Editor’s Note: The following contains mild spoilers for FBI: Most Wanted Season 6 Episode 10.The “oner,” also known as a “long take” or “continuous shot,” is an ambitious and immersive camera technique that pulls the audience into the experience alongside the characters, never cutting away. It’s one of the most collaborative shots, requiring the cast and crew to work in perfect sync. While many shows have executed it successfully — memorable examples include True Detective, Barry, and The Haunting of Hill House — it’s a much bigger challenge on network TV, especially considering the time constraints and other limitations broadcast shows face compared to cable. That’s what makes the recent FBI: Most Wantedepisode, “Ars Moriendi,” all the more impressive. In its six-season run, FBI: Most Wanted delivers one of its most epic openings: a nearly six-minute long take that sets the tone for a high-stakes, heart-pounding episode. It’s a mesmerizing action sequence you’ll want to witness for yourself—and one you’ll likely watch again and again.
‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Pulled Off a Nearly Six Minute Oner To Open Season 6, Episode 10 “Ars Moriendi”
Season 6, Episode 10 of FBI: Most Wanted opens with an incredible sequence that rivals some of the best oners in TV and film. The scene is masterfully crafted by producing director Ken Girotti and Director of Photography Steven Capitano Calitri, with a thrilling script from showrunner David Hudgins. The camera begins on FBI agents Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott), Hana Gibson (Keisha Castle-Hughes), Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge) during a meal at a diner. The mood is light as the agents joke and lament about their personal lives, taking a breather before heading out to track down a suspect. But as they prepare to leave, the shot shifts focus to an unassuming young man, Jay Lark (Steven Maier).
As Lark exits the diner, the sounds of New York City fill the air: a man jogging by, a bus honking, chatter on the streets. Lark approaches a woman and pulls out his phone, and what seems like an annoying encounter quickly escalates into horror when he shoots her in broad daylight. Just when you wonder if the FBI agents saw what happened, the tense music picks up, followed by the familiar shout of “FBI!”The seamless shot tracks Remy and Ray as they spring into action, chasing Lark through a park. Barnes then picks them up in their SUV, turning the sequence into a thrilling car chase. The pursuit ends with the suspect getting away, leaving the agents winded — which you know is real, considering you just joined them in their adrenaline-fueled pursuit for four unbroken minutes.
While an oner is inherently challenging, the fact that this sequence spans multiple locations, includes stunts, and features intricate camera moves makes it even more epic — and the FBI: Most Wanted team truly pulled it off. What makes the episode even better is that Hudgins and his team didn’t rely solely on the opening to make it great. The script follows through with an episode that delves into real-world issues of violence, social media, and isolation.
The buddy-cop spin-off series is set to begin filming later this year.
‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Focuses on a Frighteningly Relevant Case in “Ars Moriendi”
Through their investigation, Remy and his team uncover that Jay Lark is a killer who posts his crimes for fame and “likes” on an obscure social media platform, turning his murders into viral spectacles for his twisted followers. Things in the case take a turn when they discover that Lark is in a “Leopold and Loeb” style competition with another troubled individual, Jarret Bahri (Rama Vallury). The episode skillfully explores how the young men’s quest for internet notoriety escalates into even more senseless violence, including the murder of a police officer.
The FBI’s pursuit of Lark uncovers the dark underworld of online communities where killers gain followers, inciting copycat crimes.This forces the Fugitive Task Force into a race against time to stop the murderers before they strike again. Beyond the high-stakes action, the episode offers a timely commentary on the dangers of fame-seeking behavior in the age of social media, making it not just an intense procedural but also a thought-provoking exploration of a generation’s obsession with online validation. When the case is over, Remy makes a poignant point, suggesting that the internet has created people who have lost their sense of humanity — an all-too-relevant truth in our current world.
With skillful direction, an excellent script, and impressive performances from the cast and crew, “Ars Moriendi” stands out as one o
f the season’s most memorable episodes. Thanks to a talented team of collaborators, FBI: Most Wanted not only pulled off an epic action sequence but made it even more impactful by taking the risk of making it an oner. The addition of poignant social commentary elevates this episode, making it one of the series’ best and a must-watch.
FBI: Most Wanted airs Tuesday nights on CBS and the next day on Paramount Plus.
FBI: Most Wanted
Release Date January 7, 2020
Rating TV-14
Genres Drama, Crime
Network CBS
Showrunner René Balcer
Cast Rachel York, Oriana Bustamante, Taylor Cooper, Caroline Harris, Rebecca Brooksher, Fedna Jacquet, Lorne Cardinal, Miguel Gomez, Jennifer Landon, YaYa Gosselin, Roxy Sternberg, Irene Bedard, Nathaniel Arcand, Wendy Moniz, Tonye Patano, James Carpinello, Edwin Hodge, Shantel VanSanten, Alana de la Garza, Julian McMahon, Terry O’Quinn, Kellan Lutz, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Dylan McDermott, Alexa Davalos
Creator(s) René Balcer
Writers René Balcer
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