Category Archives: Review

Parley (4×23) Review by Phillydi

Parley (4X23)

WRITTEN BY: Cheo Hodari Coker

DIRECTED BY: John P. Kousakis

In last week’s episode, we started to see the softening of Kensi’s feelings towards Deek’s attentions. Their mating ritual has gone from circling the wagons to Kensi finally giving into Deek’s playful yet sexually charged shenanigans. For a Densi shipper and fanfic writer like me, it warms my heart and gives me hope that if Kensi and Deeks can someday become a couple, we may also one day achieve world peace. Ok, I know I’m being cheeky, but if you had told me at the beginning of the season, that the show would have even gotten this far with the prospect of a Densi relationship, I would have been highly skeptical. Not that we are anywhere near making little ninja babies yet but at least it looks like the final two episodes will hold some special moments for Densi lovers out there. Yes, it is good to be a Densi fanfic writer these days!

Parley was written by Cheo Hodari Coker who has been pretty active this year, penning his third offering of the season. Glad to see John Kousakis back directing, I loved his work on The Fifth Man earlier in the year. Of course, I always enjoy seeing Deeks go undercover and not as a janitor! This time the trained agent uses his method undercover skills to befriend a woman who may have information on a former international arms dealer (Waaldt). Kensi will try and stay as professional and impartial as she can but where matters of the heart are concern, all bets are off. This is where it starts getting good. Max Gentry is back!

Gentry meets up with Monica Davis who works for the arms dealer and may have information on her boss that NCIS can use. Deeks has been sent undercover by Granger to find out what it is. We knew this day was going to come eventually ever since we caught Granger and Hetty whispering about Deeks future with NCIS and wanting to test his ability in the field.

Davis turns out to be a bit of a thrill seeker and a thief. Gentry asked her to do some snooping on her boss and she winds up stealing a cachet of diamonds instead! Even Gentry is put off by her wild behavior. Now Deeks isn’t sure what he’s gotten himself into although the theft will lead the team eventually to an even bigger break through. Back at the Mission, Kensi is pacing the floor and still not happy even after they receive communication from Deeks that’s there’s been ‘complications’. She’s going on surveillance. As much as Kensi tries to keep it professional, the jealousy is obvious when she hears Deeks talking to Davis…and then being seduced by her! Wow!

The team finally figures out that the arms dealer is funding terrorist activity with blood diamonds. Their next step is to find out what the diamonds are being used for. Back with Davis, Deeks finds out he’s gotten himself involved with a loose cannon, as she tries to extort her boss for money to get the stolen diamonds back. Got to go along with Kensi here….not the smartest Barbie in the toy box but she may be not as delusional as Kensi thinks! Although you have to like her choice in until…. you find out she’s using Gentry to make off with the diamonds herself.

No surprise that as we get closer to the season finale, Sidorov is involved with Waaldt and the diamonds are a means to an end. The stakes have just been raised and we’ve gone from arms dealing to nuclear weapons sales in one shuffle of the cards. The team decides to use Davis to get closer to Sidorov.

Deeks always finds it hard to face the aftermath of what he had to do while undercover, especially as Max Gentry. His debriefing with Davis shows how much he regrets having to be someone he’s not in order to take advantage of the situation….. which is probably why he’s such a good cop. He has a job to do….yet it doesn’t mean he has to like it. Max Gentry is so different from Deeks and it’s a persona that he doesn’t take to willingly. That’s why it hurts so much after he removes the leather jacket and has to pick up the pieces that Gentry left behind. It’s a wonderful character trait of Deeks that his conscious is affected so much by this alter ego. Deeks gives her a chance to go free if she is willing to work with NCIS to help catch Sidorov. No surprise she takes his offer. But what did she whisper to Deeks that has Kensi so concerned? That’s what I want to know!

Kensi’s talk with Davis is also setting us up for the season finale as well. Davis can feel the connection between the partners just like everyone before them who sees Densi in action together. Is being Deeks’ partner really enough? Kensi finds herself defending Deeks’ actions and his integrity….and wondering if everyone else has been right all along about her feelings for her partner. Did she finally figure it out? No, she has always known instinctively how she feels about Deeks, but to be able to express it is another thing all together. Is she getting closer to being able to do just that? We may find out next week if we’re lucky! Nice scene and well played by Daniela Ruah.

