The final episode of FBI in the 2024 TV schedule left fans reeling. Special Agent OA Zidan faced one of the most personal and painful cases of his career when he discovered that his old Army friend, Clay, had betrayed him. Played by Chicago Med alum Guy Lockard, Clay revealed his true colors in the fall finale, attempting to flee with stolen gold. The confrontation ended in tragedy when OA was forced to pull the trigger, killing the man who once saved his life.
In an exclusive conversation with CinemaBlend, Zeeko Zaki opened up about the fallout for OA, the emotional weight of the fight scene, and the challenges of filming Season 7’s second half in 2025.
A Fight With Personal Stakes
Although OA has faced countless dangerous situations in FBI, this time was different. He suspected Clay might turn against him—what Zaki described as his “spider senses tingling”—but his character desperately wanted to believe in the loyalty of a friend who had once risked everything to rescue him during their Army days.
“It wasn’t choreographed differently,” Zaki explained of the climactic fight. “But the motivation was different. I wasn’t fighting to kill him—I was fighting to knock some sense into him. When lives are on the line, OA knows where he stands. But with a friend, the gloves come off in a different way.”
Ultimately, OA had no choice but to shoot Clay, a decision that left him shaken. He rushed to his fallen comrade’s side, hoping against hope that Clay might still be alive. Later, he admitted to Maggie that while he knew he did what had to be done, the moment would stay with him.
“Not Everything Works Out”
Zaki acknowledged the emotional toll of the finale: “It was tough. OA succeeds at most of what he does, but not being able to talk his friend down is going to affect him. It’s a reminder that we’re all human, and not everything works out the way we want it to.”
The episode, titled Riptide, highlighted the internal conflict of a man caught between duty and personal loyalty. Zaki suggested the experience will linger with OA moving forward: “It has to. His military and Bureau background make him good at compartmentalizing, but this isn’t something that goes away easily. I’m excited to see how the writers choose to play it in the future.”
Looking Ahead to Season 7’s Return
While the emotional fallout continues on screen, behind the scenes the cast is already deep into production. Zaki revealed that filming had reached Episode 12, with scripts for Episode 13 in hand. If Season 7 follows the typical 22-episode order, the team is just over the halfway point.
Filming in New York’s winter has also brought its own challenges. Zaki, however, found a silver lining: “Mostly it’s the cold. It hurts, but it makes you present. It brings another layer to the characters, and I think it really shows on screen. The suffering adds an edge that helps the work.”
Waiting for the Winter Episodes
With FBI on hiatus until January 27, fans will have to wait a little longer to see how OA processes the aftermath of the finale. Unlike some of CBS’s other shows, FBI skipped a holiday-themed episode, instead leaving viewers with one of the most dramatic and personal cliffhangers yet.
As the 2025 TV schedule unfolds, OA’s journey promises to test him in new ways—both as an agent and as a man grappling with the cost of duty. For Zeeko Zaki, it’s another chance to show the humanity beneath the badge, proving why FBI remains one of CBS’s most gripping dramas.
