However, the FBI franchise has lost leads before and succeeded with recasting.

While I had initially hoped that Colin Donnell might be chosen to replace Kleintank, seeing Jesse Lee Soffer in action on FBI: International Season 4 Episode 1 proves he was the right choice.

Soffer and Donnell both have experience in the Dick Wolf universe of shows, even airing on the same night within the same One Chicago franchise.

However, Soffer’s Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell offers a liveliness that was missing under Scott’s leadership.

And while Donnell’s Brian Lange also offered something different than Scott Forrester, it wasn’t different enough to carve out a new space on the team.

Before Scott’s departure, we also lost Europol Agent Kristin Jaeger for fellow agent (and excellent replacement) Smitty. She’s not as hard-nosed as Kristin was, which was a relief.

Similarly, Amanda offers something softer than we got for two seasons with Jamie. Overall, the series is smoothing itself out a bit and, dare I say it, having more fun with the characters, even if what they’re actually doing isn’t.

So, did we love Scott and see promise in Brian? Absolutely. But Wes is just what the show needs.

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His introduction was rocking out to a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band, spitting sunflower seeds into a cup before he got home to find his girlfriend Ella tossing his clothes into the yard. That’s not a segment where I could imagine Scott.

Wes didn’t come to Budapest to lead the Fly Team. He came to avenge the shooting of his partner Mike in Los Angeles in one of those shootout scenes so crazy they can only be on TV.

If there’s one thing we can count on across the Wolf universe of shows, it’s that if someone is wronged, those closest to him will want to take down the perpetrator.

We just witnessed the lengths the Fly Team will go for one of their own on the FBI: International Season 3 two-part finale. Scott wasn’t even harmed; he took off on his own, but the team still worked hard to find him.

And since Wes admitted that he sucks on his own and needs to be around other people to thrive, he’ll be in the right place with the Fly Team.

And Wes is a firecracker. He didn’t think twice about launching at his superior about the lack of backup that led to the highway fracas.

It was easy to bring Wes onto the canvas since he has ties with Cameron as her past training officer. Apparently, he’s a dick as a trainer, but he shaped her into the agent she is today, and she can live with that.

Well, at least she could when she thought it was only a one-off case and he’d be on his way back to the States.

Cameron had high praise for him, even noting his ten years as an LAPD officer (or Chicago, whatever) have given him skills others in their positions don’t always have.

Whenever an outsider comes to Budapest, they always fit in and even take over a bit, which always surprises me.

Can you imagine someone from an outside department coming into your place of business and taking a lead when they don’t know the lay of the land? I mean, they’re temps.

The case, like so many in the FBI series, doesn’t really matter. Baddies come and go so frequently that they don’t often make a mark. Well, not on the audience. They make a big mark on the people the FBI aims to protect.

But, I was tickled to see Beau Knapp, hot off the SEAL Team series finale, as one of the bad guys, Zonka (that’s how it sounded, anyway). It seemed as if Drew has walked right out of Afghanistan to Budapest, and his back-and-forth with Soffer was enjoyable.

Wes got under the skin of the Fly Team really fast, and every time he said something like “I’ll be out of your hair soon,” I could imagine where the season might go from here.

Where is that? Somewhere far less dark and dire than where we’ve been so far.

I think he’ll bring out different facets of every character. Smitty is already defending her turf while Wes makes English jokes. Cameron is really comfortable with him and rather open, which isn’t always the case with her.

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Andre and Amanda were pretty much business as usual, but it did seem like they would thrive with the new blood. Or maybe I’m just imagining it all.

I certainly couldn’t be the only one who really liked Scott but was also ready for a change.

Soffer comes with a certain panache he used really well on Chicago PD, and while he’s obviously not Jay Halstead, Wes flirted with the rules enough to remind me of how Halstead worked under Voight.

But what about his girlfriend? The writers painted the “love” between Wes and Ella far too thick for a couple who seemed wholly unlikely to have made it.

When your partner is asking why you’re sticking around, you know you’re not giving the outside world the best impression about your relationship.

Breaking those ties pushed Wes toward change. What better place to find it than half a world away in Budapest with the Fly Team?

The FBI: International Season 4 premiere also set up a potential long-term arc for Wes when he netted Zonka, who declared revenge on him. Knapp is free since SEAL Team concluded. He’d be a decent recurring adversary.

I loved that it was Cameron who essentially determined Wes was the man to lead the Fly Team. She wants to learn from someone, and Wes has the goods.

They already make a good duo and have a mutual respect for one another.

But it wasn’t just Cameron who thought Wes was a good match. The whole team was up for the challenge. All they need is for Wes to step up to the plate.

They need a leader, not a tourist, and with his slate wiped clean at home — his partner dead and getting dumped by his girlfriend — he’s in a perfect position to shake things up in his life and for the Fly Team.

They left the premiere without an answer, but Wes and Jesse Lee Soffer is just what the doctor ordered. And the trailer gave it all away. Prescription delivered!

So what did you think of the FBI: International Season 4 premiere?

Did Jesse Lee Soffer win you over as Wes already? (Just say yes!)

Where do you think the season will go from here?

Have your say in the comments below, and by grading Soffer’s first appearance on the show in our poll!

Watch FBI International Online

The post Jesse Lee Soffer Brings a New Energy to the FBI: International Season 4 Premiere appeared first on TV Fanatic.

FBI International Season 4 Episode 1 spoilers will prepare you for the excitement to come. For the show’s fourth season, we expect to return to a normal season format of over twenty episodes.

The season is kicking off in high gear, with lots of excitement, emotional backstories, and a new team leader taking over the FBI International Fly Team unit.

Why wait? You can read our full FBI: International Season 4 Premiere review now!

Here’s what fans can expect from the FBI: International Season 4 premiere.

FBI: International Season 4 Cast Changes

The shortened third season of FBI: International set up the exit of show lead Luke Kleintank, who played FBI Supervisory Special Agent and boss of the Fly Team Scott Forrester.

Forrester left the series under a cloud of mystique.

The story wrote him out as going into hiding in Alaska after getting mixed up with his mother, a former spy with a suspicious past.

Taking the place of Fly team leader for FBI: International Season 4 is a familiar face for anyone who enjoys another of Dick Wolfe’s other massive franchises, One Chicago.

Get ready, fans, because Jesse Lee Soffer is back in our PrimeTime lineup. But he’s not coming back as who we remember.

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Chicago P.D. fans were as heartbroken as Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) when Jay Halstead (Soffer) left the CPD Intelligence Unit after ten seasons. His exit created the path for his on-screen wife, Upton, to follow in Chicago P.D. Season 11.

After a brief hiatus, Soffer is returning to a Dick Wolfe creation, this time as the boss of a team of international FBI agents.

Another cast member leaving the FBI: International family will be Forrester’s romantic interest, Jamie Kellett (Heida Reed). The storyline sees Kellett leaving the team to take a role in Washington, D.C., after surviving the explosion that demolished the FBI Fly Team headquarters.

Jesse Lee Soffer Joins as Special Agent Wesley Mitchell

The biggest news of the upcoming fourth season is Soffer’s charismatic character, Wesley “Wes” Mitchell.

