‘I Can’t Believe You Guys Wrote That!’ FBI’s John Boyd Talks Scola Revisiting A Major Loss And The EP’s Plan For Nina Crossing Over

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In the 2025 TV lineup, FBI Season 7 will make its return to CBS over a month since the harrowing fall finale of OA. The winter premiere, titled “Descent,” airs on January 28, and it’s set to bring Scola into the heart of the action as memories of his brother’s death during the 9/11 attacks resurface due to a terrorist plot involving commercial flights. Shantel VanSanten, known from FBI: Most Wanted, is joining the cast as Nina, while actor John Boyd recently shared with TopMob about the intense challenges Scola faces and his anticipation for what executive producer/showrunner Mike Weiss has in store for the Scolina storyline.

The upcoming winter premiere finds the team grappling with a predicament as they delve into the mysterious demise of an assistant U.S. attorney, which could eventually lead to a frantic race to thwart a terroristic menace. This appears to be one of those crises tailor-made for the expertise of a fictional FBI and CIA alliance, should the proposed spinoff get a green light. Given Scola’s ongoing emotional turmoil due to his brother’s death over 100 episodes in John Boyd, it’s no wonder he’ll be preoccupied with thoughts about his loss. (For those who wish to revisit earlier episodes showcasing Scola’s grief over his brother’s passing, a Paramount+ subscription is available.)

Inquiring about what Scola requires in a partner following Tiff’s departure, I also probed John Boyd about the significance of “Descent” for the winter premiere of FBI. To this, he responded:

This situation is particularly grave. We’re confronting one of America’s most devastating crises in our nation’s timeline. It mirrors the events of 9/11, involving the hijacking of airplanes and a determined effort to foil a terrorist organization from commandeering navigation systems and causing further destruction by crashing planes into targets. This topic remains sensitive for many Americans. In other words, it was an intense production. I believe we’ve done a good job portraying it, and I hope people appreciate our efforts, but yes, the implications are significant.

Absolutely, not only does the FBI operate primarily in New York, but they also frequently film there. Consequently, it’s not surprising that an episode with such a topic would be “challenging to film.” I inquired whether shooting in the city adds an extra layer of intensity, and Boyd, who is from NYC, confirmed that it does indeed make episodes like this more impactful.

Every time I gaze upon lower Manhattan’s skyline, my thoughts automatically drift to that specific event, a feeling I haven’t found absent in all these years. It might be because I’m portraying this character, or simply because the sight is so deeply ingrained in him and his life here, but it still resonates profoundly, as it should for Scola. While it’s a sensitive topic for him, I believe he finds growth from this case, manages to navigate through it, and ultimately achieves some closure. I think it makes for an engaging personal storyline for him, and I can hardly wait for our fans and the audience to witness it.

It has been some time since the FBI delved into Scola’s emotions surrounding his brother’s death, but both John Boyd’s series and FBI: Most Wanted frequently focus on Baby Dougie, who is named after Scola’s son in Douglas’ honor. As a procedural show, FBI usually doesn’t emphasize ongoing emotional narratives like this one, and Boyd discussed the opportunity to revisit it.

In a thrilling turn of events, my spirits soared when Mike [Weiss] shared details about the upcoming episode. At the start, there’s an unopened letter on Scola’s desk that we later learn he had been avoiding. After delving into the case, Scola finds himself in a different mindset. He manages to seek Nina’s assistance and confront the contents of the letter. Given his advanced experience, I believe Scola has matured over time. I don’t think the loss of his brother still consumes him with anger as it once did. Previously, when we discussed this topic, he was still deeply affected by the pain, but becoming a father and having a partner seems to have helped him cope better. This scene represents a poignant, healing moment for Scola, allowing him to grieve and connect with someone he loved, an experience I hope our viewers can resonate with.

It seems that Scola will find Nina particularly helpful at this juncture, given that Shantel VanSanten is transitioning from FBI: Most Wanted just before its winter premiere. Previously, John Boyd was on Most Wanted, and now it’s VanSanten’s turn to join the cast of FBI. The actor spoke highly of collaborating with VanSanten once more, as well as the plans of the executive producer and writers for their reunion.

I was overjoyed when I found out that Mike Weiss and the writers included Nina in the episode, as they hadn’t mentioned her involvement initially. They shared with me a fascinating 9/11 commission-related story, and I couldn’t help but think how great it would be if Nina read that letter to Scola at the end of the episode. As it turned out, my thoughts were spot on, as they wrote exactly what I had hoped for! Mike already had the idea, so when I learned about it, I was thrilled and exclaimed my amazement to him. It was a delight having Shantel in the show; she truly is wonderful.

Boyd didn’t reveal all the details about FBI‘s first episode of the new year, but “Descent” promises to be a highly suspenseful episode for both the agents involved and Scola, as it stirs up memories connected to his brother. To get a sneak peek at the main case, take a look at Jubal and his team delving into the available information.

Don’t forget to catch CBS next Tuesday, January 28th at 8 p.m. ET. You won’t want to miss the winter premiere of FBI Season 7! Stick around for more action starting at 9 p.m. ET with the return of FBI: International Season 4 and then tune in again at 10 p.m. ET for FBI: Most Wanted Season 6. Actress Missy Peregrym, who plays on FBI: Most Wanted, will rejoin her team later in the night as her character’s storyline didn’t end with a cliffhanger. However, fans of FBI: International will be left wondering about Vinessa Vidotto’s character, Vo, as her fate remains uncertain.

If you want to catch up or remind yourself of the plotlines, you can stream the fall finales of all three shows on Paramount+. After they are broadcasted on CBS, you’ll also be able to watch the winter premieres there.

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2025-01-28 05:37