FBI: International’s series finale will finally make it clear why the elite Fly Team has the moniker it does. The internationally-based spinoff is one of the best FBI shows because it is one of the only procedures that takes place entirely in foreign countries. Instead of dealing with the domestic cases that are the bread and butter of most procedures, FBI: International focuses on the Fly Team, which handles cases in Europe, Asia, and other regions that have significant implications for the United States.
Sadly, FBI: International is one of the shows that CBS has canceled in 2025. With only a few episodes of FBI: International leaving before the series ends for good, the best that can be hoped for is that it has a strong wrap-up. It’s difficult to predict how a series like this will end; however, CBS and Dick Wolf Entertainment have dropped some clues. Significantly, the FBI: International series finale will take place in Japan rather than in one of the European countries that are most frequently seen in the series (via TVLine).
FBI: International’s Name Never Felt Appropriate Because The Fly Team Mostly Stays In Europe
Many Cases Took Place In Budapest Or Other Areas Accessible By Car Or Train
The name “Fly Team” suggests that these FBI agents fly all over the world solving cases. However, that has not often been the case. While FBI: Most Wanted often has agents flying to other areas of the United States, FBI: International’s team rarely stepped on a plane to get to the case’s destination. The team’s headquarters is in Budapest, Hungary, and many cases take place there or in surrounding areas — while the team does move around, it’s usually within the borders of the European Union. Keeping cases mostly confined to Europe was likely an attempt to save money.
FBI: International films most scenes on location, which makes the show more expensive than the average procedural. However, if FBI: International kept going to different places all over the world, that would likely be more expensive than confining the production to two or three central locations and building stories around those areas. Storywise, it also keeps things less complicated if the Fly Team visits the same locations repeatedly, allowing the audience to get used to the settings rather than requiring viewers to adjust to a new location each episode.
The Fly Team’s Last Case Will Take Them To Japan
The Procedural Will Finally Visit An Asian Country For Its Finale
FBI: International’s final case, airing on May 20, 2025, will break this trend. The Fly Team’s final mission will be an exciting case in which the FBI agents head to Japan in pursuit of a serial killer who is collecting victims throughout the world. This last story will ensure that the procedural has a memorable case before it wraps up all of the characters’ storylines and brings the series to a close.
It is bittersweet that the Fly Team will finally fly somewhere new, only for this to be the last on-screen adventure the team will embark upon.
This story will likely have the action and danger that makes FBI: International the best series in the franchise. However, it is bittersweet that the Fly Team will finally fly somewhere new, only for this to be the last on-screen adventure the team will embark upon. Nevertheless, it’ll be a refreshing change from the usual conflicts between the Fly Team and the European police departments. It will be interesting to see what aspects of Japanese culture are embedded into the story and how local police react to the Fly Team’s presence.
FBI: International’s Final Case Being In Japan Is A Reminder Of Its Untapped Potential
CBS Is Pulling The Plug On Its Most Unique Procedural
The Fly Team’s visit to Japan is a strong reminder of how different this procedure is from other shows in the genre. This story will be FBI: International’s last chance to share the culture, history, and scenery of a location that many audience members may not be familiar with. Additionally, the decision to finally break free of Europe-based storytelling to send the Fly Team elsewhere in the world demonstrates how much potential this series could have had for years to come. Expanding storytelling to a few more locations would have made for exciting, unique, and compelling television.
There are several reasons that CBS is canceling FBI: International. Money is probably a large factor, considering the expense of on-location shoots. This is unfortunate, as FBI: International offers a unique perspective that will not be easily replicated. While other procedurals sometimes have one-off episodes in a foreign country, this series made foreign travel central to its premise, and the series’ final trip to Japan underscores how much it will be missed once it goes off the air.
