Warning: SPOILERS forFBIseason 7, episode 22, “A New Day.”
Alana de la Garza’s Isobel Castille didn’t endFBIseason 7 on a high note, but another major season reveal may have already hinted at Isobel’s ultimate fate. Isobel nearly died twice in theFBIseason 7 finale. She used the explosion that killed ADIC Reynolds to mask her survival and work in the shadows, but she was later targeted more directly. Having lost her pulse in the finale’s last moments, neither her death nor survival can be confirmed untilFBIseason 8.
The attempted (and potentially successful) murder of their SAC will naturally have a strong impact on theFBI’s cast of charactersat 26 Fed, but it’s worth remembering thatIsobel doesn’t have to succumb to the malady inflicted on her to leave the show. Even if she survives and makes a strong comeback, there’s still a chance thatFBIseason 8 will ask fans to say their goodbyes under slightly less bitter circumstances. In fact, that possibility was suggested several episodes before the finale.
FBI Season 7 Introduces Isobel’s Husband
Phillip Never Appeared In Previous Episodes
Isobel mentions inFBIseason 7 that she’s working on finding the balance between her personal and professional lives, and she’s later given a golden chance to accomplish that. InFBIseason 7, episode 17, Isobel celebrates 20 years with the Bureau.The Flash’s Tom Cavanagh plays Isobel’s husband Phillip, sharing the news with him. However, there’s a decision to be made asIsobel and Phillip discuss whether she should take her pension and leave the FBIsince anyone aged 50 or above can retire from the Bureau after 20 years of service.
For most of the episode, it feels like Isobel will choose retirement. The episode involves Jack Grippo, a deadly gang leader Isobel’s been chasing for years since he killed her Quantico instructor. Isobel technically catches her white whale (although OA is the one who puts the bullet in him), butthe revelation that Jack’s daughter Billie has taken over and expanded his empire kills Isobel’s retirement plans. Grippo’s gone, but Isobel isn’t ready to end the chase while his legacy remains intact. Although Phillip supports her decision, that could soon be due for a change.
She Was Already Putting Off Retirement
Much likeScola’s numerousFBIpartners, new characters that don’t relate to a specific case of the week generally aren’t introduced without consequence. This tends to prove especially true when casting a recognizable face such as Cavanagh. Since he doesn’t reappear for the rest of season 7,casting a known actor suggests there could still be plans for Phillip to appear inFBIseason 8. This could mean he shows up while his wife’s life is on the line, but he and Isobel may also need to revisit their discussions about the future.
It’s unlikely Isobel will die. Requiring an actor to sign an NDA until fall would complicate their search for new projects, since it would become more difficult for the actor to market themselves. Nonetheless,Phillip’s views on Isobel putting off her retirement may change in the wake of her latest brush with death.If they’re making that decision as partners,Isobel Castille may be leavingFBIsooner rather than later. Even if she doesn’t retire immediately after surviving, it may prompt her to catch Billie Grippo sooner so she can retire comfortably by the end of the season.
What Isobel’s Possible Retirement Means For FBI’s Future
Jubal Could Be Stepping Into A New Role
For now, Isobel’s future on the series remains one of the most pressingunanswered questions from theFBIseason 7 finale. However, while either her death or retirement would shake things up at 26 Fed,Isobel’s retirement could affect the show’s plot in ways that her death might not. In the season 7 finale, Jubal comes under suspicion as Forefront’s potential mole, with his alleged motive being that the FBI previously turned him down for Castille’s job. Jubal says he never expected much in career advancement, but Isobel surviving to retire would make his promotion more plausible.
If Isobel dies, then nothing changes for Jubal. He still has a problematic background, and any goodwill he might have earned from helping Isobel bring down Keane might be overlooked in the chaos following her collapse. If Isobel does survive to speak on Jubal’s behalf, and if he’s able to help identify her attempted assassin, he could end the next season ofFBIas the new SAC. Depending on whether the new ASAC is promoted from within or a new character hired from outside, any number of status quo shifts could ripple out from there.
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FBI is a procedural drama that explores the workings of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York office as dedicated agents tackle high-stakes cases involving terrorism, organized crime, and various formidable threats.