Besides moving the Sidorov storyline along, this was a wonderful Densi-centric episode to showcase the enduring respect and yes, love that the partners have for each other. I appreciate that the ending was typical Densi…so much more is said between the lines than the actual words spoken between the two of them. And how about that little matchmaker Hetty!? It looks like she may be giving her blessing to a possible union of the pair? Now how did she know about sunshine and gun powder? Do you really have to ask?

Show Highlights:

– Thank you to Cheo Hokari Coker for bring back the Deeks that I love and adore so much!! It was getting hard to watch the class clown routine episode after episode. To see an introspective and serious Deeks is a treat that we have gone too long without. Eric Christian Olsen gets to show off his acting chops in this one with a number of wonderfully acted scenes where he gets to shine by bring out a different part of Deek’s personality. Two big thumbs up for ECO!

– Love Eric’s new call to Ops…I think he should do it with that accent all the time!

– Well you know Kensi is upset if she is hoovering down donuts! All of the surveillance in the car was a treat to watch.

Best Lines from the Show

Callen: If I’m going to pay someone to hurt me, it better be a dominatrix.

Kensi: Oh, do tell.

Callen: That was a joke!

Sam: I have noticed some unexplained bruising from the past.

Callen: Thank you.

Sam: Yo man, I don’t judge. Whatever you want to do in your spare time is your business. As long as you don’t ask me to spank you, we’re all good.

Sam: G…you lost your pants! Even Deeks doesn’t lose his pants.

Callen: We’re lucky Deeks wears pants.

(As much as I hate the usual Deeks’ bashing, I have to admit I had a bit of a giggle over this one!)

Bromance Highlights

Sam: We can’t go to a club dressed like this?

Callen: Why not? The club’s not even open yet.

Sam: We still don’t want to walk in there looking like a couple of hobos.

Callen: Hobos? What is the 1939?

Sam: No, we got to look the part.

Callen: What? Did Hetty get you a new suit or something? You got a new suit?

Sam: I’m due.

Callen: I’m due! Why didn’t she get me a new suit?

Sam: Maybe she wanted to surprise you.

Callen: Hetty! Am I getting a new suit?

Hetty: Not until you return the pants from the last one.

Callen: Do you remember before we were partners?
Sam: Yeah.

Callen: I miss those days.

Callen: No origami today?

Sam: No and stop littering my dash!

(Lots of Bromance going on here!)

Densi Highlights

Deeks: Are you there God? it’s me, Margaret.

Kensi: Judy Bloom, really?

Deeks: I got a softer side.

Kensi: Yeah, it’s called your head.

Deeks: I missed you too.

Kensi: I’m just sitting here, covering your ass. I’m not sure what’s she doing with it.

Kensi; Look at that….she speaks Deeks! A match made in heaven!

(Kensi is on a role!!…jealous much?)

Davis: I’ll get you a sexy little speedo.

Kensi: I’d pay to see that.

Deeks: People would pay to see that.

Davis: I know I would.

Kensi: Tell her not to waste her money. It’s too a small a return on her investment!

(Even Deeks finds that funny…but Kensi’s making it hard for him to stay in character!)

Kensi: Stay here.

Deeks: Why am I staying here?

Kensi: Maybe because if she sees you she is going to run again like most women….

Deeks: Except for you, you don’t run from me.

Kensi: Maybe that’s because I’m carrying a gun. Now make yourself useful and back me up.

Deeks: I’ll just be here…holding your purse

(Ah, Kensi, we know the real reason you don’t run.)

Kensi: Sorry honey, he’s with me. And his real name is Marty Deeks and he’s a cop and he’s my partner. Who’s the bitch now? (Oooh…Kensi is claiming her man and wants him back!)

Thanks go out to Greg Ellis for joining us for a chat about his role as Pieter Smit in this week’s episode. Check out what he has to say about his career and working with the cast while on set. It’s great having him in our interview corner. Next week Massi Furlan joins the caravan of bad guys in the season closer and this one time stand-up comedian had me laughing about all the fun he had on set with LL Cool J and the gang. Don’t miss our interview with Massi!

