Warning: Contains SPOILERS for FBI season 7, episode 9.

After a two-month hiatus, FBI season 7 returned to CBS on January 28 along with its spinoff series, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted. The fall finale sees OA's friendship with Clay end in tragedy, while season 7, episode 9 shifts focus to John Boyd's character, Special Agent Stuart Scola. "Descent" forces Scola to relive the pain of his brother's death when the team "uncovers a deadly terrorist plot involving commercial flights."

Unlike in FBI season 4, the agent remains level-headed despite the case hitting close to home. Scola helps ensure that the affected planes are safely grounded, even being the one to realize that Anna is actually Verona Da Silva​​​​​​​ and working with Mina Rota. The winter premiere ends when Stuart goes home to Nina and asks her to read his letter from the mayor's office. In a much-needed moment of closure, he learns that Douglas' remains have been identified by the New York Genetic Identification Project.

ScreenRant interviews star John Boyd about Scola's surprising storyline, the relationship between Stuart and Nina, and crossover hopes with Jesse Lee Soffer's new FBI: International character.

Scola Is A "More Seasoned Agent" In FBI Season 7

"He's had a partnership. He fell in love. He's a father. He's just a more grown-up person."

ScreenRant: Before reading the script for this episode, did you think that Scola was ever going to get closure about his brother?

John Boyd: No. I never thought about it. It was such a cool thing to have Mike Weiss throw this at me and one day say, "So there's this thing. It's a real commission. It's a real thing, and they're still looking, and this is how it works."

I was really, really happy to hear that there was a way that they could find to make it new and relevant to who he is today. I didn't think it was possible to keep telling this story or find an interesting, new, fresh way to look at it and develop it more. So I was really excited to read the episode. I think it's great.

The last time there was a case of this nature, Scola had trouble separating it from what happened to his brother. What made him more level-headed this time around?

John Boyd: I think it's maturity. I think he's just developed and grown. He's had a partnership. He fell in love. He's a father. He's just a more grown-up person, and he's a more seasoned agent in the scene where he's trying to convince Da Silva​​​​​​​ to down the planes, to call it off.

He's using just a more seasoned agent's tactical method, which is to identify with her. The old Scola used anger. He was still grieving in a way that he was furious for what had happened to his brother. There's been more time. You just get a sense that it's a more grown-up Scola.

Boyd Believes FBI Season 7, Episode 9 Marks A New Chapter For Scola

"I don't know what's in store, but I know that it's really an exciting story for me."

Scola discovers Anna is Da Silva. Was Jubal questioning his judgment at all?

John Boyd: That's the great thing about Jubal. That's why he's such a great, interesting character, is he's questioning everyone all the time. Jubal will chase down any lead you give him, but it doesn't mean he doesn't have three other ideas going at the same time. So yeah, that's Jubal.

What about you? Were you worried the case would bring up some feelings Scola couldn't handle as you were reading the script?

John Boyd: No, because I knew that, at the end, there's this cathartic reading of this letter. I knew that he was going to find out. It's basically about a visit from his brother. When we lose someone, and there are no answers, there's no piece of them, there's no story, there's nothing except a giant pile of rubble. And then all of a sudden one day, he shows up in a letter, and you're too afraid to open it because you don't know what it'll mean, what it'll do to you, and then you do, and there he is.

There's such a connection. When you've lost someone, you feel them so clearly, who they were. I think that's what that moment is. He gets to connect with who his brother was and what he meant to him in a way that he just hasn't, because the guy's saying, "Look at me. I was right there the whole time."

Now that his brother's remains have been found and Scola has received closure, what does this mean for him going forward?

John Boyd: The interesting thing about closure is it's counterintuitive. It doesn't mean you close anything. It's just an opening. It's a new chapter, right? It's closure in that he knows that his brother was there, but it means all these other things that we get to explore. Could he now go into a new type of grief because he knows more about the story? Does he get a piece of clothing? What could it be that he has?

Does he have to feel it all over again? Or is he able to move through it in a way that is healthy, that he gets to honor his brother? Maybe there's a funeral. I don't know what's in store, but I know that it's really an exciting story for me. We get to find out what happened to him in that way. We get to see him. It's like he showed up in the episode. It's like he came into the episode.

Boyd Wanted Nina To Read Scola The Letter Before He Knew It Was In The Script

"I was like, 'This is so great,' because she's such an important part of Scola's story."

I love that Nina was the one who read Scola the letter. What were your thoughts on that creative choice?

John Boyd: It's so funny you ask that because when Mike Weiss told me about the episode, he told me about the 9/11 commission and how this is a real thing, and that at the end of the episode, you read the letter. We hung up the call and my mind immediately went to, "I wish Nina was reading the letter. That would be so cool if Nina read the letter."

And then I got the draft a few days later, and it had Nina reading me the letter. I was like, "This is so great," because she's such an important part of Scola's story and the vulnerability of him having to ask for help. He needs help. You can't do this stuff alone.

Are you satisfied with where Scola and Nina are in their relationship?

John Boyd: I think Scola and Nina are in a solid place. I think they've gone over the speed bumps of parenthood and agent and risk and how they raise a son together in their jobs. I think they're ready for a shake-up.

Scola doesn't have Tiffany anymore, but I love the Scola-Maggie-OA trio. Maggie and OA obviously have their own shorthand, but what do you think Scola adds to that dynamic?

John Boyd: It's fun. I think Scola is another person who will do anything for the case. Scola has that, "I don't care about the BS. We're going to do this." I think it's great. It's fun to have an extra set of hands, like, "No BS." He is fierce, sort of ferocious. He's like a dog to the bone. He wants it, he's going after it. So I think that's fun. He adds that.

Fans Will Learn More About Scola's Past In An FBI Episode

"It's really heavy, really dark, and it's a more mature, seasoned Scola navigating through some serious stuff in his past."

I was actually thinking how cool it would be to see Scola interact with Jesse Lee Soffer's new character on FBI: International. Is that something you would want in a potential crossover?

John Boyd: Yeah, of course. Jesse's obviously an amazing guy. He's been doing this forever, and that's such a great show, and they've been amazing this season. I've watched a bunch of it. It's so exciting. We're always open. I love a good crossover. You know me, I'm always down for another global crossover event. Haven't been to Budapest, you know, but I'm available.

Do you have a favorite episode that you think will resonate with fans?

John Boyd: Yeah, there's an episode we're doing right now. I can't say too much about it, but we find out that because Scola was a bit wild as a teenager, his parents sent him to a military school upstate. And we find out about some things that happened up there during the case.

It's a really interesting episode. It's really heavy, really dark, and it's a more mature, seasoned Scola navigating through some serious stuff in his past. I can't wait for the fans to see it. I think it's going to be pretty powerful.

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About FBI Season 7 On CBS

From Emmy Award Winner Dick Wolf

FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.

Check out our most recent FBI interviews below:

• Christina Wolfe
• Jay Hayden
• Jesse Lee Soffer
• Roxy Sternberg
• Shantel VanSanten
• Vinessa Vidotto
• Zeeko Zaki

FBI airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and is available to stream next-day on Paramount+.