Going into a crime series, we know that deaths happen. In fact, earlier in FBI, Kristen Chazal’s (Ebonée Noel) life was on the line, and at the time, we feared that a death would happen — and at this point in the story, a death would have made sense. However, in the FBI season 7 finale, another life is put in jeopardy, as Isobel (Alana de la Garza) suddenly collapses at the very end of the episode.
This would mark the first main character death for the entire flagship FBI series, and the death at this point makes no sense. It would be different if Alana de la Garza wanted to leave the series, but there have been no hints of that being the case. So, it would mean Isobel’s death would be purely for creative reasons, and it’s certain to lead to a downfall for the series if the writers go this route.
FBI Season 7 Ending Left Isobel’s Fate In Limbo
Isobel Should Have Sought Medical Attention During The FBI Season 7 Finale
At the very end of the FBI season 7 finale, Isobel collapses in the middle of a speech. She struggles to breathe, and Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) notes that there is no pulse. We go into FBI season 8 with questions about Isobel’s fate, and whether she can be resuscitated or will be written out of the series.
This crisis will likely be linked to the explosion that happened earlier in the episode. Isobel is standing right next to one of the casualties, and she decides not to get herself checked out by medical staff, as she wants to make it look like she is dead temporarily. That explosion could have led to clots or smoke inhalation damage.
Isobel’s Death Will Be The First Major Casualty In FBI
Main Characters Have Only Exited With The Chance To Return
While there have certainly been deaths in the flagship FBI series, we haven’t seen the death of a main character. Yes, there have been some close calls, such as when FBI‘s Kristen Chazal was stabbed in the neck by an assailant. Maggie (Missy Peregrym) was also almost killed off when she was trapped in a room with gas. Meanwhile, FBI: Most Wanted did kill off Jess LaCroix, but that was due to Julian McMahon wanting to leave the series, and it happened in the third season.
She offers a look at how women can lead with empathy and gain respect from the team.
If Isobel dies, it marks a series first in seven seasons — that’s too long to go to suddenly kill off a main character purely for creative reasons. By not having a death for seven seasons, there’s a sense of hope for the main characters. It doesn’t matter what type of situation they end up in, they will find a way out to survive. While this may not be realistic, it’s great for escapism when watching the show.
What Isobel’s Death Means For FBI’s Future
Killing A Main Character Off Now Would Be A Huge Mistake
If FBI season 8 starts with the death of Isobel, it’s going to mark a huge mistake for the series. As mentioned, going seven seasons without a major death has offered hope. By suddenly killing off a regular, we’re thrown back into the real world, and that’s now not what we watch FBI for. On top of that, Isobel is a fan-favorite character, showing up in other FBI spinoff shows, bringing her wisdom, caring, and understanding to various situations.
Moreover, Isobel offers a look at how women can lead with empathy and gain respect from the team. There would be a change in the office following her death, with a new character coming in to potentially take over her role, and we’re still getting used to a new partner for Scola (John Boyd). We’d no longer trust the writers to keep our FBI characters safe, which could lead to a decline in the ratings and the end of the series.
