The two-part midseason finale of FBI didn’t just raise the stakes — it blew past them. With Jubal Valentine operating outside the lines, the team fractured under pressure, and his son Tyler’s future hanging in the balance, the episodes delivered one of the most emotionally charged chapters the series has ever produced.
In a revealing conversation with TVLine, Jeremy Sisto breaks down Jubal’s moral unraveling, the risks behind “going rogue,” and why Tyler’s storyline cuts deeper than anything the character has faced before.
Jubal Valentine at His Breaking Point
According to Sisto, the midseason finale represents a culmination of everything Jubal has been carrying for years — professionally and personally.
“This wasn’t a snap decision,” Sisto explained. “Jubal has always lived in that gray area, but this time, the situation pushed him past the point where he could hide behind procedure.”
Throughout the two episodes, viewers watched Jubal make decisions that directly conflicted with protocol — and in some cases, with the values he’s spent his career defending. For Sisto, that internal conflict was the key to the story.
“He genuinely believes he’s doing the right thing,” Sisto said. “But believing you’re right doesn’t mean you’re prepared for the consequences.”
Why Jubal Had to Go Rogue
Fans were quick to question whether Jubal’s actions crossed a line. Sisto doesn’t disagree — but he believes that discomfort is the point.
The show intentionally placed Jubal in a scenario where there was no clean solution. Every option came with moral fallout, and following the rules would have meant accepting an outcome Jubal simply couldn’t live with.
“Jubal has always been a protector,” Sisto noted. “When that instinct clashes with the system he serves, something has to give.”
The finale forces Jubal to choose between:
-
Upholding the law as written
-
Or acting on a deeply personal sense of justice
That choice, Sisto says, fundamentally changes how Jubal sees himself.
Tyler’s Fate: The Emotional Core of the Finale
While the case itself was explosive, Sisto emphasized that Tyler’s fate was the emotional engine driving everything.
“Tyler is Jubal’s blind spot,” he admitted. “No matter how rational Jubal thinks he is, when it comes to his son, logic goes out the window.”
The finale places Tyler in serious danger — not just physically, but morally. His involvement in the unfolding events forces Jubal to confront a terrifying possibility: that his own flaws may have shaped his son’s choices.
“That realization devastates Jubal,” Sisto said. “It’s not just fear for Tyler’s safety. It’s guilt.”
The Cost of Crossing the Line
One of the most powerful elements of the two-parter is that Jubal doesn’t escape unscathed. Even when the immediate crisis ends, the fallout lingers.
Sisto hinted that the consequences of Jubal’s actions won’t be neatly wrapped up when the show returns.
“You can’t do what he did and go back to business as usual,” he explained. “The trust — in himself and from others — has been shaken.”
That ripple effect will be felt across the team, particularly in how they view Jubal as a leader.
A Different Side of Jubal — Hard to Watch, But Necessary
Fans have long seen Jubal as the emotional anchor of FBI: compassionate, sharp, and steady under pressure. The midseason finale deliberately dismantles that image.
Sisto acknowledged that watching Jubal unravel can be uncomfortable.
“He’s messy here,” he said. “He’s reactive. He makes mistakes. But that’s also what makes him human.”
The show wanted viewers to sit with that discomfort — to question whether doing the “right” thing always justifies the methods used.
Why the Story Needed Two Episodes
Some viewers wondered whether the storyline could have been told in a single hour. Sisto strongly disagrees.
“This wasn’t just about plot,” he said. “It was about emotional erosion.”
The two-part structure allowed the show to:
-
Slowly strip away Jubal’s composure
-
Show the compounding weight of each decision
-
Let the consequences breathe rather than rushing to resolution
By the time the second episode ends, Jubal isn’t the same man who began the case — and neither is the audience’s perception of him.
What This Means for Jubal Moving Forward
Looking ahead, Sisto hinted that the midseason finale marks a turning point rather than a detour.
“Jubal can’t unknow what he’s learned about himself,” he said. “That awareness changes how he operates.”
Viewers should expect:
-
More internal conflict
-
Strained professional relationships
-
A Jubal who questions his instincts rather than blindly trusting them
At the same time, Sisto reassured fans that the character’s core remains intact.
“He still cares deeply,” he said. “If anything, this experience sharpens that — even if it makes his job harder.”
Fan Reaction: Divided but Engaged
The response to the finale has been intense, with fans split over whether Jubal’s actions were justified. Sisto welcomes that debate.
“If people are arguing about it, that means they’re invested,” he said. “That’s the best outcome.”
He believes the show succeeded in what it set out to do: challenge viewers, not comfort them.
Final Thoughts
The two-part FBI midseason finale stands as one of the show’s most daring storylines — not because of explosions or twists, but because it forces a beloved character to confront his worst fears and biggest flaws.
As Jeremy Sisto makes clear, Jubal Valentine’s journey is far from over. The choices he made to protect his son may haunt him long after the case is closed — and when FBI returns, the consequences promise to be just as compelling as the crisis that started it all.
