FBI Review: Payback (Season 2 Episode 13)
A retired agent’s son is abducted on FBI Season 2 Episode 13, “Payback,” and the team is tasked with both saving him and keeping his father in check.
Our agents get the better deal since viewers have the cumbersome task of keeping our eyes open. When someone asks about the Dick Wolf trap — where episodes are so case-heavy that they make your eyes glaze over — show them this episode. I’ll bet they don’t even make it halfway. That’s about as long as I lasted.
There is absolutely nothing captivating about this story. Isobel’s connection to Osborne is supposed to be what draws us in, but it’s hard to care about a third-party character when we know so little about the main character herself.
Isobel and Jubal clashing is the interesting part, but it is really just a weak attempt by the writers to be able to say it’s not all-case, all the time. Which it is.
Jubal has every right to question his superior’s involvement in Osborne’s history. Transparency and respect are a packaged deal and although she has been forthcoming before, this is not the first time Isobel has demonstrated a lack of the latter towards her colleagues.
This is true to a certain degree for our agents, but even more so for Jubal because he’s the closest thing she has to an equal.
The “twist” that Osborne stole the money Sean is after is so predictable that I’m writing this before it is even revealed.
When FBI is good, it is action-packed and unpredictable, but does itself no favors when the occasional subpar episodes strikes. Plot points are so cookie-cutter that you can’t help but wonder if the writers just copy and paste past episodes into Final Draft and tweak the names.
I was excited for Kristen’s return to the bullpen on FBI Season 2 Episode 12, “Hard Decisions,” but now wish I had a receipt. She fades into the background- which is the exact opposite of what her return is supposed to do.
Kristen proceeds business as usual- using her finely-tuned attention to detail to make the breaks that lead to rescuing Jake, but these moments are overwhelmed by the truckloads of useless information dumped around it.
Procedurals are exactly what they’re called — they follow an exact procedure, all episodes begin and end the same and that’s that. It’s a little problematic, however, when your characters only have time to work in their friendship on the walk to the elevator. Sorry, Maggie and OA. You both deserve better.
The episode is so bogged down by exposition and detail that finding Jake is a letdown. That’s right, the abductee dying would have been a more satisfying ending than the one we got.
For once, I want to see our friends fail to remind us that they are relatable humans and not workaholic robots. The desperation for some form of human interaction on this show other than flashing a badge or firing a gun is too real.
Don’t make me stare at the clock and wonder when FBI: Most Wanted starts, FBI. CBS wants viewers to like both, so this particular outing for the parent show is not a good look.
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.