‘FBI’: Zeeko Zaki Previews Challenges for OA Undercover & How Maggie’s Doing Without Him

FBI Season 9 doesn’t start off easy for partners Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and Omar Adom “OA” Zidan (Zeeko Zaki). OA is undercover investigating the shady unit run by the NSA’s Anna Vorpe (Claire Coffee), whose actions he opposed so vehemently that he was fired in last spring’s finale — a set-up for this assignment.

Now, when the CBS drama returns on Monday, October 5, he’s still adjusting to his new role, while Maggie’s contending with a new partner, Isaiah Green (Roland Buck III). Plus, she and her team will be looking into the murder of a witness to an execution of someone in a government project.

Below, Zaki previews what’s to come.

How much time has passed since the end of Season 8? How long has OA been undercover?

Zeeko Zaki: Three months have passed since the end of last season, and OA has been undercover and completely disconnected from his team that entire time.

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What can you say about how long OA will be undercover or if this is a multi-episode arc to kick off the season?

Without giving too much away, I’ll just say it’s more than one episode undercover. We’re kicking off the season with what feels like a multi-episode movie, and I think it’s going to be really exciting for the audience.

How is being undercover going for OA? What’s he up to there? What’s challenging OA the most about being undercover?

He’s finding his groove, but it takes a while before you really feel that from him. I think the most challenging part is not having his partner there with him, while also making sure he doesn’t get too sucked into the world he’s living in undercover.

How often is he checking in with Maggie and Isobel (or anyone else from the team) and how much will we see of that onscreen?

That will all be explained in the first episode. It’s actually a big part of the storyline, so I can’t give too much away without spoiling it!

Bennett Raglin/CBS

How’s Maggie doing in his absence?

She’s definitely struggling without OA. She cries a lot in the first episode, but Missy is such a beautiful crier, and I’m really excited for the audience to see her work.

The logline for the premiere teases that Maggie struggles to bond with her new partner. What can you say about Isaiah Green and what we’ll see there?

He seems like a good guy. He definitely can’t do anything cooler than OA can, though.

What can you preview about the premiere’s case, involving the execution of a person involved in a top-secret government-sponsored project?

It’s really fun when we get to live in two storylines at once. We haven’t really done that since the train episode, which was a lot of fun to watch. We also get to start this episode in my favorite way,  jumping right into the action. So, buckle up!

FBI, Season 9 Premiere, Monday, October 5, 8/7c, CBS