When CBS officially pulled the plug on FBI: International earlier this year, fans were stunned. The third series in Dick Wolf’s expanding FBI franchise had carved out a loyal audience — blending global action, cross-border intrigue, and emotionally charged storytelling. But with FBI Season 8 now in full swing, it’s becoming clear that canceling International might have been one of the network’s biggest missteps yet.
A Franchise Built on Global Reach
From the very beginning, FBI: International brought something fresh to the franchise. While the flagship FBI handled domestic threats and FBI: Most Wanted hunted fugitives across the U.S., International expanded the universe — giving viewers a look at how global operations tie into national security.
Led by Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester, the Fly Team’s mission took them from Budapest to Berlin to Istanbul, tackling crimes that blurred jurisdictional lines and moral boundaries. It was procedural storytelling with a cinematic edge — and fans loved it.
“International had a texture that made the franchise feel bigger,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “It wasn’t just another crime show — it was a global perspective on justice.”
Season 8 of FBI Shows the Gap
Now, as FBI Season 8 unfolds, the absence of International is being felt more than ever. Episode 2, in particular, underscored how much the Fly Team’s expertise once contributed to the larger FBI universe.
In “Global Threat,” Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and OA (Zeeko Zaki) investigate a string of cyberattacks originating overseas — a storyline that would have seamlessly connected to Forrester’s team. Without them, the episode had to rely on exposition-heavy dialogue and off-screen mentions of “our European counterparts.”
It worked, but barely. What could have been a crossover thriller instead became a reminder of what’s missing: the interconnected storytelling that FBI: International made possible.
“We used to feel like all these worlds were tied together,” a fan noted on X (formerly Twitter). “Now it feels like part of the puzzle is gone.”
Why International Was More Than Just a Spinoff
While some viewed FBI: International as the “third wheel” of the franchise, its narrative and tone filled a crucial niche. The show tackled themes that the other two couldn’t — cultural diplomacy, human trafficking, global terrorism, and the emotional toll of working in constant motion.
Characters like Jaeger (Christiane Paul) and Raines (Carter Redwood) brought unique moral and emotional depth, balancing Forrester’s stoic leadership. The show was also praised for its commitment to authenticity — shooting on location across Europe and incorporating multilingual dialogue.
Critics pointed out that the series was evolving beyond standard procedural fare. In its third season, it began exploring the cost of justice on a global scale, asking tough questions about jurisdiction, ethics, and identity.
Canceling it just as it found its footing felt, to many, like network short-sightedness.
The Ratings Tell a Different Story
CBS justified FBI: International’s cancellation by citing scheduling logistics and the desire to streamline the franchise. However, the numbers tell a more complicated story.
While FBI: International averaged slightly fewer live viewers than FBI or Most Wanted, its streaming performance on Paramount+ and international syndication deals were remarkably strong. According to Nielsen data from spring 2025, the series ranked among CBS’s top 10 most-watched dramas when factoring in delayed and online viewing.
“International was never a flop — it was just underappreciated,” wrote TVLine. “Its audience was younger, more global, and more digital — exactly the kind CBS claims to want.”
Missed Crossover Potential
Another reason fans are lamenting the loss is the missed opportunity for more crossover storytelling. The FBI franchise thrives when its shows interact — characters like Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) and Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza) have appeared across all three series, linking storylines and emotional arcs.
With International gone, those moments are rare. The global stakes that once elevated domestic cases now feel confined. Viewers can’t help but wonder what could have been — especially after FBI Season 8’s hints at foreign cybercrime, black-market arms deals, and transnational conspiracies.
“The world of FBI feels smaller now,” a longtime viewer posted on Facebook. “Without the Fly Team, it’s like the Bureau lost its passport.”
The Human Factor: Why the Fly Team Mattered
What truly made FBI: International special wasn’t just its action sequences or global scale — it was the people. Forrester’s team felt like a family forged through shared danger and isolation.
Audiences connected with the emotional threads — Forrester’s search for his missing mother, Raines’ crisis of conscience, and Vo’s (Heida Reed) evolution into a leader in her own right. These arcs gave International a heart that transcended its procedural structure.
When CBS announced the cancellation, the cast shared heartfelt messages on social media, thanking fans for their loyalty. Luke Kleintank’s post summed it up best:
“We set out to tell stories about courage across borders — and in the end, that courage came from our fans.”
How FBI Could Bring International Back
All hope isn’t lost. Insiders suggest that CBS and Wolf Entertainment are considering limited crossovers or guest appearances from International characters in future FBI episodes.
A recent report from Deadline hinted that Carter Redwood and Heida Reed might reprise their roles in a two-part event later this season — a potential setup for a revival or streaming spinoff.
If that happens, it would be a strategic move. The appetite for interconnected TV universes remains strong, and fans clearly want closure for the Fly Team.
The Bottom Line
FBI Season 8 proves how vital FBI: International was to the franchise’s heartbeat. Its absence is felt in every mention of global crime and every off-screen ally that once had a face and a story.
The Fly Team gave FBI something rare — perspective. It reminded viewers that justice doesn’t stop at borders and that heroism often comes at a personal cost.
As one fan perfectly put it:
“You can cancel a show, but you can’t cancel the impact it had.”
With fans still campaigning online and storylines begging for international depth, maybe the Bureau’s passport isn’t stamped for the last time. Until then, FBI Season 8 stands as proof that sometimes, the world just feels smaller without the team that dared to chase justice across it.
