FBI Review: Invisible (Season 1 Episode 16)
FBI Season 1 Episode 16, “Invisible,” follows the kidnapping of a tabloid owner’s teenage daughter to a very unexpected place. What sounds like a captivating story unfortunately misses the mark, as a lack of cohesiveness between the story and theme makes the episode hard to follow.
OA, Maggie, and the missing girl need to wait, though, because the most important news of the hour is that our girl Kristen is going to Quantico to become a field agent.
Yes, Kristen is a fictional character. But if you’re not TV-style, jump in the air and end in a freeze frame level excited for her, we need to talk. She deserves the hell out of this.
If Dana and Jubal are the brains of this operation, and Maggie and OA are the head and arms, Kristen is the legs. Do you think Dana would know to analyze soil samples to locate a cabin in upstate New York? No!
Her dance with Dana regarding her letter of recommendation is downright silly. It’s 2019. If you’re a woman who does not support your fellow women, kindly exit stage right. Given her clapback to Spencer Gibbs on FBI Season 1 Episode 15, “Scorched Earth,” it’s a no-brainer that Dana is going to wholeheartedly support her application.
These cases go nowhere without Kristen. The idea of her working alongside our dynamic duo makes Season 2 that much more exciting.
What I wish is equally as exciting — this episode as a whole — unfortunately is not. If not for the final scene between Maggie and OA, the entire hour would be bland and forgettable. The case starts strong enough with an abducted girl, but then devolves into a disjointed story of two halves bookended by a rather startling suicide.
Suspense builds fast following Elizabeth’s abduction (which would be prevented by Benjamin merely walking his daughter to the cab she swears she’s going to take). But it’s not because of the action — it’s because Benjamin is an absolute dirtbag. Logic says his daughter’s kidnapping is due to his sleaziness, so it’s a huge letdown when we learn that the entire hour stems from mere high school drama.
Another letdown occurs when Benjamin’s assistant is responsible for the ransom demand. We’ve all had bad bosses over the years, but time and place. An episode should have twists and turns; this one feels more like a roadblock.
The suicide at the half-hour mark is impactful, but also takes the story so far off the beaten path that it’s nearly impossible to find a way back. So, he and his friend abducted her why? Who is this friend? Why did he jump? There’s too much information in too short an amount of time, and the story unfortunately falls apart.
The aftermath of the suicide and subsequent lead-up to the climax is a struggle as there is no action, no plot, or even any witty banter between OA and Maggie. There is nothing but information happening, which is too much to digest so late in the episode.
The back half is similar to that song you only know the chorus to. You know the one — where you tune out for everything except the important part. The important part here is that the remaining abductor is planning a mass shooting.
The boys planning a mass shooting feels forced, plus it’s nowhere in line with where we start. I will point out that the only reason OA and Maggie are able to stop the shooter is because of Kristen (’cause she’s the real star of the show, let’s be real). But otherwise, it’s a “been there, seen that on TV” type of scene.
Although, I suppose it does say something that my reaction to a potential mass shooting is “eh, seen that trope before.”
OA’s subsequent tackle is just as stupid as Maggie says, but it’s necessary for two reasons. The only other alternative is Maggie putting a bullet through the kid’s head with his father watching, and that’s something none of us want. Plus, the tackle leads to a moment between he and Maggie showing that there is indeed a friendship under all that Kevlar.
It is nice to see emotional Maggie tell an equally emotional OA that he scares her, but it’s disheartening that it takes sixteen episodes to build to a mere three to five words. Careful there, FBI. All casework and no character development make OA and Maggie a dull team.
Overall, the episode is an outlier in what is otherwise a great series. The lack of almost everything that makes FBI special does allow Kristen to shine, but I want the best of both worlds where everyone shines at the same time. Hopefully, this is just a first season jitter, and it’s smooth sailing from here on out.
What did you think of this episode of FBI? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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FBI airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.
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Gina Zippilli
Gina is the co-host of Meet Us At Molly’s, the first-ever Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. podcast. Outside of One Chicago, she has never met an ensemble-driven cop show, post-apocalyptic drama or true crime whodunit she has not liked.