How Bill & Colin’s Dynamic Will Change After CIA Season 1 Ending Teased By Stars

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Be warned, this discusses events from the first season of CIA! After a season of challenges, the finale of CIA season 1 has opened up a new direction for Colin and Bill.

The new CBS series is the latest addition to the popular FBI franchise and comes from the team behind the original show, including Dick Wolf and showrunner Mike Weiss. Starring Tom Ellis (known from Lucifer) and Nick Gehlfuss (One Chicago), the series centers on FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman, a by-the-book investigator, and CIA Agent Colin Glass, who is more mysterious. They unexpectedly team up as part of a new joint task force, all while Goodman investigates the possibility of a mole within their ranks.

The first season of CIA culminates in the finale, “Broken Glass,” with Colin discovering that Toni, his ex-partner and lover, is actually alive. Despite being presumed dead after a mission in the Philippines, she’s revealed to be the one who killed Kevin Turner, the team’s mole. Colin and Toni then embark on a city-wide chase to find her, hoping to understand her motives and discover where she’s been hiding all these years.

To celebrate the new episode, Grant Hermanns from ScreenRant spoke with Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss about the season one finale of their show. They talked about how naturally their on-screen connection developed throughout the season, and how their characters’ relationship evolved by the end, setting the stage for season two.

It Was “Love At First Audition” For Ellis & Gehlfuss

Looking back on their experience with the show and the reactions from critics and viewers, Ellis and Gehlfuss noted the consistent positive comments about their on-screen chemistry. Ellis explained he understood early on that the show’s success would largely depend on their relationship. He remembered their initial screen test and realized they had a genuine connection and affection for each other, which also translated into strong on-screen teamwork.

We were aiming for a classic odd-couple pairing, but we quickly learned you can’t manufacture that kind of chemistry. It has to happen naturally, with characters who are fundamentally different in every way. It can’t be forced by specific plot points or backstory. When Nick and I started working together, it just clicked. We instantly found the relationship and dynamic we’d been hoping for. It felt genuine – we weren’t pretending, if that makes sense.

Ellis expressed excitement that viewers are really connecting with the dynamic between Colin and Bill, and enjoying seeing them interact with the rest of the CIA cast. He highlighted the appeal of their hidden secrets, shared discoveries, and humorous moments. Gehlfuss jokingly described their chemistry as “love at first audition” and shared his enthusiasm that audiences are eager for more stories about these characters.

The actor, known from One Chicago, explained that the noticeable connection between him and his co-star isn’t something they try to create. Instead, they focus on being fully prepared with their individual contributions and bringing their authentic selves to the roles. They concentrate on hitting their marks and fulfilling the requirements of the scenes, all in an effort to portray realistic and complex characters. While he struggles to define it as ‘chemistry,’ he even noticed the connection himself when rewatching old episodes.

I understand why people are connecting with the show. It’s really about what happens when everything comes together perfectly, and I’m thrilled to be involved. Plus, the spy thriller genre feels fresh for network television – we’ve seen it in movies and on streaming services, but it’s always compelling and exciting.

Bill & Colin Finally Have A Real Trust In One Another After CIA Season 1‘s Ending

At the beginning, Bill and Colin didn’t trust each other and saw the world very differently. But by the end of the first season of CIA, their relationship had completely changed. Throughout the finale, Bill became a stabilizing force for Colin as he searched for Toni. This culminated in a touching scene where Bill calls Colin his partner and offers support, even while sharing the difficult news that Angela Sarafyan’s character will be sent back into active duty.

When discussing season two of CIA, Ellis explained that the show begins with the characters generally feeling secure and trusting in their personal lives. However, he believes Bill and Colin develop a particularly strong bond, with Colin potentially trusting Bill even more than Nikki. By the end of the season, Ellis suggests Bill will likely feel the same way, coming to trust Colin above everyone else.

The first season was all about these characters learning to trust each other in a world where trust is rare. They finally achieved that, but then everything else in their lives fell apart. Now, they’ll have to depend on that hard-earned trust to navigate the mess and help Colin through a major identity crisis – everything he believed about his life has been turned upside down. It’s ironic that they built trust only to have everything around them crumble, and now that trust is what they need to fix things.

Gehlfuss jokingly noted the season 1 finale of CIA is fittingly named ‘Broken Glass,’ explaining that his character, Bill, is really trying to hold the team together throughout the episode. Ellis laughed as he revealed they played Annie Lennox’s 1992 song ‘Walking on Broken Glass’ on set every day. Gehlfuss agreed and said he hopes the song is used as the ending credits, adding that they’d have missed a great opportunity if they hadn’t.

The actor revealed that Bill fully supports and assists Colin as he navigates the complicated romantic situation with Toni and Sarah in the first season finale of CIA. Sarah Diamond’s character unexpectedly returns, helping them both get into the Pyramid party, which serves as the season’s dramatic climax. Gehlfuss also noted that Bill and Colin have developed a much stronger bond throughout the FBI spinoff, demonstrating the importance of having a supportive partner and someone to rely on during difficult times.

It seems like Colin is a bit lost and unsure of his direction. It was great to see Bill step in and offer guidance. Considering Bill’s own experiences, he’s essentially reflecting what Colin already understands, but also reinforcing those lessons. This helps Colin, and it also shows him how fully Bill has embraced this new path.

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2026-05-19 05:10