Category Archives: Review

History (4×15) Review by Phillydi

History (4×15)

Written by: Scott Sullivan

Directed by: James Whitmore, Jr.

I bet you never thought you would see terrorists, explosions and a Bigfoot sighting all in one episode? Veteran Director, James Whitmore joins forces this time with Scott Sullivan who has written his first episode for NCIS Los Angeles tonight. This episode focuses on a now defunct terrorist group who has returned to the spotlight after many years. The team is called upon to find out if they are also a viable threat again to national security. I have to say, most of the fun comes from watching Kensi and Deeks take their investigation into the woods for their own version of Once Upon a Time. After stepping in bear poo, you’ll know why Deeks hates leaving the city. It’s not pretty.

The terrorist group in question this week is The Gun Barrel Party and they resurface when one of their founding members (Albertson) is killed and the team has to find out if his death is connected to his former activities. Hetty is concerned if the GBP has returned, they may be returning to continue their former acts of terrorism on American soil which they started back in the 1970s. The only problem is most of them are dead, except for Jim Mullins and he’s in jail. After a visit from Callen and Sam, Mullens is defiant to the end and has no intention of talking…so the team is back to square one. Even Albertson’s girlfriend claims he had left his old life behind and didn’t know who would want to kill the man.

The team finds another lead at a university pep rally for Red Tide, an anarchist group in real life that uses a lot of the former tactics of the GBP. This takes Densi out of the woods and onto a campus to go undercover among the students. During the Red Tide disruption of the rally, Deeks is investigating the office of a prominent professor (Hale) who has been researching the GBP for a book. Only he instead finds a hidden bomb in the office which means someone wants the professor dead before his book about the GBP goes to print. After further investigation, it’s obvious Dr. Hale isn’t who he says he is…there’s no book and he’s been identified by Albertson’s girlfriend by another name. So, who is this guy?

This week’s episode spotlights terrorist groups that use violence to go up against government bureaucracy and Big Brother instead of respecting the laws that allowed this country to live in freedom and peace. I really enjoyed Sam’s use of the Kennedy quote to put a defiant student in his place. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will push the envelope and use force to get their point across and teach others to do the same. Like Callen in the end, I found Hale’s manifesto to be a sobering one making this a thought provoking episode. Nice piece written by Sullivan, I look forward to his next effort.

Show Highlights

Hetty and Bigfoot. No match there….you know I’m talking about Hetty …right? If she can beat a Sherpa to Everest, she can take on Bigfoot with no problem!

You have to enjoy Sam’s enthusiasm in getting to participate in his children’s living history book. But like Callen, I think it would have been more fun to go as Lando Calrissian!

Despite the comics of Deeks and company, the episode’s ending left us with both a serious and hopeful message. Hetty’s history lesson regarding Dietrich Eckart and Kensi reaching out to David was definitely the highlight of the show for me. Hopefully in the end, history doesn’t have to repeat itself.

Best Lines from the Show

Eric: Is that a real space suit?

Sam: Yep.

Eric: Awesome.

Sam: See! Children think it’s cool. Told you!

****

Deeks: Nothing good happens this deep in the woods. Out here it’s nothing but banjo playing red necks and murderers in hockey masks.

Kensi: According to the coroner’s report that Eric sent…the cause of death was a heart attack.

Deeks: So the knife didn’t kill him? Maybe he heard banjo music and died of fright.

****

Kensi: People who are number one with nature…do not step in number two!

****

Deeks: Whatever tickles your pickle? (I have a new catch phrase…thank you Deeks!)

****

Deeks: Never judge a man until you walk a mile in his pumps… (Deeks is on fire this week!)

****

Sam: That’s a nice purse, Deeks.

Callen: Yeah, matches your shoes.

Sam: That kick must have been worse than we thought.

Deeks: Cute…. Hetty, can I please have a tool belt or something to wear with this, like a belt sander?

Bromance Moments

A lot of bromance moments between Sam and Deeks this week. But Sam gets to pull Deeks’ chain one too many times. It seems thought, it’s all part of Deeks’ master plan. But at least I’m glad to see Deeks finally won out in the end. I think….

Densi Moments

Deeks: I cannot wait to retire.

Sam: You know you actually got to do some work before you retire from something Deeks.

Deeks: I’m just going to sit on that beach with dog Monty jr, jr, checking out the lady birds and their bikinis.

Kensi: See, you are only young once but you can be immature forever.