Social media has been abuzz with quick trailers showing Soffer taking the reins on a team that bleeds loyalty for their previous leader. Wes seems friendly and laid-back, described as rakish and charming with unconventional tactics and brilliant instincts.

Bonding over drinks seems to be a custom everyone is familiar with, no matter the locale. A short clip showed Mitchell around a quaint table with his subordinates, toasting a new team dynamic.

Another clip promises a more personal side of Wes.

It gave us a sneak peek at his tumultuous relationship dynamic. He may have control of his team as the leader, but his romantic interest doesn’t seem to have the same respect for his authority.

What kind of jealousy streak must one person have to be willing to throw out their partner’s stuff over a voicemail? Especially when that partner works for the FBI.

Yikes.

The premise promises interest and a touch of humorous relationship drama. But what would a Dick production be without it?

Fans have crooned over the Benson-Stabler no-mance for over two decades and it’s still a massive controversy among Law & Order: SVU fans. Some want the ‘ship to happen. Others don’t.

Maybe 2024 is our year to find out one way or the other.

Professionally, Wes promises to be a different type of leader than Forrester, but still a good one. He hails from the hardened streets of Los Angeles, with a rough childhood that influenced his first career with the LA police department.

Let’s just hope he loves the team mascot, Tank. Otherwise this viewer will have an automatic dislike of one of my top TV man crushes.

Late Season Four Staff Surprise for Station 19 Fans

Fans who love Wolfe series often also have an obsession with anything under the Shondaland brand.

This writer included! I might be the fan club prez.

So it delights me to announce that another of my major man crushes will also be appearing on FBI: International, coming to us fresh off the cancellation of Station 19. Shondalanders will know him as Travis.

But get ready to remember Jay Hayden as FBI Agent Tyler Booth.

Agent Booth (whoa, I almost typed Seeley there — guess I really need a Bones reboot for David Boreanaz now that SEAL Team is done) will be in Budapest seeking the Fly team’s help.

Hayden and Soffer are best friends in real life.

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So, it should make for a great on-screen dynamic to see them play former partners who have lived through some stuff.

Wes is already a loose cannon who does things his way, regardless of legality. When you add in the chaos of his spontaneous partner, things can start to get a bit off the books.

It looks good that Mitchell has Agent Megan Garretson (Eva-Jane Willis), affectionately known as Smitty. Smitty will be the good angel on his shoulder, tasked with keeping him in check when he’s under the influence of the bad angel Booth.

However, fans must be patient. Hayden won’t be joining the show until the second half of the fourth season.

FBI: International Season 4 Episode 1 Spoilers

Fans and the Fly team will get introduced to Mitchell when he comes to Budapest on the hunt for armed suspects involved in a police shooting.

The season opener starts in Los Angeles with Soffer and his partner involved in a car chase that results in his partner getting shot and the suspects fleeing to Europe with Agent Mitchell in hot pursuit.

Soffer promises the fourth season opener will be a wild ride full of intense action that drops fans smack in the middle of the chaos of his life. From a gnarly robbery crew to Mitchell’s desire to solve his partner’s shooting, the season premiere will be full of new.

But while new to the Fly Team, Mitchell will already have an established relationship with one member of the unit.

Special Agent Cameron Vo (Vinessa Vidotto).

A past that sounds strained, to say the least. Years prior, Mitchell was Vo’s training officer, which could explain why Vo seems so eager to embrace Wes as part of the team so fast.

Be sure you’re tuning in to FBI: International live on Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET, starting on October 15. If you like the FBI franchise, things kick off at 8 pm/ET with FBI Season 7, with FBI: Most Wanted Season 6 following International at 10 pm/ET.

Now it’s over to our Fanatics fans.

Jump into our comments and give us your opinions on the newest additions to FBI: International.

How do you feel about Soffer taking over for Kleintank? And are you excited that Station 19 alum Hayden is joining FBI: International as an FBI agent?

We’ve seen Jason George (Dr. Ben Warren) return to Grey’s Anatomy. And Danielle Savre (Maya Bishop) will join the new thriller Found, starring Shameless’s Shanola Hampton and Saved by the Bell‘s Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Be sure you’re following TV Fanatic on social and belong to our email list for all the latest fanatical TV news from all your favorite shows and celebs.

The post FBI International Season 4 Episode 1 Spoilers: A New Team Leader Takes Over appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International will likely change the direction of the series in significant ways.

International is different from the other shows in the FBI franchise, as it features a team of internationally based agents who work with Interpol to catch European criminals who are harming US citizens (or America itself!).

The show revolves around the elite Fly Team, which has had the same leader for three years.

Now that Soffer is stepping in to play new leader Wes Mitchell, the show will go in a different direction.

Why Jesse Lee Soffer’s Wes Mitchell Is Taking Over The Fly Team

The Previous Leader Is MIA

Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International wouldn’t have happened if lead actor Luke Kleintank hadn’t decided to leave after three years.

Kleintank wanted to spend more time with family, but FBI: International wrote him out using a tired TV trope involving his character disappearing, supposedly hiding out with his mother, who is a fugitive in Russia.

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This is a bad habit on the FBI franchise; characters disappear, and their whereabouts are semi-explained in dialogue instead of anyone getting a proper exit.

It seems like if a character doesn’t get a death scene, they just vanish into thin air.

The silver lining this time is that a brand new leader is coming in, played by one of the best alums from elsewhere in the One Chicago universe.

That gives FBI: International somewhat of a blank slate so that the series can do a soft reboot.

When it initially premiered, it had a hard time keeping the attention of the audience that enjoys the other FBI shows, and while it’s gained in the ratings, it still seems like a completely different show than the other FBIs.

FBI: International Hasn’t Offered Many Details About Mitchell

The New Leader Is Somewhat Of An Enigma

Other than reporting that Jesse Lee Soffer is joining FBI: International as Wes Mitchell, CBS and Dick Wolf Entertainment have been pretty quiet about their new character.

This is undoubtedly partially to build interest. People will have to tune in if they want to know what Mitchell is all about.

But it also means that as of now, the character is a blank slate.

One of the most important things FBI: International needs to do is create a backstory and personality for Mitchell that is very different than Soffer’s Chicago PD character.

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It’s inevitable that people who watch both shows will initially think of Mitchell as Jay Halstead with a different name.

Differentiating Mitchell right away will make it clear that this is a different character who brings something to the table we haven’t experienced before.

It’s also important to differentiate Mitchell from his predecessor.

There’d be little point to Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International if he’s going to be a duplicate of the character he’s replacing, which is why the FBI spinoff will likely go in a completely new direction.

Mitchell’s Presence Will Probably Bring Tension To The Surface

Some Team Members Will Undoubtedly Want Forrester Back

The Fly Team is a tight-knit group that is more like a family, and they’re all loyal to Forrester.

They stood up to the FBI when they tried to have Forrester investigated and replaced a while ago, and they probably won’t take any more kindly to him being cast aside in favor of a new leader.

This is why Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International is such great news for the series. His character will immediately be thrown into a meaty conflict, and one viewers will care deeply about.

Mitchell has to be able to win the respect of his team quickly, or international criminals are going to get away with a lot of things they shouldn’t, including crimes against US citizens.

The rest of the team will be tested by this, too.

