FBI Season 6, Episode 8, “Phantom” has great intentions for Agent Tiffany Wallace — but never quite reaches where

it wants her to go. As written by showrunner and Dick Wolf universe veteran Rick Eid, “Phantom” picks up the narrative

thread of Hobbs’ murder and explores the continued effect his death has on Tiffany. Yet the episode pulls its punches a

s it tries to fit her emotional journey into one 42-minute space.

Coincidentally airing on the day that the entire FBI franchise was renewed, “Phantom” does show why CBS wants to keep the flagship show around until at least Season 9. The original FBI has the strongest cast out of all three shows, and is one of the best ensembles in Wolf’s whole portfolio. This episode reinforces that; it just doesn’t take the big leap that the performances would easily support.

FBI’s Murder Mystery Isn’t One at All

Episode’s Pacing Surpasses Most Network TV Dramas

It’s worth noting that Rick Eid is the former showrunner of Chicago P.D. and also currently overseeing the Law & Order revival, because what FBI does in “Phantom” unintentionally illustrates what makes this Dick Wolf franchise different from the other two. The initial minutes of this episode seem like just another case of the week, as Maggie Bell and partner OA Zidan probe the murder of James Sun. When one of Sun’s Army colleagues reveals that the victim was an ammunition specialist and disgruntled about being passed over for promotion, the viewer can guess where the story is going. Sun’s explosives are now in the wrong hands.