The major death that kicked off FBI season 8 gets an explanation from showrunner Mike Weiss. Heading into new episodes of the popular police procedural, there were a lot of questions about whether Isobel Castille (Alana de la Garza) would survive. She collapsed in the FBI season 7 finale, leaving her fate uncertain.
But despite speculation over the summer that the team would lose its leader, the new season of the CBS drama featured a different death altogether. Special Agent Dani Rhodes (played by recurring guest star Emily Alabi) dies with her partner, Stuart Scola (John Boyd), by her side.
In an interview with TV Insider, Weiss explains the decision to kill off Dani. In particular, Weiss explains that the death will impact Scola for some time to come. Check out Weiss’ explanation below:
Losing a partner is always a tough thing. And Scola is going to be feeling the loss of Dani for a while. But Scola joined the FBI after the loss of his brother. He’s a character who finds ways to grow and honor everyone he’s lost in his daily life as an agent. It’s what makes him an extraordinary asset to the team.
When asked whether there was any serious consideration about killing Isobel off, the showrunner shoots down that possibility and says in part: “We love Alana and her character so much, we never considered writing her off the show.” Still, Weiss notes that the writers were excited about the opportunity to keep Isobel away from the office for a time and see how the team functions without her.
BI’s season 8 debut accomplishes this by allowing Isobel to recover in the hospital. As for Rhodes, it was announced that Alabi would be leaving the series after recurring in a handful of episodes during season 7. It was noted, however, that Alabi would appear for season 8’s opener to close out her character’s arc.
It’s now clear that Dani’s death will have a longer impact on Scola, not to mention Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and OA (Zeeko Zaki). It is a continuation of Scola’s revolving door of partners, which started when Katherine Renee Kane made her exit as Special Agent Tiffany Wallace in season 7.
Law & Order: SVU alum Juliana Aidén Martinez is joining FBI season 8. Martinez previously portrayed Detective Kate Silva for a single season on Law & Order: SVU, with both franchises produced by Wolf Entertainment. Regardless of how she fits into the team, or potentially doesn’t, her arrival will be colored by the guilt that Scola carries over Dani’s loss in the shocking FBI return and the struggle to replace Tiffany Wallace.