One of the problems I’ve had with this series over the years is that most of the characters are harder to relate to than the FBI agents on the other shows.

Hopefully, their interactions with Mitchell will make them more interesting, and I might even find characters I love even if I wouldn’t hang out with them in real life.

I’m curious as to whether there will be any resentment.

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Maybe team members such as Cameron Vo, who has been Forrester’s right-hand woman forever, expected to snag the big job themselves, which could lead to a compelling conflict.

Hopefully, there won’t be any drama for drama’s sake. That wouldn’t rise to the level of couples splitting for the sake of drama, but it would be equally annoying.

New Leadership Means New Directions

Could Jesse Lee Soffer Joining FBI: International Mean Different Relationships With Foreign Governments?

The Fly Team leader has to make consequential decisions all the time. His team often runs into corrupt members of local law enforcement or government stooges that interfere with investigations, and it’s up to the leader how to handle things.

Forrester sometimes chose to be confrontational when it might have been better to be diplomatic, and if Mitchell makes different choices, that’ll lead the story in unexpected directions.

Additionally, if Mitchell is not familiar with issues specific to working in the international sector, he might have to learn on the job, which could be equally frustrating and compelling.

Regardless of how Mitchell chooses to lead, it’s clear that Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International will take the stories in directions that Forrester’s leadership did not.

Over to you, FBI: International fanatics. What do you think about Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International? What other changes do you hope this casting decision brings?

Hit the comments and let us know!

FBI: International has been renewed for Season 4 and will again air on NBC on Tuesdays at 9/8c and stream on Peacock on Wednesdays, starting on October 15, 2024.

The post How Jesse Lee Soffer Joining FBI: International Changes Everything appeared first on TV Fanatic.

As FBI Season 7 draws near, viewers face another casting shift with the departure of Katherine Renee Kane, who will likely sign off in the season premiere.

By now, casting changes amid the FBI franchise aren’t new.

From the FBIs to One Chicago, Cast Shifts as a Cost-Saving Tactic Hamper Creative Storytelling

We’ve even articulated our grievances about cast turnover before, not solely with the FBI franchise but also with One Chicago.

The Dick Wolf juggernaut series that span three franchises across different networks are notorious for a revolving door of cast and characters.

Recently, some explanations behind these abrupt shifts and changes have been tied to newly implemented budgetary measures with a revolving cast and minimal screen time as a cost-efficient tactic.

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Whether or not the rotating cast members and characters facing full-on cutbacks or chops are doing something for the bottom line of crunching numbers for our favorite series is up in the air.

These measures may not be financially beneficial in the long run, and it is unclear how effective they are for networks and studios.

However, we do know that the cast and characters‘ carousel impedes the creative process and subsequent narrative results.

FBI: Most Wanted’s Bait-and-Switch Cast Foreshadowed Trouble

The FBI franchise is a prime example of how it profoundly impacts the series.

Characters barely feel like characters anymore, as, by the time we ever get to know any of them, the series has shuffled them off and replaced them with someone new.

Sure, a series can’t account for actors who may depart suddenly or opt to pursue other options (assuming that’s the real reason they leave), but the writing for many of them becomes such a point of contention that it only fuels the issue.

In many ways, FBI: Most Wanted is a series that felt guilty of a bait-and-switch.

The cast of the first season feels drastically different than where the series is now, with the family-oriented vibe of Jess LaCroix, a widower, with a rarely shown Indigenous blended family at the hub of the show.

By the second season, these characters who provided a fascinating look into the character and added a personal touch that grounded the series gradually disappeared, including fellow main character, Clint Black.

From that point forward, the series lost Kenny Crosby, Ivan Ortiz, and Kristin Gaines.

Many of the characters left well before the series had the opportunity to explore them properly, and maybe that was a factor in some of the actors opting out in the first place.

But when the show can barely scratch the surface of a character before writing them out, how can an audience connect anymore?

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Limited Focus on Select Characters Comes at the Expense of Others

Even now, FBI: Most Wanted opts to spend most of its time focusing nearly exclusively on Dylan McDermott’s Remy.

It’s all great and fun for McDermott fans who craved a more stable role for the actor after his lauded stint on Law & Order: Organized Crime, but it hasn’t done anything for the other characters and actors surrounding him.

We spend so much time on Remy and developing his personal life when he’s not leading this elite unit of federal agents that there’s little room to spread the wealth.

As a result, if any of the other characters check out of the series, there will be too little fanfare.

We don’t get the chance to know most of these characters truly.

The series ascribes some of the most fundamental tropes to these characters and sends them into the field like action dolls without much thought or care.

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The FBI: Most Wanted characters are brimming with so much potential that simply never comes to fruition — bits of background cobbled together to separate one character from the next.

But they rarely extend it beyond a scene or two in an episode throughout the season.

Crosby, Ortiz, and Clint’s exits were so underwhelming because the series barely devoted much time to fleshing out the characters in the first place.

They got away with shuffling them offscreen with some of the least original write-offs, and after reflection, it irks that we never fully got to know any of them.

The series invested a lot of screentime in a newer addition, Alexa, often at the expense of one of the sole original squad members, Sheryll, and even built up this complex background as a mother with a strained relationship with her daughter and ex.

Even Extended Screentime Doesn’t Equate to Character Development or Viewer Connection to Characters

But while they devoted a lot of screentime to Alexa, there was little development.

The writing for her character felt perfunctory at best and empty at worst.

But that’s been the case across the board.

Even as we head into FBI: Most Wanted Season 6, it’s evident that the series will likely continue to focus intensely on Remy and Nina Chase (whose primary development took place on FBI) and not much else.

It doesn’t make for characters to which viewers form an attachment or ones that resonate meaningfully.

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FBI: International struggles with a similar issue.

So many characters have circulated in and out of this series that I can’t remember their names anymore.

While entertaining and providing some value as a procedural, FBI: Most International isn’t a character-driven series.

It’s to the show’s detriment that it isn’t, too.

We’re holding out hope that Jesse Lee Soffer’s addition to the cast will change things.

At best, viewers can hope to invest in cases that crop up as this elite squad navigates Eastern Europe.

Abstractly, one cares about the characters because they are familiar vital entities in the series.

FBI Franchise’s Characters Have No Lasting Impact

Nonetheless, the characters are inaccessible, which contributes to their lack of lasting impact, whether ten years from now or just two.

With FBI, we face another exit from the series as Tiffany Wallace signs off in the upcoming season.

We must assume that her portrayer, Katherine Renee Kane, and the series are parting ways amicably.

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There are few details about why now is the right time for Tiffany’s exit and what that will even look like.

If we’re going out on a limb to pull from the FBI Season 6 finale, perhaps it’ll simply be the case of Tiffany needing to step back from fieldwork after losing a close friend and taking down his killer.

Her departure may be a result of some form of burnout.

Regardless of the reasoning, the fact that she’ll be disappearing off our screens at all is frustrating.

Tiffany was polarizing as an agent who notoriously had a chip on her shoulder regarding the job.

Tiffany Wallace Never Reached Her Full Potential on FBI

However, the perspective that she brought to the series as a woman of color in law enforcement, as well as someone who went from being a police officer to being a federal agent, was compelling.

