FBI: Most Wanted – Starman – Review: Leah’s Fans Not Allowed

This week’s episode of FBI: Most Wanted, “Starman,” is a misstep, failing to live up to its eerie atmospheric opening that briefly felt like a proper horror flick. The chilling premise—Mennonite mechanic Jacob Miller (James Andrew O’Connor) turning vigilante—had potential, but uneven pacing and lackluster subplots about the Fugitive Task Force’s personal lives kept it from fully launching. Let’s review.

“Starman” – FBI: MOST WANTED, Pictured (L-R): Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

“Starman” begins with an unsettling scene: a hulking figure lumbering across a lawn, his labored breathing heavy in the silence of night. Inside, a group of middle-aged men play poker. One steps into the garage for beer, unaware of the danger lurking. In an instant, he’s thrown around like a rag doll before being kidnapped and driven away in his own car.

This much action should set the stage for an engaging thriller. But the episode’s title, “Starman,” referring to Ford “Ace” Colvin (Timothy Adams)—a famous astronaut and one of Miller’s victims—feels misplaced. Colvin is dead within the first act, leaving viewers wondering why he’s the title focus.>> Perhaps it’s due to the shock factor of Colvin’s death where his genitals were removed and placed in his mouth, which was grisly to the point of excess. While shocking moments can be powerful in storytelling, they need purpose beyond mere spectacle. Here, it felt more like an attempt to grab attention rather than deepen the narrative.

Miller’s spree reaches a brutal climax as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott) and Special Agents Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge) and Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten) track him to a farm. Poor Nina is knocked out. Although Remy is outmatched, he eventually manages to thrust a pitchfork into Miller’s gut. A dramatic takedown, but one that does little to redeem the episode’s overall lack of cohesion.

“Starman” – FBI: MOST WANTED, Pictured: Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Miller’s motivation stems from discovering his teenage daughter, Leah (Olivia Reis), had been drawn into a dark world, manipulated by her drama teacher and dorm mother, Meghan (Arie Thompson). Meghan, entangled in her own mess of exploitation, allowed Leah to work in the digital space called Fans Allowed to pay off an extortionist boyfriend. The story explores the troubling relationship between Leah and Meghan, but the execution fails to give Leah a real emotional arc.

Miller, spiraling upon learning the truth, hunts down Leah’s high-paying customers—including Colvin and dentist Hank McCallahan (Trent Stone). Clearly, Leah’s fans were NOT allowed. McCallahan barely escapes, fleeing in his tighty whities, leading to a revelation about Miller’s wife. She was strangled and stuffed in a freezer—a mystery raised but left frustratingly underdeveloped.

A pivotal scene shows Miller sobbing while tearing himself and his wife from a family photo, saving only Leah’s image. This moment had potential to symbolize deep emotional conflict, yet the episode fails to fully unpack his turmoil. Had the show leaned into his psychological unraveling instead of relying on gore, it might have carried more weight.

A tighter edit, clearer character motivations, and a deeper exploration of the father-daughter dynamic could have given the story the emotional core it needed. Instead, Leah remains unaffected, merely stating to Special Agents Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Hana Gibson (Kiesha Castle-Hughes), “I’m free,” dismissing any concern about the salacious digital footprints she’s leaving behind.

“Starman” – FBI: MOST WANTED, Pictured: Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The subplot featuring Remy and Abby Deaver (Susan Misner) bickering about bar renovations lacked impact. Likewise, Hana romantic and Sheryll’s career crossroads should have been more compelling. In a procedural drama, personal stories need emotional stakes—whether through deep conflicts or meaningful connections. Here, they felt stalled.

Strong procedurals thrive when balancing thrilling cases with complex character arcs. Viewers want intrigue, tension, and emotional investment. “Starman” delivered neither—wandering aimlessly with half-baked storylines that leave fans underwhelmed. Wolfe Entertainment knows this. If the show’s not being renewed, the writers may have already checked out, which is unfortunate for loyal viewers.

"Starman” – FBI: MOST WANTED, Pictured (L-R): Susan Misner as Abby Deaver and Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

What did you think of “Starman”? Have the writers lost steam? Let me know in the comments!

Overall Rating: 

6:10