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Kristen Gaines will no longer be part of the Fugitive Task Force. Alexa Davalos is leaving FBI: Most Wanted, but why?

Alexa Davalos fans got some bad news last week. The Man in the High Castle actress is leaving the FBI spin-off. Deadline reported the news, sharing that this was something that happened long before the strike action. After all, contract negotiations can’t happen while the actors are on strike.

Of course, fans want to know why. This is a series that has had a revolving door of cast members, and it’s not done the show any favors. Some of those cast exits have been the actors’ choices, but not all of them have.

Alexa Davalos didn’t choose to leave FBI: Most Wanted

Based on the report, it doesn’t sound like this was Davalos’s choice. She was told after filming her last Season 4 scene that it would be her last of the series. That’s certainly a way to treat a member of the cast!

It sounds like this was a shock to all. One of the producers broke the news, and then Hollywood pretty much shut down.

Is this a creative decision, though? We can tell from the fourth season finale that there were no hints that Kristen Gaines would leave the team. In fact, there are a lot of storyline possibilities based on things that happened in the fourth season. Why would the show just write her out?

This suggests that it’s a financial decision. FBI: Most Wanted is the lowest performer out of the three Dick Wolf shows on CBS. We’re seeing a lot of networks reduce season orders or cast members to help with the growing cost of creating the shows and the lower linear ratings—so lower advertisement revenue. Removing a series regular is just one of the ways to reduce the costs for the show.

MORE: When will FBI: Most Wanted Season 5 premiere on CBS?

What do you think about the decision to remove Alexa Davalos from the series? Will you tune in for FBI: Most Wanted Season 5? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

FBI: Most Wanted* is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Stack TV in Canada.