FBI: Most Wanted – Moving On – Review: Things He Lost in a Fire

This week’s episode of FBI Most Wanted, “Moving On,” is about a lot of things, but not about moving on. I quite liked the story. It shed light on the 1985 MOVE bombing, an event in Philadelphia’s Black history that I knew surprisingly little about. However, some elements were hard to appreciate, such as how a homeless man could have the resources to track down the loved ones involved in a decades-old Philadelphia crime. Despite this, the fast-paced action kept me watching, ensuring I didn’t have time to grow weary of the overcomplicated revenge plot.>>

Sometimes, when a person suffers compounding lows—losing a job, home, wife, and kids—they turn against themselves. Not this week’s unsub (unknown subject), Gerald Colworth (Richard Blackwood). This guy unravels in a way that brings new meaning to hitting rock bottom. He channels his rage into revenge, bombing a postal worker, the home of an invalid old man, and a daycare center. At the daycare center, he also acted as a sniper, shooting at police and firefighters.

“Moving On” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon, Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, and Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Senior Special Agent Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott) and his team uncovered that the victims were connected to the MOVE bombing. When asked what MOVE was, Remy described the movement as part “Black power and part flower power.” As a child in Philadelphia, Colworth’s family lost their home when, for 90 minutes, the Philadelphia Police Department allowed a fire to intentionally burn out of control. Six adults and five children died, and over 200 people were left homeless, including Colworth’s family. His family lost their home and his father left. He was eight years old, and his young life fell apart. Colworth vowed to never let anything like that happen to him again. Forty years later, life has made him a liar. History was repeating itself, and it broke him.

The episode allowed Special Agents Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge) to take center stage. Barnes delivered all the biting criticism of Philadelphia’s police and fire department’s official actions. Talking to the postal worker’s father, Caleb Collins (Ezra Knight), he explained that as a second-year firefighter, he could not disobey the fire and police commissioner’s order to ‘stand down.’ He said, “No one expected the fire to get out of control.” Barnes shot back, “It got out of control because you didn’t do anything to stop it.” When the conversation started, Remy told the man, “We’re not passing judgment.” But Barnes was definitely passing judgment here.

Cannon offered some empathy for Colworth’s circumstances, which he expressed at the end of the episode. He told Colworth, “Think of your children.” It’s kind of ironic that Colworth responded with a drowning metaphor when he’s literally an arsonist. Barnes and Cannon managed to talk Colworth into surrendering, convincing him that his life can’t just be one more thing lost in a fire.>>

This episode encapsulates the typical chaos of FBI Most Wanted, with the bonus of learning about a sad event in Philadelphia’s Black history. I also learned a bit about water-based explosives, taggants (microscopic fingerprints), and detonation cords. The educational aspect added significant depth to the storyline, making it both informative and entertaining. I geek out on these types of details when characters fail to keep my attention. For example, I wanted to hear Hana Gibson (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Sheryll Barnes talk about her druggie ex-boyfriend.

While FBI fans won’t be disappointed, this episode won’t likely persuade new viewers to become regular watchers. I am glad to say, I’m already a loyal die-hard. How did you rate this episode? What kind of family drama is Nina wading into as she returns to Texas to help her sister? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Overall rating:

7:10

Lynette Jones

I am a self-identified ‘woke boomer’ who hails from an era bathed in the comforting glow of a TV, not a computer screen. Navigating the digital world can sometimes leave me feeling a bit unsure, but I approach it with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Patience and kindness in this new landscape are truly valued. Let’s embrace the journey together with appreciation and a touch of humor!