FBI is making its midseason return with a bang — both a literal one and an emotional one. Some bad guys have got some very big guns, and Scolina’s getting married!
While stars John Boyd andShantel VanSanten hope you’ve been enjoying the Winter Olympics in the meantime, they’re particularly excited for the premiere. It’s a big moment for Scola (Boyd) and Nina (VanSanten), who share a son and a lot of hang-ups when it comes to their relationship, including its future. Can two FBI agents have a happy marriage? They’re about to find out, after they take down some bad guys and nearly die, of course.
Here’s how Boyd describes the episode, titled “Confetti.”
“We pick up with Nin and Maggie (Missy Peregrym) going undercover. There’s a huge wedding scene. There’s crime, there’s murder, there’s a twist, there’s betrayal, there’s name-calling, there’s an organized crime ring. It’s two crime families that come together in a wedding, and there’s an exciting twist. And it ends with a happy ending, maybe.”
“For once,” added VanSanten. “A little spark of joy.”
The two spoke to Parade about their long-awaited nuptials, which arrive after a particularly harrowing career moment for both of them. Nina’s undercover with Maggie, Scola and the rest of the team are monitoring the situation through cameras and earpieces, and things go (as they always do) sideways. But what else is going to happen at a mob wedding?
Whatever does happen changes something for the couple, even if it doesn’t change their circumstances. They’re still both constantly putting themselves in danger for their work, and maybe, occasionally, for the thrill of it. They’re also still learning how to think of someone other than themselves and the case at hand, and this particular case is an especially tough challenge.
“That theme is something that, for the entirety of their relationship, as long as they’re doing this job, that will be there,” Van Santen said. “Just…It’s different. From Nina’s perspective, I think she’s really engrossed in this case, and she’s been in it for two months and isn’t ready to not be in on it and let it go. She wants to see it through, and obviously, something has to sacrifice for that to happen. Not everything can be perfectly balanced, and I think it skews her vision and her words to her partner.”
“My reaction [to this episode] was that it’s interesting that it’s the same theme, but it seems to cut deeper,” Boyd said. “It seems to hurt more, it’s more complicated, they’re lashing out…it’s cutting at the fabric of their relationship. That’s what struck me and what I was excited to see, because of the payoff…It makes the repair more significant.”
Sometimes, it takes what VanSanten calls “a near-death experience…that changes everything” to help make everything clearer.
(Bennett Raglin/CBS)
And no, as far as Boyd and VanSanten can remember, not a single person quoted The Godfather while shooting a mob wedding.
“There were definitely a lot of jokes being made, but…with the other wedding that was happening, before our wedding, that day of shooting was so intense that we didn’t make as many jokes,” Van Santen said. “There were so many moving parts, so much action and stunts to coordinate and heels to try and fight and run in that I didn’t think about making a Godfatherjoke that day. I should have. Missed opportunity.”
Van Santen doesn’t know (or can’t say) if Nina will be back to work alongside her new husband again this season, but she and Boyd are both waiting for a call from the new spin-off, CIA. Crossovers between FBI and CIA are planned (especially since that is essentially the premise of the new show), and they are ready to join at any time.
“I know there’s a few of us that are going,” Boyd said. “I’m still waiting for my name to be called, but that’s okay. They know where to find me. I also come with…”
“We’re a package deal,” Van Santen added.
“If they need a married couple to help with anything, we’re always there for them,” Boyd continued. “I’ve heard great things, and I know my castmates have been excited, and it’s gonna be a very exciting night. We’re super happy to get to lead in for them. We’ll be watching, for sure.”
Tune in Monday at 8 p.m. to see how Nina and Scola’s “I do”s turn out, followed by the series premiere of the new FBI spinoff CIA.