FBI Review: Allegiance (Season 4 Episode 6)
FBI Season 4 Episode 6 “Allegiance,” starts as a level-headed, clear episode, and soon becomes convoluted beyond reasoning.
The characters are either out of character or out of their depth, and it shows. Desperately. I won’t go so far as to say this is the show’s worst episode yet, but I am rating this episode 2/5 stars, so take that as you will.
There are a few contradictions in “Allegiance.” For now, let’s talk about the way the FBI, Rina, and Isobel handle their cooperation with the NYPD.
Jubal explains that the case of an NYPD detective being shot to death will be handled by the FBI because the NYPD has a bad image right now. Almost immediately after this is said, Rina tells Isobel that, “the city needs to know that a murdered detective is FBI priority.”
Okay, sure, except how does the FBI publicly backing the NYPD not make it seem like they’re just a shield for the NYPD’s backlash? I don’t know, I’m not a department liaison.
After making it clear that the cops that were shot are indeed dirty, “Allegiance” continues to force Tiffany Wallace, one of the only Black characters on the show, to be the one to speak out in favor of these dirty cops — and of cops in general.
Yes, Tiffany used to be a cop, so it makes sense that she’s understanding. However, when it comes down to it, are the FBI and the NYPD that different?
FBI admitted a few seasons back that the agency needs to be better at its monitoring of BIPOC individuals, so how does the show spend this episode acting like the FBI and their agents are eons better than the NYPD — or cops in general — when in reality, they’re not.
Tiffany tells Scola to let the NYPD have their closed circle because “cops been under siege these days.” After it is all said and done involving her nostalgia for police life, Tiffany decides she’s going to take action against the dirty cops, even if another officer won’t stand by her.
“Allegiance” never directly shares what side these characters are on, or who they think matters, as the series highlights dirty cops and the good apple in a sea of bruised ones.
Then there’s the moment Isobel sees why she’s been getting outranked by Jubal, and it’s because he’s sleeping with Rina. Deep sigh.
Rina seems to have no endgame — she spends this episode in Jubal’s presence or trying to casually make Isobel do all her work, but it only succeeds because Isobel lets it.
This is disappointing because there’s no reason Rina couldn’t be well-liked, successful, and still have a relationship with Jubal. Maybe that’s the writers’ weakness: pretty, powerful women.
Overall, this episode is just not good. It’s not horrible, but it’s nowhere near the calibre of episodes from Season 1 and 2.
Do better, FBI. We know you can.
Stray thoughts:
- It seems they’ve completely scrapped the Elise/Scola romantic plan, which means only one thing: the writers fear their power.
- “This something to… run up the flagpole?” “In this case, I am the flagpole.” Isobel supremacy!
- When Tiffany walks into the house where Ray is and straight-up asks, “Hey, you alright?” No, babes, she’s been shot.* Call an ambulance. * To be read in Juno Temple’s voice.
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FBI airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.
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Laura Wanberg
Laura is a homebody who loves everything about TV. Some of her favorite shows include Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Parks and Recreation, and The Morning Show. With her ever-growing list of new shows to watch and books to read, her favorite thing to do is to cuddle up with her cat and get lost in someone else's world.