There was so much potential the series could’ve mined when it came to both pathways, but sadly, they barely scratched the surface when it came to her.

Her partnership with Scola was strong, and they had something that balanced out the FBI’s golden pairing, Maggie and O.A.

The two held their own as they offered something different with a tenuous dynamic that they both had to earn and faced some friction occasionally.

But Tiffany was mostly underused, as is often the case with FBI characters other than the same two or three regulars.

There was so much to discover about Tiffany Wallace, yet despite her tenure on the series, we know so little.

It’s jarring to realize that she’s been part of the series for a whopping four seasons.

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In those four seasons, the little we know about the woman could fit on a Post-It and still have leftover space.

Despite that, Kane imbued so much into the character, but much of it presupposed that there would be some payout in the end — that evolution and development would be in sight.

And yet, the character, like many, remained stagnant.

Tiffany Wallace’s Exit Telegraphs How the FBI Franchise Keeps Good Characters From Becoming Great

Knowing that the character could have easily been on some track toward development is what makes her departure such a disappointing waste.

It’s also what further highlights the franchise’s problem.

Tiffany was another character relegated to the background who followed the plot’s dictates.

But amid that, the moments when she could progress or the series could deep-dive into her psyche and pull back some layers were few and far between.

Her struggle with navigating the federal world as a former cop hung over the character, but it never went beyond causing tension between her and Scola or touching on her struggles to trust him or authority at times.

Her perspective as a Black woman with a badge often came across as if the series was recycling the same story arcs for O.A. and simply slapping a different race on them.

Tiffany and O.A.’s occasional partnerships on cases or simply bonding with each other as two ethnic minorities in a predominantly White field led to some decent moments of kinship, but the series never delved into that with any sense of nuance.

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Tiffany’s final arc is a half-baked plot that merely dovetails into a nettlesome exit.

Ironically, it emphasizes how pervasive the character conundrum is.

FBI Franchise’s Character Qualms Trickle All the Way Down

Tiffany Wallace spent an entire season torn up about the death of a character to whom the series barely devoted time in the first place.

Somehow, despite appearing in nearly 30 episodes across four seasons, FBI analyst Hobbs faced his swan song in a contrived bit of him inexplicably going out into the field for a “very special episode.”

And because the series may be mindful of how little it devotes to fleshing out its characters evenly and impactfully, it spent much of the season back-drafting Hobbs’ importance to the FBI and all these characters.

It opposed them showing all that in the character’s four-year existence in the series.

It’s too bad we didn’t know Hobbs’s personality the entire time.

It would’ve been emotionally gratifying if we had seen the special dynamic he and Tiffany had onscreen rather than off to add more context to how his death made her hit rock bottom.

But alas, the series and franchise in general, more often than not, resort to moving characters around like chess pieces until they’re inevitably removed from the board altogether.

Departures Have Become Unmemorable and Meaningless

Tiffany Wallace’s absence from FBI will be noticeable for the first few episodes of the season.

But after that?

She’ll likely fade from the edges of our memory like many other characters from the franchise.

She’s merely another narrative casualty in an ever-growing and revolving carousel of characters.

All the potential in the world is theoretically meaningless if the franchise doesn’t live up to the best of it with its characters when they’re still there.

Over to you, TV Fanatics.

Do you think the FBI franchise faces a character issue?

How do you feel about Tiffany Wallace’s exit from the flagship series?

Please share your thoughts with us below!

The post Another Exit Proves That the FBI Franchise Has a Character Problem appeared first on TV Fanatic.

While we TV Fanatics are eager to return to the shows we love, such as Elsbeth, Blue Bloods, NCIS, and the FBI shows, CBS wants us to salivate just a little bit longer.

It’s not our favorite thing, but maybe it will mean fewer hiatuses so that we can savor our shows as they were intended to be viewed — with little interruption. Hey, we can dream, right?

CBS today announced fall premiere dates for its five new and 15 returning series for the 2024-25 primetime schedule.

The official “CBS PREMIERE WEEK” kicks off with a full week of original episodes beginning Monday, Oct. 14, with the 22nd season premiere of NCIS and two hours of the new drama NCIS: ORIGINS starring Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs and narrated by Mark Harmon.

Related: NCIS: Origins – Everything We Know So Far

The fall lineup includes two special “Sneak Peeks” prior to CBS PREMIERE WEEK.

The new Thursday night drama series Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, will debut on Sunday, September 22 (8/7c). It will have a strong lead-in from the 57^th season premiere of 60 Minutes.

And the new Wednesday night action-adventure reality competition series The Summit, set in the New Zealand Alps and hosted by Manu Bennett, on Sunday, September 29 (9:00-10:30 PM, ET; 8:30-10:00 PM, PT) with a powerful lead in following an NFL ON CBS doubleheader and an original 60 Minutes.

In addition, the hit reality series Survivor debuts its 47^th season with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, September 18 (8/7c), and Blue Bloods returns in CBS Premiere Week for its 14^th and final season on Friday, October 18 (9/8c). TV’s #1 series Tracker returns Sunday, October 27.

The following is the “Sneak Peeks” and CBS Premieres Schedule, paying particular attention to the timing of various events that start at different time blocks by time zone:

(**All times are ET/PT unless noted).

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

8:00-10:00 PM

SURVIVOR (47th season premiere)
*Regular 8:00-9:30 PM timeslot begins Wednesday, September 25.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

9:00-11:00 PM — 48 HOURS (37th season premiere)
*Regular 10:00-11:00 PM timeslot begins Saturday, September 28.

Related: Matlock Season 1 – Everything We Know So Far

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

7:00-8:00 PM — 60 MINUTES (57th season premiere)

8:00-9:00 PM — MATLOCK (Sneak Peek)
*Regular 9:00-10:00 PM Thursday timeslot begins October 17

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

7:00-7:30 PM, ET — NFL ON CBS doubleheader

7:30-9:00 PM, ET / 7:00-8:30 PM, PT — 60 MINUTES *90-minute episode

9:00-10:30 PM, ET / 8:30-10:00 PM, PT — THE SUMMIT (Sneak Peek)
*Regular 9:30-11:00 PM Wednesday timeslot begins October 16.

10:30-11:30 PM, ET / 10:00-11:00 PM, PT — BIG BROTHER (original episode)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

8:00-9:30 PM — SURVIVOR

9:30-11:00 PM — THE SUMMIT (encore of the first episode)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

8:00-9:00 PM — BIG BROTHER (original episode)

9:00-10:00 PM — MATLOCK (encore of first episode)

10:00-11:00 PM — ELSBETH (rebroadcast)

Related: Elsbeth Season 1 Report Card: Swift, Floral, and Entertaining Justice

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

7:00-8:30 PM — 60 MINUTES
*90-minute episode

8:30-10:00 PM — BIG BROTHER (season finale)

CBS PREMIERE WEEK

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14

8:00-9:00 PM — NCIS (22nd season premiere)
*Regular 9:00-10:00 PM timeslot begins Monday, Oct. 21.