Well, where has the year gone? We’re almost at an end of the season and next week’s episode will lead to an explosive finale. Who will live and who will die? Say it ain’t so Mr. Brennan! It’s going to be a long summer folks….see you here next week at NCISLA Magazine, for our final review of the season….Descent!

Raven and the Swans (4×22) Review by Phillydi

Raven & the Swans

WRITTEN BY: R. Scott Gemmill

DIRECTED BY: Robert Florio

This week it looks like we’re going to find out more about Hetty’s strange compulsion of converting troubled orphan children into future federal agents. There’s a missing person who actually turns out to be someone from Hetty’s past and Callen is troubled as to Hetty’s motivations that has her deploying the team to locate her. The super charged trailer had more emotion pulsing through it than we’ve had all season so far. Veteran writer Gemmill teams up with Robert Florio which is his second go behind the camera after directing Neighborhood Watch last season.

Ah! Mysterious Hetty. The Ops chief is interested in a strange case of a woman being attacked in a parking garage and already Callen is questioning his boss. The dead who were left behind in the attack are unidentifiable and there are no clues left behind in the parking garage except a lot of blood. The team is wondering who the woman is after watching her successfully and professionally defending herself during the shootout. Hetty isn’t talking and Callen knows she is withholding information until there is a need to know. When Callen and Sam find Hetty and the mystery woman in the boathouse, we find out she is ‘one of ours’ and a name: Grace Stevens.

It seems Stevens has been working undercover as an employee and girlfriend for Nolan Vandenberg played by Carsten Norgaard….a rich businessman who claims his manufactured goods were stolen and taken to Iran. But there is concern he is really providing the equipment to help establish nuclear program in the Middle East. It’s a complicated dance since the agency doesn’t want to take out Vandenberg for fear it will tip off those he is helping and they in turn will find another supplier. The team needs to find his supplier first….and Vandenberg before he flees the country.

After questioning Stevens about her NCIS background, Callen finds out that Hetty rescued her off the streets and provided her parental care and guidance. Sounds awfully familiar to Callen’s backstory, once apon a time. Callen ask Eric to find out more information on Grace…oh… and not to get caught. I loved Eric talking to himself on the stairs. What Hetty does to this poor guy! In this case, it’s always comical and so amusing to watch Barrett Foa at his best.

Meanwhile, it’s on to the Biltmore Hotel, where Kensi and Deeks get to play husband and wife again. It’s is fun to watch them so playful together. I think they are definitely over the awkward stage of the partnership/relationship! Whatever you want to call it. Nell is looking more and more confident as well working in the field. Unfortunately, she gets caught trying to disable some bug detection equipment but gets caught and comes face to face with Vandenberg’s right hand man Visser, played by Ronan Vibert. Luckily, Kensi saves the day and is able to get Nell safely away from Visser.

Down in the hotel lobby Vandenber is holding high level meetings with two country diplomats looking to sell uranium to supplement his business. Callen puts the team in action to steal the case only to abort the mission at the last minute. It’s just too dangerous. The team decides it may be safer just to bring Vandenberg in custody and Deeks actually comes up with an idea that might just work. Not another pretty rock star, indeed!

Sam can tell Callen is off his game and he suspects it may have to do with Hetty and her collection of orphan children who grow up to become NCIS agents. I’m not quite too sure why this is affecting Callen as strongly as it is, but he decides to have it out with his mentor to find out why. Does he feel manipulated or just not special anymore and only one of many orphans in her pen? Too say he doesn’t take it too well is an understatement!

But Grace confronts Callen with maybe the real reason behind his feelings….will they all find themselves alone after all the missions are over and there is no one left to kill? When do you stop? When do you get a real life? All questions that perhaps Callen and the team don’t want to face….or answer.

It was a pretty subdued ending with our bad guys going down without much of a fight. Once again the story line was secondary to finding out more about the team and what motivates them to do what they do so well. We found out a little more about Hetty and what makes her tick….but does that take away some of her mystique? Maybe. Yet it was a touching scene between Callen and Hetty and her explanation seemed to appease Callen. An urban spy legend or a mother swan protecting her children? Both make Hetty a unique human being and one of the best written characters on television today.

