Mitchell’s Final Case on ‘FBI: International’ Showcases the Series’ Untapped Potential

WARNING! SPOILERS ahead for FBI: International season 4, epiosde 22, “Gaijin.”

Wes Mitchell’s (Jesse Lee Soffer) final case in FBI: International season 4, episode 22, titled “Gaijin,” highlights a missed opportunity. Sadly, “Gaijin” is the procedural’s final episode, but FBI: International’s ending has been criticized because it left many questions open about the characters’ fates instead of wrapping the series up. The episode focuses mostly on Wes, who goes to Tokyo in search of a serial killer, while his team stays behind in Budapest to give him intelligence as needed.

FBI: International is one of the shows that CBS canceled in 2025, so it will not be returning. This is unfortunate, as the final episode represents a strong departure from the norm for the series. The focus being mostly on Wes led to an uneven wrap-up, but one aspect of this unusual setup demonstrates how much missed potential there is now that the procedural has ended.

FBI: International Season 4 Finale Marks The First Fly Team Case Beyond Europe

It Should Have Included The Entire Team But Is Still An Important Change

Throughout its run, FBI: International usually focused on cases within Europe. During FBI: International season 4, the team worked with Smitty (Eva Jane Willis), who was their liaison for Europol, as her connections helped them to be able to investigate crimes throughout the continent. They often took the train from Budapest to the country a crime took place in, and stories tended to revolve around conflicts between the Fly Team and local law enforcement. While this set-up was interesting, it also made it seem like the series was misnamed, as it never went beyond Europe.

The series finale changed that, however. While it was odd for FBI: International‘s Fly Team to have Wes travel alone while everyone else stayed in Budapest, the change of venue made the case fresh and interesting. Additionally, Wes had the challenge of solving a case without running afoul of cultural expectations in Japan, which are very different than what he is used to in Europe. These aspects made the story unique, and it is disappointing that there will be no further stories set beyond Europe’s borders.

FBI: International Could Have Had More Diversity In Its Settings

There Was No Real Reason It Had To Stay In Europe

Although FBI: International had the Fly Team headquartered in Budapest, there was no reason it had to stay within Europe’s borders. FBI: Most Wanted often featured the Fugitive Task Force traveling to other parts of the United States to handle cases there, as did Criminal Mindsˆ— FBI: International could have used a similar model to feature the Fly Team solving cases throughout the entire world. Doing so would have made the show more interesting; it not only would have been a truly global team, but would have required the characters to interact with different cultures throughout its run.

Sadly, the first time FBI: International ventured beyond Europe was also its last. The series likely wanted a splashy case to wrap up with, but it’s disappointing that it didn’t have more cases like this throughout the series. The idea would have been too cost-prohibitive, especially if the series planned to shoot on location. However, it’s a shame that the producers couldn’t find a way to accomplish this, as it would have made for a more memorable series.