Sela Ward’s Dana Mosier leftFBIat the end of season 1, but there was a reason her protege didn’t replace her at the time. Throughout all seven seasons ofFBI, the New York Field Office has been managed by a Special Agent In Charge, though day-to-day handling of cases is often done by Jubal (Jeremy Sisto).
Sela Ward replaced ConnieNielsen after theFBIpilotbut left after the first season,and Isobel Castille (Alana de la Garza) became the new agent at the beginning of season 2.FBIseason 7leaves Isobel’s fate in the air after she has a medical emergency, re-opening the question of who will lead the team next.
FBI Season 1 Revealed That Jubal Applied To Be Special Agent in Charge (But Dana Beat Him)
This Seemed To Foreshadow a Promotion That Never Came
Jubal is an Assistant Special Agentin Charge, while Dana and Isobel hold the status of Special Agent in Charge. Thus,Jubal is second-in-command, although he is the more visible face of the leadership team.While the Special Agent inCharge tends to make decisions from behind a desk in their office, Jubal meets with the team and directs investigations.
While Jubal seems to enjoy his job, he once had higher ambitions within the FBI. It is revealed inFBIseason 1 that Jubal had initially hoped to get the job that Dana then held. However, theFBIchose her over him, and he was her second-in-command. Thus,it would have been natural to promote Jubal when Dana left.
Why FBI Didn’t Promote Jubal After Dana Vacated The Position
FBI Didn’t Directly Explain It, But There Are Several Implied Reasons
FBInever explained why Jubal didn’t get Dana’s positionafter she left, which is just one example of a larger, long-standing problem with the franchise. Manycharacters in theFBIuniverse get disappointing exits, and obvious plot points, such as explaining why Jubal didn’t get the promotion, are glossed over or ignored.
In Jubal’s case,Isobel was introduced as the new Special Agent in Charge inFBIseason 2 without any explanation of how she got the job. The behind-the-scenes reason was likely that Dick Wolf Entertainment decided to create a new female character to replace Dana to make the transition from one team leader to the other easier.
While there was no in-universe explanation given, the most likely is thatJubal was not seen as stable enough to be in the top position. It is well established inFBIthat Jubal has an issue with alcohol addiction. At the time Dana left, Jubal had been sober for five years. While this was a significant achievement, it may not have been enough for the FBI leadership to trust he wouldn’t relapse.
This is the most logical explanation, especially since Jubal did relapse after 10 years of sobriety inFBIseason 5. However, it’s equally possible that Jubal didn’t apply for the job or campaign much for it.
Jubal focuses more on doing his current job well than on the relationship-building needed to advance in the Bureau’s hierarchy.
Promotions within the FBI tend to be as political as they are merit-based, and Jubal focuses more on doing his current job well than on the relationship-building needed to advance in the Bureau’s hierarchy. This decision might have resulted in Jubal not being on the FBI’s radar as a potential replacement when Dana left.
Can Jubal Still Become Special Agent in Charge In FBI Season 8? (How?)
It’s Possible Given the Season 7 Cliffhanger
Whether Jubal has a chance to become the Special Agent In Charge inFBIseason 8depends on what direction the procedural takes the Isobel season 7 cliffhanger. TheFBIseason 7 finale put Isobel in extreme danger. She survived an assassination attempt, but after confronting some corrupt FBI agents in high positions, she suddenly collapsed.
There has been no word yet about whether Isobel will live or die. If she dies, there will be a vacancy that needs to be filled immediately. In this case,Jubal would be the most logical choice.He could be promoted immediately while the FBI looks for someone else to fill Isobel’s position.
Even if Isobel lives, she might decide that it’s time to retire. She risked her life to save the FBI’s integrity, and that might be enough of a final act for her. This would leave a vacancy that Jubal could again attempt to fill. However, there is no guarantee that Jubal would want the position. He might be more likely to accept it if it were temporary, as he wouldn’t have to give up working more closely with the agents under him.
The possibility of Jubal’s promotion is especially interesting now that he has reconciled with Sam. His inability to be there for his family because of job demands is part of what killed their marriage, so taking a new job could cause serious problems with his relationship now.
Jubal having to decide whether he wants Isobel’s job or how to balance his work and family lives better so he doesn’t lose Sam again would make a strongFBIseason 8 arc for him.
Jubal having to decide whether he wants Isobel’s job or how to balance his work and family lives better so he doesn’t lose Sam again would make a strongFBIseason 8 arc for him. It would be especially compelling if he were making these decisions against the backdrop of grief over Isobel’s death.
Of course,FBIwould have to figure out how to fill Jubal’s position if he were promoted, but Maggie or OA could move into that role. If Isobel leaves the procedural, it would be the perfect time to promote Jubal and make up for not doing so after Dana left.
