The FBI franchise has a bad habit of writing out beloved characters with little thought for viewers invested in their storylines. The original series has kept a good portion of its initial cast intact, with only Sela Ward and Ebonée Noel departing early in FBI’s run. However, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International haven’t been nearly as fortunate, experiencing higher cast turnover. In recent years, characters such as Scott Forrester (Luke Kleintank), Kristin Gaines (Alexa Davalos), and many more have escaped the FBI franchise.
As a result, the successful connected universe has given millions of disappointing characters final arcs. One of the biggest issues is the way the goodbyes are handled. They often take place off-screen, which fails to give viewers and the other characters closure. Sometimes the exits feel rushed or don’t suit the character leaving, making their departure feel jarring rather than satisfying.
Scott Forrester – FBI: International
Luke Kleintank has been on the show since season 1
Luke Kleintank’s Scott Forrester was the main attraction of the first three seasons of FBI: International. Forrester was the glue that held the Fly Team together, helping them through harrowing missions. He was always approachable during the most trying times, giving him a connection to many of the characters. However, Kleintank withdrew the show near the end of season 3, and Forrester’s exit left a lot to be desired. Instead of receiving a proper goodbye, the team found out after the fact that he left to help his missing mother.
Given Forrester’s major role on the show, it’s disappointing that more time wasn’t devoted to his exit onscreen. It doesn’t help that Forrester was missing from several season 3 episodes due to a solo mission, which already made audiences feel he was being sidelined. It is worth keeping in mind that Forrester’s exit is still recent, and more explanation will likely be given about where he ends up. However, as Kleintank’s final episode has already aired, all of that will happen without Forrester there.
It’s possible the producers went for an intentional lowkey exit in case Kleintank wants to come back in the future. However, there’s a chance the actor won’t be interested in an encore, which doesn’t change the fact that Forrester deserved an emotionally satisfying onscreen goodbye.
Jamie Kellett – FBI: International
Heida Reed’s exit wasn’t a surprise
Jamie Kellett’s (Heida Reed) fate was left in the air at the end of FBI: International season 2 due to an explosion at the team’s headquarters. Months before the season 3 premiere, it was revealed that Reed was exiting the series, with both the actors and producers framing it as an amicable decision.
Jamie was present in the season premiere, but the episode rushed her arc to a close, with Jamie revealing near the end of the episode that she was transferred to the Washington, D.C. school office. With so many characters directly affected by the explosion, the episode had too much ground to cover while trying to prepare a final storyline for one of its main characters. Like Forrester, Jamie was a key part of FBI: International’s initial success and deserved more. She was innovative and resilient and helped the team out of millions of sticky situations.
Now that Kleintank has also walked away from the show, it would have made far more sense to have Jamie and Forrester leave the team together. Their relationship was a big part of the initial seasons, but the series lost sight of it and dragged them apart. Departing as a couple could have been an excellent bookend to their respective arcs. Hopefully, this will be remedied in the future, even if it’s just a line of dialogue from one of their team members about them reconnecting.
Jess LaCroix – FBI: Most Wanted
Julian McMahon got a brutal final arc
FBI: Most Wanted has faced the biggest issues keeping its cast intact, losing many series regulars who were with the show from the beginning. When Julian McMahon announced his departure from the hit procedural drama, it was because he was ready to pursue other projects, theorized giving producers ample time to craft an ending befitting of the character.
Despite FBI: Most Wanted setting up great strides in Jess’ personal life, the series chose to kill him off as he and the rest of his team pursued a serial killer. His death is arguably the most shocking moment in the entire FBI franchise, partly because it came midway through season 3, rather than in a finale. The impact on his team was instantly felt, but then his daughter moved away, and Dylan McDermott’s Remy Scott replaced him. McDermott is a phenomenal actor but was set up for failure because the series effectively wiped Jess LaCroix from existence.
