“FBI Season 7 Sidesteps a Critical Error That Could Have Jeopardized the Show’s Future”

CBS’s FBI has built a reputation as one of the most dependable crime dramas on television. Since premiering in 2018, the Dick Wolf–produced series has anchored Tuesday nights and grown into a sprawling franchise with two successful spinoffs. But Season 7 arrived with unique challenges—and fears among fans that the show might make a risky misstep that could derail its momentum.

Fortunately, as the season unfolds, it’s becoming clear that FBI has avoided that trap, preserving its core identity and laying strong groundwork for future success.

When FBI fans heard rumblings ahead of Season 7 that Missy Peregrym’s Maggie Bell might be written out—or at least drastically reduced—they braced themselves for disappointment. Maggie’s temporary absences in earlier seasons (due to Peregrym’s maternity leave) created noticeable voids. Although the writers found ways to fill the gap, the overall dynamic of the show suffered.

The heart of FBI has always been the professional and emotional bond between Maggie and Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, played by Zeeko Zaki. Viewers have invested years watching the duo balance each other’s strengths: Maggie’s sharp instincts and compassion, paired with OA’s discipline and intensity. To tamper with that partnership too severely risked unraveling the very fabric of the series.

“Without Maggie, FBI just doesn’t feel the same,” one fan posted on social media during Season 5, when Peregrym was temporarily absent. That sentiment only grew louder in anticipation of Season 7.