SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for FBI Season 8, Episode 17.
OA Zidan is one of TV’s most underrated crimefighters, and FBI Season 8, Episode 17 is a strong example as to why. “Shahadah” takes something that makes OA unique—his Muslim faith—and actually finds a meaningful way to integrate that into the CBS show’s plot. It’s not a subplot, it’s not stuffed in, it’s front and center in a story that matters. And the result is an episode that is almost perfect.
“Shahadah” starts with the murder of a VA psychologist, and after the first obvious suspect gets out of the way, FBI shifts its focus to the new imam at a local mosque. Now the show could’ve stopped there. It could have done a cliche and potentially even offensive story about a religious leader using his power to abduct women, causing OA to have a crisis of faith before saving the day. But writer Sabir Prizada thankfully avoids that stereotypical idea and presents something much more layered. Add that to Zeeko Zaki giving another ever-reliable performance, and this one is much better than some of the character-exploration episodes earlier in Season 8.
That’s because bringing up OA’s faith serves a constructive purpose. He’s able to apply it throughout the episode (including going undercover in a mosque), and the other characters listen to him when he does. It’s not just mentioned simply to provide angst; in fact, he points out that it doesn’t have any bearing on the case to him. He just wants to find the missing women and close his case, no matter who’s involved. Audiences learn a little more about OA as a character in a way that feels organic, and is true to what they already know about him.
There’s still plenty of excitement when the show breaks off into almost a separate plot, as one of the not-missing women is revealed to be a witness to a murder yet doesn’t want to cooperate with OA and Maggie Bell. That provides the case of the week stuff that viewers are looking for, and there’s an exciting fight scene between OA and the killer to provide a dose of action. It says something that the fight feels kind of tame, though, compared to the other stuff that FBI has put OA through before. It wasn’t so long ago he was almost fatally poisoned. But Maggie saves her partner by shooting the bad guy in the back, which provides another nice moment between the duo like a cherry on top.
There are only two “buts” here, and they both come in the resolution. It’s hard not to laugh when Aaliyah, the murder witness, gives OA and Maggie attitude for having her arrested. Her complaints ring hollow given that she put herself in that position—so whatever FBI is trying to say with her character falls flat. The second is the incredibly obvious telegraphing of guest character Zara Ushruf as OA’s new love interest. Actor Pardis Saremi is fine in the role, but it’s very clear where the show is headed with Zara, and it doesn’t necessarily need to. The two characters don’t have to be flirty to keep exploring that relationship; OA is also allowed to have friends too. Or let his dynamic with Zara grow organically over a few episodes and then turn it romantic if it makes sense to go in that direction. It feels like FBI has a compulsion to fill the Gemma-shaped hole. Which only serves as a reminder that the writers didn’t have to break up that relationship in the first place, so “Shahadah” is fixing a problem of FBI‘s own making.
And OA doesn’t need a romantic relationship to feel like a complete character. He’s got an awful lot to offer simply on his own, and in his very well fleshed-out friendship with Maggie. In fact, given all the stuff Maggie’s just been through, this would be a great time to focus in on that friendship even more, because they could both use it. But aside from that, this is an episode that puts the ball firmly in Zeeko Zaki’s hands and of course he’s able to score with it. The one thing FBI viewers leave this hour with is a little more appreciation for a character they already love.
FBI airs Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS.