****

I can just see Kensi becoming President one day….wouldn’t surprise me at all.

****

So let’s see….Deeks hates going to the dessert and now the woods…hmmm you have to wonder about his childhood, don’t you?

****

Kensi and Deeks talking about the Kama Sutra. Wouldn’t you like to be a member of that book club?

****

Another Kensi nickname: Pocahontas! Add that to the list!

****

Kensi: How you feeling buddy? Looks like she tickled your pickle.

****

Deeks: We’re at this stage in our relationship now?

Kensi: What stage might that be, Deeks?

Deeks: Stage where I stand around holding your purse.

Kensi: Does that treaten your manhood?

Deeks: No, not unless the purse matches my shoes. (Ah, will we ever get to see that stage, Densi lovers?)

Check out our interview this week with Jared Hillman who plays David Thompson. Jared gave a wonderful performance of the troubled student looking to find meaning in his life. Find out what his experience was like on set working with the team…. only in NCISLA Magazine.

We will return next week with a new episode review, an interview with Cas Anvar and a lot more. So join us right back here again on NCISLA Magazine!

Kill House (4×12) Review by Phillydi

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Kill House

Written by: Dave Kalstein

Directed by: Larry Teng

The dynamic duo of Kalstein and Teng are at the helm of this week’s NCIS Los Angeles episode and there is excitement in the air if for no other reason to find out if there was a reason behind the out of sequenced shows…oh…and yes, Kensi’s mysterious box. Whether there was a method to all the madness or no reason at all, diehard fans were still expecting another stellar offering from this extremely talented team. I’m happy to say they didn’t let us down! Although Teng is a regular directing such hit shows as Hawaii Five O and Criminal Minds, this is his first time behind the camera for NCIS Los Angeles and if his tweets were any indication, it looks like he had a great time with his first NCISLA assignment.

The theme of tonight’s episode is team work and why teams succeed or fail despite all odds. Hence the amusing opening scene with Sam’s come to Jesus lecture on getting back to basics… no more secrets… no more hidden agendas….just acceptance. The Musketeers’ motto lives on as the NCISLA team learns what it takes to make a good team into a really exceptional team.

The episode begins as Special Ops Command sends an elite group to take out the Molina Cartel. But they are ambushed and NCIS is called into pinpoint where the breach took place. The team goes up against a group of tactical role players (TRPs) who mimic the bad guys within their own theater or ‘kill house’. Callen and the team are going to go undercover as a new spec ops unit. Although it’s a game of simulation, this group can be pretty nasty. Even Sam is sweating bullets. The team is all nervous because there is no room for error. (When Hetty shows them the Heckler & Koch 416 assault rifle, there was only one production crew up to that point that was allowed access to the gun that took out Osama bin Laden.)

The actual kill house scene was one of the most suspenseful scenes filmed to date and Teng does a great job creating that tension inside the building. By the end, the team realizes they are not the best of the best and it’s a shock. According to the TRPs, NCIS was dead the moment they split up. Was the drill fair, or was the team set up to learn? The operation brings the team to question how well they have worked together throughout the years. Are they really a team or four separate units?

When their main suspect, Parrish, dies after the second kill house training mission, the team now has to find another suspect. Parrish may have known where the leak was coming from making his death a murder. But wait…the plot thickens! Inman and Granger are colleagues and have worked together before in the past. Callen is not a happy camper but Granger shows them he still has a few tricks up his sleeve even if it’s not always to the team’s liking. Ferrer is brilliant in his role as Granger, and if he’s not making me laugh, then he’s making me roll my hands into a fist. Callen is right. Granger is a son of a bitch!

The whole mission turns on a dime when Cisneros arrives in LA and the team realizes that Nell is captured by Innes and his men. It’s not a game anymore. The team has got to use everything they learned up to this point to save Nell. When all odds are against them this team does what it does best….they trusted their training.

Tonight’s episode came from Dave Kalstein’s real life experience training against real TRPs and in a real kill house setting used by Navy Seals. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride and I’m glad I went along for the ride. Thanks Dave. It was a great episode.

