FBI Expands with a New Spinoff: Will It Avoid the Pitfalls of One Chicago’s Fourth Series?
The FBI franchise continues to grow as CBS announces a brand-new spinoff in the ever-popular crime procedural universe. With its successful predecessors—FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International—the expectations for this new addition are high. However, some fans and critics wonder if the franchise could fall into the same trap that One Chicago did when it introduced its fourth show, Chicago Justice, which struggled to find its footing and was canceled after just one season.
The Success of the FBI Franchise
The FBI universe, created by Dick Wolf, has seen tremendous success since its launch in 2018. FBI quickly became one of CBS’s highest-rated dramas, leading to the development of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, both of which found solid viewership and maintained a strong presence in the network’s lineup.
With crime procedurals continuing to dominate network television, it’s no surprise that CBS is eager to expand the franchise even further. But with expansion comes risk—can the fourth FBI series maintain the quality and excitement that fans have come to expect, or will it struggle to establish its own identity?
Lessons from One Chicago’s Fourth Show
The One Chicago franchise—also a Dick Wolf creation—has been one of NBC’s biggest successes. However, when it attempted to introduce a fourth series, Chicago Justice, things didn’t go as planned. While the show had a built-in audience thanks to the popularity of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med, it failed to differentiate itself and suffered from weaker ratings and lukewarm reception.
One major issue was its lack of compelling characters compared to its sister shows. Chicago Justice leaned heavily on legal drama elements, which didn’t quite resonate with viewers expecting the same high-intensity action and character-driven storytelling seen in the other One Chicago series.
How the New FBI Spinoff Can Avoid These Mistakes
CBS has the advantage of learning from One Chicago’s misstep. To ensure success, the fourth FBI installment will need to:
- Establish a Unique Identity: Rather than being a carbon copy of the existing FBI shows, the new spinoff must bring something fresh to the table—whether it’s a different law enforcement division, a unique setting, or a new storytelling approach.
- Develop Strong Characters: One of the reasons the FBI franchise has been so successful is its compelling cast. The new series needs to introduce characters who feel essential to the franchise while still standing out.
- Maintain High-Stakes Storytelling: Crime procedurals thrive on gripping cases and emotional stakes. Ensuring that the new show doesn’t fall into formulaic, repetitive storytelling will be crucial for retaining audience interest.
What We Know About the New Spinoff So Far
Details about the new FBI series remain scarce, but early reports suggest that it may focus on a specialized law enforcement unit tackling cases outside the scope of the existing teams. Whether it takes a global approach like FBI: International or focuses on a niche domestic task force remains to be seen.
With CBS fully backing the FBI franchise, the network is likely to give this new series a strong promotional push. Additionally, crossover episodes with the existing FBI shows could help generate interest and ensure a seamless integration into the franchise.
Will the FBI Expansion Succeed?
The success of this new spinoff will depend on whether it can stand on its own while still feeling like an integral part of the FBI universe. CBS has a proven track record with crime procedurals, but as Chicago Justice showed, even a well-established franchise isn’t immune to missteps.
With the right creative decisions, compelling characters, and fresh storytelling, the newest FBI spinoff has the potential to thrive. Fans will have to wait and see whether it lives up to the franchise’s legacy or follows the fate of One Chicago’s ill-fated fourth show.
As we await further details, one thing is certain—FBI fans are eager to see what’s next for their favorite crime procedural universe.
