High Stakes From the Start

FBI has never been afraid to swing big, but Season 7, Episode 20, “Startup,” takes the show dangerously close to blowing up its own formula. The episode opens with a shocking blast: a car company CEO, his wife, and their nanny are killed in a penthouse explosion. What looks like a classic “eat the rich” storyline quickly mutates into a broader debate about artificial intelligence, corporate greed, and reckless ambition.

The focus shifts to Cyclone, an AI company with more secrets than safeguards. When one co-founder, Perry Hinton, rails against the board’s decision to remove safety protocols, he’s kicked out. Soon after, he’s found dead by suicide. That leaves the other co-founder, Scott Collins, to take matters into his own hands. Instead of boardroom politics, he turns to drone strikes on American soil.

It’s a bizarre but bold narrative choice. While clunky at times, it prevents the episode from being too predictable.

Maggie’s Brush With Death Raises the Stakes

The biggest gut-punch comes near the end of the hour. A drone attack forces Maggie Bell, OA Zidan, and their witness into a parking garage. The drone crashes and explodes, knocking Maggie unconscious. OA finds her without a pulse. For several agonizing minutes, the show convinces both the audience and the team that Maggie might be gone.

This sequence is one of the tensest in the series. Maggie and OA’s partnership has always been the emotional heart of FBI. Their balance of trust, support, and unspoken connection sets them apart from most TV detective duos. The thought of losing Maggie doesn’t just rattle OA; it shakes the foundation of the show.

Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki once again prove why they anchor the series. Their chemistry carries the scene, turning a potential misstep into the episode’s strongest moment.

A Subplot That Rings Hollow

Not everything works. The writers abruptly discard Maggie’s romance with Joel, which had been teased and developed for weeks. Viewers invested time in watching her open up, only to see the relationship dropped with little explanation. It feels lazy, like the writers grew tired of the arc. That choice undercuts some of the emotional weight elsewhere, especially when the episode could have used more personal stakes beyond Maggie’s near-death experience.

Meanwhile, the subplot of finding Stuart Scola a new partner feels minor by comparison. It only highlights how irreplaceable Maggie is to both the team and the ensemble.

Scott Collins and the AI Soapbox

Robin Lord Taylor shines as antagonist Scott Collins. He gives his character a conviction that could have easily come across as cartoonish. His performance helps smooth over some of the clunky writing, especially in the final scenes.

Still, the episode can’t resist delivering a heavy-handed message. After his arrest, Scott asks Jubal Valentine if Cyclone’s board reinstated AI safeguards. Jubal’s blunt “no” lands as an on-the-nose critique of corporate irresponsibility. It’s a moral hammer that dulls the emotional sharpness of the storyline. The AI debate is timely, but FBI works best when the message doesn’t drown out the characters.

Narrowly Avoiding Disaster

In the end, “Startup” teeters on the edge of disaster but pulls back just in time. By saving Maggie and leaning into the strength of its cast, the episode avoids derailing the series. The drone plot is overblown, and the AI angle occasionally clumsy, but the emotional core between Maggie and OA grounds the story.