9:00-11:00 PM — NCIS: ORIGINS (series premiere)
*Regular 10:00-11:00 PM timeslot begins Monday, Oct. 21.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

8:00-9:00 PM — FBI (seventh season premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM — FBI: INTERNATIONAL (fourth season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM — FBI: MOST WANTED (sixth season premiere)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

8:00-9:30 PM — SURVIVOR

9:30-11:00 PM — THE SUMMIT (second episode)

Related: Tracker Season 2 – Everything We Know So Far

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17

8:00-8:30 PM — GEORGIE & MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE (series premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM — GHOSTS (fourth season premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM — MATLOCK (second episode)

10:00-11:00 PM — ELSBETH (second season premiere)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

8:00-9:00 PM — S.W.A.T. (eighth season premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM — FIRE COUNTRY (third season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM — BLUE BLOODS (Return of remaining episodes of 14th final season)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

8:00-8:30 PM — THE NEIGHBORHOOD (seventh season premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM — POPPA’S HOUSE (series premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM — NCIS

10:00-11:00 PM — NCIS: ORIGINS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27

7:00-7:30 PM, ET — NFL ON CBS doubleheader

7:30-8:30 PM, ET / 7:00-8:00 PM, PT — 60 MINUTES

8:30-9:30 PM, ET / 8:00-9:00 PM, PT — TRACKER (second season premiere)
*Regular 8:00-9:00 PM timeslot begins Sunday, November 3

Related: Poppa’s House Season 1 – Everything We Know So Far

9:30-10:30 PM, ET / 9:00-10:00 PM, PT — THE EQUALIZER (fifth season premiere)
*Regular 9:00-10:00 PM timeslot begins Sunday, November 3

As previously announced, the returning series THE AMAZING RACE and the new series WATSON and HOLLYWOOD SQUARES are currently planned for the second half of the 2024-25 broadcast season.

And there you have it. Share your thoughts on this somewhat disappointing, exciting news below!

The post CBS Fall 2024 Schedule Delayed for Mid-October Start appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Since then, the franchise has expanded into an entire universe of interconnected characters and stories through fantastic writing and acting.

As the third spinoff of the original series, FBI: International has proven to be yet another golden goose for the franchise and network as a whole.

After the conclusion of the third season, the show made a lot of waves with behind-the-scenes rumblings that will continue to ripple through to the next season.

While recasting is not unheard of in police procedurals, audiences are still curious about what this means for their favorite Fly Team. Here at TV Fanatic, we have all the information to tell you everything we know so far!

Has FBI: International Been Renewed for Season 4?

Related: CBS Fall Schedule 2024-25: Tracker on the Move, NCIS: Origins, Matlock Trailers Are Here!

You’re darn right it is!

CBS wasted no time, giving this series the green light for another season in April 2024, just a few months after its February premiere.

The overwhelming popularity of all three FBI shows led to a franchise renewal across the board after the network reported substantial numbers. Fans can look forward to the series’ return alongside its sister shows, FBI and FBI: Most Wanted.

What Is FBI: International About?

The series follows members of the FBI’s international “Fly Team,” elite Special Agents headquartered in Budapest who locate and neutralize threats against American interests worldwide, principally in Europe.

The conclusion of FBI: International Season 3 saw some unexpected twists and turns that likely reflected the behind-the-scenes cast shake-up, which will inevitably see the next season veer away from its formulaic approach to the case-by-week format of the CBS show.

Given that Luke Kleintank’s Scott Forrester was confirmed to be on the run with his mom at the end of the season, establishing that he will probably not be returning to the FBI in any fashion in the foreseeable future.

At the moment, the story for the fourth season is up in the air, and the writers can take any direction they choose.

Still, a new character will likely be brought in to serve as Supervisory Special Agent to guide and instruct the Fly Team.

Related: The Equalizer Season 5: Everything We Know So Far

How Many Episodes Will FBI: International Season 4 Have?

The series’ first two seasons consisted of twenty-plus episodes, with the third deviating to roughly half that length, mainly due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike that affected many shows during the 2023-24 broadcast season.

No official episode count has been released yet for FBI: International, but unless there is another strike, the series will probably return to its original length.

Regardless of its episode number, audiences will be happy to see their favorite elite team return to the small screen for more of all the action and drama that comes with working a government job.

Who Is In FBI: International Season 4?

That’s a loaded question for the upcoming fall broadcast season, as reports during the third revealed that crucial cast members, including Luke Kleintank and Heida Reed, would be exiting the series.

Carter Redwood (Orange is the New Black) as Special Agent Andre Raines

Vinessa Vidotto (Lucifer) as Special Agent Cameron Vo

Related: Jesse Lee Soffer Joins Cast of FBI: International

Eva-Jane Willis (The Power) as Megan “Smitty” Garretson

Christina Wolfe (The Ark) as Special Agent Amanda Tate

Thankfully, CBS quickly filled the gaps, especially with the series lead departing.

Christina Wolfe was brought in as a replacement for Reed’s character, while Jesse Lee Soffer was cast in what was initially an undisclosed role.

TV Line is now reporting that Soffer will play Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, a newcomer to the Fly Team.

Mitchell is described as “charming and rakish, an agent whose impeccable instincts and unconventional tactics fuel his drive to stop at nothing to achieve justice.”

It’s an interesting casting choice since Soffer already has an established character in Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and Chicago Fire, all of which share a universe with FBI: International.

But producers decided to cast him as a brand-new character.

In the past, audiences might have balked at an actor playing a role other than their original character.

But in recent years, shows like American Horror Story and Chucky have proven viewers are fine with that kind of switch-up.

Is There a Trailer for FBI: International Season 4?

Since the show is still in production, there is no trailer just yet, but as we inch through the summer months and approach Fall, CBS will undoubtedly release a trailer to whet the audience’s appetite.

Related: Tracker Season 2: Everything We Know So Far

But don’t worry — here at TV Fanatic, we will make sure everyone knows about any trailers the moment they arrive!

Where Can I Watch FBI: International Season 4?

The exciting crime drama airs on the CBS network on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m.

Unless told otherwise, that is the expected day of the week the series will air when it returns in the Fall.

Episodes will be available on Paramount+ the next day, and subscribers to Paramount+ Essential may be able to watch them live.

All three previous seasons are currently streaming on the app, so viewers everywhere can catch up and rewatch the series before it returns.

When Is the Premiere Date For FBI: International Season 4?

Beyond knowing that the series will return in the Fall, there is no official date for the premiere, but audiences wouldn’t be wrong to expect the series to return in September as the first two seasons did.

Related: FBI: International Season 4 Cast and Character Guide

What Other Shows Are On The Fall Line-up?

This coming season of FBI: International is sure to be a doozy. With so much changing in such a short amount of time, viewers are likely anxious to see what’s in store for them, but between each riveting episode, audiences can enjoy the incredible CBS Fall Line-up.

Fans can catch up with the bureau’s New York office in FBI, where First-class agents bring all their talents, intelligence, and expertise to investigate cases of tremendous magnitude in this fast-paced drama.

Speaking of New York, while you’re there, check in with Queen Latifah’s Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious past who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn as NYC’s guardian angel in the fifth season of The Equalizer.

CBS is bringing enough unique skills to go around with the return of the hit show Tracker starring Justin Hartley.

It returns for its second season, and survivalist Colter Shaw continues using his expert tracking skills to help law enforcement and private citizens in exchange for reward money.

