As CBS wraps up another thrilling year for its crime procedural universe, FBI: International continues to prove that the franchise’s reach knows no borders. As a key part of the FBI trio alongside FBI and FBI: Most Wanted, this spinoff has carved its own unique identity by taking the Bureau’s mission abroad — one case, one country, one cultural collision at a time.

Launched in 2021, FBI: International quickly separated itself from the typical crime drama by embracing international politics, foreign law enforcement, and the complex web of diplomacy that underpins high-stakes investigations overseas. Unlike its sibling shows set in the heart of New York or hunting fugitives across the United States, International trades domestic street chases for tense interrogations in embassies, dusty trails across Europe, and morally grey decisions on foreign soil.

Led by the sharp and stoic Special Agent Scott Forrester (played by Luke Kleintank), the Fly Team works out of the Bureau’s international office in Budapest, Hungary. Their mission: protect American interests and citizens wherever they’re threatened — whether that’s an arms deal gone wrong in Croatia or a hostage situation in rural France. Alongside Forrester, standout agents like tank-driving Europol liaison Katrin Jaeger, the strategic Megan “Smitty” Garretson, and canine hero Tank bring diverse strengths and real humanity to the often cold world of counterintelligence.

What sets FBI: International apart, though, isn’t just its setting — it’s the stakes. Every episode carries the tension of diplomacy, language barriers, and clashing jurisdictions. The team frequently walks a tightrope between respecting host nations and enforcing U.S. law, giving the show a distinct moral weight rarely seen in traditional procedurals.

In its latest season, the show raised the bar even further with emotionally charged storylines — from Agent Jamie Kellett’s decision to testify against a fellow agent, to Forrester’s internal struggle between duty and personal loyalty. The writers have masterfully woven these arcs into fast-paced episodes, giving viewers not just action, but layered drama and complex characters worth rooting for.

The success of FBI: International has also paved the way for further expansion. CBS recently announced the greenlight of CIA, a brand-new series that builds on the international legacy of International but shifts focus to covert operations and spycraft. While CIA will stand on its own, it’s clear that FBI: International laid the groundwork for CBS to think bigger — and more globally.

As FBI: Most Wanted wraps and CIA prepares for launch, FBI: International remains a shining example of how procedural storytelling can evolve. With its international scope, emotionally resonant characters, and bold narratives, it has become more than a spinoff — it’s a flagship in its own right.

Will the Fly Team continue their global mission in a changing world? If their journey so far is any indication, they’re just getting started.