7 Ways the ‘FBI’ Shows Remembered ‘Most Wanted’ Jess
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for FBI: Most Wanted Season 3 Episode 15 “Incel.”]
The Fugitive Task Force must move on without its leader, Jess LaCroix (Julian McMahon), who was killed in the line of duty. But that doesn’t mean anyone will forget him.
After Jess was shot in the neck protecting a woman from her abusive boyfriend in “Shattered,” the next episode picks up a week later, and FBI‘s Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza) checks on them. Everyone’s grieving, though one member of the team is outwardly struggling a bit more than the others. They do their jobs, but once the case is over, they gather at Jess’ house with his girlfriend Sarah (Jen Landon) and his father Byron (Terry O’Quinn) to remember the man they lost.
Scroll down to take a look at how Most Wanted, as well as FBI, recognized this significant loss.
FBI: Most Wanted, Tuesdays, 10/9c, CBS
Jubal Checks on Isobel
Early on in FBI‘s March 22 episode, Assist. Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) checks on Isobel. “How are you holding up with Jess?” he asks. “Well, you know,” is all she says. “If you need to talk about it, I’m here,” he tells her. She knows.
Isobel Offers Grief Counseling
When Isobel visits the Fugitive Task Force, she lets them know there’s someone for them to talk to, if they choose. “I know that this is hard. We all miss him, but the Bureau has a grief counselor on call if anybody needs to talk. Only if you want to,” she says. “Although I will say I spent an hour with here this weekend and I did feel better.” She also makes sure they’re ready to take on another case. If not, she can pass it off to the U.S. Marshals. “We’re good,” Kristin Gaines (Alexa Davalos) says, and Ivan Ortiz (Miguel Gomez) backs her.
Jess' Empty Chair
It’s impossible not to notice that no one’s sitting at the table when Isobel stops by — and Jess’ empty chair, in particular, stands out. It will need to be filled, and Isobel confirms that while “we know that no one can replace Jess,” they are already looking at applicants. There are plenty, already, since they’re “the elite fugitive squad, with a great reputation.” They’ll have a new leader once everyone is vetted. For now, it doesn’t seem like anyone on the team is taking (or willing to take) over, even temporarily.
The FBI Team Attended Jess' Funeral
As Isobel leaves, Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) stops her. “Please tell Jubal and the team thanks for being at the service,” she says. “It meant a lot.”
Hana Lashes Out Due to Her Grief
Hana Gibson (Keisha Castle-Hughes) seems to be having the hardest time balancing her grief and work, first taking offense when Ortiz volunteers her for an assignment during the case. “She’s having a tough time with Jess gone,” Barnes tries to explain, but he points out, “she’s not the only one.”
Then, Hana snaps at Barnes about getting “stuck” on “night watch” all the time, asking if it’s because she doesn’t have kids. “Nobody said you had to be here every night,” Barnes points out. After they’ve caught their fugitive, Hana apologizes. “I really miss Jess, and I’m having a hard time dealing with it,” she admits. Barnes gets it because she misses him, too. Both keep expecting to see him “with the honey bear,” “making his tea,” “scratching the back of his neck,” “barking orders and profiling our fugitive.”
The Team Helps Paint Jess' House for Sarah
When Hana finds out that Barnes has been checking up on Sarah, she shares that she and Ortiz had an idea. The team goes over and helps her paint the house, which was what Jess was doing before his last case called him away.
"To Jess"
The team, Byron, and Sarah sit down for dinner at the end of the episode. Sarah sends a photo to Jess’ daughter Tali of the meal. “She’s better, I think,” she shares with the others. She’s staying with her grandparents, and Sarah’s going back up to see her the next day.
Then, Byron leads the toast: “Jess used to always get mad at me because I told him it was bad luck to toast with water, but he’s not here now, so…. thank you for the food. Thank you for the company. My son was a very lucky man. He had a family at home that loved him very much, and one at work that did, too. And for that, I will be forever grateful. I miss you.”
Conversation50 Comments
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O
Julian McMahon was great and will be missed. I will have a hard time not thinking of Dylan McDermott as the horrible Richard Wheatley.
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P
My thoughts exactly!!! Only time will tell.
