Since FBI is a procedural, many episodes feature similar types of cases, making it unnecessary to watch all of them before enjoying the newest season. FBI season 8 will not premiere until the fall of 2025, giving new viewers plenty of time to catch up. It is helpful to focus on episodes that introduce characters or contribute to specific arcs.
10.”Pilot”
Season 1, Episode 1
While many pilot episodes are different than later episodes of a TV series, FBI‘s first episode offers a strong introduction to the characters and situations that are typical of this procedural. The story involves a bomb explosion that shocks and terrifies residents
FBI plots often involve bomb threats and terrorism, so this story is a standard plot. More importantly, “Pilot” introduces the team of Maggie (Missy Peregrym) and OA (Zeeko Zaki). This relationship is central to the series, and there is no better way to begin to learn about it than by watching the pilot.
9.”Apex”
Season 1, Episode 17
“Apex” helps give more insight into Maggie and OA’s relationship. This episode is often at the top of fan-made lists of favorite episodes about FBI‘s OA and Maggie. The pair spends a lot of time together during a particularly intense case.
During “Apex,” Maggie and OA are desperate to stop a serial killer who is terrorizing New York City. This plot forces the two to work even more closely together than usual to save innocent lives. Additionally, this is one of the first episodes to introduce political tension between the FBI and other government agencies.
The mayor is more interested in cutting costs than in justice and thus interferes with the investigation.
The mayor is more interested in cutting costs than in justice and thus interferes with the investigation. This subplot is a typical Dick Wolf Entertainment story because it subtly critiques the justice system rather than a procedural story. It is a relatable conflict that can help new viewers get acquainted with this aspect of FBI‘s storytelling.
8.”Little Egypt”
Season 2, Episode 1
OA is the first Egyptian character to be a lead in a procedural rather than one of the villains, and this episode is a beautiful example of why that representation is sorely needed.
OA is the first Egyptian character to be a lead in a procedural rather than one of the villains, and this episode is a beautiful example of why that representation is needed. OA struggles to put his personal feelings aside, something that is a recurring pattern throughout the series when it comes to crimes involving his community.
In addition to being vital to understanding OA’s arc, “Little Egypt” introduces Isobel Castillo (Alana de la Garza) and Stuart Scola (John Boyd). A significant cliffhanger at the end of FBI season 7 involves Isobel, so it’s essential to watch her first episode before diving into the end of season 7.
7.Liar’s Poker”
Season 3, Episode 3
During this episode, a drug cartel retaliates after the team arrests one of their leaders, putting the lives of every team member in danger. “Liar’s Poker” features Isobel in a bigger role than many episodes provide for her, which is the necessary context for the cliffhanger involving her at the end of season 7.
6.”Checks and Balances”
Season 3, Episode 10
The tension between the FBI and other government agencies is another significant part of the series. “Checks and Balances” begins as a typical, though strange, FBI case in which the feds are trying to track down armed robbers who are wearing animal masks. This story features a conflict between the New York Field Office and the NYPD about the case.
Many police procedurals have this type of conflict between different police units. However, FBI‘s introduction to the conflict is notable because it spills over into Tiffany and Scola’s butting heads over how to handle the NYPD. “Checks and Balances,” therefore, is a strong episode to get to know Scola better, which is important for understanding his character in later seasons.
5,”Fathers and Sons”
Season 3, Episode 12
Although FBI is a procedural, the cases are secondary to the relationships between characters, so the best episodes to watch are the ones that feature strong subplots about characters’ lives. “Fathers and Sons” is one of the first episodes to do so. During this episode, a hostage situation triggers Jubal’s emotions about his situation with his ex-wife and son.
“Fathers and Sons” provides important context about Jubal’s family situation that makes season 7 make more sense.
Jubal’s relationship with his ex-wife, Sam, and son, Tyler, is important throughout the series. The episode “Fathers and Sons” provides necessary context about Jubal’s family situation that allows season 7 to make more sense.
4.”Fire and Rain”
Season 4, Episode 8
Scola’s arc includes having lost his brother, Doug, in the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. His grief impacts him in the current episodes, but the arc was first introduced in “Fire and Rain.” During this episode, Scola has a difficult time working on a case involving a terrorist attack because of the trauma of losing his brother.
“Fire and Rain” features Tiffany worrying that Scola’s judgment is compromised by his grief. While Tiffany is no longer in FBI, her relationship with Scola was prominent from seasons 3 to 7. Thus, it’s impossible to understand Scola’s arc without becoming familiar with this relationship, and this episode showcases Tiffany’s caring and support better than many others.
3.”Ready or Not”
Season 5, Episode 7
In FBI season 4, episode 18, Maggie is seriously injured during a sarin gas attack, and the aftermath of that incident continues to the present day. “Ready or Not,” which is her re-introduction to the team in season 5, is a more important episode to watch because it introduces her PTSD arc.
This story was created to explain Maggie’s absence while Missy Pergrym was on maternity leave.
In this story, Maggie and OA disagree about whether she’s ready to return to work. The case of the week has little to do with the sarin gas attack, but Maggie finds being undercover challenging.
2.”Best Laid Plans”
Season 6, Episode 9
Nina and Scola’s relationship in FBI carries over to one of its spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted, which, unfortunately, is not on the air any longer. Their relationship evolves from Nina considering Scola a one-night stand and trying to discourage him from being involved in their baby’s life, to them living together while working in separate units.
“Best Laid Plans” helps viewers understand this relationship because it is one of the few episodes where Nina and Scola work together after their baby is born. Not only does Nina help out the New York Field Office in this episode, but she and Scola go undercover as a married couple. This story showcases both their personal and professional relationship for new viewers.
1.”Hitched”
Season 7, Episode 14
“Hitched,” which involves OA and his girlfriend, Gemma, getting involved in a hostage situation on a train, is one of season 7’s most intense episode. This story shows OA in a different light. He is supposed to be on vacation, but has to jump back into cop mode to deal with the threat.
There is a lot of debate among the fandom about who OA should end up with romantically, so this episode will help give new viewers important context for this triangle.
This is a key episode of FBI season 7 because it clarifies OA’s feelings about Gemma while also showing how deeply Maggie cares about him. There is a lot of debate among the fandom about who OA should end up with romantically, so this episode will help give new viewers important context for this triangle.
