“You don’t care about me, and you don’t care about my team.” – Wes finally explodes, and Ella’s web of lies begins to unravel.

In Episode 16 of FBI: International Season 4, titled “Little Angel”, viewers are thrust into a storyline that is equal parts predictable and frustratingly unbalanced. The case-of-the-week premise—rescuing the family of a cryptocurrency mogul entangled with mobsters—offers the usual blend of global intrigue and action. But it’s not the international chase or organized crime drama that dominates the screen. Instead, it’s Wes Mitchell’s emotional fallout and toxic entanglement with Ella that hijack the narrative, highlighting a growing problem with the show’s structure in its final stretch.

The episode begins with promise. The Fly Team is called in to rescue Bryce Mayfield’s wife and son, both kidnapped by a dangerous criminal syndicate. The rescue is successful, but the real trouble brews beneath the surface. Amanda Tate quickly connects the dots between Mayfield’s business and Ella, an old flame of Wes Mitchell. What follows is a tense confrontation between Wes and Ella—at least, it’s meant to be tense.

Despite Jesse Lee Soffer’s best efforts, the scene where Wes accuses Ella of bribery falls flat. Ella shrugs it off, pinning the blame on her stepfather and manipulating Wes by implying that exposing her will jeopardize the entire case. It’s a frustrating moment for viewers, not just because it makes Wes look like he’s stuck in emotional quicksand, but because it underscores Ella’s role as an underdeveloped character who adds drama without depth.

The irony is that Wes started this season as a compelling new team leader, shaped by the trauma of losing his partner Mike and forced to rebuild his life abroad. But rather than see Wes evolve through the challenges of his job, we’ve been dragged through subplot after subplot that revolves around his past. From his conflict with Tyler Booth to Quinn being sent to investigate him, it’s become repetitive—and now with Ella added into the mix, the show feels like it’s spinning its wheels.

What’s worse, the rest of the Fly Team barely gets a chance to breathe. Cameron, once Wes’s closest confidante, is mysteriously sidelined. Raines and Smitty are present, but barely utilized. Amanda is the lone bright spot, stepping into the investigative spotlight and serving as the episode’s moral compass. Her line—“She can have the money. We’ll take the justice.”—is one of the few moments that resonate.

Ultimately, “Little Angel” is a microcosm of why FBI: International’s cancellation stings: the show had strong bones but kept misusing its talent. The Ella plotline doesn’t feel worth the time it consumes, especially when the ensemble cast has so much more to give. As Wes tells Ella, “You don’t care about me, and you don’t care about my team.” Sadly, neither does the script.