This week’s episode of FBI: Most Wanted delivered an emotionally charged yet underwhelming storyline that struggled to rise above mediocrity. The premise of a female serial killer was intriguing, but the execution felt clichéd, leaving the episode competent but forgettable. Let’s review.
The plot revolved around Mia Travis (Mackenzie Lansing), a young woman grappling with the trauma of being groomed by her guitar teacher, Marcus Everett (Douglas Goodhart), when she was 15. Unable to cope, Mia’s life spiraled into chaos, culminating in a destructive act: driving her car into the strip club where she worked. This decision landed her in a court-mandated felony diversion program at a facility called Bridgewater for anger management.
"Four Bodies” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon, Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, and Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Seeking a fresh start, she relocated from Boston to New York City where she lived with her elderly great aunt, Eleanor Cheswick (Peggy J. Scott). To her credit, Mia continued her therapy, which she paid for with her aunt’s money. While viewers were left to wonder if Mia stole her aunt’s cash, they saw her steal Eleanor’s knitting needles.
In New York, Mia’s “treatment” took a dark turn. She murdered men she felt were predatory, aligning herself with an extreme feminist movement called Four B. Special Agent Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) explained that this movement originated in South Korea, and advocates against dating, having sex, marrying, and procreating with men.
The four B movement echoes when Spartan and Greek women stopped sleeping with their men to protests the Peloponnesian War. Mia specifically targeted men under the influence of drugs or alcohol, exploiting their vulnerability. Her weapons of choice—her great aunt’s knitting needles and a scarf gifted by her rapist—were as symbolic as they were chilling. Off her antipsychotic medication, risperidone, for months, Mia spiraled further into rage-fueled killings, embodying the epitome of “anger mismanagement.”
"Four Bodies” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon and Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In therapy sessions with Dr. Conrad Kagan (Sebastian Arcelus), Mia’s involvement in the Four B movement came under scrutiny. When asked how the movement resonated with her, Mia was evasive. Dr. Kagan challenged her, noting the contradiction between her supposed anger control and her association with a radical, anti-male ideology.
During a follow-up session, Dr. Kagan persuaded Mia to reveal a startling truth: Marcus, her rapist, had become an associate music professor. This revelation reignited the fury Mia had been harboring for years. Spurred by her therapist’s ominous remark, “Predators do not change without intervention,” Mia resolved to make Marcus her next victim. The police intervened just in time, thwarting her attempt to murder him in front of his wife, child, and her great aunt. Arrested and unrepentant, Mia defiantly declared, “I’ve done nothing but make him tell the truth,” to which Remy retorted, “What about the other four men?”
"Four Bodies” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured: Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The subplot focused on Special Agent Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten) and her abused sister, Tina (Hanah Adrian), whose destructive decisions heightened the tension. Tina’s choice to secretly borrow $36,000 from Nina’s partner, Stuart Scola (John Boyd), without Nina’s consent, created a ripple effect of betrayal. This act not only deepened Nina’s anger but also strained her relationship with Stuart, adding layers of emotional complexity to the narrative. While tragic, Tina’s actions painted a grim portrait of self-destruction, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of foreboding about her future.
"Four Bodies” – FBI: MOST WANTED, Pictured (L-R): Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase and Hannah Adrian as Tink Chase. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As usual, FBI: Most Wanted tackled heavy themes of trauma, justice, and morality, but this episode lacked the depth and finesse needed to fully engage the audience. The return of Remy’s trademark humor, like his quip to Mia’s mental hospital doctor, “Are you a doctor or a patient?” felt disconnected from the episode's tone. Meanwhile, guest performances, such as Simon Fowler’s portrayal of a drug-addled first victim, bordered on caricature. Even Mia’s portrayal failed to elevate the material, with predictable twists diluting any real tension.
Ultimately, this episode landed squarely in the middle, it was neither a disaster nor a triumph. While it served its purpose as a functional piece of procedural television, it fell short of delivering the emotional resonance or distinctive qualities that define FBI: Most Wanted.
Overall Rating:
Lynette Jones6:10
