Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International will likely change the direction of the series in significant ways.
International is different from the other shows in the FBI franchise, as it features a team of internationally based agents who work with Interpol to catch European criminals who are harming US citizens (or America itself!).
The show revolves around the elite Fly Team, which has had the same leader for three years.
Now that Soffer is stepping in to play new leader Wes Mitchell, the show will go in a different direction.
Why Jesse Lee Soffer’s Wes Mitchell Is Taking Over The Fly Team
The Previous Leader Is MIA
Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International wouldn’t have happened if lead actor Luke Kleintank hadn’t decided to leave after three years.
Kleintank wanted to spend more time with family, but FBI: International wrote him out using a tired TV trope involving his character disappearing, supposedly hiding out with his mother, who is a fugitive in Russia.
This is a bad habit on the FBI franchise; characters disappear, and their whereabouts are semi-explained in dialogue instead of anyone getting a proper exit.
It seems like if a character doesn’t get a death scene, they just vanish into thin air.
The silver lining this time is that a brand new leader is coming in, played by one of the best alums from elsewhere in the One Chicago universe.
That gives FBI: International somewhat of a blank slate so that the series can do a soft reboot.
When it initially premiered, it had a hard time keeping the attention of the audience that enjoys the other FBI shows, and while it’s gained in the ratings, it still seems like a completely different show than the other FBIs.
FBI: International Hasn’t Offered Many Details About Mitchell
The New Leader Is Somewhat Of An Enigma
Other than reporting that Jesse Lee Soffer is joining FBI: International as Wes Mitchell, CBS and Dick Wolf Entertainment have been pretty quiet about their new character.
This is undoubtedly partially to build interest. People will have to tune in if they want to know what Mitchell is all about.
But it also means that as of now, the character is a blank slate.
One of the most important things FBI: International needs to do is create a backstory and personality for Mitchell that is very different than Soffer’s Chicago PD character.
It’s inevitable that people who watch both shows will initially think of Mitchell as Jay Halstead with a different name.
Differentiating Mitchell right away will make it clear that this is a different character who brings something to the table we haven’t experienced before.
It’s also important to differentiate Mitchell from his predecessor.
There’d be little point to Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International if he’s going to be a duplicate of the character he’s replacing, which is why the FBI spinoff will likely go in a completely new direction.
Mitchell’s Presence Will Probably Bring Tension To The Surface
Some Team Members Will Undoubtedly Want Forrester Back
The Fly Team is a tight-knit group that is more like a family, and they’re all loyal to Forrester.
They stood up to the FBI when they tried to have Forrester investigated and replaced a while ago, and they probably won’t take any more kindly to him being cast aside in favor of a new leader.
This is why Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International is such great news for the series. His character will immediately be thrown into a meaty conflict, and one viewers will care deeply about.
Mitchell has to be able to win the respect of his team quickly, or international criminals are going to get away with a lot of things they shouldn’t, including crimes against US citizens.
The rest of the team will be tested by this, too.
One of the problems I’ve had with this series over the years is that most of the characters are harder to relate to than the FBI agents on the other shows.
Hopefully, their interactions with Mitchell will make them more interesting, and I might even find characters I love even if I wouldn’t hang out with them in real life.
I’m curious as to whether there will be any resentment.
Maybe team members such as Cameron Vo, who has been Forrester’s right-hand woman forever, expected to snag the big job themselves, which could lead to a compelling conflict.
Hopefully, there won’t be any drama for drama’s sake. That wouldn’t rise to the level of couples splitting for the sake of drama, but it would be equally annoying.
New Leadership Means New Directions
Could Jesse Lee Soffer Joining FBI: International Mean Different Relationships With Foreign Governments?
The Fly Team leader has to make consequential decisions all the time. His team often runs into corrupt members of local law enforcement or government stooges that interfere with investigations, and it’s up to the leader how to handle things.
Forrester sometimes chose to be confrontational when it might have been better to be diplomatic, and if Mitchell makes different choices, that’ll lead the story in unexpected directions.
Additionally, if Mitchell is not familiar with issues specific to working in the international sector, he might have to learn on the job, which could be equally frustrating and compelling.
Regardless of how Mitchell chooses to lead, it’s clear that Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International will take the stories in directions that Forrester’s leadership did not.
Over to you, FBI: International fanatics. What do you think about Jesse Lee Soffer joining FBI: International? What other changes do you hope this casting decision brings?
Hit the comments and let us know!
FBI: International has been renewed for Season 4 and will again air on NBC on Tuesdays at 9/8c and stream on Peacock on Wednesdays, starting on October 15, 2024.