When you’re ready for the law to go from the streets to the court, Kathy Bates has your back in the all-new series Matlock.

The series follows a septuagenarian who returns to the workforce at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases.

Related: Matlock Season 1: Everything We Know So Far

FBI: International has one of the most anticipated seasons for the upcoming broadcast season, and we don’t blame viewers because we are just as curious about what’s in store as everyone else!

Are you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next season of this phenomenal hit show?

What other upcoming CBS series will you be adding to your watch list?

Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we start covering all your favorite new and returning shows!

The post FBI: International Season 4: Everything We Know So Far appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The good news is that Soffer will be joining the cast of FBI: International for the show's fourth season.

The bad news is that while both shows belong to the sprawling Dick Wolf universe, Soffer will not be reprising the role of his beloved Chicago PD character, Detective Jay Halstead.

Hey, you win some, you lose some, and we're choosing to focus on the positive here!

Few procedural actors have won over audiences as thoroughly as Soffer did in his nine seasons as Halstead.

Related: Chicago P.D.'s Jesse Lee Soffer Reflects on Departure, and Whether He Would Return

When he left Chicago PD in 2022, there were concerns that he would be taking a long hiatus from the small screen, a la David Caruso post-NYPD Blue.

Sometimes actors on long-running network series become convinced that they're destined for better things, and they courageously ditch the steady paycheck gig in favor of something bigger.

Sometimes it works out — the list of movie stars who got their start on TV is a long one, and Tom Hanks is probably grateful that he's not still known as "the guy from Bosom Buddies."

But more often, it's a decision that leads to regret.

In the case of Soffer, we doubt there was any ego or snobbery involved in the move.

After all, as a guy who got his start in soaps and who directed two episodes of Chicago PD, he clearly has nothing but love for the medium of television.

Sometimes creative folks just get an itch to try out something new.

And unlike so many stars who walked away from popular shows, Soffer is unlikely to wind up kicking himself.

Related: Chicago PD's Most Compelling Characters Aren't Who You Think

Hey, if nothing else, after all those years cooped up in the Windy City, Jesse Lee will get to do some serious traveling!

The FBI: International team is headquartered in Budapest, and the show is filmed at locations throughout Europe.

According to Deadline, Soffer will be a series regular, filling the vacancy left by Luke Kleintank, who exited the show at the end of its third season.

FBI: International was renewed for a fourth season back in April.

And hopefully, this one won't be shortened by any strikes.

What do you think, TV fanatics?

Are you as excited as we are about the addition of Jesse Lee Soffer to this already stellar cast?

Related: TV Shows Should Make Stars, Not Depend On Them

Will he make a good replacement for Kleintank?

Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts!

The post Jesse Lee Soffer Joins Cast of FBI: International appeared first on TV Fanatic.

This series takes place in various European cities, where the Fly Team is dispatched to investigate international crimes that threaten American security from abroad.

It's an elite team, which means it's smaller than the other teams and difficult to get into. Nevertheless, getting to know the characters is important so you don't get confused.

The Fly Team Got Far Smaller During Season 3

Several departures occurred during FBI: International Season 3, the most significant of which was Scott Forrester, who has led the team since the series began.

Actor Luke Kleintank left the series after three years to spend more time with his family. Unfortunately, Forrester didn't get a proper sendoff.

Related: Disappointing and Downright Offensive Character Departures

The character has been MIA for two episodes and is presumed to have run away to help his mother, a fugitive whose case he has been investigating for a while.

However, the season ended with no definitive answer on where Forrester was.

Cliffhangers That Made Our Jaws Drop to The Floor

Open List

With Forrester in the wind, the team will need a new leader, but there's no word yet on who will play that person.

Chicago Med alum Colin Donnell guest starred in the last two episodes of the season, so he is a possibility, or the series could bring someone new in (or promote from within.)

Please scroll down to check out who is confirmed cast for FBI: International Season 4.

Special Agent Cameron Vo (Vinissa Vidotto)

Cameron Vo has been with the Fly Team since the beginning of FBI: International, although she was new to this branch of the FBI when the series began.

Throughout most of Season 3, she was involved in a will-they-won't-they relationship with fellow agent Damian Powell.

However, Powell left the Fly Team after demonstrating he was too impulsive and hotheaded to deal with international criminals correctly.

Related: Balancing Act: Examining Fans' Influence on TV Storytelling

She is currently Forrester's number two agent, which means that, in his absence, the logical thing to do is to make Vo the commander of the Fly Team, at least on an interim basis.

However, this may not be what she needs or wants, as she was only promoted to number 2 recently and may not feel ready for even more responsibility.

VInissa Vidotto is an Arizona-born-and-raised actress who has always dreamed of the career she has.

Her passion for the arts was solidified when she was in her high school production of "Don't Ask Alice," and as an adult she has many credits to her name.

In addition to FBI: International, she is best known for her recurring role on Lucifer, and recently guest starred on Hacks.

She has a BFA in acting and got her first role when she impressed talent scouts with her senior showcase.

Megan "Smitty" Garretson (Eva-Jane Willis)

Unlike the rest of the Fly Team, Smitty does not work directly for the FBI. Instead, she works for Europol and coordinates her investigations with the Fly Team.

Europol is a federal agency similar to the FBI in America. It enforces laws throughout the European Union and outranks local police in each country.

Related: 21 Characters Who Work Way Too Hard

Smitty often has to negotiate with those officials who resent the FBI and Europol taking over their cases.

Sometimes, officials want the FBI out of their hair because they are corrupt; other officials want autonomy and, like TV cops everywhere, fall into the tired TV trope of wanting autonomy and hating other branches of law enforcement that want to take over their jobs.

South African actress Eva-Jane Willis plays Smitty.

Willis was born in Cape Town and moved to North London, United Kingdom, when she was four years old. She is an Irish citizen by birth.

She has been a regular on FBI: International since its second season and was best known for The Power before that.

According to an interview with People Magazine, Willis spent her wedding night learning the lines for her audition after her agent told her that the opportunity was available.

That dedication makes her perfect to play a character who is often expected to drop everything for a case.

Special Agent Andre Raines (Carter Redwood)

Raines was originally an accountant, so he could track financial irregularities and follow the money trail to catch criminals.

He has a younger sister who was once kidnapped, making him even more determined to bring the bad guys to justice than usual so he could get her safely home.

Related: 17 Inspired and Surprising TV Crossovers

During Season 3, he almost lost his leg after being seriously injured during a mission gone wrong. It looked like his leg might have to be amputated to prevent blood poisoning.

Fortunately, his condition improved when FBI's Jubal Valentine sent a specialist to Hungary who was able to provide an alternative treatment.

Afterward, Raines didn't take nearly as much time to recover as needed, as he was too eager to get back to work, but within a few episodes, he was sufficiently healed.

Carter Redwood is best known for playing Andre Raines, but he has guest-starred on plenty of other shows, making him a familiar face to TV viewers.

Notably, he played an officer on Blue Bloods Season 6 Episode 22 who faced an investigation when he shot a man with a knife.

He also appeared on two episodes of Orange is the New Black and an episode of Madam Secretary.

Raines is his first starring role, and we can't wait to see what he does in Season 4.

