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FBI season 8 ended with a massive cliffhanger — and a big change for one special agent. So, what’s next for OA and the team?
Warning: Spoilers below from season 8, episode 22, of FBI.
“Whether the wrongdoer is inside the FBI or outside, we will always find a way to do what is right. It’s kinda his whole thing,” Zeeko Zaki, who plays Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, exclusively told Us Weekly of the explosive Monday, May 18, season 8 finale.
Zaki, 36, also teased that based on his character’s surprising conclusion, season 9 of FBI could pose a threat to OA’s constant push to do good.
“I’m sure some lines will be crossed,” he teased to Us of what’s to come.
During Monday’s episode, the FBI team was forced to work with old foe Anna Vorpe’s team (Claire Coffee), who follows her own rules, while trying to get back a stolen bioweapon and prevent an outbreak in New York City.
After the team failed to secure the lethal pathogen before a bus full of civilians were infected, they had to pivot and try and find the antigen that had also been stolen. As soon as OA and his partner, Special Agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym), got hold of the case, Anna’s team turned on them, beating both OA and Maggie to a pulp. Anna’s team claimed they had their own “orders” and rushed off with the pathogen to give it to their boss.
Once back at headquarters, the entire FBI team was told that “today never happened” and to never speak of the incident again.
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent OA Zidan, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola and Juliana Aidén Martinez as Eva Ramos. Bennett Raglin/CBS
OA and Maggie were visibly upset by the idea that the infected civilians were now collateral damage, especially after their new director cryptically informed the team that the bus was “moved” to allegedly “treat” them.
OA didn’t accept the director’s explanation, calling him a “disgrace” to the bureau, which led him to be fired on the spot.
“We all have our limits, and so does OA,” Zaki exclusively told Us of the pivotal scene. “It’s fun to watch him hit that wall. And I can’t wait to see where I go from here.”
OA doesn’t fight back, though — instead he goes into the bullpen to say goodbye to ASAC Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto), who is in complete shock over the decision.
While OA’s direct boss, SAC Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza), remained silent during the dramatic moment, Special Agent Stuart Scola (John Boyd) started to tear up over the idea of OA leaving.
Maggie stopped OA before he left the building, saying, “I cannot lose you too,” referring to the death of her sister earlier this season.
OA responded, “You’re never going to lose me, Mags,” before seeing himself out.
To add insult to injury, OA was approached later that night at a bar by Anna. She told him a sob story about why her team needed the antidote more than the civilians that were exposed to the city, claiming their deaths would be “for the greater good.”
Missy Peregrym as Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as OA Zidan and Alana De La Garza as Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. Bennett Raglin/CBS
In a surprising twist, Anna then offered OA a spot on her taskforce, who she said works “off the books” for the Department of Defense.
At the end of the episode, OA made a call while staring at Anna’s business card, hinting that he might be considering the position — even though the villainous Anna was partly to blame for his firing.
“I’m in,” OA said when Maggie and Isobel pick up the phone on the other end, revealing that OA will be joining Anna’s strike team and seemingly helping the FBI take her down once and for all.
“I like to think that was always the plan,” Zaki told Us of the plot twist to have OA get axed but have both Maggie and Isobel know it was going to happen. “Step one was to get fired, and step two … let’s say we’re lucky it worked out.”
Zaki noted that although fans can breathe a little easier knowing that OA’s partner Maggie and his boss, Isobel, know he’s going undercover with Anna’s team, the rest of his pals have no clue what’s going on.
“We are trying to protect everyone as much as we can and their jobs. So what they know won’t hurt them,” Zaki explained. “But I can’t wait to see how they react when they find out.”
When it comes to what OA will be like as a member of Anna’s off-the-books team, Zaki said his moral compass will be tested. The actor, however, noted he hopes for “some bloody revenge” on strike team member Devon, who was responsible for beating OA up during the finale.
“At the end of the day he will always choose his righteous path … fingers crossed,” Zaki said of OA, who is open to running the FBI one day — assuming he gets out of this twisted position alive next season.
John Boyd as Stuart Scola, Juliana Aidén Martinez as Eva Ramos, Missy Peregrym as Maggie Bell and Zeeko Zaki as OA Zidan. Bennett Raglin/CBS
Zaki, who has been on the series since the premiere in 2018, told Us that season 9 will be a challenge for everyone, confirming that he doesn’t know who Maggie will be partnered with while OA is absent.
His goal, however, is “always deepening Maggie and OA’s relationship.”
Zaki also pointed out that fans might see more of possible love interest Special Agent Zara Ushruf (Pardis Saremi), who took the heat for OA earlier this season when he went a little rogue.
“I’m excited to see where Zara goes. She is so fun to work with,” he teased. “And I hope, in the first episode, at least we get to see OA on the other side for a little while.”
FBI returns for season 9 on CBS fall 2026.
