FBI Review: Codename: Ferdinand (Season 2 Episode 8)
We’re so used to seeing our pretend friends protect New York that it can sometimes be predictable. Thankfully, there’s a quick fix for that on FBI Season 2 Episode 8, “Codename: Ferdinand,” and that fix is to raise the stakes higher than ever before. Solving bombings and kidnappings are so Season 1. We’re stopping wars now.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding the case, coupled with the CIA’s involvement, make for a fun hour as the episode quickly becomes a life-sized game of cat and mouse. Russian operatives hack a car’s Wifi, for crying out loud! James Bond fan or not, that’s pretty cool.
Even the bad guys are fun to dislike in this one. In a way, the show breaks the fourth wall through the Blakes by teaching the importance of never letting your guard down. Sure, they appear innocent and normal, but they actually have a knack for treason and enjoy a bit of murder in their free time.
While FBI uses this episode to teach us to keep our guards up, it trolls Maggie by smacking her in the face with the opposite lesson. There is so much secondhand embarrassment for Maggie in the final scene that OA should be thankful he escaped on that elevator.
If only “not today, bitch” could apply to Lisa Blake AND that last moment. Good for Maggie for making something positive out of being rear-ended by an idiot, but good for her for also following her instincts.
She can’t be blamed for bringing her terrible driver of a suitor in for questioning — especially not when he has ties to Russia, and she’s investigating a case where her partner is the only person she can trust.
Speaking of trusting her partner, OA — not Maggie — runs the initial background check on the guy. OA Zidan for Wingman of the Year, right? What do your #broTP do for a living? Mine are FBI agents.
Maggie’s story eventually circles back to the importance of believing in yourself, which is why her rejection at the end stings. She can get vital information from a Russian operative and take the necessary actions (shooting another Russian operative — against CIA orders, I might add) to keep the intended target of an assassination safe, but all it takes is one dumb guy to shake her confidence. She’d never admit it, but Maggie could probably use a hug.
CIA agent Collins’ introduction spices up the bullpen scenes by highlighting Jubal’s wit and sarcasm. We already know that Jubal is protective of his people, but that doesn’t make it any less badass when he says that “[the bullpen] is my house.”
That’s undoubtedly true, but we all know that the unsung heroes of the bullpen are the analysts. Season 2’s shift from highlighting one analyst (Kristen) to multiple analysts highlights the high level of intellect in the room and also reiterates the grand scale on which “Jubal’s house” operates.
Case in point: Kristen figuring out the meaning behind Codename: Ferdinand. I know who I want on my Pub Quiz team!
What did you think of this episode of FBI? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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FBI airs Tuesday 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.