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P
Right! I just finished watching Most Wanted 14 & 15, every time they brought up Jess I started tearing up. But, yeah, it’s gunna be a different mindset for Dylan McDermott as a good guy, he plays the bad guy so often…Oh Well…
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R
So will I! I’ve never seen as a villan, I’d always seen him in detective type shows and I dearly loved him. He has got to earn that love back! 😊
No one will be able to replace Jess, though.
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G
The show will never be the same
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G
I won't continue watching the show , the only character that was unique to this show was killed off, it's like the mentalist without Patrick Jane ☹️
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O
Why did they have to kill Jess off, he made the show, the writers are all wrong. Bring him back, say they wanted his killer to believe he was dead so he would come out of hiding.
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G
I read he wanted to leave the show to do other things. So the writers killed him off.
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O
They could have had him go on sabbatical with Sarah. And now Tali is an orphan. Given how much hopelessness there is in the real world, this ruins the show for me, as well.
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P
Wow y’all… our favorite characters are killed off or leave & new ppl in all the time, gotta give ‘em a chance. Can’t just stop watching or bash your show because they leave…
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G
Yes we can. This totally ruins the show. Even though Gary Cole is a good actor he's no Mark Harmon. New actors in the role of a important lead NEVER work.
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O
Totally agree. Tali is now an orphan and it ruins the show for me too
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G
It's not going to be the same for awhile I can't bring myself to watch the episode I have tape on my tv .but I will eventually.i wish the would have had him to retire.
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B
Not happy about him leaving. Loved his character. They should have fought to have him stay.
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O
I don't think Dylan McDermott can fill Julian McMahon's shoes . Julian McMahon is a great actor. He will be missed by millions of viewers. I will continue to watch the show. I will see!!!
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P
So sorry, he left the show!! Dylan McDermott will not fill his shoes!!
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O
I loved Julian as Jess. I don't think Dylan can replace him, but like Gibbs character on NCIS, Dylan will make his own way into the character. Give him a chance!
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G
I DO NOT LIKE JESS REPLACEMENT, Not watching it again
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B
Get olinsky from chicago pd antonio from pd an jess an get them in a show togrther. An bush if possible.
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B
Thts a shame how they dumped them
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B
Im a faithful watcher
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B
I love this show and I HATED the way that Jess (Julian) left the show. I was hoping that he would just retire after recovering from the shot and go to Bali with Sarah.
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R
Really hate he left the show of the 3 FBI shows that was my favorite because of him , he was just down to earth .Gonna miss him , will continue to watch because cast is really good actors . I do watch the other FBI's every week. Love the cast in both of them .
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O
I agree totally with you. FBI MOST WANTED is|was my favorite TV SHOW of all the shows I watch. Jess, I want u back!!! Take a quick rest, then return. Only ur character has charmed us, as u can see.
Same WITH NCIS.
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R
I have loved Julian McMahon since "CHARMED", he always brought his " A Game" in everything he did. He always put the right stich were it belonged. Like gripping about Tali going away to school, but she went anyway with his blessings. I will miss his character.
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R
I think Its absolutely disgusting what the writers did! There were different ways they could’ve written him out if that was the case, this way there would’ve been an opportunity for him to return if he wanted too’ The show will never be the same, maybe the show needs different writer’s!!! You’ve list a lot of viewers, so sad
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P
I'll miss him a lot. The show will go on with the great cast of actors that are in it. Dylan McDermott hasn't even started so let's wait and see, he is a very good actor too.
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P
His leaving will ruin the show. I very very much do not like Dylan McDermott hard to think of a worst choice. Are you trying to ruin the show? Sounds like it since you picked such a terrible actor to replace a great one. I feel sorry for the other actors on the show. Bet it will not be renewed next year.
I will no longer watch the show. It used to be my favorite show. How could you let Julian go? He made the show great.
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G
Honestly; I was a Big, Big fan of Julian. I will not be following the series anymore.
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B
I liked the show because of Jess. I’m shocked that he was killed off.
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C
It’s not going to be the same without Jess
-We lost the grandparents, the uncle, Tali and then Jess and now Richard Wheatley takes over…1step to far?
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O
They coud have at least held a funeral for the legend of FBI MOST WANTED
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O
Remember Dylan in TV series Hostages...he was awesome, as he is in anything he plays. Def will miss Julian because he molded his character just perfect besides being so handsome. But, Dylan also, prevails in the very handsome department.😁❤
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G
I got over Jess as Dr. Julian in Nip Tuck!!
