Sadly, McMahon left the procedural halfway through FBI: Most Wanted season 3. His character was killed off and was soon replaced with Dylan McDermott’s Remy Scott.
Remy remained the team leader until this year, whn FBI: Most Wanted joined several other shows on CBS’ 2024-2025 season cancelation list. However, McMahon’s Jess Lacroix was never forgotten, and some of his episodes are even more poignant now that the actor has passed away.
8.Hustler
Season 2, Episode 23
In many ways, “Hustler” is a typical episode in the earliest era of FBI: Most Wanted, although its arc about Jess having to handle a federal informant demonstrates his strong investigative skills better than most other episodes. However, this episode is strong for far more reasons than the case-related aspects.
7.Overlooked
Season 2, Episode 13
“Overlooked” is Jess’ penultimate episode, which makes it the last episode that ends with the Fugitive Task Force director still alive. This bittersweet realization is made even worse by Jess’ subplot in this story. While chasing the abusive son of a businessman who killed his entire family, Jess struggles with feeling alone after Tali goes to boarding school.
The final moments of this episode are Jess’ happiest, which makes his death in the following story even more poignant.
The final moments of this episode are Jess’ happiest, which makes his death in the following story even more poignant. Jess feels more positive about Tali’s absence after realizing it means he has more time available to spend with Sarah. The two start planning a life together, only for Jess to be gunned down in the next story.
Leaving that tragic history aside, “Overlooked” is one of the strongest episodes in FBI: Most Wanted because of the twists and turns in the case. The story includes a supposedly innocent suspect being revealed to be a serial abuser who has never been held accountable for his crimes.
6.Deconflict
Season 2, Episode 3
In “Deconflict,” the stakes couldn’t be higher for Jess and his team. They were already dealing with a high-pressure situation in the beginning of the episode after a wife who witnessed her husband’s murder disappears.It gets even worse when Jess realizes the killer is a man named Hewitt who slipped through his fingers during one of his first cases.
Hewitt has been on the run for a long time, and Jess is equally determined to take him down, which adds to the intensity in this episode. Additionally, the witness is really a former accomplice who is in Witness Protection, so Jess has to think fast in order to protect her.
Jess also has to decide whether he wants to be compassionate after learning that the perp has come out of hiding to go on a revenge tour because he is dying of cancer. This arc adds a compelling moral dilemma to the story.
Season 1, Episode 1
“Dopesick” earns a spot in the list of Jess’ best episodes simply because it is the first full episode of FBI: Most Wanted. This story has to do a lot of heavy lifting, and while no episode is perfect, it is extraordinarily successful. The story is engaging, featuring a doctor who has ties to organized crime.
The fact that FBI: Most Wanted — and Jess himself — became popular proves how well-crafted this premiere episode was.
The doctor goes on the run after shooting his wife. Additionally, the episode introduces not only Jess, but his entire team, and sets the tone for the series. This is not easy to do, and the fact that FBI: Most Wanted — and Jess himself — became popular proves how well-crafted this premiere episode was.
4.Shattered
Season 3, Episode 14
The scene is even harder to watch now that Julian McMahon has passed away in real life.
He takes a fatal bullet, which means that he dies a hero’s death. This is small comfort to those who loved him, and the scene is even harder to watch now that Julian McMahon has passed away in real life.
Jess’ on-air death is painful not only because he was a beloved character, but also because he and Sarah were about to leave on vacation together and they likely would have gotten even closer. Additionally, the case is one of the series’ most important, as it sheds light on the important issue of domestic violence.
3.Rampage
Season 2, Episode 1
“Rampage” is one of the first episodes of a network TV series to address the real-life impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of this episode is focused on a case in which two gunmen target people who they believe are responsible for their suffering during the public health crisis.
2.Reveille
Season 1, Episode 9
Many of the best episodes of Jess’ era revolved around his efforts to protect his daughter, Tali. In “Reveille,” Tali isn’t getting into trouble because of her rebellious nature. Tali is arrested by ICE and detained in an unknown location, supposedly by mistake, but more likely because Jess’ team is getting too close to stopping some domestic terrorists.
1.Run-Fight-Hide
Season 3, Episode 9
“Run-Fight-Hide” is often at the top of lists of fan-favorite episodes, with good reason. Jess faces his most difficult challenge yet during this episode when he, Tali, and Barnes are trapped inside a mall during an active shooter event. This scenario is especially scary for Jess, as he is an FBI agent, yet powerless to protect his daughter.
Although there have been several stories involving members of the team being held hostage, this one is the most intense because Jess’ daughter is involved.
The scenario makes “Run-Fight-Hide” one of FBI: Most Wanted‘s scariest episodes. Although there have been several stories involving members of the team being held hostage, this one is the most intense because Jess’ daughter is involved. Additionally, while Jess and Tali both survive this traumatic event, it occurs only five episodes before Jess’ death, making the story more poignant.