Highlights from the Show:

Got a kick out of Sam taking over the work space and claiming Deeks’ desk. (Getting a fresh perspective!)
Interesting that Callen is worried about Deeks being invited to the big boy table. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so worried about a mission.
Sam’s story about Hetty bring in a Kalinga Head Hunter to train the team was brilliant. It was Nell’s grasshopper moment (Ok…look it up if you never watched Kung Fu with David Carradine!)
I’m not sure who the bigger drama queen was here but the whole Eric and Nell interlude at the end was sweet….come on …you got to admit it! Although the verdict is out on whether Nell will make a good NCIS agent. Who knows…we may have another Hetty in the making. She’s got the Gorgan stare!
We get some great insight into Granger’s personality by Hetty at the end. Even Callen has to think about that one.

Best Lines from the Show:

Deeks: What the hell is that?

Sam: It looks like a box full of mind your own damn business.

Deeks: That’s clever…know what else is clever? Me…Googling the return address… Watch and learn.

Callen: Isn’t that against the law, Deeks?

Deeks: We are the law….besides we’re a team. All for one…one for all.

Granger: Maybe one day I won’t be the rain on your parade, but today’s not it.

Deeks: Rain on our parade? More like a frickin’ tsunami.

Deeks: If you hear me yell noodles, I’m in trouble.

Callen: If I hear you yell noodles, I’m going to shoot you myself.

Deeks: Conan the Barbarian? What? The three of you don’t have a monopoly on kicking ass. (ECO did his German/Jamaican accent again!)

Granger: Are you going ask or are you just going to wait for me to melt under your Gorgon stare? (Granger is on a role this week!)

Callen: It’s hard to find good friends in our line of work.

Hetty: It’s hard to find them anywhere. (Amen!)

Bromance Moments

This was one big bromance episode with the girls included….but I enjoyed Callen’s pep talk to the team and Sam’s reaction: Seriously? I thought you were going to go all Vince Lombardi and that’s all we get?

Densi Moments

Loved how Deeks comes to Kensi’s defense after being grilled by Parrish. What part are you roll playing now? Team super douche? How’s that working out for ya?

Despite coming to her defense, we still get Kensi punching Deeks! All the guy wanted was a little tender love care. Was that too much to ask?

Deeks is still curious as to what’s in the box….And what does he mean it’s not going to change anything….not even Kensi’s sure. Will we ever find out what’s in that damn box! Jeez!

Deeks: Ok, you guys couldn’t see it from up there but she definitely had a twinkle in her eye when she said that. (I think there was a bit of twinkle in Deeks eye when he was staring back at Kensi in admiration.)

Bravo Zulu also goes out to Rafael Kayanan, combat choreographer, for his invaluable work on this episode. It’s not easy making those fight scenes look so easy. Also, check out our interview with Evan Gamble (Chad Parrish) this week and find out all about his experience working on set.

Looks like we’re going to be on hiatus for a little bit while the team goes off radar for a few weeks but we’ll be back again for the review of the next episode, History. See you then! And don’t forget to go to Ebay and bid on the Dave Kalstein NCISLA Magazine cover…signed by Dave himself! The ASPCA will thank you for your winning bid!

The Chosen One (4×14) Review by Phillydi

NCIS: LOS ANGELES - The Chosen One

The Chosen One (4×14)
Written by: Gil Grant & Cheo Hodari Coker
Directed by: Paul Kaufman

We finally get a Callen-centric episode this week written by Gil Grant and Cheo Hodari Coker (Collateral 4×08) and Paul Kaufman is behind the camera for his first NCISLA assignment. I have really gotten a kick out of all the tweets from Callen fans ever since the trailer was released. Men in glasses certainly have their charm, don’t they ladies? All kidding aside, things get very serious in this episode as Callen goes undercover to foil a foreign terrorist attack of mass destruction on domestic soil, bringing back the terror of 9-11.

A Chechnya terrorist group is the new threat and the team has to find out where they transported a truck load of explosives… which also happens (coincidentally), to be the type used during the Oklahoma City bombing. Several events in the LA area could be the catalyst for a new terrorist jihad and Hetty orders a stake out. (Deeks: The ol’ stake out shake out? I like it.) After finding new evidence that there are more terrorists entering the country, Callen decides to go undercover as one of them to disrupt their activity. Love the airport switch… very smooth. Callen’s in! But he’s also in a whole lot of trouble when he realizes he is going to be used as a suicide bomber….the chosen one. Corin Nemec was very convincing as a Chechen terrorist and I enjoyed his performance, especially in the boathouse with Kensi. Their discussion of human rights was chilling. I also enjoyed watching the team rescue Callen in the warehouse. Sam’s Navy SEAL training in explosives came in mighty handy just as Callen was about to step off that platform. (Be still, be very still, G.). Of course Sam saves the day with the snip of the correct wire leading to the detonator.

