With last week’s episode representing this season’s final case-of-the-week story, episodes 17 and 18 offer a two-part finale. In an all-hands-on-deck plot, the entire GBI team is on the back foot when the city of Atlanta comes under attack by a group of domestic terrorists.

The first part, “Why Hello, Sheriff,” creates an engaging build-up towards the domestic terrorist plotline. Set in a small town, it sees Will and Faith investigate a double homicide that involved a local sheriff’s deputy. Unfortunately for them, their investigation is hampered by the actions of a hostile and territorial sheriff, as well as a host of locals afraid of outsiders.

Amidst the local and regional cop pissing contest, however, they’re soon forced to put their differences aside when the intended victim of the shooting turns out to be an active member of the Founders Front, a domestic terrorist organisation. Slowly winding up the heat, the GBI and Atlanta are ultimately blindsided in the climax, as they find themselves at the centre of a bioweapon attack.  

With the hunt well and truly on, the second half of the two-part finale is heavy on shock and awe. “Listening to a Heartbeat” takes the strong material from the build-up and runs with it, creating an action-centric climax. The episode splits the team up, each facing a different element of the attack. From shootouts to hostage situations, the season’s conclusion serves tension and drama, as not everyone comes out the other side unharmed.  

Shocks in the finale aren’t limited by the case either, as several characters undergo surprising revelations during the episodes. Will’s journey to the small town ends with him unexpectedly finding out who his biological father is. Played by Yul Vazquez, Sheriff Caleb Roussard shares a lot of Will’s mannerisms, and despite their initial dislike of each other, they come to bond over the course of the case.

Angie, meanwhile, must deal with the fact that she’s pregnant. Given her recent brush with addiction, she spends most of the finale worrying about whether she’ll follow the same path as her mother. However, in a turn of good luck, her heroics during a hostage situation and the reassurances from her boyfriend, Seth, convince her that she is ready for the next big step in her life.  

Finally, Ormewood draws the short straw in shocking revelations. Despite managing to survive several brushes with death during an intense shootout, the last moments of the season see his luck run out. During the climax, Ormewood’s Chekhov’s tumour makes its move, resulting in a seizure with an unknown result.