Shantel VanSanten Previews Return to 'FBI' and Working With Her 'First Family' Again (Exclusive)

VanSanten returns to 'FBI' for the Apr. 16 episode after moving to 'FBI: Most Wanted.'

By Megan Behnke

After moving to FBI: Most Wanted, Shantel VanSanten is returning to FBI and she spoke to PopCulture.com all about it. The actress initially joined FBI as Special Agent Nina Chase in Season 4 to temporarily fill in for Missy Peregrym's Maggie Bell. She remained on after Peregrym returned from maternity leave and Nina grew a relationship with John Boyd's Stuart Scola, later giving birth to their son in the Season 5 finale of FBI.

VanSanten switched to FBI: Most Wanted as a series regular for the current fifth season, but both shows are continuing to include their relationship as much as possible. Boyd even guest starred in last week's Most Wanted, giving viewers a glimpse into their lives as new parents. Now it's VanSanten's turn to jump to FBI, prompted by a retired FBI agent being tortured and killed while working a security job. The One Tree Hill alum tells PopCulture that the episode will focus more on their work in the FBI rather than their home life.

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"Best Laid Plans" – When a retired FBI agent is tortured and killed while working a security job, Scola and Nina (FBI: MOST WANTED) go undercover as a married couple deep in the diamond game as the team tries to find out who is responsible. During the course of his and Nina's dangerous assignment, Scola is plagued by the possibility that their son Doug could end up parentless, on FBI, Tuesday, April 16 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, and Alana De La Garza as Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. Photo: Bennett Raglin/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

- Bennett Raglin/CBS)

"It's going to not dive as much into their personal home life now that we've had a view of that this last week on Most Wanted," VanSanten explained. "We're going to dive into our work with the FBI, and we're going to see a little undercover operation. And in my mind, seeing Nina and Scola like we've never seen them before."

In Season 6, Episode 9, "Best Laid Plans," following the FBI agent's murder, Nina and Scola have to go undercover as a married couple deep in the diamond game as the team tries to find out who is behind it. At the same time, Scola is also worried that their son Dougie could end up parentless due to the nature of the case and them working together. So seeing that dynamic between them will surely be interesting.

Related:

fbi-best-laid-plans-maggie-scola-nina-cbs.jpg
(Photo:

"Best Laid Plans" – When a retired FBI agent is tortured and killed while working a security job, Scola and Nina (FBI: MOST WANTED) go undercover as a married couple deep in the diamond game as the team tries to find out who is responsible. During the course of his and Nina's dangerous assignment, Scola is plagued by the possibility that their son Doug could end up parentless, on FBI, Tuesday, April 16 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, John Boyd as Special Agent Stuart Scola, and Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase. Photo: Bennett Raglin/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

- Bennett Raglin/CBS)

This will be Shantel VanSanten's first time working with the FBI cast since her departure, and she says filming the episode was "like going back home for the holidays." She continued, "The whole first day felt like a celebration and it was just so nice to see everybody that I got to work with. And I have this new extended family on Most Wanted, and I have my first family over at FBI, and there's all these familiar faces and relationships I have with tons of the crew, and it doesn't really feel like work. So that part is really great."

It's going to be exciting to see Shantel VanSanten back on FBI and Nina working with her old team once again. Not to mention the fact that the series will continue to touch on her relationship with Scola, both personal and professional. This is just another issue that the couple will have to work through, as it's not easy being new parents and working, especially with a dangerous career. Be sure to tune in to a new episode of FBI on Tuesday, Apr. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS to see what happens.

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