FBI Review: Fire and Rain (Season 4 Episode 8)

On FBI Season 4 Episode 8, “Fire and Rain,” Scola steps dangerously close to crossing the line as Tiffany tries to help him through this latest conflict. 

Plus, Janel Moloney guest stars as Hannah and swiftly becomes one of the best guest stars the show has ever had. 

Dating a Killer: A Waking Nightmare

If it is ever revealed that I’m dating or married to a killer, I would like to find out as they are killing me. I do not want to live with that embarrassment and trauma.

Hannah, though? Poor girl doesn’t have a choice. 

Scola connecting with Hannah is sweet at first. Then, however, it’s clear that Scola has taken this case to the next level on his own, and it quickly becomes hostile. 

In comparison to usual guest stars on FBI, Janel Moloney is a beautiful breath of fresh air as she knocks it out of the park. Likewise, all of Hannah’s reactions feel genuine, not overacted or emphasized. We’re lucky to have her. 

Win a Date With Single, Traumatized Stuart Scola!

Scola runs entirely off the rails on “Fire and Rain.” Although these actions should help his character progression, it feels as if the series has added this to up the episode’s stakes. 

Before discussing the weird, repetitive scenes between Tiffany and Scola, let me begin with Scola himself. 

In a scene between Scola and Isobel, she tells him that she knows it’s an emotional case for him as the suspects are planning a terrorist attack more significant than 9/11. Maybe it’s just me, but shouldn’t this make everyone emotional?

It is emphasized this event will kill thousands of Americans, but only Scola seems to be upset about it.

What he does isn’t right by any means, and hopefully, we get to see Scola himself acknowledge that soon, but the fact that he’s the only one in the room begging Hannah for information is odd.

Using a suspect’s family member as leverage isn’t unheard of, but Scola takes this man into a basement with a bomb and doesn’t even apologize. Dude, what? You have traumatized that man!

At least offer him a therapy session on the bureau. Sheesh.

Know Thyself… Again?

On FBI Season 4 Episode 4, “Know Thyself,” we see a new side of Scola and Tiffany’s partnership when they agree to open up to each other more often. 

“Fire and Rain” is a fascinating look at that — even if it lacks much of what Scola and Tiffany discussed. For example, “Know Thyself” was about the fact that they don’t often open up to each other, and “Fire and Rain” echoes those same sentiments.

Tiffany: Come on, dig deep.

Scola: That’s not really my thing.

Cool, sure, but we just discussed this! Tiffany lets Scola know why she thinks he’s holding back, and then — the episode ends. 

Look, I have come to terms with OA and Maggie never getting together, but to bring up Scola’s dating life and then have nothing come of it?

I’m not expecting this series to find him a girlfriend (or boyfriend) in 42 minutes, but if I have to see Rina and Jubal together, can’t I get just a tiny smidge of Elise and Scola? In season three, the chemistry was there, and the writers never acted on it. So now is your chance; let Scola open up to Elise! 

Overall, “Fire and Rain” is not a bad episode, but it’s not a very good one either. It’s just fine. Hopefully, the midseason finale will be a better episode. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Hannah giving a man she’s known for six months $30,000 is something my brain cannot comprehend.
• Am I really that out of the game that I didn’t know 40-somethings have Snapchat? 
• “It’s gonna make 9/11 look like a picnic” is such a strange line in a script, and it definitely did not need to be added.

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FBI airs Tuesday at 8/9c on CBS.

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