CBS Retcons FBI’s Best Villain In Years

Published Oct 27, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT

Laura Hurley has been writing about the entertainment industry for more than twelve years, after a decade as a content producer and editor at CinemaBlend after writing for WhatCulture and Examiner. Attending events like SCAD TVfest and San Diego Comic-Con over the course of her career, she has been immersed in the world of network, streaming, and cable TV. 

Warning: this article contains spoilers for FBI season 9, episode 4, called "Reticence."FBI season 9 has already gone through massive changes on CBS this fall, and the cast is officially going to be different at 26 Fed moving forward. The major FBI cast change was inevitable after how OA's undercover operation turned out, but the way it went down took one agent past the point of no return at the Bureau. In a surprise twist, the episode also delivered a change to how the show's most interesting antagonist affects the team moving forward.

The most obvious villain in season 9 was Anna Vorpe, but she never had the true shades of grey to make her stand out as one of the show's best. FBI proved as much when OA and the rest of the 26 Fed team were able to take her down within just three episodes. All signs originally pointed towards Maggie and the rest having to dodge the interference of another character if they were going to bring OA home. As of the end of "Reticence," the evidence points towards the team having a new ally rather than an ongoing antagonist.

ADIC Green arose as a big problem for the main crew of agents in the last few episodes of season 8, and he dealt a blow to the team that could have been much worse than what Anna directly did to them. The new status quo of Maggie's new partner could have made him an even bigger problem. Instead, Green has become a team player in CBS' 2026 fall TV schedule, and it already feels like a retcon from how he was introduced.

ADIC Green's Redemption Was A Long Time Coming

CBS

The odds were stacked against Green becoming a new asset to the team from actor Curtiss Cook's first episode. Green arrived at 26 Fed as the new Assistant Director in Charge, after Isobel passed on the chance to take that very promotion. His brand of leadership involved interference with what worked for how Isobel's team worked, and OA in particular didn't respond well. Nobody particularly liked Green throughout his three episodes of season 8, and he was firmly established as a villain when he fired OA from the Bureau.

Suffice it to say that season 8 ended with ADIC Green and Anna Vorpe set up as the biggest problems for season 9. Green's nephew, Isaiah, getting promoted to Maggie's partner after OA was fired seemed to point towards Green using his position for selfish reasons. Even early in season 9, there was every reason to believe that Maggie and Isobel were right to conceal their secret mission with OA from Green.

Then, when Green finally got wind of what they were doing off-books, he surprised Isobel by supporting the team in their efforts to take down Vorpe. He was clear that he didn't appreciate her going behind his back, but the case was the priority, and they couldn't have closed the case without his help. Still, the sheer scale of the case could have meant that Green was only taking a break from his villainy to help take down the massive threat that was Anna Vorpe.

"Reticence" proved otherwise. When all signs pointed towards Isaiah as the man who had committed multiple murders and kidnapped a baby, Isobel offered that they would investigate quietly as a courtesy to Green. Instead, he insisted that they investigate Isaiah the same way they would investigate any other suspect.

Having all hands on deck helped the team figure out what was really happening with Isaiah faster than they might have been able to otherwise. Green joining them in the field guaranteed that Isaiah wouldn't be harmed when they found him, and that he had the knowledge to find out where his nephew took the baby. Back in season 8, it would have been all but inconceivable that Green would have sided with Isobel over pulling strings to protect Isaiah. As of season 9, Green is officially one of the good guys.

Does The Team Need A New Antagonist In The Bureau?

Bennett Raglin / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

Part of what made Green such a good antagonist for the team was that he was within their ranks, as their direct boss. He was causing problems for them, but not breaking laws to do so. He was an issue that they had no power to resolve themselves, as he proved when he unceremoniously fired OA. Green certainly wasn't a character for fans to root for, but he made 26 Fed a more interesting place as more of a villain than a hero for them.

Now, the question is whether FBI needs to introduce a new bad guy within the Bureau. For a show as procedural as FBI, antagonists can provide some of the best ongoing storylines without needing to completely overhaul the format. The agents have had problematic bosses before, and they haven't always gotten a redemption like Green did. Now that Green has been removed as a major threat to how they operate, it's possible that FBI will need to replace him with a character who is more of a thorn in their sides with the Bureau.

Of course, now that the Anna Vorpe situation has been resolved and Isaiah is out of the Bureau, ADIC Green may simply have fewer reasons to visit the JOC. It's entirely possible that FBI will continue without delivering a new antagonist until later in season 9, with Green in the background. Still, losing Green as a villain within the Bureau ranks may be detrimental for the storytelling of season 9, even if it's a boon for the agents. The story is still unfolding, with new episodes of FBI on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.