Spoiler Warning:FBI: Most WantedAfter Jess LaCroix, head of theFBI: Most Wantedtask force, was killed off the series he spearheaded for three seasons, fans are left wondering what’s next for the third installment of the police procedural television drama. Created by Emmy Award winnerDick Wolf and his production teamfrom theLaw & Orderfranchise,FBI: Most Wantedis geared primarily towards depicting the day-to-day operations of the Fugitive Task Force, relentlessly capturing the most vicious and notorious criminals on the Bureau of Intelligence’s Most Wanted list.
Back in January,Julian McMahonannounced that he was indeed leaving the show, releasing a statement that mentions his meeting with producers in the months prior were constructed “in favor of additional creative pursuits.”
In McMahon’s final episode, “Shattered,” we see Jess LaCroix (McMahon) unexpectedly shot while shielding a woman from her abusive boyfriend. As Jess’s family and team members struggle with the fallout from his death, everyone is grieving as they look to what the future looks like without their former boss, both personally and professionally. As it relates to production, it has since been confirmed that actorDylan McDermott will replace Julian McMahonin the show’s lead role.
McDermott has already started filmingwith the rest of the cast, and his first appearance is in episode 17, “Covenant,” which is scheduled to air Wednesday, August 05, 2025. For now, fans are still left with a ton of questions about how the show will function without the presence of LaCroix. So, let’s analyze howFBI: Most Wantedwill navigate the next leg of its current season under different leadership.
Dylan McDermott Has Big Shoes to Fill
As an actor, Dylan McDermott has played in various accomplished shows and films. From his role as lawyer Bobby Donnell in the legal drama seriesThe Practiceto the highly intelligent and sophisticated villainRichard Wheatley inLaw & Order Organized Crime,McDermott has the experience and diversity in his approach to tackling dynamic roles in a fascinating way.Can he balance the series out as the next lead ofFBI: Most Wanted?
As of now, we have limited knowledge of the specific character that McDermott will play. We know that his character of Richard Wheatley onLaw & Order Organized Crime(still in the Dick Wolf universe) will be nothing like his character in the upcoming series.
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Obviously, his character will be more refined than some of his previous roles (noAmerican Horror StoryBen Harmon, sorry, everyone). Julian McMahon has been so perfect as the series lead anchor, grounding his collective team members whenever things become too chaotic onscreen. He’s the glue that keeps everyone together, has a solid relationship with his team’s family members, in addition to McMahon being a highly skilled actor, well beyond theFBIuniverse. As a fan, it’s difficult to manage which route the show will take without their already established lead, who’s literally still the face of the franchise, as personal and professional backstory expanded significantly throughout the three past seasons.
Can The Team Hold Onto Their Family Atmosphere Without Jess?
In episode fifteen, “Incel,” we see a distraught and quite frankly torn apart team as they collectively deal with the emotional and mental effects of the death of Jess. The group visits Jess’s father (Terry O’Quinn) and girlfriend and helps Sarah (Jennifer Landon) paint their house, a task that she and Jess were preparing to complete together. We obviously see a series of emotions abruptly shift within each of the characters. Hanna (Keisha Castle-Hughes), an intricate member of the task force, is having the most difficult time out of the rest of her fellow colleagues. As she lashes out in isolated moments of the episode, it’s apparent through the unusual behavior that she’s not doing well with Jess being gone.
Besides work, every one of the members of the task force has had a significant relationship with Jess. He’s been able to give his group advice both inside as well as outside the office. Viewing how they attempt to move forward is going to be heart-breaking yet intricate to watch.
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What’s inevitable is the fan divide that has already emerged with this slow shift in leadership. While there are many fans who have vocally come out to say they probably would never supportFBI: Most Wantedagain, after the departure of McMahon (which is understandable), the show has maintained consistent viewership in the week’s ratings without a team leader. Let’s face it, the show will probably never be the same without Jess LaCroix, but after becoming invested in a television program for such an extended amount of time, shouldn’t it be worth giving the new round of episodes a shot?
