FBI Review: Crossroads (Season 2 Episode 5)
A young father’s disappearance is just the tip of the iceberg on FBI Season 2 Episode 5, “Crossroads.” In one of Season 2’s stronger hours so far, the drama extends beyond the case, making the episode more engaging and fun.
First of all, how dare Jubal hide those adorable children of his for a full season and change! We don’t know exactly what ended his marriage, but it takes all of two seconds to see just how much he loves Tyler and Abigail.
He cares about his ex-wife, too, which is why it feels a bit like a knife to the heart when she displays her shiny new engagement ring.
Having spent the first ten years of my life in Westchester, I can say that the kids’ move to Scarsdale sounds like a good one. Jubal’s reservations are entirely understandable, though. Given how much he works, the kids will probably be so close, yet so far.
The other great thing about Jubal’s kids moving is that it gives us the chance to get inside his head. There’s only so much armchair analyzing we can do while he buzzes around the bullpen; seeing what makes him tick outside of the Bureau is very long overdue.
Plus, who knew that he and Maggie are friends? Of course they’re friends, but work friends and friends you confide in are two different things.
Piggybacking off of the trap I discussed in my review of Season 2 Episode 4, “An Imperfect Science,” Dick Wolf-produced shows are sometimes hyperprocedural — they focus so intensely on the case of the week that character growth is stunted for weeks at a time. All of these intra-squad relationships we’re seeing are important, because they give us more to emotionally invest in.
Honestly, one of the most interesting things about this episode is it not beginning with an explosion and dead body. Jazzing up the beat sheet and allowing us to grip the possibility that Russo is alive simultaneously deepens the mystery and raises the stakes, making viewers wonder in the closing moments if the clock from 24 actually is beating behind us or if we’re just imagining things.
The plot is easy to follow, too. This isn’t an episode where you need to sit down with a notepad and scribble every detail to keep track. Though we do need to discuss how Russo got involved in this mess to begin with.
He thought they were handbags. Really? Not to quote How I Met Your Mother, but “oh, honey.”
Russo’s survival comes courtesy of the ladies of FBI giving zero you-know-whats, which is awesome. Maggie and Isobel’s willingness to call Brennan out on his BS is downright inspiring. Without that brazenness, Russo remains in the house and El Patron is apprehended, resulting in the former’s murder.
Combine these moments with Kristen unapologetically commanding the respect she has earned and she and Maggie going undercover, and this episode is chock full of badassery.
OA and Scola’s moment watching their partners undercover could be looped into this discussion, but it’s more of a worried partner moment than anything else. OA, much like us, does not like when people mess with Maggie. Who are we to judge?
Going back to Kristen for a moment, listen back to how the man they are questioning responds when she corrects him. He doesn’t get all righteous and defensive — he apologizes, recognizes his mistake, and acknowledges that he’s trying to do better.
This scene is inspiring because let’s be honest — we’ve all stayed silent a time or two (or ten) when called anything other than our rightful names or titles.
There is no better sequence on this show than OA and Maggie bursting through a door, guns drawn and announcing their presence, but with another week brings another tense moment of a shootout followed by OA falling to the ground. Do these moments always have to follow each other? Talk about a mood killer.
There is less OA than usual in this episode, but that doesn’t mean he skirts by without us discussing the woman he’s “sort of” seeing. I mean, he smiles so smugly at his phone that he’s practically bringing this on himself!
What’s her name? Where’s she from? What does she do for a living? What’s her social security number? We’re just curious. I promise we’re not about to go background check and social media stalk her — because chances are, Kristen already has.
If for whatever reason they don’t work out, though, I’d pay good money to see Maggie be her partner’s wingman. FBI should change things up more often. Maggie playing matchmaker to OA would be a perfect place to start.
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.