Show Highlights

*So who of you out there thought we would ever be talking about Harry Potter and Linus van Pelt from Peanuts in an opening segment of NCISLA?…raise your hands!? The partners had me laughing out loud as they argued through their various trials and tribulations in typical team fashion. I just can’t see Callen playing a werewolf…even for Sam!

*So we learn that not only does Deeks play the violin but he also played the guitar…unfortunately he can’t sing. Ouch!

*Don’t you love to see Hetty packing a gun? We haven’t seen her do that since Endgame!

*I agree Deeks….please make this the last time he goes undercover as the janitor! Why couldn’t Sam be the janitor this time?

Best Lines From the Show:

©jacqniv

Callen: If any one’s going to go as a werewolf it should be Deeks, the guys half way there already!

****

Kensi: Dance monkey, dance.

Deeks: Possessed much?

****

Deeks: Oh God. Hi! How are you? What can I do for you?

Eric: Hetty wants us….

Deeks: Oh awesome! I’d love to be a part of it… going to go solve some crimes…

Eric: …up in Ops. Wow… that was excitement.

Kensi: No, Eric. That was fear.

****

Hetty: Oh bugger!

Callen: (To Sam) I hope she’s talking about you!

****

Sam: Sounds like the honeymoon is over.

Callen: You guys in position?

Deeks: Huh? Well, one of us is.

Bromance Moments

Sam: Come on G! It’s one day. Maybe three hours in the afternoon. It’s not the whole day.

Callen: Three hours?

Sam: You’re her uncle.

Callen: I’m not really her uncle.

Sam: She calls you Uncle Callen.

Callen: And I’m not very good with kids either.

Sam: Now you sound like Kensi, kids love you!

Callen: You’re kids maybe, other kids not so much.

Sam: Three weeks ago that kid in the sewer was ready to poison half the city. You talked him out of it.

Callen: That’s true but I was also ready to shoot him.

(Poor Uncle Callen!)

****

Callen: I hate when she does this.

Sam: Sucks doesn’t it? You two are cut from the same cloth.

Callen: Hardly. Hetty is hand painted silk…I’m more…

Sam: ….itchy polyester?

Callen: I was going to say denim.

Sam: Well-worn denim

Callen: What the hell is that supposed to mean?

(Great bromance going on here!)

©Eric Christian Olsen

Densi Moments

Deeks: What are you doing?

Kensi: Shaving my legs, what does it look like I’m doing?

Deeks: It looks like you’re cleaning your gun with my t-shirt.

Kensi: Oh, sorry it was on the bench…thought it was a rag.

Deeks: No, rags don’t have sleeves. I mean I’ve had this thing since high school.

Kensi: Shirt! I believe it. Come on….that was funny. Oh, no comment on me shaving my legs…Can I help you? Is it from the waist down. Awwha! Dude…come on…I’ll buy you a new one!

Always love to see Densi go undercover as husband and wife because we get such great banter between the two agents. No one but Densi can make the simple act of carrying the bride over the threshold a complicated project…..This is not ice dancing…indeed!

This week we had the chance to speak to guest stars, Carsten Norgaard and Ronan Vibert who graciously spent time with NCISLA Magazine to tell us about the filming of tonight’s episode. Both enjoyed their time spent on the Paramount lot and working with the cast and crew. Make sure you stop by and find out more about Carsten and Ronan!

We’re getting close to the final episode of the season which promises to pull out all the stops according to Shane Brennan. It won’t be long until we find out what he has in store for the fans. Will this be the most powerful finale that they have ever done, as he promises? Come back next week to NCISLA Magazine for my review of Parley as forge our way to the final episode!

