FBI Season 8 Episode 17 Introduced a Powerful Conflict for OA During An Ethically Ambiguous Case

Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

4.5

I love it when OA has to deal with cases that involve the Muslim community.

FBI usually stays away from the typical “divided loyalties” type storylines that other police procedurals saddle non-white cops with, and FBI Season 8 Episode 17 was no exception.

This story offered a potentially interesting personal development for OA as well as a case that pitted him against a falsely accused Iman, although it drifted into ethically ambiguous territory after its biggest plot twist.

FBI Season 8 Episode 17 Leaned In Heavily To OA’s Muslim Background, But Not Gratuitously

FBI is one of the only shows I’ve heard mention Radaman.

I’m not Muslim, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of that or any of the other Muslim-specific content the episode offered, but I liked that OA’s involvement with the religion was part of his character development.

As OA explained to Maggie, he decided to observe the holiday this year because he found that some religious practices, like meditating and fasting, helped him focus his mind better after Gemma left.

That made more sense than suddenly having him practice in order to acknowledge the Muslim holiday without connecting it to the character or story.

The Scenes Where OA Investigated The Mosque Were My Favorite

Naturally, he ran into someone he knew at the mosque, who chatted with him forever and offered to set him up with someone.

That didn’t irritate me, even though technically, OA should have known that it was possible he’d run into a friend or relative at a Muslim mosque. Unlike the nonsense on Boston Blue recently, OA’s run-in with the man didn’t actually blow his cover, nor did he handle it incompetently.

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Plus, that scene added cultural flavor to the episode and a lighter tone immediately before one of the hour’s tensest moments: the search of the Imam’s office.

It was risky for OA to go in there, regardless of whether the Imam appeared otherwise occupied. Something always goes wrong in these scenarios, putting the protagonist at risk of being caught.

I held my breath when Zara couldn’t distract the Imam from returning to his office, though the resolution of that plot point was somewhat silly.

OA stood against a wall, in plain sight if only the Imam had turned his head, but somehow didn’t get caught. I can’t believe FBI Season 8 Episode 17 went there.

It was a cartoonish moment in an otherwise tightly plotted episode, though I suppose there’s a chance it was goofy on purpose, to release the tension built up during the search sequence.

The Imam’s Innocence Made FBI Season 8 Episode 17 Far More Interesting

FBI did a great job of misdirecting the audience, better than usual.

There have been so many episodes about sexual abusers, kidnappers, and rapists, especially those who are well respected in their community and leading a double life, that I fully believed that the Imam was up to no good.

Of course, having the suspect turn out to be a good guy who is protecting people from the real villain is a classic Dick Wolf twist. It’s happened several times on Law & Order over the years, so I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was.

I appreciated this twist because it made the story different than what I’ve come to expect from FBI.

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FBI has had a million serial killers, and this story could have easily turned into yet another plot where OA feels bad about the way a Muslim criminal hurts the reputation of Muslims in general.

Instead, it evolved into something far richer: the fact that OA so easily investigated a leader of his own religion who turned out to be innocent.

I wish this conflict had been explored in more depth, though.

The Imam was angry at OA for a few minutes, but ultimately helped him with the case involving Aliyah, and Zara told OA during the final scene that she was sure the Imam would forgive him.

This conflict could have been developed more strongly, although that probably would have left less time for the climax.

Then again, I’m not sure the focus on Aliyah was the best direction to go in.

Police procedurals rarely think about it, but surveilling someone who wants the cops to leave them alone isn’t necessarily legal or moral, even if they are trying to protect that person from someone else’s violence.

There was no evidence that Aliyah had committed a crime. She was simply a woman who refused to say why she was in a safe house or who was after her.

Thus, the FBI justified following her due to the potential threat to her life, despite no specifics about what that threat may be. That didn’t sit well with me, despite how much sense it made in the story.

I was also a bit confused about why she was arrested at the end of the hour. OA said she concealed evidence of a crime, but police shows too often mix up using the right to remain silent and actively concealing evidence.

I guess her attempt to give the SD cards to the bad guy counted as destruction of evidence, but since Aliyah feared for her life, that seemed like it happened under coercion.

I’m probably way overthinking this, but it seemed like OA arrested Aliyah at the end for the sole purpose of having the type of twist that suggests justice is more complicated than it seems.

What did you think, FBI fanatics?

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If you enjoyed this article, check out our coverage of Chicago PD as well as FBI’s sister show, CIA.

FBI airs on CBS on Mondays at 98/c and streams on Paramount+ on Tuesdays.

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