Special Agent Amanda Tate (Christine Wolfe)

Amanda Tate is the newest member of the Fly Team, having joined at the beginning of Season 3.

Like Law & Order: Organized Crime's Jet Slootmaekers, Tate is mainly a computer expert but is fully qualified to go out in the field as needed.

Related: Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Character and Cast Guide

Not much is known about Tate's past yet, but the series has promised that mysteries will surround her, which may be a big part of the newest season once it begins.

Because of the infuriatingly shortened season, there wasn't much time to develop her character, so let's hope we get to know her better during Season 4!

Christine Wolfe grew up in Spain, so it's unsurprising that she's fully bilingual — something that FBI: International could use when the series returns.

She is an accomplished actress with many credits besides FBI: International. If you're a superhero fanatic, you might have recognized her as Julie Pennyworth from the CW's Batwoman.

She also starred in Seasons 3 and 4 of The Royals and is one of the leads on The Ark. She has jumped over to video games, where she plays Robyn in Need for Speed.

Will New People Join the Fly Team?

With such a small cast, it would be unsurprising if we got some new characters during Season 4.

However, CBS is trying to keep costs down, so if the cast expands, the series will likely begin rotating characters, as the other FBI series are doing.

Over to you, International fanatics.

Who are you most looking forward to catching up with?

Related: CBS Fall Schedule 2024-25: Tracker on the Move, NCIS: Origins, Matlock Trailers Are Here!

Do you think the Fly Team needs anyone else?

Hit the comments and let us know!

FBI: International Season 4 will air on CBS on Tuesdays at 9/8c and stream on Paramount+ on Wednesdays.

The post FBI: International Season 4 Cast and Character Guide appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The shortened seasons felt the full plight of the dual strikes. And you know what? It sucked.

Yes, the overall experience of having a shortened season has been a misfortune to diehard TV Fanatics.

But also, the quality of the seasons delivered to us has generally been any combination of disappointing, boring, unhinged, or perfunctory.

It's an unusual situation when we craved the return of our favorite series for so long but quickly realized they should've forgone a rush job to salvage the television season and given themselves time to cook up better, stronger full seasons.

At the risk of sounding ungrateful, this shortened season could've been an email for some series.

It's not the first time strikes have severely hampered the quality of an otherwise excellent series. The 2007-2008 Writers strike notoriously did some damage. Do you remember that abysmal murder plot for Friday Night Lights Season 2?

We don't blame you if you've strategically pushed it out of your mind.

And juggernaut hits like Lost and Heroes saw questionable plot choices and dramatic shifts during the strike period.

Unsurprisingly, the dual strike year is similar, but it's infinitely bleaker, too.

The issue with the truncated season formatting is that far too many series are ill-equipped to pull off the plots they desire to do in 10 episodes or less.

In some ways, it feels as if we've just gotten into the groove of the season. Now that it's almost over, we're left to wonder what was accomplished in the first place.

Regarding this season's offerings, there has been a wide array of glaring issues with how some series have taken on this challenging situation.

We have some series that opted to cram a full 16-21 episode season worth of plots into roughly ten episodes, and thus, it's all gas and no brakes with trying to draw out plot points in an organic manner.

If those behind certain shows are unaccustomed to the art of tighter storytelling within a specific frame, a series suffers for it.

It results in many congested installments with no connective tissue to carry one plot to the next.

Things like proper character development are set aside when a series focuses too much on flashy plots and not enough on the characters meant to carry them.

Another issue that's become all too common is how easily you can tell that they've abandoned a concept to adapt to the shortened seasons, whether it makes sense to do so or not.

We've seen season premieres meant to address or pick up where season finales left off, but everything seemingly goes off the rails.

It results in complete tonal shifts for the series, as many shows have subsequently lost their steam by the second episode of the season.

Also, can we talk about the disappearing and postponed plots? It's become grating.

With a shortened season, it's evident that some series have hitched their all to one central plot point and dragged things out as long as possible with it, but when we go most of the season without touching upon it, what's the point?

Case in point: The Rookie's Season 5 Finale left us on the edge of our seats, wondering about the series's latest villain and plans.

And The Rookie Season 6 Episode 1 naturally intended to continue with that, resulting in arguably one of the strongest premieres in an otherwise underwhelming television season across networks.

But they've since placed the most significant storyline on the back burner for the entire season. The upcoming finale will likely revolve around figuring out who is behind everything.

And that's fine, but without even checking in with the case or sprinkling some context clues along the way all season, as we disappeared into contrived Chenford Breakup drama and a colossally dull child-planning plot, it's blatant that we're just biding time until the big finale.

Everything in between is essentially filler to carry us over until the big event. While The Rookie is arguably the best in the bunch for pulling this off, it's still glaring.

It makes it difficult when they throw in what should be an essential storyline to explore a character but don't have the time to develop it properly.

We've seen that with Tim Bradford, whose narrative during The Rookie Season 6 has consisted of the series illuminating us and Lucy on his Army background, including some decisions he made that essentially disrupt everything we know about how he's been established as a character.

But because the season is under such a strict time constraint, there has yet to be enough time to delve deep into this arc, unpack it, and give it the breathing room to develop and adequately land before shifting into something else.

It becomes apparent with 9-1-1 as well, as Buck's sexuality arc doesn't have the space to blossom as it should.

We've seen something similar with Chicago PD: they sailed past adequately addressing the Ruzek cliffhanger and slowly dove into a compelling serial killer arc sporadically addressed throughout an otherwise underwhelming season.

The season finale will likely be the resolution to the season-long case.

However, with such a short season, they could've devoted it to just this one case instead of still attempting to balance the "Case of the Week" format and irritating viewers to pieces by sidelining half the cast and only doing centrics.

You would think that if any genre could adapt to a truncated season, it'd be that of a procedural, but many of them have struggled the most.

They're perfectly set up for tighter storytelling and focusing exclusively on cases with some light interpersonal character matters sprinkled in, yet they've fallen short this season.

With Chicago Fire, they burned through so many miscellaneous plots, pardon the pun, without giving any of them any breathing room.

In a disappointing move, and one likely due to the Cast Shifts Via Budget Constraints, Gallo was written out.

His departure was so underwhelming for someone who has had such a strong presence that you'd have thought he was a run-of-the-mill guest star.

It felt as if there was little thought to how to write him out and zero emotion behind his exit.

And then they introduced Rome Flynn's Gibson, seemingly building a fascinating storyline around him that could have easily carried throughout the season.

In a puzzling move, they wrapped it up and had him signing off in a measly six episodes.

Flynn barely had the chance to re-enter the character before he departed, though he piqued interest during his short stint.

But considering that outside of that, Chicago Fire has been merely going through the motions with no actual thematic string tying the season together, why couldn't Gibson stick around?

Similarly, the FBI franchise has felt relatively aimless all season, as if they didn't know what to do this season because there wasn't enough time to juggle a handful of big plots, so they opted not to try.

With Law & Order: SVU, they dragged on the Maddie cast, which stopped being interesting by the end of the premiere and yet overstayed its welcome.

Between Olivia Benson collecting lackluster stray detectives like Infinity Stones and forgettable cases, there is little to brag about for this mediocre milestone 25th season.

More often than not, the vibe is that we're treading water through this current season until season finales set the pace for what's to come during the Fall.