Follow me on Twitter @phillydi

Resurrection (4×21) Review by Phillydi

Resurrection (4×21)

WRITTEN BY: Dave Kalstein and Gil Grant
DIRECTED BY: Eric A. Pot

We’ve been anticipating this episode ever since Dave Kalstein commented on Twitter (after our roundtable discussion) that there were “So many things I want to say!” Oh Dave! You had us at hello! Tonight he gets a chance to spill the beans and come clean along with his partner in crime, Gil Grant who co-wrote Resurrection. This is also a special episode for Eric A. Pot who has been promoted from his first-assistant director role on NCISLA to become the captain of the ship, directing the show tonight through rough Densi seas. Not an easy assignment for Eric who is sitting in the big chair for the first time but he pulls it off beautifully!

Tonight we have stolen bodies, DEA leaks and a little trip down to Mexico way for Kensi and Deeks. We begin in Tijuana, Mexico… unarguably one of the armpits of North America unless you enjoy tequila….and even then I’m not too sure. (Don’t ask why I know that!) Bodies are dropping left and right but conveniently it’s all happening in a morgue. Unfortunately, bodies are being stolen now too. A cartel kingpin, Miguel Barbosa was gunned down in Tijuana by government authorities and now his corpse has been stolen upon arrival at the morgue. Although Sam thinks it’s pretty normal operating procedure, the shooter knew the killing was going to happen ahead of time…so there has to be a leak in the system.

Sam and Callen go in search for John Ness, one straight and narrow DEA agent played by James MacDonald, who at one time chased and tried to capture Barbosa. The boys aren’t sure he had anything to do with his death but he may be looking for closure after he was almost killed by a car bomb that Barbosa had planted which also killed Ness’ wife.

Further down Mexico way, Deeks and Kensi are looking for a cartel informant to arrive and trying to outdo each other with crappy childhood memories. Kensi has a point about bringing children into this cold world…but I love that Deeks has the solution to her concerns and all he needs is a cape and some tequila to make it all better. (Gotta love the guy!) Before Kensi can react, the team is in the middle of a shootout of their own to protect the informant. Javier Ramos is a minstrel for Barbosa’s cartel, who turns out to be their very own jester who sings the praises of the cartel’s exploits. Barbosa’s enemies want to prevent Barbosa from becoming a martyr so it could be in their best interest to take him down as well. But Kensi and Deeks are pretty sure it’s for another reason.

Callen and Sam are back with Ness to gather more information but the DEA agent is next in a long line of people dropping like flies since Barbosa’s death. Callen and Sam’s aversion to dairy and gluten may have helped prevented them from becoming their the next victims ! As Kensi suspects, someone’s tying up Barbosa’s loose ends and Javier is their best lead in finding out who that someone could be. Javier is conflicted about his feelings for Barbosa and Kensi and Deeks have a sweet scene reliving life with their respective dads too. Deeks admitting he missed his dad in a weird sort of way was revealing. One more thing for Deeks fans to tuck away for later.

Finally, Javier remembers that Barbosa once told him about his strange obsession to rise from the dead and come back to smite his enemies with his resurrection. The agents have their first insight….Barbosa has got to be alive and has staged his own death. The ruse could give Barbosa the upper hand in a cartel power struggle. Javier realizes that Barbosa will come after him next to keep his little secret hidden. According to Deeks and Kensi, he only has two choices: Witness protection or help the team capture Barbosa and put him away for good. Neither one is a great choice and Hetty is not a fan of either. Or in Deeks speak…. they both kind of suck. After the plan to have Javier intentionally abducted by Barbosa succeeds, the team must now make good on their word to keep him safe from Barbosa’s grasp.

Some great twists and turns at the end with an exciting finish. A good solid story line all the way which is what we expect from Kalstein and Grant. Bravo Zulu goes out to Eric Pot as well who did an incredible job behind the camera. I’m looking forward to his return! But the coup d’état at the end was the wonderful scene with Kensi, who we watch with pride as her maternal instincts finally kick in while comforting the young boy. We knew you could do it Kensi and so did Deeks. The look on her partner’s face…… priceless. You want to play house? Yes, Hetty, they do grow up so fast, don’t they?

Show Highlights

-How come we just found out that Kensi and kids don’t mix? And why is Deeks and the rest of the gang (except for Eric) just finding this out? Poor Deeks, I would have thought he would have been the first person Sam would have gone to for childcare! An adult kid is the perfect babysitter. This changes everything!

