Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki are fully aware that the audience is eager to see FBI’s Maggie Bell and Omar Adom “OA” Zidan develop a romantic relationship, but are they ready for it?
“I send an email each episode suggesting that it’s time to make a move,” Zaki, who portrays OA, joked while promoting the upcoming season 8 of the CBS installment, set to premiere on Monday, October 13. “I’m just at my limit with this waiting game.”
Peregrym, who plays Maggie, OA’s dependable partner in the FBI, shared during a joint interview with Us Weekly on October 6 that she takes a more cautious stance on their characters crossing that boundary.
“It’s clear that fans are passionate about this, and I appreciate that because it shows we’ve crafted a partnership worth rooting for,” Peregrym, 43, stated. “Still, I also love that we have not gone that route.”
Peregrym shared that ultimately it’s a matter of the writers, as they control the character arcs. However, she is comfortable keeping their pairing platonic, even after eight seasons.
“There’s a unique bond we share. We understand each other deeply and know when to provide support for one another,” she noted. “It’s a fulfilling dynamic to portray. I enjoy it immensely.”
Zaki, 35, humorously suggested, “Perhaps the title of this season should be ‘Maggie officially friend zones OA in season eight,’ highlighting my eagerness to develop a romantic connection and her reservations.”
Zeeko Zaki and Missy Peregrym on ‘FBI.’ Bennett Raglin/CBS
Peregrym disclosed that while there hasn’t been a romantic development between Maggie and OA, moments during season 7 almost led there. “Do you recall the episode where I’m nearly blown up and slammed against a wall? OA has to revive me? The original script had mouth-to-mouth as part of the scene,” she reminisced about the intense moment.
Peregrym recounted, “I found it amusing just thinking, ‘How on earth will we pull this off?’ I’m going to break out laughing, and he will too. It just sounds impossible.”
However, that specific moment never came to fruition for various reasons, including adherence to protocol that avoids actual mouth-to-mouth contact in such scenes.
“It was amusing that they came up with that idea. I thought, ‘Fans are going to flip if they see our mouths touching!’” Peregrym recalled.
Zeeko Zaki and Comfort Clinton on ‘FBI.’ Bennett Raglin/CBS
Zaki enthusiastically agreed with the sentiment, jesting, “They would’ve needed CPR after that scene!”
Though Zaki is intrigued by the idea of giving fans what they wish for regarding a romance between OA and Maggie, his character is still happily involved in a relationship with Gemma (Comfort Clinton) this season.
“We can definitely expect to see her return,” he mentioned. “The beginning of the season has been centered around the team, but things are going well on my end.”
Zaki playfully teased about what OA and Gemma have been up to, saying, “We visited a farmer’s market this past weekend, but we didn’t film it. Just regular couple activities like heading to Home Depot on our weekends. We’ll see where it leads us.”
Peregrym confirmed that as season 8 kicks off, Maggie is single, and she is quite happy with it.
“This season focuses more on our partnership dynamics, and I have a mentor to work with, which I thoroughly enjoy exploring. There’s something wonderful about the chance to learn from someone I admire, whose work I followed throughout my career,” she remarked. “It’s definitely an engaging storyline.”
FBI season 8 is set to premiere on CBS on Monday, October 13, at 9 p.m. ET.