A more satisfying way to handle Jess’ final arc would have been to establish Remy as a friend and confidante who helped the team with a mission or two. Jess could have left the team of his own volition to focus on being a father and pursuing a less risky career. The first three seasons established Jess as someone who rarely slowed down, so allowing him to settle down and find happiness would have been more than satisfying. It would also have introduced viewers to Remy previously, which would have made the transition between leads more seamless.
Kenny Crosby – FBI: Most Wanted
Kellan Lutz’ goodbye wasn’t grounded in reality
Kellan Lutz leaves FBI: Most Wanted in 2021, but Kenny Crosby’s final episode played out with the show relying too heavily on shock value. Kenny embarked on a dangerous mission to find a fellow veteran he served alongside in the Army. Just when it seemed the mission to apprehend him was going to plan, Kenny was shot by the suspect. The episode strongly implied he wouldn’t pull through in the aftermath. Fortunately, Kenny survived and wound up going back to his parents’ house in Oklahoma.
Even though Kenny lived, the show’s decision to put a beloved character through such an ordeal was forced and unnecessary. Like Jess, Kenny was one of the original characters of FBI: Most Wanted, and it could be argued that mishandling his final arc has had longterm consequences for the show. Kenny brought a lightness to the team through his humor, making it even more sad that he got such a dark farewell.
Although Kenny was fiercely devoted to his team, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had chosen to leave for an undetermined amount of time. Given what he went through, a break would have been necessary before he returned to work, but that’s not what happened. The only positive is that Kenny is alive and well somewhere in the FBI universe, so the opportunity is there to bring him back if Lutz is interested in returning. If anything, it would be interesting to see Kenny react to the changes in the team since his departure.
Kristin Gaines – FBI: Most Wanted
Alexa Davalos learned she had been let go while filming her final scene
Kristin Gaines (Alexa Davalos) is yet another FBI: Most Wanted actor to depart the franchise, with her exit coming before season 5. Despite initially struggling to find her place in the team, Kristin was great at her job and was praised by viewers for her tenacity. As a replacement for Kenny Crosby, there were high expectations, but she brought a unique perspective to her cases. Kristin’s relationship with Remy was also a strong point. She helped bring out sides of the team leader that didn’t seem possible, allowing him to better connect with his fellow agents.
Unfortunately, Kristin was given an off-screen exit after Davalos reported learned she would not return to the show while filming FBI: Most Wanted season 4. On-screen, details were kept to the bare minimum, with Remy revealing he had gone through two replacements for Kristin because no one could match her expertise and warmth.
Viewers were disappointed they didn’t get to share an on-screen goodbye, and the lack of answers makes it one of FBI: Most Wanted’s oddest exits. However, Kristin is still alive in the FBI franchise, so the show could improve her disappointing farewell by bringing Davalos back for one last arc.
Trevor Hobbs – FBI
Rosawn Franklin’s shocking final storyline was undeserved
The original FBI has managed to keep most of its cast intact, but one of its most polarizing departures is Trevor Hobbs (Roshawn Franklin), who got killed off in the FBI season 6 premiere. Ahead of the episode’s airing, there were rumors that a beloved character would perish. Hobbs was the kind of person who always exercised caution and consciously tried not to go into dangerous situations. However, the writing was on the wall for him when Jubal told Tiffany she needed to be more assertive in the field.
As an FBI agent, Jubal thought she needed to grow and be comfortable with her decisions. She couldn’t continue rising the ranks if she didn’t make risky decisions that reaped big rewards. As a result, Tiffany put Hobbs undercover and urged him to follow a suspect into a bathroom, but the story took a shocking turn when the suspect shot him dead. It’s unfortunate that the writers felt the only way to prop up Tiffany’s arc was to have her put one of her closest friends in danger.
Tiffany’s survivor’s guilt in the aftermath was well handled, but FBI could have handled such a pivotal development with more grace. It was yet another shock-value death that made little sense in the long run for the show. Hobbs was effectively forgotten a few episodes later, cheapening both his valuable role on the show and his death. Franklin had been with FBI as a fan favorite recurring character for five years, and he deserved a more impactful exit than being killed off to advance another character’s story.
FBI seasons 1-6 are available to stream on Paramount+.
