FBI: International Season 4, Episode 14 Review: ‘A Winged Lion for Protection’

Every episode of FBI: International feels somewhat bittersweet as we watch storylines unfold and tie up. It feels a little ugh to watch the episode, because I am not ready to see it end. FBI: international has been appointment television and gotten this writer through so much. Season 4, Episode 14 was no exception.

In the episode, A Winged Lion for Protection, “a young American woman is brutally murdered in Venice, the Fly Team is met with hostility when they discover that their person of interest has ties to a well-connected Italian family. Soon, the case gets even more complicated when the CIA Station Chief shows up with an agenda of his own. Meanwhile, pressure mounts on Quinn to deliver intel on Mitchell.”

It is a lot of things happening by the description, but that didn’t even cover the episode.

For you see – for me – this story was about this group of agents solidifying their relationship and looking out for each other. For me, this episode was about the selflessness of the job and not being afraid to stand up for your ideals.

VENICE & ROYALTY

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it’s also a place that you definitely get a lot of steps in. Those two points are definitely a different story, but it’s because I know these two points that I was excited for The Fly Team to go there.

Definitely wasn’t excited that it was because an American was murdered. Could have gone without the violence of that scene. The young woman was tossed around the room like a paper doll. It was something that I had to watch through my fingers, because it definitely was a lot.

Boss lady and her assistant were in the country to renovate a villa. Though the monarchy is not in Italy anymore, those that are blood descendants are still seen as that.

However, the Baron doesn’t really have any money. He’s reckless with it and how he’s renovating is of a lot of debate.

The night that the assistant was murdered, boss lady was getting it on with the Baron in the Villa. So, my question automatically is were they after the boss or the assistant?

AMANDA & HER TEAM

One thing that we can always count on when it comes to FBI: International is that Amanda and her team are going to make you want to run on back to school and learn your way around a computer better than your current knowledge. I will stand on my soap box when I tell you that The Fly Team would not be able to solve the cases that they do without them.

When watching Amanda and her team see something that we would never see ourselves, I don’t know about you, I re-examine everything I know. Do I start scrolling into the pixels of pictures to see if somewhere I embedded a link? Maybe. It’s because I am thinking maybe I once did that and forgot? Yes.

But I also know I didn’t.

The team sees things that we don’t always see and are able to finds things that no one else does. Them finding a link buried in a picture that no one else can see was pure genius. Them being able to find it and open it all is also great.

Amanda Tate will be a character that I miss the most. She’s this insanely talent computer genius, but also she’s filled with empathy. It’s her empathy towards the wronged that motivates her to do what is right. She wants people to be protected and for justice to happen. I also think that it’s her position that can inspire young girls (or girls of any age) that they can do big things and make a difference.

Just when you think that nothing good can come of anything – Amanda finds all the proof that she needs to take the Baron down. She’s good a solving a mystery and her attention to detail is unmatched.

THE CIA OF IT ALL

CIA douchebag doesn’t really stick with me, but he never has. It is because I blame him for a lot that has to do with Forrester and I can’t get over that. But this time he’s dealing with Mitchell and that makes for a whole different story.

When the CIA finds that the Fly Team is in Venice and they are getting information on the Baron, he calls for them to work together.

Time after time, Mitchell is having to put up with thing about thing – a bunch of curveballs. He knows that people aren’t going to live up to the things that they promise and he’s not going to show his hand either.

I do feel like – since we haven’t seen the CIA – they are trying to get us to understand or like the CIA because of the proposed FBI: CIA? I don’t thin that I can do that. What I need to know is that the CIA is going to follow through on what they are doing.

I think that the CIA angle here was a great way to show Wes’ way of working with other agencies. From all of my years of watching television, I will say that I have never seen the FBI and the CIA work well together.

RILEY STANDS UP

One thing that I didn’t expect – but should have – is that when Wes finds out that Riley is under fire to give information about her – he doesn’t react badly. Instead he tells her that he can take care of himself and she needs to take care of herself and her career.

Wes Mitchell is complex. He’s always looking out for other people and always thinking ahead. He doesn’t want to do anything that would harm anyone elses career and only wants to see people succeed. Wes is an agent that has integrity, but is also controversial because of his methods.

Mitchell tells Vo to have Riley send the emails that show what Wes did in Paris. He knows that he broke protocol and he expects to be punished if need be. Whatever happens is a future Wes problem. What happens right now is him solving this case, because it’s what the victim deserves. She deserves justice.

Riley decides not to do it though. She’s not going to send the emails and be a rat. For her, she wants to see this job – the FBI – all the through to retirement. But, whatever happens to her will be on her choice. She knows that as long as she stands on her morals, she’s doing the right thing.

I think for Wes, that is a surprise, only because most people would use it. For Riley though loyalty and integrity are the most important thing. I admire that about her.

VO & MITCHELL REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE

Vo has been put in a hard position. That position being that she has to worry about herself, Wes, and Riley. Vo is really smart and knows how to play the game, but it’s still gotta be hard for her. When it comes to the Fly Team, Vo is protective. She knows where she wants to be and what she wants to do.

There is a connection between Vo and Wes that maybe we all don’t get. But it is there. It is deep. It is something that we should pay attention to.

One thing that I am going to miss is the opportunity to see them grow. The two of them have taken this team and made it grow. They’ve had people come and go, but it has never mattered. The two have done everything to make everyone that comes to The Fly Team feel like they’ve always been there and will always be a part of the team.

I think that part of my love for this show does come from the way that these two direct everyone on the team. But mostly for me, it comes from the way that they work with each other. Forrester (still love him) took Vo and her smarts for granted. Mitchell wants nothing more than to help everyone grow.

Vo is the one that has to break it to him about Riley and she’s honest. She tells him that she has to go through proper channels and he didn’t blink an eye. He’s fine with whatever she has to do, because he believes in her. Mitchell was her training officer and he has a connection to her. Yes, we ship the two, but also love their working relationship.

STANDING ON BUSINESS

Mitchell and Vo are trying to find a balance and solve the case. When Tate finds all the files, Mitchell has Riley download them. Those files are what the CIA has been wanting and for him they are also a bargaining chip.

He takes Vo with him to meet cringy CIA agent, where he starts bargaining. He will only give the files if the CIA gets people off Riley’s back. It’s crazy to me how loyal he is – because when your own behind is on the line, you would think that’s what he’d be advocating for. He isn’t that man though.

He wants Riley to have a chance. Luckily Vo is willing to advocate for Wes with the CIA. They have to get the dude off his back too. I thought that Vo would hand the thumb drive over no matter what, but she doesn’t. The CIA chases after them and makes the deal.

It feels like so many things have wrapped up and that’s a great thing. BUT also a sad thing. Why? Because we know that it’s ending. We know that we won’t have this show for another season.

At the end of the day – nothing goes as it should and the guy who hired the murderer and traffics money doesn’t get arrested. Politics and trades for spies. But what else is new?

Wes though, he’s not gonna settle. Sometimes things get leaked and he made sure that this tidbit of chaos did. Looks like the Baron is going to jail regardless.

OTHER THOUGHTS

• The annoying journalist got his story so good on him
• Wes Mitchell is my hero
• I want a friend like Vo – she’s loyal AF
• Tate and the team are amazing
• Venice is so beautiful – i wanna go back