Some FBI fanatics have been clamoring for Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten) to return to FBI ever since the heartbreaking news of FBI: Most Wanted’s cancellation.
I get why. Nina and Scola are one of the most solid couples in the FBI franchise, plus Scola can’t seem to find a permanent work partner.
But even though it sounds like a good idea on paper, Shantel VanSanten shouldn’t return to FBI as Nina.
Nina’s Return to FBI Would Undo The Most Important Reason She Left
Nina and Scola prioritize their young son, which is one reason they work in separate units.
Granted, Nina was not one of TV’s best mothers when she first conceived Dougie.
She wasn’t going to even tell Scola that she was pregnant, and he had to fight to be part of the family rather than Nina raising Dougie entirely on her own.
However, once they got over that hurdle, the couple began to consider seriously how best to take care of Dougie together, and that’s why they need to stay in separate units.
Working separately isn’t just about avoiding the appearance of impropriety or losing the ability to be objective out in the field, though these are important.
No, they want to make sure someone is always there for Dougie.
In a worst-case scenario, both of Dougie’s parents could be killed if they went on a mission together.
There’s also a less morbid, more pragmatic reason: if they aren’t working for the same unit, Nina and Scola can stagger their schedules so that someone is always home with Dougie.
On FBI: Most Wanted it established that’s exactly what they do — if Nina has a big case, Scola makes sure to stick close to home and vice versa.
That’s the biggest reason that Shantel VanSanten shouldn’t return to FBI.
It would undo all of their planning for Dougie’s care if they were suddenly thrown together again.
That would also make them seem like flaky parents, and no one wants that.
FBI Needs To Stay Focused On Cases
The FBI isn’t a soap opera. It’s procedural, which means cases should be the main focus.
For years, there have been debates about whether Maggie and OA should be a couple, and some fans want more Scola and Nina drama.
I’m not interested in any of that. There’s nothing wrong with romance in procedurals — a little of that kind of stuff keeps things interesting — but if you watch any of the Chicago shows, you know what happens when Dick Wolf shows get overrun by romantic subplots.
It’s so bad that sometimes I’m not sure if I’m watching Chicago Med or General Hospital.
I don’t want that to happen to FBI.
Scola and Nina go through some things sometimes, which is fine, but we don’t need it week in and week out.
If they were both on the same show, I’m afraid they’d have conflicts every week—the writers might not know what else to do with them now that they’re in the same place.
Storywise, this couple seems to do better with more space.
Whenever they are together, they find something to fight about, and some of these issues are pretty significant.
We already have Jubal’s dysfunctional relationship with his ex-wife and all this speculation about Maggie and OA, so we don’t need this.
The only other option for storylines for Nina, outside of cases, would be her conflicts with her dad and sister.
This is another conflict that works better on a short-term or limited basis.
I HATED it on Law & Order: SVU when Rollins’ sister came to town.
Every Kim Rollins episode was a waste of screen time that could have been spent on an actual case instead of making Rollins stupid or desperate in order to build a story around her sister.
I doubt it would be any better if Nina’s family were in FBI too much.
If anything, it would be worse because FBI is far more procedural-focused than Law & Order: SVU.
I’m Not Saying Nina Can’t Guest Star Once In A While
Her recent visit to the New York Field Office was fun.
Shantel VanSanten shouldn’t return to FBI full-time, but I don’t mind her popping up occasionally.
She does have a relationship with Scola, after all.
All I ask is that when she does visit, it’s more worthwhile than Rollins’ recent visits to Law & Order: SVU.
Over to you, FBI franchise fanatics.
Do you think Nina should return to FBI after FBI: Most Wanted ends?
Or has this character run her course for you?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comments to share your thoughts.
FBI: Most Wanted’s series finale will air on NBC on May 20, 2025, at 10/9c and stream on Peacock beginning on May 21, 2025.
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