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FBI is already losing its newest cast member but that may be better for the show

In a stunning report, FBI's newest cast member Lisette Olivera is already leaving the series before she even debuts! Here's why that may be best for the series.

By Michael Weyer

“Doubted” - When the sister of FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) profiler Sydney Ortiz (Lisette Olivera) is the victim of an attempted kidnapping and sexual assault, Sydney seeks help from Isobel and the team in tracking down a meticulous serial offender who leaves no evidence behind, on FBI, Tuesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.
“Doubted” - When the sister of FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) profiler Sydney Ortiz (Lisette Olivera) is the victim of an attempted kidnapping and sexual assault, Sydney seeks help from Isobel and the team in tracking down a meticulous serial offender who leaves no evidence behind, on FBI, Tuesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+. / CBS
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FBI fans are used to cast turnover but in a shocking move, we’re losing a cast member before they even make their debut!

Like any Dick Wolf show, FBI has seen a few cast exits over its run. While it's not as many as its spinoffs (FBI: International has shed all but two of its starting cast in just four seasons while FBI: Most Wanted has seen half a dozen departures), the procedural has seen a few departures over its time.

Connie Nielsen had starred in the pilot as the team supervisor, but when it was picked up for series, Sela Ward was cast as Dana Mosier. She left after the first season and was replaced by Alana de la Garza as Isobel Castille. Ebonee Noel had starred in the first two seasons as Kristin Chazal. She left after season 2 with the explanation of her character moving on. That led to Katherine Renee Kane joining as Tiffany Wallace. Season 7 opened with Wallace departing after being overwhelmed following the death of a colleague.

The first episodes following her departure had her partner Stuart Scola (John Boyd) being paired with a different would-be new partner. The first was Sophia, but she realized she wasn’t quite cut out for this field work and transferred. The next had Scola with a former SWAT officer who was a little too gung-ho for him. This was meant to pave the way for Lisette Olivera to join as a new regular cast member, playing Syd Ortiz, an agent in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. She was set to debut in episode 4 and already filmed a few episodes. 

Considering Olivera was announced as Scola's permanent new partner it was shocking when Deadline reported that, before her episodes even aired, she's leaving the show. It seems that her character wasn’t quite working out as she's coming off too young. The actress is only 25. 

Her episodes will still air, yet even by the standards of a Dick Wolf series, being dropped from a before before debuting is remarkable. Yet this could be what's best for the show. 

Why Lisette Olivera is leaving FBI

The Deadline article indicates that Olivera's work isn't in question but once filming began it was evident her character didn’t quite fit into the show. In this case, asking audiences to accept a 25-year-old as a member of the unit may have been a bit much. It’s also how someone from BAU would be a better fit for FBI: Most Wanted where they have to figure out the mindsets of the perps they hunt. The main FBI show is more about stopping threats than such psychological games, so a BAU agent would be a tough fit. 

Again, having an agent so young jumping to a prime team was a big ask for audiences. Wallace, for example, had the background of being a former NYPD cop, while OA’s military past comes up a lot. Ortiz sounded like she’d be unused to field work, which is a big disadvantage for the cases the team handles. 

This doesn’t seem to be a bias against Olivera herself. She's a talented actress in shows like Disney’s National Treasure series. It’s simply that she wasn’t the right fit for this role and the show itself. The only reason Ortiz joins in the first place is because her sister was attacked, meaning she's less interested in her career and more focused on helping her family find justice. A more seasoned agent, one with experience in law enforcement and the field, would be a much better match for the team and as Scola’s partner.

It’s likely the show continues for a bit with Scola’s “partner tryouts” before they find the right person. A great idea, as one fan pointed out, would be having Tracy Spiridakos come in as her Chicago PD character, Kate Upton.

Upton did work with the FBI back in season 2 and it makes sense that Upton would have joined the Bureau after leaving Chicago. She’s got the experience, is already known from being on a Dick Wolf show, and would be a fine partner for Scola (not to mention the fun of if she were to run into FBI: International’s Wes Mitchell, played by Spiridakos’ Chicago PD co-star Jesse Lee Soffer). 

For now, FBI fans are going to have to get used to the strange idea that no sooner is Syd Ortiz showing up on the show than she’s gone and once more the show is trying to find a new regular partner for Scola.

FBI season 7 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS. Next day streaming is available on Paramount+. Episode 4 will premiere on Nov. 12. Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for coverage. Follow us on X for livetweet threads and more content!

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