Fly Team's Unofficial New Member Exposes The Biggest Reason Why FBI: International Season 4 Failed

FBI International season 4’s unofficial team member is the biggest reason that the season failed. Although the procedural was still earning relatively high ratings, it was among the series CBS chose to cancel in 2025. The cancelation news was disappointing, but in retrospect, the final season was not as strong as previous installments of the show.

FBI International season 4 introduced Wes Mitchell (Jesse Lee Soffer) as the new team leader following Scott Forrester’s (Luke Kleintank) disappearance. Mitchell was a polarizing figure that audiences either loved or hated due to his impulsivity and hotheaded nature, which was a stark departure from Forrester’s steady, measured leadership.

Mitchell’s arc culminated in a disappointing FBI season 4 finale that did not wrap up the procedural’s storylines appropriately despite being the final episode in the series. The finale mostly focused on Mitchell’s attempts to investigate a serial killer in Japan and reintroduced an unofficial team member who was supposedly not working for the Fly Team anymore.

Agent Tyler Booth Was Being Set Up To Be A Member Of The Fly Team

Although He Was A Temporary Character, He Appeared Semi-Regularly

Tyler Booth (Jay Hayden) was introduced as a friend of Mitchell’s who was only working with the Fly Team temporarily, but he got more development than most minor characters do. It was quickly revealed that Booth and Mitchell had worked together previously and that Booth had a reputation for crossing boundaries that concerned other members of the Fly Team.

Booth’s arc could have been similar to the OA/Clay story in the original FBI, which ended with OA having to fatally shoot his former mentor and friend. While it seemed like the story was going in that direction, ultimately, Booth returned to the US after Smitty refused to recommend him for a GS-14 position because of his behavior.

Episodes of FBI: International Featuring Tyler Booth
Episode	Air Date
“Keen As A Bean” (season 4, episode 7)	December 10, 2024
“You’ll Never See It Coming” (season 4, episode 8)	December 17, 2024
“The Kill Floor” (season 4, episode 9)	January 28, 2025
“Keep Calm and Deliver The Biotoxin” (season 4, episode 10)	February 4, 2025
“Dead Dead” (season 4, episode 17)	April 8, 2025
“Lone Wolf” (season 4, episode 18)	April 15, 2025
“Flinch Now And It’s Over” (season 4, episode 19)	April 22, 2025
“We’re Out Of Here” (season 4, episode 20)	May 6, 2025
“Herbivore Man”	May 13, 2025

This ending seemed final, so Booth’s sudden reappearance in Switzerland several episodes later was as surprising as it was unnecessary. His continued recurring appearances suggested that he was a more important character than it seemed. It is likely that Booth would have joined the Fly Team permanently if FBI: International season 5 had been greenlit.

Booth’s Inclusion Showed That FBI: International Was Focused On Crafting The Show Around Wes Mitchell

Booth Was Mitchell’s Friend Who Wasn’t An Official Team Member

Jesse Lee Soffer as Wes Mitchell in FBI: International

Booth appeared in a little over a third of the entire season, taking time from established characters while not being an official member of the Fly Team. Booth’s inclusion was mostly vital to driving Mitchell’s stories forward, suggesting that his purpose was to aid the series in focusing on Mitchell.

Booth’s original exit story included substantial screen time devoted to whether he would get a promotion, while the finale did not reveal whether Vo or Raines got one.

While Mitchell needed a storyline, it was annoying that so much time was dedicated to his friend, often at the expense of other characters. Most egregiously, Booth’s original exit story included substantial screen time devoted to whether he would get a promotion, while the finale did not reveal whether Vo or Raines got one.

Wes Mitchell’s Character Should Have Been Created To Fit The Existing FBI: International Team

The Series Was At Its Best When It Was An Ensemble Show

Close-up of Wes Mitchell from FBI: International standing in front of a computer screen

Booth’s presence was a symptom of a serious problem. While he needed storylines so that the audience could get to know him, FBI: International should not have shifted from being an ensemble show to being focused fully on Mitchell. This shift in focus led to the disappointing way the rest of the team was sidelined in the series finale.

Ouch! FBI: International’s Cancelation Stings A Little Worse Because Of Mitchell’s New Story

Mitchell’s new story is interesting, but it makes the news of FBI: International’s impending cancelation sting a little more than it did before.

FBI: International‘s overfocus on Mitchell hurt the procedural. Compelling characters and stories were shortchanged to give him more air time, especially when Booth was involved in the story. This was an issue since Mitchell’s introduction, when the team accepted him unquestioningly despite their previous loyalty to Scott.

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