The first season of CIA ended with a series of game-changing revelations, but none hit harder than the truth about Toni.
After spending 15 months believing he was responsible for the death of his former partner and the woman he loved, CIA Agent Colin Glass finally learned the truth in the Season 1 finale. Instead of being dead, Toni was alive — and evidence suggested she was connected to the conspiracy at the center of the investigation.
The shocking discovery left Colin with answers he desperately wanted, but it also opened a new emotional wound that could define his journey when CIA returns for Season 2.
Colin’s Biggest Shock Yet Changes Everything
Throughout the first season, Colin and FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman worked together to uncover a suspected mole operating within their ranks.
At various points, suspicion fell on several people — including Colin himself. But as the investigation intensified, the truth proved even more devastating than anyone expected.
The mole was ultimately exposed and killed before key answers could be obtained. Then came the revelation that changed everything: security footage appeared to show Toni, long presumed dead, as the person responsible.
For Colin, the discovery was both a relief and a nightmare. While it finally answered questions that had haunted him for over a year, it also forced him to confront the possibility that the woman he loved had betrayed everything they believed in.
With those emotions still unresolved, Season 2 is expected to explore the psychological fallout in much greater detail.
Tom Ellis Reflects on Finding the Identity of CIA
Following the Season 2 renewal, Tom Ellis opened up about the challenges of building a brand-new series within Dick Wolf’s television universe.
According to Ellis, one of the biggest obstacles was establishing the show’s unique tone.
“Finding where this show sits tonally was a big challenge for us to start with. Dick Wolf has been making procedural TV for such a long time, and they have a template that they work with, but the world of CIA is a little bit different to the other worlds that they’ve been exploring, with the fact that it’s voyeuristic, and it’s about observing, just as much as it is about being active.”
He explained that discovering how humor and character dynamics fit into that world became a key part of the creative process.
“That world of voyeurism was the key to us scratching what this show is and finding out where the humor lives in our show. Finding the proper alchemy of what this show is was the biggest challenge because it is a little bit different to the other ones.”
Ellis credited showrunner Mike Weiss for helping the series find its identity.
“Once we found that, and that was down to Mike, it really started to take off and resonate.”
Filming in New York Brought Unexpected Challenges
Beyond the storytelling itself, Ellis also discovered a completely different production environment while filming in New York.
Having never previously shot a project in the city, he described the experience as exciting and unpredictable.
“I’ve never shot anything in New York before. It’s been great, and it’s been so exciting, but it’s so different to shooting anywhere else.”
Unlike many productions that can fully control filming locations, New York often requires crews to work around everyday city life.
“If you’re shooting in the street here, they can’t close it off, so you’re literally just shooting things in amongst the public, and no one really cares that you’re shooting a TV show.”
The actor compared the experience to guerrilla-style filmmaking, where scenes often depend on timing and a bit of luck.
“Someone would shout from a mile away, ‘And action!’ and fingers crossed it would all work out.”
What Could Be Next for Colin in Season 2?
While official plot details remain under wraps, the Season 1 finale has already set up a dramatic new direction for Colin.
For more than a year, he lived with guilt, grief, and the belief that he had failed someone he loved. Now he must face a far more complicated reality — Toni survived, but her apparent actions raise questions that could challenge everything he thought he knew about her.
At the same time, Colin’s partnership with Bill Goodman has grown into one of the show’s strongest relationships, giving Season 2 another important thread to explore.
If the finale proved anything, it’s that Colin’s biggest battle may no longer be finding the truth — it may be learning how to live with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has CIA been renewed for Season 2?
Yes. CBS has officially renewed CIA for a second season following the dramatic events of the Season 1 finale.
What was the biggest twist in the CIA Season 1 finale?
The finale revealed that Toni, Colin Glass’ former partner who was believed to be dead, was actually alive and appeared to be connected to the conspiracy being investigated.
How could the finale affect Colin in Season 2?
The revelation about Toni is expected to have a major emotional impact on Colin, forcing him to confront years of guilt, grief, and unanswered questions about the woman he loved.
