FBI hinted at Isobel’s possible death and the season 8 premiere did kill a character off — but with a twist.
During the show’s return on Monday, October 13, Isobel’s (Alana De La Garza) fate was left unclear until the end of the episode. After Isobel collapsed following a bomb scare, it was concluded that she suffered a brain bleed that required an emergency craniotomy.
Isobel survived the surgery and was on the mend as viewers realized there was someone else in danger. Earlier in the premiere, Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and OA (Zeeko Zaki) trailed to an island for a case involving a judge searching for his son.
The judge ultimately died while Maggie and OA were held hostage. Scola (John Boyd) and Dani (Emily Alabi) came to help them but a shooting led to Dani being hit. She collapsed and subsequently died with Scola by her side.
Which ‘FBI’ Stars Are — And Aren’t — Returning for Season 8?
“Her death is a reminder of the grave stakes that [the agents] face day in and day out — trying to protect people in a world that is changing fast, with new threats always lurking around the corner,” showrunner Mike Weiss told TV Insider on Monday about the switch up. “Losing a partner is always a tough thing. And Scola is going to be feeling the loss of Dani for a while.”
Dani’s death is expected to change everyone moving forward.
“Of course, Dani’s death will weigh on Maggie and OA as well. She was just falling in with our team when the worst happened,” Weiss continued. “Our FBI agents are tough, but their real strength is finding each other in these moments of hardship. Maggie, OA and Scola are all going to be closer after the events in the premiere.”
There are also theories about Claire Coffee‘s casting hinting at a new partner for Scola, to which Weiss replied, “I won’t spoil future episodes or Claire’s upcoming role, but I can say that she is not looking to join up with the FBI anytime soon.”
He added: “Scola is not going to close off completely when it comes to welcoming new partners. Going back to his experience with loss, he’s a character who has learned to appreciate every small moment with friends and family. That’s the same with every new colleague and partner.”
Created by Dick Wolf, FBI, which premiered in 2018, follows the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York City. The personnel has gone through their fair share of ups and downs — with Weiss hinting that all possibilities were on the table when they discussed Isobel’s possible death ahead of season 8.
‘FBI’ Season 7 Finale Recap: Could [Spoiler] Be Dead? Who’s the Dirty Cop?
“Every year, at the start of a new season, we, the writers, ask ourselves, ‘What is the current dynamic in the show? What happens if it shifts slightly?’ Isobel holds the entire team together in a lot of ways,” he noted. “We love Alana and her character so much, we never considered writing her off the show.”
Weiss was excited to see Isobel “absent from the office” even if it was done “briefly,” adding, “How does the team react when they lose that center of gravity? Who steps in to fill the void? And of course, we’re thrilled to be welcoming her back to 26 Fed, when she’s ready.”
He concluded: “Isobel is the steady heart and soul of the 26 Fed office. This near-death experience weighs on her in the background but never deters her drive to lead our FBI team and keep New Yorkers safe. It’s that quiet strength that everyone admires about her.”
FBI season 8 airs on CBS Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
