does have to tell Wes what she’s done. She kissed Lopez to make sure that she was not found out. The thing about Wes, he’s going to save his team and he’s going to make sure they are taken care of.
The team is able to prove that Lopez orchestrated the killing of his former agent who died. The case is still made and he’s going to go away.
But the person that I cared about in this episode was Amanda Tate. She is great in the field, but she’s also responsible. She knows that being in the field may be a one day thing, but for now, she needs to be in the office. She wants to make sure that she’s protected and there for the person that means the most to her.
Her daughter.
Amanda Tate has been one of the best additions to this team over the seasons. She’s this fiercely intelligent, innovative agent. She has grown so much over the last two seasons and that is something that I am thankful for.
Amanda Tate is a hero and should be recognized as such. I do think that the Fly Team recognizes that about her.
Yes, this team is amazing. This season of FBI: International is fantastic.