Unfortunately, this episode seemed to be more about fish than terrorist threats but it does bring home the point that with the right contacts, monetary support and zealous crusaders, another 9-11 could happen at any time. I only hope that the real federal agents are out there protecting American soil against these jihadists or it won’t be easy task falling asleep tonight.

Highlights From the Show

– Deeks has an epiphany! Doppelganger Aquarium! Why didn’t I think of that? Great idea! I love his choice for all the fishes especially Sam’s. (Sam check it…armored catfish…that’s you. That’s a tough fish…doesn’t take crap from any other fish!)

– Deeks picked the perfect fish doppelganger as far as Nell was concerned. Still not sure that’s going to make Eric give up his quest for true love, though.

– Hetty’s choice of a guppy turns out to be an enlighten choice as guppies, although usually peaceful have been known to nip at larger fish. (You guys can swim, but you can’t hide.)

Best Lines From the Show

Eric: When Nell and I put our awesome code breaking lips… heads together…

Nell: It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Deeks: Really?

Sam: Don’t screw this up, fish boy! (Deeks can deliver my pizza anyday!)

NCIS: LOS ANGELES - The Chosen One

Bromance Moments

This week the bromance is all between Callen and Hetty. Hetty always has great instincts and it’s rare to see her so outwardly concerned about Callen going undercover. (I’m not mothering you, Mr. Callen.) But Callen is pretty bull-headed and won’t give in.

Densi Moments

– Ok, Deeks is dating and no response from Kensi… mmmm.

– He’s liking that new Kensi nickname, isn’t he?

Kensi: I like my fish

Deeks: Your fish likes my fish

Deeks: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my fish.

Kensi: Yeah. You been thinking like burial or cremation or just plain ol’ flush down the toilet?

Deeks: It’s a gold fish. I don’t think it’s me. It’s too common. I need a fish that truly reflects my essence.

Kensi: What about a canned sardine. Smelly, oily, cheap?

Deeks: See… you say things like that and I know you don’t mean them. You’re like the girl in elementary school who hits you in the arm because she really like you.

Kensi: You know you’re right. Pow!

(Really, Kensi? Did Deeks deserve that? Or does Kensi have another agenda?)

Hope you come back next time for my review of Kill House (4×12), written by Dave Kalstein. Will we get to find out what’s in the box Kensi is holding… why are the episodes being shown out of order? Inquiring minds want to know… maybe we find out next week…

Paper Soldiers Review (4×13) by Phillydi

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Paper Soldiers (4×13)

Written by: Jordana Lewis Jaffe
Directed by Terrence O’ Hara

The Doctor is in! Our favorite Operational Psychologist, Nate Getz is back in the Mission and if the trailers were any indication of how this show was going to go, we knew we were going to be in for a lot of laughs. It’s great to see Peter Cambor reprise his role as Nate and I always look forward to his camera time, specifically with Linda Hunt. According to EW Online: “This episode is a must-see for fans of both Nate and Hetty,” executive producer Shane Brennan says. “Not only do we get to have Nate guest in the episode, but we get to see him go undercover with Hetty. It’s one of the most memorable, funny undercover operations we’ve done on the series.”

Jordana Lewis Jaffe (Honor) and Terrence O’Hara (Endgame) are also returning this season in their respective craft to lead the cast in search of a possible cover-up in the death of a fallen marine. The show begins as guest star Jonathan Murphy (Ian Brockhurst)leaves the morgue right before a break-in occurs. Our thief doesn’t get to enjoy his spoils very long and we’re off and running. The thief turns out to be a private detective hired by the Marine’s wife who was killed in Afghanistan. She’s is suspicious of his death and now there are two people dead… Is there a Marine cover-up going on?

Hurray! Rose is back too! Love seeing all these recurring characters back at NCIS. After meeting with Rose, the team determines that Lt. Prietto’s body was used for organ donations, but his widow is adamant he would never have been a donor. Now Prietto’s file is missing and security cameras show the detective leaving with the evidence. But it’s Nate to the rescue as we see the return of the roving Psychologist… and the dreaded Psych Evals! Not really, it was just a ruse to get Nate to return to the Mission. Hetty has a secret mission for Nate. I love how 6’5” Peter Cambor has to stand three steps below Hetty in order to be at the same eye level. Great visual!