-Poor Hetty. But I kind of agree with Sam and Callen here. Not sure Aunt Hetty is the babysitter type!

-Speaking of Hetty…great to see her working the scene of the crime for a change….we got to get that seasoned agent back in the field again!

Best Lines from the Show

Deeks: If Sam clears his throat any harder, he’s going to break a hip.

Kensi: I’ll do it.

Sam: You will?

Kensi: I’ll do it.

Callen: What changed your mind?

Deeks: Yeah, what changed your mind besides the fantasy of little Martys running to and fro?

Bromance Moments

Callen: You first Sam.

Sam: You’re crazy. There is no way I’m putting this garbage in my body.

Callen: I’m actually allergic to dairy.

Sam: Oh since when?

Callen: Since that thing…

Sam: What thing?

Callen: That thing…allergic.

Sam: I have to pass..I’m gluten free.

Callen: I’m pretty sure there’s nothing gluten in there…

(I think Sam and Callen are just about ready for the old folks home right about now!)

Densi Moments

Deeks: Well Kensi should be fine unless the informant is a child.

Kensi: And yet I’ve managed to get along with you the entire time.

Deeks: Touché.

Deeks: God I love Mexico. Seriously this place has got four of my favorite things. It’s got cheap beer, it’s got great surf, it’s got obviously beautiful woman and it’s got sombreros. (Oh, that definitely makes it ok then Deeks!).

Javier: Why can’t I have a lawyer?

Kensi: Because I said so.

Deeks: Did you just drop the ‘because I said so’ bomb on him?

Kensi: So what if I did?

Deeks: What do you mean, what if I did? What are you going to do, send him to his room next?

Kensi: Excuse me?

Deeks: Take away his milk money?

Javier: Why are you guys arguing?

Densi: We’re not arguing!

Kensi: We’re not arguing, we’re having a discussion.

Deeks: Why don’t you work on that 10 and 2!

(OMG Deeks and Kensi already have the parent thing down pat! They are a natural together!)

Check out our interview with James MacDonald who did a great job as DEA Special Agent John Ness. James shares a great story on working with Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J and talks about his career and upcoming projects. Thanks go out to James for stopping by and talking to us about his time spent on set!

One final thought….I found it kind of interesting that Eric Christian Olsen announced the upcoming addition to his family on the same day the extended trailer was released for Resurrection. “Will Kensi not being able to handle kids be a deal breaker for Deeks?!” I’m sure that ECO’s missus, Sarah is looking forward to her new role of motherhood with great anticipation….whereas Kensi may never be able to embrace the concept. Not exactly art imitating life but it works for ratings purposes, I guess. What kind of mom do you think Kensi will make? Looking forward to your comments! Also check out our next roundtable discussion coming soon with SweetLu and Imahistorian when we review the latest Densi developments and what we think may be up next season for the troubled duo.

We’re getting down to the last three episodes… so join me next week for our review of the Raven and the Swans only here on NCISLA Magazine!

Follow me on Twitter @phillydi.

NCIS Los Angeles Original TV Soundtrack Review by Phillydi

The NCIS Los Angeles Original TV Soundtrack is one big party waiting to happen. From the first song by Daughtry, a pounding rock anthem called Never Die through to the last cut on the cd, the music never stops rocking and rolling. Although some of the tunes are very techno pop, it is the soundtrack of an exciting, pulsing city and it has been used effective as the background music for many different episodes over the course of the last four seasons on NCISLA. Sure, there’s a few clunkers but for the most part, the cd is a terrific representation of the music that makes the series so electric. Unfortunately, the sleeve notes do not identify the song to the episode. But our incredible webmaster, sindee has identified most of the episodes and I have listed them below in connection to the songs on the cd. We’re still looking to identify a few more episodes and attach them to the song, so if you have any idea what episode they belong to, let us know.

Some highlights on the cd for me: Allen Stone’s Mama Gonna Punish You is the first track that stands out from the bunch. Allen is an up and coming soul revivalist with a wonderfully sweet voice, but he can also push it to the limits as he does in his contribution to the cd. If you never heard the guy sing, pick up his first two cds…you won’t be disappointed. Of course, there is LL Cool J’s song of a love gone wrong. No More has a great punch to it and was a wonderful addition to the Sam-centric episode when it was used this season.

