With just three episodes left in FBI: International, it’s hard to tell how the arcs for individual of the Fly Team could end. In fact, as of FBI: International season 4, episode 19, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of wrapping up the storylines in the way that FBI: Most Wanted is managing. This makes me worried about an open ending for every member, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion.

Dick Wolf universe. One of the problems is that FBI: International season 4 wasn’t initially intended to be the last, and that meant reworking things close to the end, which is showing in the writing.

FBI: International Only Has 3 Episodes Left Before It Fully Ends

The Fly Team Has 2 More Cases To Solve

There are just three episodes of FBI: International season 4, but at the same time, there are only two storylines to come. The series finale is going to spread across two episodes, which is great for the extra action, but it means less time to wrap up individual storylines. Everything needs to be packed into those two arcs, and that’s a lot with the cases at the same time.

When it was initially announced that FBI: International season 5 wouldn’t happen, the production on the final episodes had already started. It meant that the writers had to get back to the drawing board to make sure the final episode brought a somewhat satisfying conclusion. With so many episodes already filmed and in post-production, the overall arcs couldn’t change too much, so there were some limitations.

FBI: International Is Running Out Of Time To Address All Its Remaining Plot

There Are No Endings To Arcs In Sight

One of the downsides is the lack of major moments in character storylines so far. There has been a lot of focus on Wes throughout FBI: International season 4, and while that makes sense to introduce his character, it was at the expense of too many others. Development for Raines and Amanda both professionally and personally has been pushed completely to one side, and Smitty’s personal arc is a small side plot that deserves more time to shine.

A good series finale would offer a chance for all to either gain promotions, find new roles in teams, or focus on growing personally in the location they are currently in.

Sure, Wes has mentioned that there is an opportunity for either Vo or Raines to get a GS-14 promotion, which is something that both of them want, but that puts the two of them at odds with each other for the final episodes. A good series finale would offer a chance for all to either gain promotions, find new roles in teams, or focus on growing personally in the location they are currently in.

Why It Doesn't Feel Like FBI: International Is Setting Up Its Finale

The Writers Are Doing The Best They Can With What They Had

When CBS canceled FBI: International at the beginning of March 2025, production was into its final stretch of episodes. As mentioned, this meant little time to rework episodes. Had the writers known that FBI: International season 4 would be the last, there probably wouldn’t have been as much time creating such a backstory for Wes. With so much time spent on him, it's clear that there was the intention to continue his storyline further, while later adding more development to other characters.

It's unlikely that anybody expected that the series would be canceled, as it was still performing well in the linear ratings, according to FBI spinoffs had to be canceled, most people likely thought it would be Most Wanted instead due to it sitting lower down in the average linear ratings. With all that, it’s no wonder that the writers focused on continuing growing the FBI: International characters, rather than giving them the closure they all deserve.

Source: TV Series Finale