Reviewer Rating: 3.75/5.0
3.75
It’s never easy when you lose a protagonist, especially one as involved in every aspect of the storytelling as Luke Kleintank’s supervisory agent Scott Forrester. .
However, the FBI series had previously lost its lead, only to gain success through recasting.
While I initially hoped that Colin Donnell might be cast to replace Kleintank, seeing Jesse Lee Soffer in FBI: International Episode 4 Season 1’s performance proved that he was the right choice.
Both Soffer and Donner had experience working on the Dick Wolf series, even airing on the same night in the same Chicago franchise.
However, Sofer’s supervising agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell provided the energy that was lacking under Scott.
While Donnell’s Brian Lange also offers something different than Scott Forrester, it’s not enough to carve out new space on the team.
Before Scott left, we also lost Europol agent Kristin Jaeger, replaced by colleague (and excellent replacement) Smitty. I was relieved that she wasn’t as stubborn as Christine.
Likewise, Amanda offers something more subdued than what we got in Jamie’s two seasons. Overall, the series is becoming smoother and, dare I say it, more fun to have fun with the characters, even if that’s not what they’re actually doing.
So, do we love Scott and see hope in Bryan? Absolutely. But Wes was exactly what the show needed.
His intro involves spitting sunflower seeds into a cup to the sound of a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band, before he returns home to find his girlfriend, Ella, throwing his clothes in the yard. This is not a clip I could imagine Scott in.
Wes didn’t come to Budapest to lead the Flying Team. He’s here to avenge the shooting death of his partner Mike in Los Angeles, including a shootout scene so insane it could only be seen on television.
If there’s one thing we can count on in the Wolf series, it’s that if someone is wronged, those closest to them will want to take down the perpetrator.
We just saw the Flying Squad come to terms with their efforts in the two-part finale of FBI: International’s third season. Scott wasn’t even injured; he took off on his own, but the team is still trying to find him.
Now that Wes has admitted that he sucks on his own and needs to be around other people to grow, he’s in the right place on the fly team.
Wes is a firecracker. He did not hesitate to raise the issue of highway riots due to lack of backup to his superiors.
Bringing Wes to the canvas was easy because he has ties to Cameron, having served as his training officer. Obviously, he was a jerk as a coach, but he molded her into the agent she is today, and she can live with that.
Well, at least she can do that when she thinks this is just a one-time case and he’s on his way back to the United States.
Cameron spoke highly of him, even mentioning that he served as a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (or Chicago, whatever) for ten years.once) gives him skills that people in other positions don’t have.
It always amazes me that whenever outsiders come to Budapest, they blend in and even take over a bit.
Can you imagine someone from an external department coming into your business premises and taking a leadership role without understanding the situation? I mean, they’re temporary workers.
This case, like many in the FBI series, is unimportant. Bad guys come and go so often that they don’t often leave a trace. Well, not on the audience. They made a lasting impression on the people the FBI wanted to protect.
However, I’m excited to see Beau Knapp reprise his role as one of the bad guys, Zonka, in the SEAL Team series finale (that’s what it sounds like, anyway). Drew seemed to go straight from Afghanistan to Budapest, and he and Sofer had a great back and forth.
Wes quickly became dissatisfied with the Flyers, and every time he said something like “I’ll be out of your hair soon,” I could just imagine what was going to happen next this season.
where is that? Somewhere far less dark and scary than the places we had been before.
I think he will bring out different aspects of each character. While Wes tells English jokes, Smitty is already defending his turf. Cameron was really comfortable and open with him, which she wasn’t always like.
It’s pretty much business as usual for Andre and Amanda, but it does look like they’ll thrive with some new blood. Or maybe it’s all just my imagination.
I certainly can’t be the only one who really likes Scott but is also ready for a change.
Sofer is great as Chicago PD, and while he’s clearly no Jay Halstead, Wes’s flirtation with the rules is enough to remind me of the way Halstead worked under Voight.
But what about his girlfriend? The writers made the “love” between Wes and Ella too strong for a couple that seemed completely unlikely to succeed.
When your partner asks you why you stay, you know you’re not giving the best impression of your relationship to outsiders.
Breaking those bonds spurred Weiss toward change. And where better to find it than half a world away in Budapest with Fly Team?
The Season 4 premiere of FBI: International also set up a potential long-term arc for Wes, when he stormed the Dzong Kha, who declared revenge on him. Knapp has been free since SEAL service ended. He would be a good regular opponent.
What I love is that Cameron essentially decided that Wes was the one to lead the Flying Team. She wanted to learn from someone, and Wes had the skills.
They already make a good pair and respect each other.
But it wasn’t just Cameron who thought Wes would be a good fit. The entire team is ready for the challenge. All they need is Wes to step up.
They need a leader, not a tourist, and with his record at home wiped clean – his partner dead, his girlfriend jilted – he’s in the perfect position to turn his life around and the flight’s matter.
They left the premiere without any answers, but Wes Lee Sofer and Jesse Lee Sofer were just what the doctor ordered. The trailer gives it all away. The prescription has been delivered!
So what did you think of the Season 4 premiere of FBI: International ?
Has Jesse Lee Soffer’s Wes won you over yet? (Just say yes!)
Where do you think this season will go from here?
Sound off in the comments below and rate Sofer’s debut on the show in our poll!
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