After FBI’s Season 7 Finale, Now I Get Why It Has Eclipsed One Chicago & Law & Order As Dick Wolf’s Best Procedural
Jubal in the FBI season 7 finale
Warning! Spoilers ahead for FBI season 7, episode 22, “A New Day.”
The intense FBI season 7 finale proves why the CBS procedural has eclipsed all shows in One Chicago and the Law & Order franchise as Dick Wolf’s best series. As someone who regularly watches police procedurals, I’m familiar with Wolf and his franchises. Granted that it’s difficult to not know about Law & Order and it’s iconic theme song, even for those who aren’t ingrained in broadcast television, but between my job and personal affinity to long-running shows, I tend to gravitate towards his shows.
While I’m fairly caught up with the Law & Order franchise and One Chicago, it took me a while to get into FBI and its spinoffs. Perhaps it’s because the trio is uniquely airing on CBS, as opposed to Wolf’s usual network, NBC, and I usually associate the broadcaster with NCIS and its universe. I do know, however, that all three shows are beloved by their respective fan bases, which have some overlaps. Hence, why there was a massive backlash when FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted were canceled. Despite that, the flagship series is continuing, which I’m happy abouit.
FBI Season 7 Finale Is The Best From All Dick Wolf Show Endings During The 2024-2025 TV Cycle
“A New Day” Is A Brilliant Year-Ender
Isobel in FBI Season 7 Finale Custom image by Milica Djordjevic
I am familiar with all three FBI shows on CBS, but I must admit that I am more drawn to the original show after getting into them fairly recently. Despite the spinoffs having higher stakes, considering their finales would be their last, I was more keen on catching what Jubal (Jeremy Sisto) and his team would be up to for their year-ender. FBI season 7, episode 22, “A New Day” is about the New York HQ being infiltrated by moles from the rogue group, Forefront.
Maggie and OA standing in a doorway with their hands up in FBI
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9 Biggest Unanswered Questions & Mysteries After The FBI Season 7 Finale
FBI season 7, episode 22 closed out the season but left several important questions unanswered until the procedural returns for season 8.
The outing opens with Jubal talking to a whistleblower, Agent Kevin Saxton, played by The Big Bang Theory’s Kevin Sussman. Things become intense quickly, as the meeting is hijacked by two members of the villainous group. Jubal is the only person to survive the attack, resulting in his Director Reynolds (Ben Shenkman) suspecting him of being the mole. Luckily for him, Isobel (Alana de la Garza) steps in to vouch for his loyalty to the agency.
Soon after, the FBI season 7 finale progresses into one of the most exciting procedural episodes of recent years. It features a tragic bombing, a fake death, and the good guys operating in the shadows. Its main action set piece, in particular, is executed brilliantly, with its backdrop being an abandoned New York subway station and the connecting tunnels a reminder of the show’s setting. I have seen all Wolf Entertainment finales for the 2024-2025 TV cycle, and I can confidently say that “A New Day” is the best of the bunch overall.
The FBI, One Chicago, And Law & Order Finales Reflect Their Storytelling For The 2024-2025 TV Cycle
They’re Good Representations Of Their Respective Shows
Ultimately, the FBI season 7 finale is well-balanced in its storytelling focus between personal and professional plots while also highlighting heightened stakes — exactly what I want in a finale. It highlights the camaraderie of Isobel and Jubal’s team, and just when you thought things are all good, it leaves you with a major cliffhanger. Comparing this to the year-enders of the One Chicago shows and Law & Order franchise, “A New Day” is definitely a more solid way to wrap up the year for Wolf’s universe, which has been mired in multiple cast exits in the last few cycles.
Beyond that, there are several issues that stems from some of the bigger creative decisions the writers made in One Chicago’s final Wednesday of the 2024-2025 TV cycle.
Chicago Med season 10, Chicago Fire season 13, and Chicago PD season 12’s respective cappers focus more on personal stakes, resulting in a lackluster procedural aspect offering. Beyond that, there are several issues that stems from some of the bigger creative decisions the writers made in One Chicago’s final Wednesday of the 2024-2025 TV cycle. Surprisingly, while Law & Order used to lean towards cases, opposite of its Wednesday siblings, both SVU and the original’s finales don’t feel like special outings in both aspects, bar some brilliant moments.