As a result, this current strike-impacted, trimmed season has felt like filler to hold us over until the real seasons start up.

This season bridges the previous one and what's upcoming — like a half-season crammed with filler.

It feels as if everything previously left on the cutting room floor over seasons was cobbled together and taken out for a spin, contributing to an overall disjointed vibe.

However, one of the most egregious issues with the shortened season is how it has impacted significant events related to some of our favorite series.

Sadly, Station 19 became a casualty, canceled ahead of this season, and thus shortchanging fans.

Can you think of anything worse than having less time to say goodbye to a series you devoted multiple years to watching?

Worse yet, because it was a shocking cancellation, the writers had to scramble to piece together a final season that actually made sense, did justice to the characters, and wrapped things up to the satisfaction of all.

But how do you do that in ten episodes?

This results in another pattern that shortened seasons have produced: a series of dropped storylines.

It's lent itself to suspension of belief as well.

Saying goodbye to a series that has been fortunate enough to survive the past two seasons is difficult enough on its own.

Still, forcing viewers to do that when they've been cheated out of roughly half the episodes they would've gotten under normal circumstances is infuriating.

Nothing about that is fair.

We've seen that with The Good Doctor as well.

While, at the very least, we knew the series would be signing off, it's no less frustrating that they didn't get a full season for the swan song of one of the most influential autistic characters currently on the air.

And NCIS Hawaii's cancelation felt like a total blindside, with no real chance to say goodbye to the characters in the way that one would've desired.

It's not just show cancelations and sign offs that suffer from strike-caused brevity, but it's character exits as well.

One of the more frustrating aspects of Hailey Upton's impending departure from Chicago PD is that they've devoted most of this brief season to flimsily setting up her departure.

The narrative space it takes to set up this one character's departure has resulted in the sidelining of other characters.

Meanwhile, as previously stated, series regulars, such as Gallo on Chicago Fire, got shuffled off with little fanfare, which felt like a disservice to the character.

The shocking news of Chief Boden's impending departure is rivaled by the fact that nothing that has transpired during this middling season indicates how he'll step back with only two remaining installments.

But then, FBI: International could proudly shout, "Hold my beer," regarding the sendoff of team leader Scott Forrester.

His final episode aired, yet he wasn't explicitly written out at all.

We had no proper buildup to this exit; the actor is gone, and Forrester's absence is shrouded in ambiguity.

FBI: Most Wanted has notoriously had a cast shift issue, but their biggest problem this season is in how they continue to focus exclusively on one character, Remy, and little else.

Because we have fewer episodes in the season, this problem of theirs is far more glaring, similar to Chicago PD with Hailey.

And for 9-1-1's Eddie Diaz, there have been a host of puzzling storylines that seem to suggest that the writers don't even know what to do with the character anymore.

Meanwhile, series like Fire Country's most significant problems have been more evident than ever, with no padding or enough episodes to hide some of its flaws.

According to our Fire Country reviewer, it's a series that has suffered a sophomore slump.

And we previously discussed how the series flamed out this season,

Without extra episodes, we've seen the issues with Bode's characterization focused on relentlessly with no break, and they threw in contrive plots like the paternity of Genevieve.

But more than anything, Fire Country Season 2 has crammed too many plots into the season with little payout.

In contrast, situations like Grey's Anatomy have consisted of the season plodding on with no real substance or anything memorable happening.

It's certainly not "must-watch" television; half the time, one forgets the plots that transpired when the credits rolled.

Whereas with Fire Country, everything and nothing happen at once, with Grey's Anatomy, nothing truly happens.

This shortened season is simply fodder to carry us over until the real storylines begin the following season.

Even the attempts at grand moments, like Meredith's appearances and the Arizona Robbins' disappointing return, have fallen short and not been as impactful as necessary.

Milestone seasons (Law & Order: SVU) or 100th episode celebrations (The Rookie, Station 19, 9-1-1) had the misfortune of falling in a shortened season where there wasn't enough time to champion the accomplishments with episodes that actually feel like celebrations.

And huge moments like Chim and Maddie or Bailey and Nolan's weddings probably didn't meet the high expectations of viewers.

As this tumultuous television season ends, saying things have been underwhelming would be an understatement.

With very few of our favorite returning series delivering on highly-anticipated seasons and some signing off and losing some of our favorite characters, it's been a tough season to navigate.

It's felt like a placeholder season to us, but we'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Over to you, TV Fanatics. Has the ultra-short season felt like a ripoff?

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To be honest, though, the big casting shake-ups are happening across Dick Wolf's rich tapestry of shows, and the latest fills us with dread.

FBI: International is the unlucky show getting the latest shake-up.

Heida Reed, who plays Special Agent Jamie Kellet, is being written out of the show early into its third season.

It doesn't sound like Kellet decided to walk away from the show, with sources telling TVLine that it was for creative reasons.

The casting news could be a massive spoiler for FBI: International Season 3, given that the freshman season concluded with a bomb exploding at the team's offices.

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With fans waiting months for clarity on who might have survived, we may have an answer for who did not survive.

Jamie was a pivotal team member, and her loss will be felt heavily.

For the record, Jamie could survive and leave the team for a new job.

That's happened on the two other shows in the franchise, and it even happened on the International entry after Christiane Paul's Katrin Jaeger left for a new job.

Luke Kleintank's Scott, Carter Redwood's Andre, Vinessa Vidotto's Cameron, and Eva-Jane Willis'  Smitty's fates are also up in the air, meaning we could be in line for even more shake-ups when the series debuts.

The good news is that Heida will get an on-screen farewell since she's set to appear in the third season.

Many shows write out characters between seasons and don't offer the satisfaction viewers expect after spending time following these arcs.

The big question, though, is what will lead to Reed's departure if it has nothing to do with the bomb.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Christina Wolfe had joined the show in the series regular role of Special Agent Amanda Tate, so we know there will be at least one new team member when the show picks back up.

The Good Doctor's Latest Departure is Another Sign the Show Needs to End

Over on FBI: Most Wanted, it was revealed earlier this year that Alexa Davalos would not return after the fourth season's conclusion.

There wasn't an on-screen goodbye, so we'll probably have to wait for the upcoming season premiere to get some clarity on that one.

It was recently revealed that FBI's Shantel VanSanten would be a series regular on Most Wanted, bringing Nina Chase to the spinoff.

Most Wanted has been rocked by countless casting shake-ups over the years, to the point we think it would have been better as an anthology series (more on that here!).

Dick Wolf's successful One Chicago franchise is also saying goodbye to some big names:

– Kara Kilmer and Alberto Rosende are both being written out during Chicago Fire Season 12.

– Tracy Spiridakos is being written out during Chicago P.D. Season 11

— Chicago Med has lost A LOT of faces over the last year but will attempt to remedy that with the introduction of Luke Mitchell, who will scrub in as someone with ties to another character.

With all of these shows delayed it's been a lot for fans to process.

FBI: International returns for Season 3 on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

What are your thoughts on the news?

Hit the comments.

TVLine first reported the news of Reed's departure.

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The post Does This FBI: International Casting Shocker Clear Up Who Survived the Season 2 Finale? appeared first on TV Fanatic.