The next case for the FBI’s New York office is a complex investigation into the shooting of a journalist, pulling the team into a dangerous political conspiracy. The episode, titled “Ratlined,” arrives on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central Time) on CBS. This installment also deals with personal challenges for one agent, mixing a major case with character-focused storylines.
When and Where to Watch FBI Season 8 Episode 8
“Ratlined” will air at its usual time slot. The show airs new episodes every Monday night. You can watch it live on CBS at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
If you miss the live broadcast, you can stream the episode. The official streaming home for FBI is Paramount+. New episodes are available on the platform after they air on CBS, so you can watch “Ratlined” on-demand starting December 8. The episode is also available for purchase on platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. Some cable providers, such as Spectrum, may offer the episode for free on demand.
A Look Back at Episode 7 “Fadeaway”
The previous episode, “Fadeaway,” which aired on December 1, 2025, set a tense stage. The team responded to a large explosion in Brooklyn, with initial fears pointing toward domestic terrorism. The investigation became more difficult when they found the person responsible for the bombing was a convicted felon directing operations from inside a prison. Agents Stuart Scola (John Boyd) and Eva Ramos (Juliana Aidén Martinez) were sent into the prison and got trapped during a riot. Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and OA Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) worked from the outside to secure their safe rescue.
The episode also resolved a major storyline for Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza). She was offered a big promotion to Assistant Director in Charge (ADAC), which would have taken her away from the New York team. She had pushed for Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) to take over her role as Special Agent in Charge (SAC), but the higher-ups did not choose him. After seeing her team work together to save Scola and Ramos, Isobel decided to turn down the promotion. She told Jubal she wanted to stay with her team and continue breaking cases with them.
“Seeing the whole team rally around Scola and Ramos I think reminded her that she isn’t willing to step away from something so good,” actress Alana De La Garza explained about her character’s choice. “Similar to the way they supported her when she was hurt, she knows she has something special in her team.”
What to Expect in Episode 8 “Ratlined”
The official summary for “Ratlined” describes a case that begins with a journalist being shot while interviewing a prime minister. What first looks like an attempt on the prime minister’s life takes a different turn as the investigation goes deeper. Evidence begins to suggest the journalist was the intended target, not the political figure. This pulls the FBI into a web of secrets, where someone wanted the journalist silenced to stop a story from being told. The episode’s title, “Ratlined,” is a term historically connected to systems used to help people escape justice, hinting at a possible cover-up or escape plan within the plot.
Alongside the main investigation, the episode will follow a personal story for OA Zidan. He continues to struggle with how to handle his serious and dangerous job while in a relationship with Gemma. OA finds it hard to open up to Gemma about the real risks he faces every day, which creates tension between them. His partner, Maggie Bell, might try to help him understand the importance of being honest in his relationship.
This combination of a high-stakes political case and OA’s personal life continues the show’s format of balancing intense investigative action with the human stories of the agents.
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The Ongoing Story of Season 8
Season 8 of FBI started on October 13, 2025. The season is planned to have a total of 22 episodes. Episodes air weekly on Monday nights without any scheduled breaks leading up to “Ratlined,” making December 8 the next date in the sequence.
Following the resolution of Isobel’s job decision, the team’s leadership remains stable with her staying on as SAC. However, the dynamics may shift as the season goes on, especially with Jubal having been passed over for the position. The show continues to be produced by Dick Wolf, known for creating the Law & Order and FBI franchise.
The main cast includes Missy Peregrym as Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as OA Zidan, Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine, and Alana De La Garza as Isobel Castille. Key supporting agents include John Boyd as Stuart Scola and Katherine Renee Kane as Tiffany Wallace.
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