FBI Review: Ambition (Season 4 Episode 14)

On FBI Season 4 Episode 14, “Ambition,” the show takes a minuscule step forward in its kind-of-sort-of support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and acknowledges that not all cops are good. 

First, though, OA is trained on how to be a boss by the one, the only, Rashid Bashar. Yes, you read that right, the man who illegally sought evidence on FBI Season 4 Episode 13, “Pride and Prejudice,” is giving OA career advice.

And OA is welcoming it. 

Flipping the Script (But Not in a Cool, Fun Way)

At the beginning of “Ambition,” and even about halfway through, it feels like the old FBI. It’s a journey reminiscent of back when they actually had terrorists committing acts of terrorism and hate crimes.

Using the “gotcha!” method of storytelling is something I’ll never knock — mostly because it gets me every single time — but this time, it’s an upsetting revelation.

The Black leader of an anti-gun project takes it upon herself to bring attention to her cause by bombing the building it’s located in, which is horrifying in and of itself.

But what was that reveal, finding out it was her? I know, logically, that all hate crimes and terrorist attacks are not committed by white people, but it is factual that in the Hate Crime Statistics from 2020 (released in 2021) 55.1% of known offenders were white.

FBI had better cases-of-the-week when it was writing about the loudest people in the country, regardless of if they were incorrect. 

Alas, we cannot change what’s already happened. We can only hope for it to get better. 

BLM (Except FBI Won’t Clarify Which One)

On “Ambition,” Tiffany mentions an “unspoken rule” cops have, and even though she condemns it, she also slightly defends it. When OA asks, Tiffany says she believes maybe cops need reform, but that “does not mean the men in blue do.” 

It’s unclear whether she’s referring directly to the NYPD or the FBI, but either way, the show has once again forced the ACAB/Black Lives Matter conversation onto two of the only people of color on the show. 

While white voices are not nearly as important as Black voices when it comes to this type of movement, the fact that the writing consistently allows these white characters to stay silent on the subject has not gone unnoticed by fans. 

Episode after episode, FBI chooses to take tiny steps towards making a statement either for or against police, but whether it’s the writers, the fans, or the execs at CBS, it’s taking too long to put together a real, meaningful statement. 

In Which OA Finally Acts In-Character

Thankfully, by the end of “Ambition,” OA has found the senses he lost in “Pride and Prejudice.” 

OA sticks with Tiffany through her NYPD complaint and makes it known that he’s not backing down from any type of backlash he could face because of it. I’m glad he’s actually stepping up with this and being there for Tiffany because he sure as hell wasn’t there for his Imam. 

The weakest part of the episode is, unfortunately, the partner situation. As I’ve said before, the best episodes of FBI are the ones in which Maggie and OA stick together.

Had this episode taken place Season 1, it would have made more sense. But FBI has worked so hard to differentiate itself from other crime dramas only to now be following the same type of tired, unrealistic writing that comes with an aged crime series. 

—

What did you think of this episode of FBI? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

FBI airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

13 TV Partners with Undeniable Chemistry