In the meantime, Callen is sure someone is hiding something in the death of the Marine. Too many details are just not adding up and now his widow has taken it out of the agents’ hands by going to the press to find her answers. Kensi and Deeks question another Marine that was injured the day Prietto was murdered. He immediately becomes tight-lipped after finding Prietto has died. Back at the morgue, Ian Bruckhurst gives Callen and Sam the final autopsy report showing Preitto died of a single gunshot wound but it’s still not enough to answer why he was killed.

Finally, the detective’s hard drive gives the team their first person of interest….Rose. Pictures of her are found on the drive, and Nate refused to believe she is involved in the cover-up. Hetty is going to push all of Nate’s buttons next by having him do the interrogation. It’s time to play the pawn and if that’s not bad enough, Kensi and Deeks are searching her house for evidence. Lo and behold…they find the Marine’s morgue file. Rose is in denial and points out that her signature has been forged in the file reports. With a little Eric and Nell magic, the teams finds out the real culprit…Ian Bruckhurst who has been working with the Funeral Home in the sale of black market tissue donors.

The scene with Hetty and Nate or should I say Beatrice Fitzpatrick and Chester (and don’t forget Felix) was vintage NCISLA. Now you know why we miss Nate so much! I don’t know who was better keeping in character (Don’t pretend you knew Daddy!) but I haven’t laughed this much in ages! It was like watching an episode of the Adams Family! Creepy and spooky! It was a joy to see the two of them together again. Don’t stay away too long Nate Getz! I think we should start a campaign to get Nate to return to the Mission. What do you think?

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Between 2005-2009, there was an increase in the amount of illegal trading of human tissue being sold on the black market. Apparently it’s a billion dollar market. Jaffe has written another great episode based on current affairs.

Highlights from the Show

Kensi? A serial plant killer? A mug shot at the nursery? I know how you feel, girlfriend! At least one thing Kensi and I have in common…a brown thumb! It seems Kensi’s penchant for killing plants is also shared by Jaffe . Fun opening scene with all the gang. Great to see them being so silly.
If the open scene can’t get much crazier, we then have Eric milking a sideways cow to call everyone up to Ops! He’s being a mime… of course! Stick to your day job, Eric! Good advice from Sam…”Go method!”
Does it surprise you that Hetty plays chest with Gorbachev? Nah.
Callen getting dating tips from Nate was priceless… Oh, Callen… that wasn’t nice, he was just trying to see how you were doing… but it was funny. (Nate: I hate it when he does that!)
Did you get the feeling Sam was enjoying his encounter with Hetty in the Funeral House just a little too much? Shorty? I wouldn’t want to be Sam when they return to the Mission! (Sam: I’m sensing some hostility here.)
Final last words on Sam: Got to love a man in uniform!

Best Lines from the Show

Eric: Nell and I kissed.

Nell: This is not happening.

Eric: I’m pretty sure it was just to get me in a pair of tights. So I’m just going to put it out there.

*****

Deeks: Holy Dewey decimal system!

****

Sam: Hetty’s being nice.

Hetty: Hetty is always nice. (Go Hetty!)

****

Eric: I’m sorry, someone had some really pungent sauerkraut for lunch, and it’s throwing me off my game. (Don’t hear that line, everyday!)

****

Hetty: You remember Felix, sweetheart. I skinned him myself.

Nate: Please tell me you’re in character.

Bromance Moments

Deeks make the Bromance section this week!

Deeks: Alright, Kensi just pulled up blaring My Chemical Romance, which means she’s not her cheerful, chipper self, so I think we should just probably play it cool.

Sam: Deeks, I always play it cool.

Callen: I’m actually playing aloof, which is the anti-social version of cool.

Sam: Ok, so if I’m cool and you’re aloof, what does that make you?

Deeks: Enigmatic?

Callen: No, Hetty is enigmatic. You are…

Deeks: Charming?

Callen: Puerile.

Deeks: Handsome?

Sam: Otiose. It means pointless.

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Densi Moments

We’re touché(ing) again. Kensi continues to enjoy teasing Deeks, but do you get the feeling Deeks is not enjoying it as much?

Deeks: What are you squinting at? Time for some granny glasses?

Kensi: No, I’m trying to visualize what you look like behind a desk as a public defender. Clean shaven, short hair…

Deeks: I looked exactly like this.

Kensi: Like this? Clients actually put their hands in this?

Deeks: First off I was very good in my job.

Kensi: Says you.

Deeks: Secondly, my clients were assigned to me so they didn’t have a choice.