My favorite song has to be Jacob Dylan’s Arms of a Ghost. If you’re a Densi fan, you probably heard the song used in the opening scene of Neighborhood Watch when Deeks wakes up to an empty bed. The song drifts lazily along as Deeks pads his way through the house looking for his sugar bear and it really set the tone for the rest of the episode. Another gem, is Zac Brennan’s (son of Shane) angsty contribution to the final few minutes of the episode Sans Voir II (3X24). Definitely one of my favorite Callen and Hetty moments. I loved how the song wafted over the poignant scene where Callen is looking out the car after he was arrested for the death of the Chameleon. The music is used effectively to convey Callen anxiety and Hetty’s sadness. It gave me goose bumps as the scene faded to black. Such a perfect example of how music can make a dramatic scene even better.

There was one omission that stands out for me and that’s Loomis and the Lust’s contribution to Personal (2X17). The song Good Time Lover was played as Deeks was running along the beach and on the way to the convenience store. There’s no way to think about that scene without hearing the playful song pulsing in the background. It was so perfect for Deeks’ character and his devil-may-care attitude. I can’t hear it without it bring back all those feelings that made the episode so memorable for me. Too bad it wasn’t included in this cd. Luckily you can pick it up through iTunes if you want to add it to your NCISLA soundtrack. I can think of one or two others, but hopefully there will be a second soundtrack that will grab some of these lost tracks.

The picture of the cast inside the liner notes is also worth the purchase of the cd. It was from last summer’s photo shoot and it’s a great group shot of the gang. I have a feeling this cd is going to be playing in my cd player for a long time…it’s a great compilation of some of the best music on the scene today. Let us know what your preferred track on the cd is and if they left off any of your favorites. You can purchase the soundtrack by clicking the Amazon link below. Enjoy!

Track List
1. Never Die (Daughtry)
featured in episode “Purity” (4×20)
2. Wine & Vinegar (The Wild Feathers)
3. Lipstick On His Collar (Caro Emerald)
   featured in episode “Wanted” (4×17)
4. No More feat. Ne-Yo (LL Cool J)
   featured in episode “Betrayal” (3×09)
5. Shotcaller (Taio Cruz)
   featured in episode “Lokhay” (4×16)
6. Alive feat. The Good Natured (Adrian Lux)
   featured in episode “Crimeleon” (3×15)
7. Everythang’s Corrupt (Ice Cube)
   featured in episode “The Chosen One” (4×13)
8. Momma Gonna Punish You (Allen Stone)
   featured in episode “Wanted” (4×17)
9. Devil In The Backseat (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
10. Lonesome Valley (Ryan Bingham)
11. Shuffle A Dream (Little Dragon)
12. Where Is The Heart? (Alex Clare)
   featured in episode “Red, Pt.2” (4×19)
13. Arms Of A Ghost (Jakob Dylan)
   featured in episode “Neighborhood Watch” (3×22)
14. Misery (The Gaslight Anthem)
15. Your Next Move (Zac Brennan)
   featured in episode “Sans Voir II” (3×24)
16. Kerosene (Jim Hanft)

Purity (4×20) Review by Phillydi

Purity (4 X 20)
WRITTEN BY: Joe Sachs
DIRECTED BY: Eric Laneuville
After all the controversy surrounding the Red episodes, it’s good to see our LA team back at work and together again and free from all the Red Team diversion. Tonight Callen and company are investigating a military death which may have profound homeland security implications. Joe Sachs (Drive) has written his second episode this year and Eric Laneuville’s returns behind the camera for the first time this season.

In this episode, a communal water jug has been found to contain a lethal dose of cyanide and has already killed a Navy officer and incapacitated another. The team needs to find out if this is an isolated incident or the work of terrorists. Jihadist groups are taking credit for the death but Sam has his doubts after reading the internet chatter. The source of the poisoning is coming from a water cooler which was probably tampered with before the bottle was opened and Deeks just found the murder weapon…and empty syringe. Callen and Sam are trying to get more information from the other victim but other than a discharged sailor that caused some problems in Lt. Gordon’s past…they still don’t have much to go on. But one dead sailor is the least of the problems for the team. A two hundred pound drum of cyanide is missing from a factory and could kill close to a million people. Things just went from bad to worse!

