FBI Star Reveals SURPRISE Guest Return!

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The TV series “FBI: International,” despite being in its fourth season, has seen an unusual amount of key cast changes. However, a recent episode slated for 2025’s TV lineup demonstrated once more that the departure of a character doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t reappear. In the “Veritas Fidelis” episode, when Smitty required help to solve a case that had personal implications, she turned to no one but Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, making an unexpected return for the show courtesy of former regular actor Christiane Paul. Eva-Jane Willis explained how they managed to bring Jaeger back onto the show, and I’m thrilled that it was a surprise for viewers.

International, departed from the show. Her character moved back to Europol and paved the way for Smitty to join the Fly Team in her place. The actress reappeared as a special guest star in Season 2, but CBS managed to keep secret her participation in the significant “Smitty” episode that was aired on February 11.

During my conversation with Eva-Jane Willis regarding her character’s homecoming in the U.K., she explained what a delight it was for her that Smitty sought assistance from Jaeger. Even before watching the episode, Willis expressed:

It’s truly delightful having her on screen again, considering she was the one who initially introduced Smitty to the team. The uncertainty about Smitty’s future in Episode 10, followed by Katrin seemingly edging towards a more rebellious path in Episode 11, creates a sense of closure. This is a joyous surprise for me and I hope the viewers too. Christiane delivers a remarkable performance, making her character captivating to watch. I’m eagerly anticipating what happens next.

In the following episode, Smitty switched from giving up her spot on the Fly Team to allow Tyler Booth to stay, to bending rules to catch criminals at her former university. Thus, 2025 began quite dramatically for the agent! (You can stream both episodes with a Paramount+ subscription now.) She sought help from Jaeger when a murder suspect attempted to elude U.K. prosecution by fleeing to Germany. Undeniably, Jaeger came through, even in the face of intimidation by the killer’s father!

In the episode, it wasn’t shown that Jaeger, who played a crucial role in saving the day from Germany, met up with the rest of the Fly Team either in the U.K. or Budapest before the end of the episode. This leads one to wonder if there was any interaction between the cast and Christiane Paul, given her character was based in another country. However, Eva-Jane Willis shed light on how the FBI: International team managed to collaborate effectively despite the distance: “Did they interact with Christiane Paul?” is a question that might have arisen due to Jaeger’s remote location in the episode, but Eva-Jane Willis explained how the team worked together seamlessly.

As a movie critic, I must confess, I found myself dealing with two distinct segments of production. Unfortunately, our paths didn’t cross during filming; she was off in Germany capturing her scenes, while I remained in Budapest to shoot other parts of the film. This geographical separation means I’m genuinely excited to see their collaboration when I finally watch it, as I’ve no idea what wonders they’ve created together. It’s thrilling indeed that Smitty and Katrin have teamed up in this episode to bring down the villain. What a satisfying conclusion!

Just as FBI: International traveled to Christiane Paul’s homeland Germany for her Season 2 episode, a crew went to Germany to film her part of this Season 4 installment. Unlike before, none of her regular co-stars from the series were involved in this shoot. Although we didn’t see the Europol agents interacting physically in this episode, I mentioned my appreciation for the suggestion that Smitty and Jaeger maintain contact off-screen, to which Eva-Jane Willis replied:

Each time Smitty talks to her, it’s almost like she tells him, ‘I’ve got one in the bank for you. I owe you a round.’ [laughs] It seems certain that they’ll eventually go out for that drink. I have no doubt about it. However, the concept of Smitty owing her extends beyond just helping her with cases; it’s about the role she now holds in the team as well.

It’s uncertain whether Smitty and Jaeger will develop a friendship during their drinks by the end of Season 4, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Also, the appearance of Christiane Paul offers some optimism for other past “International” cast members to make occasional appearances. The absence of Luke Kleintank might imply he won’t return due to Forrester’s disappearance, but Kellett was still alive and active when Heida Reed left in Season 3. Tyler Booth parting ways with the Fly Team to spend more time with his daughter in the U.S. hints that he may not be keen on moving permanently to Budapest, however, I would welcome Jay Hayden’s return again.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m excitedly urging you all to stay tuned every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. The captivating series, FBI: International, takes center stage between the gripping FBI at 8 p.m. ET and the relentlessly grizzly FBI: Most Wanted at 10 p.m. ET. The intriguing character of Eva-Jane Willis’ Smitty, who seems to be growing more adept at bending rules akin to Wes Mitchell, promises an enticing narrative evolution in Season 4. Don’t miss out on the action!

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2025-02-19 03:37