I just binged all three seasons of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye.

Such an addicting show! Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye is based on the true story of the real Sue Thomas, a deaf woman who could read lips and did in fact work for the F.B.I. Just like in real life, the Sue Thomas on the show (played by deaf actress Deanne Bray) joined the F.B.I. originally through a special program that hired deaf people to count the lines on fingerprints. Sue talks to the “wrong” guy, Jack, and ends up working in his department with other agents who are out on the field.

SPOILER ALERT: I’ll try not to give away any spoilers, but I will likely mention some things that happen later in the series.

A few of the things I love about this show:

Deaf Representation – This is depicted in so many ways. We see Sue discriminated against, we see the communication gaps, we see how people have to look at her so she can “hear” them (read their lips). We get to watch as her team slowly starts to learn American Sign Language at varying levels throughout the show. We see how Levi, Sue’s service dog, helps Sue in daily life. We see the flip side as well, how Sue’s hearing roommate gets immersed in deaf culture and is totally lost in the beginning. We see how they try to blend those worlds and friendships. If you’re not familiar with “the world of the deaf”, this is an insightful glance into that world.

Comradery – This is one of those shows where you just need everyone on the team. There are seven main cast members (eight if you count Levi the dog), and they each contribute meaningfully to the team. Even Myles, the snooty pain-in-the-tush, has character development and likeability. The banter is great, and they balance each other out beautifully. You can put any two of them together out on the field, and it isn’t awkward at all. They all blend well, and they all have each others’ backs.

Christianity – The real Sue Thomas was a devout believer. She said before that she didn’t want people to remember her as “Sue Thomas, F.B.I.”, but as a person who gave all glory to God. While the show isn’t necessarily a “Christian” show, faith in God is integrated into the story. The Sue Thomas character speaks of Him regularly and encourages people to lean on Him in their struggles. I can’t say the Lord is mentioned every episode, but it’s refreshing that we get a Christian perspective in this show.

It’s Clean! – Yes, no nookie in this show! At least not depicted on screen, but we do know that some of the criminals lead philandering lives. While a few moments might make me cringe with kids around, I was otherwise able to watch this show with my children (they’re all older). No cussing, either. As for violence, this is clean as well, for a crime show, anyway. Some blood is shown here and there, but not much. There is a lot of fighting, hitting people, shooting, but it’s not what I would consider graphic (and I’m pretty squeamish). One episode did depict something that appeared graphic at first glance (a man appeared to have his neck cut), but we find out that he faked his death, so the cut wasn’t real. Still, it was a little surprising to see (that episode is called “The Mentor”).

This show was filmed right after 9/11, so many of the episodes are related to that, often showing the team trying to stop Muslim terrorist groups.

The show ran from 2002 to 2005. PAX Network decided to cease original programming, so Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, despite being one of their most popular shows, got canceled. It’s a shame; I could’ve used a few more seasons!

I’m learning ASL, and I caught almost none of what they signed (thankfully, there are captions). I’ll have to give the show a re-watch after I’ve learned more and see what I can pick up!

The show is available (as of February 2026) on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Hallmark+, and YouTube.

Have you seen Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye? What did you think? Any other shows with disability representation that you would recommend?

Additional image credit: Source FBI Headquarters – J. Edgar Hoover Building; Author ajay_suresh