FBI Review: Under Pressure (Season 4 Episode 12)
On FBI Season 4 Episode 12, “Under Pressure,” Maggie goes undercover, and OA worries like any husband would.
I do, logically, recognize that Maggie and OA are not a couple, but if CBS isn’t going to give it to me, I simply have to insert my delusions wherever I see fit. This review is one of those places.
I hate to say it because I love Scola and Tiffany, but FBI is at its best when they place OA and Maggie in the forefront.
Maybe We Should Stop Sending Maggie Undercover?
Now, this is just a thought, and I am no FBI writer, but maybe, just maybe, let’s send someone undercover who hasn’t had to witness the brutal murder of a civilian they were trying to protect?
Scola doesn’t have that much trauma; send him next time.
Missy Peregrym comes in hot on “Under Pressure,” her eyes conveying what she cannot say directly, and her chemistry with scene partner Zeeko Zaki takes it in stride, rebounding off of her perfectly.
Pictured (L-R): Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, Taylor Anthony Miller as Kelly Moran, and Vedette Lim as Elise Taylor. Photo: David M. Russell/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
“Under Pressure” has lots of outside chatter, with characters who are not necessarily part of the principal or recurring cast becoming the center of a scene.
A good instance of this happening is when we find out that Kelly comes from a farm family because wow, how are we four seasons in, and we barely know anything about him? So, give us more Kelly and Elise!
Unfortunately, where there are good moments also comes the not-so-good.
The scenes are not bad enough to ruin the whole flow of the episode, but it dissects the episodic arc into separate chunks instead of creating a smooth flow.
Maggie Bell AKA Derek Morgan
As someone who has watched almost every season of Criminal Minds (and yes, I am actively seeking therapy), I recognized Maggie jumping into the exploding truck and driving away from the scene because it happened on Criminal Minds.
When it happens on FBI, though, it still seems unique and fresh because you know that, like Morgan, Maggie is doing it from her heart, and not because she wants accolades for it.
Once the bomb does explode, and OA makes his way to Maggie (after screaming her name in such a heartbreaking way), they discuss how she feels about her last undercover stint.
During a scene towards the end, Maggie and OA both have tears in their eyes of relief and maybe a little bit of hidden emotion from Maggie.
Pictured: Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom’ OA’ Zidan. Photo: David M. Russell/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
It is the perfect moment to let partners of four years — people who know each other in and out — hug. And instead, they awkwardly stand there as the camera pans out.
I have accepted (outwardly, as we know) that FBI will never allow OA and Maggie to get together, but friends hug all the time, especially after one nearly gets blown up!
It is time to let our agents hug. I think it’s been long enough without one.
For the most part, “Under Pressure” is a solid episode with a solid case. It is technically a good episode of television, but as a fan, I would’ve loved to see more come from Maggie being undercover for two and a half weeks, ending with her almost blown up.
A Maggie/OA hug; Maggie, Tiffany, OA, and Scola at a bar celebrating the fact that a bunch of civilians didn’t get blown up; even Maggie going home and having a good cry.
There are enough crime dramas on television — if I wanted to watch a generic crime drama, I could find another show to watch. However, I, and so many others, love FBI because of its characters.
Show us more about them, off the job. We know that none of these agents are really, truly, married to their work, so show us that.
Stray Thoughts:
- Maggie and OA leaving a bar full of patrons with nobody behind the counter is the funniest, most ridiculous thing this show has ever done.
- Out of all the creative names series must create to avoid copyright, DoorHopper is a pretty good one. Only in my world, this is a service for when I want Jim Hopper from Stranger Things to show up at my door ASAP.
- Like, you have to be for real scum to target a homeless shelter. Man. I’m glad they’re all going to prison.
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What did you think of this episode of FBI? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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FBI airs Tuesday 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.