OA Zidan opens up about his Army past in FBI season 6 episode 11 (preview)

FBI returns tonight, May 7, with a brand new episode, "No One Left Behind." The episode, which airs at 8 p.m. ET, picks up where "Family Affair" left off. Yes, that does mean that Maggie Bell won't be involved in the case of the week.

OA had made a point of letting Isobel know that Maggie needed a break after she'd gotten shot and could have died had her Kevlar vest not stopped the bullet. His fear was that with her distracted while caring for Ella, the grieving child of her friend Jess, she could be putting her life at risk. In their line of work, feeling like your decision making is skewed or that you can't make the calls you need to because you have someone else on your mind can be the difference between life and death.

So, while her team will be working a case that involves the kidnapping of a Taliban member in New York, Maggie will be spending needed time with Ella on a trip. With her off for the case, our focus will turn to her partner, OA Zidan. This episode is heavily centered on his past in the Army as the case of the week hits close to home.

The kidnapped Taliban member had been one of four that'd been shot. There'd been no indication that they'd made entry into the U.S. With the FBI on high-alert, we can expect a five alarm fire of an episode since the stakes are high and the case is steeped in politics. Previewing "No One Left Behind" for TVLine, Zeeko Zaki spoke to what viewers will see from OA in the episode, particularly the new information about his time fighting in Afghanistan.

"Yes, you get some things that justify why he has such a stiff brow. You really get to tap into some of the darker things that he’s had to deal with. We’re representing people that have been through hell and back, that have served and have been overseas and have been in these wars. We open the door and remind people of how intense that is, and some of the things that you can only imagine these people deal with."

FBI has tackled OA's time in the military before. As a veteran, he's the one able to give perspective to the team about what it's like for vets after returning from a war zone. But, even when he opens up about himself, there's always more to delve into because OA is prone to keeping things close to the vest. He's not really a sharer unless the moment calls for it and this case is another instance in which the circumstances will push him to talk about his experience.

A key element of the episode will be his discussion with his girlfriend, Gemma. The two are from different worlds but they've formed a bond that Zaki refers to as OA's "most mature relationship," and it's through their scenes that we'll get to see OA's vulnerability over the case and a taking off of his "mask" as the star put it. He'll also be working closely with Tiffany in "No One Left Behind."

From the looks of the promo, OA will be taking point during a stand-off as well. He believes his background as a soldier will help him end the situation by appealing to that shared understanding. There is, however, a gun being pointed at him through a hole in a window, so he is putting himself at risk. Hopefully, it's one that pays off and that there isn't any blood shed.

FBI season 6 episode 11, "No One Left Behind," airs tonight, May 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Stream the series on Paramount+.