Callen and Sam track down Gordon’s protagonist who is now out of the military. The only thing he can share is that Gordon seemed to be a man with a lot of secrets. Does this have anything to do with the cyanide poisoning? Deeks and Kensi run down the janitor who installed the jug from the water cooler. Other than a new lead regarding a strange man hanging around the club looking for work, the killer is still out there and if things were bad before….Sam and Deeks just found out there are more drums missing with the potential now to kill four millions people. The stakes just got higher! People are having heart attacks and if it’s not in the water delivery service jugs, then it’s in the city’s drinking water. It looks like a local attack….maybe homegrown?

Kensi and Deeks finds the source of where the cyanide may be getting into the drinking water and Eric and Nell track down a possible radical group called Designing a New America (love their acronym-DNA) who may be using guerrilla tactics to make their point. Seems like the team may have found their homegrown terrorists. Callen infiltrates the group after bring Sam down during a protest. (I’m surprised Sam didn’t have a few words for Callen after their head-to-head. Callen finds it all goes back to the beginning of the story with their first suspect who is the leader of the radical group. Oh no, Callen is forced to drink the cool-aide!! Luckily, he has the antidote close by and gets to live another day. (The man has more lives than a cat!) The team goes on to take down the radical group and secure the cyanide despite the tears of a misguided child. Callen does a great job talking the kid off the ledge. The ball tossing scene at the end was a nice touch but I’m not too sure any child after all that brain washing would act so normal a few days later. But it was nice to see Callen showing his parental side.

I have to say it wasn’t one of your more exciting episodes but it had a few shining moments for individual members of the team.

Show Highlights:

I loved seeing Ron Howard’s father Rance Howard as the old man who let’s Kensi into his house to check the water system. Dwarfs? That can’t be good!

Always enjoy seeing Sam in uniform. Also fun to see Callen getting in Sam’s face too.

Hetty has such a great sense of humor, doesn’t she? I loved her April Fool’s joke on Deeks. Did you see the look on his face when he thought he was going to be fined over $100,000! I think he would rather be drinking that cyanide instead! Ha!

Best Lines from the Show:

Deeks: If you built a time machine and didn’t tell me about it, I’m going to be pissed!

Eric: Close…it also starts with a C and ends with an E. Anyone, anyone? Ding…times up…we were looking for cyanide.

Bromance Moments:

Sam: God, I love algebra. It’s logical. It’s clean.

Callen: That’s right. You use to be a mathalete.

Sam: No I wasn’t a mathalete. I was a junior math Olympian. There’s a big difference.

Callen: You guys count on your fingers, or something?

Densi Moments:

Sam: Kensi seems to have lost something.

Deeks: Shocking!

Kensi: We’ll take the bikini bar?

Deeks: What? We will?

Kensi: I don’t like to see him beg and plus he would mope all the way to Point Mugo if we didn’t.

Deeks: This is fantastic news but I don’t beg.

Kensi: Oh, you beg.

Deeks: I definitely don’t mope, because you’re the moper…you’re like MopyDick.

Kensi: Feel free to take the pole for a spin.

Deeks: Touche.

The cast tweeting live during the show.

Check out our interview with ER alum, Lily Maryie, who played Ashley Hong on tonight’s episode. She has some interesting insights on working in the entertainment industry and why she had a blast working with the NCISLA team on Purity. We want to thank her for taking the time out to speak with NCISLA Magazine!

Looks like we’re going to have another break next week but when we return it’s the long awaited Densi-centric episode we have all been promised, written by Dave Kalstein and Gil Grant. Later that week, our roundtable panel of writers will be back again to talk about the episode and to see if some of our predictions came true regarding the Box! (I predict by then that the damn prop will soon have an agent and publicist!) Join us again in two weeks for Resurrection (4X21) and check out my review and the subsequent discussion.

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