FBI’s Isobel Castille has been tested over the past two seasons — first with her near-death experience during the season 7 finale and now a possible season 8 job shakeup that could take her away from her team.
During the Monday, December 1, episode of the CBS series, fans learned whether SAC Isobel (Alana De La Garza) took the ADAC promotion and who she named as her successor. But will the answer mean peace for the New York City FBI team?
Warning: Spoilers below from FBI season 8, episode 7.
“I think it will affect everyone from the JOC all the way to the field team,” De La Garza, 49, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday ahead of the episode, hinting that Isobel’s possible new role would leave a massive hole within the department.
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While Isobel pushed for ASAC Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) to take over as SAC, the higher ups didn’t agree.
As Monday’s episode transpired, news that Jubal was passed over for the job spread throughout the office, but Jubal insisted he’s happy with his current “gig” and remained focused on the case at hand. (The team investigated a Brooklyn explosion that led them to a convicted felon calling the shots from inside the prison.)
It wasn’t until Jubal’s team successfully survived a prison riot and were back home safely that he spoke with Isobel about her promotion.
He noted that he did want to be SAC but was more upset by the fact that Isobel becoming ADAC meant they wouldn’t be working side by side.
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“I don’t know how we’re going to do it without you,” Jubal confessed to Isobel.
Isobel surprised Jubal with her response, revealing, “You’re not going to have to. I decided to turn down the ADAC position.”
She explained, “You are exactly where you need to be and so am I. … What I need is this place. This team. Breaking cases. Making things right with you.”
De La Garza exclusively told Us that Isobel’s decision to remain with her team was easy after seeing agents Stuart Scola (John Boyd) and Eva Ramos (Juliana Aidén Martinez) get trapped inside the prison during the riot and make it out alive thanks to Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and OA Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) fighting to get to them.
“Seeing the whole team rally around Scola and Ramos I think reminded her that she isn’t willing to step away from something so good,” the actress shared. “Similar to the way they supported her when she was hurt, she knows she has something special in her team.”
Isobel saw firsthand how her team acts during a tragedy after she was injured during the season 7 finale in May. After being hurt during an explosion at 26 Fed, Isobel powered through the case but ultimately passed out and stopped breathing.
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During the season 8 premiere, viewers learned that Isobel survived her injuries but she took some time before returning to the office. In the interim, Jubal stepped up as acting SAC, which only pushed his desire to take the job permanently.
However, De La Garza told Us that now that Isobel is staying put, she will continue to lean on Jubal in his usual role.
“The season is truly just getting started,” she teased. “[Showrunner] Mike Weiss does an amazing job of keeping the story lines fresh and new.”
De La Garza revealed that’s the case for her and Sisto’s characters as they work together. “I’m excited to see what challenge comes next for Jubal and Isobel,” she added.
FBI airs on CBS Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Paramount+.