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AND Richard Wheatley's body was not found!! But McDermott will be good in this roll.
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It said that you won’t watch the show any longer. Because that’s like when someone dies you don’t ever talk to the family again. That person that is gone has an impact on everyone in his life his team his family his presence will always be there, and it shows no respect for the people he cared for the very people that you’re choosing to ignore it
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I'm so sad I love this character Julian was a huge and always will be a lart of the FBI family but iI know Dylan will do an excellent job, secret love him too. Gonna be hard for a bit. NEVER FORGOTTEN ALWAYS REMEMBERED, OUT WITH ONCE WA IN WITH NOW IS NEW. Cheers Julian and cheers to Dylan.
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O
I have yet to watch the show where Julian's Jess was killed. I adored Julian on the original "Charmed" and I adored his character "Jess" in FBI: Most Wanted. But I don't just watch these shows because of the actors I like but because of their storylines that are produced. Please don't down another actor who is replacing Julian's character's role. If you don't like them don't watch. But I think you are all doing Julian's character and his talent he showed while he played Jess on the show an injustice. Julian left because he chose to. We don't know if he actually asked the writers to kill off his character. I know when Black's character on NCIS: New Orleans was killed off, I was in shock, but continued to watch the show and it went for another couple seasons. It ended because the ACTORS wanted it to not due to cancelation.
So watch the show in honor of Julian and show a bit of respect for the actor the producers have picked to take Juluan/Jess's place.
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R
Dylan McDermott IS the evil Richard Wheatley as Bert Lahr IS the Cowardly Lion.
Will be difficult to adjust.
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O
It's a good show. But it doesn't bother me one bit he's gone. His mouth thing was annoying and laughable. His fake tough guy New Yorker accent also. Lol Smfh. Everyone else had to have noticed that? This last season was the worst. He just stood around with his mouth opened and crinkled his lips? Why?! It was like the guy from CSI Miami and his quote then taking his glasses off. Just absolutely ridiculous and cheesy.
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G
The main reason that I watched the show was because of Jess, I love all of the characters but he was the real reason. I wished he wasn’t killed off, I will continue to watch to see what happens
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O
Loved Jess so much !! Adore this show! But Dylan M will be great! Just take some adjusting! Always miss Jess !
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Give Dylan a chance!
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R
Dylan WHO?
He’s WHEATLEY! 😁
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O
Tali becomes a dancer at that place "near the airport"...
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G
By losing Jesse we lost a whole family. Impossible to replace the caliber of talent of Jesse and his family.
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C
I don't think they should've killed Jess off, he was great in that part. There is no one who can replace him even though I do like NCIS Gibbs replacement. It has to do with the actor and I can't see McDermott doing as well as Jess. I guess we will see.
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He wanted to leave the show, so they killed him off.
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I have been a faithful viewer of this FBI Most Wanted series because of Julian McMahon . His role as team leader brought out the best of each team members character & their acting. Dylan McDermott stepping in is a joke. Why would u ruin a really good program. Count me out of the FBI series entirely. This was the best of the three
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C
Can’t watch it anymore.
Jess’s subtle nuanced performance created “ideas” for the case that closed cases or left a heck of a cliff hanger.
I cant watch it anymore. I watched to enjoy his performance (I even drink LaCroix soda water) and watch this tall guy who had emotional war injuries. You never knew what he would do next— that made him
Interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the shows connection and wisdom to native Americans. All the parts I enjoyed of the show have eroded away. Gone.
It’s over for me.
I have trouble following the FBI international version. Actually, Any of the CBS shows that went “international” were difficult for me to watch. All of them. I have no actor recognition, and the story lines are incredibly repetitive. The only FBI story I can watch and enjoy includes Jubal And OA and Isabel. 1 out of 3 FBI shows.
I can watch any CSI Vegas and ANY, any NCIS.
I’m not sure what happened. Did they graduate a new crop of writers who knew not of the past scripts? I dunno.
And I’ve not been impressed with CBS comedies for years. I have watched to see if they will turn funny. Maybe a toad will kill them and the laughs will
Start. Now, I just go to sleep. My dreams are more entertaining.
Sorry,
I still consider myself a loyal CBS viewer but it has been gettin tough.