Kensi: Oh, I know the feeling.

Deeks: And thirdly.

Kensi: Third.

Deeks: Thirdly. Everyone knows that public defenders are rebels of the legal profession.

Kensi: Rebel without a due process clause?

Deeks: Kensi made a legal funny. Pretty proud of yourself? You know what? I’ll give it to you. Touché!

Kensi: Touché!

****

Did you hear Deeks’ new nickname for Kensi: Kensalina? Really, Deeks?

The show is going to be taking a break for a week but come back again for a new review the following week! In the meantime, check out my interview later this week with Jonathan Murphy who played Ian Bruckhurst. See you SOON!

Drive (4×11) Review by Phillydi

Drive (4×11)

WRITTEN BY: Joe Sachs
DIRECTED BY: Steven DePaul

Drive will always be a special episode for me because sindee and I were there on set the day they were filming in Ops at the beginning of the show. To see all these wonderful actors that I enjoyed so much working only a few feet in front of me was an indescribable moment. ( I’ve written about our special day on the Paramount lot in a two part blog that you can find by going to In the Bullpen with Phillydi.) I was looking forward to finding out more about the story line since at the time we could only get bits and pieces from the scene in Ops.….so to see the final product was very exciting. Joe Sachs penned two of my favorite episodes from last year (Higher Power & The Dragon and the Fairy) and Steven DePaul (The Debt) was a treat to speak during a short break as we watched the filming outside of Ops. In this episode the team is after a terrorist ring involved in international car shipping and Deeks has a contact from his past that is their target. According to NCISLA Connect, this episode was based on a 1997 FBI investigation of stolen SUV’s that were smuggled from LA to Latin America.

Right off the bat, it was great to see the story line open with a call to Deeks…another first for the show. I remember driving over the Fourth Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles but this time it looked a lot scarier for Marty’s friend Jenny Radler who is abducted while on the phone with Deeks. Somehow she knows there’s an international terrorist ring stealing SUVs and shipping them to be used as para-military vehicles half-way across the world. With very few leads to go on and a daughter that wants nothing to do with her mother, the team is stumped. Ah, but not for long….. Sam remembers their informant, Jaime from Season Three (Greed) who may be able to give them some critical leads on other stolen SUVs throughout the city.

The team sends Kensi undercover as a shady mechanic, looking for work in a chop shop that Jaime has identified as a possible front for the SUV thefts. With a little help from Deeks, she shows them how resourceful she can be in technically procuring a stolen vehicle. (‘Wheel ‘em in Krafty.”)

Next, the spotlight turns to Allison Hall, who is the owner of one of the stolen SUVs. Between her strange behavior and spending habits, the tech team suspects something weird is going on. Later, Radler’s daughter is also demonstrating some strange behavior as she drives along the streets of LA. (Hetty: “Either that or she’s selling Girl Scout cookies.” LOL!) When Callen and Sam rescue her from an assault, she tells them her mom is going to be killed unless she gives them her computer. It turns out Radler was finally clean and getting her life together working as a bookkeeper for Vargas who is the chief suspect in the international car theft ring. Radler has audio- password protected the evidence of Vargas’ criminal involvement on her daughter’s computer. With a little ingenuity, Callen finds the key in an audio birthday card! With a list of VIN numbers found encrypted on the computer file, the team has what it needs to implement Vargas and the others involved in the terrorist activity.

I enjoyed the final scene in which Kensi and Deek’s cover is blown and the cavalry of Callen and Sam have to come in and save the day. And Jaime getting caught underneath the car again was a fun touch.

There was a little bit of something for everyone in this episode. It was nice to see our heroes struggle with their New Year’s resolutions just like we all do. We got to find out more about Eric’s collection of action figures and we started the episode off with a serious Deeks being called in to assist a damsel in distress. But I couldn’t believe I missed all the hints at the beginning with Deeks making sure Kensi knew it was January 8! Of course…it was Deeks birthday! In Season One we found out that Deeks was born on January 8, 1979 and leave it to Hetty to pull out the expensive bubbly to celebrate. At least someone remembered!

Highlights from the Show

Nice to see a serious Deeks start off the show. You are reminded why he became a prosecutor and a detective. He cares about the people he helps and shows it in the open scenes.
Oh boy…You got to love Eric for hanging in there with Nell. He’s still trying to finding out as much information as he can about her. Eric: What if I have to call you? Nell: Why would you have to call me? Eric: If there is an emergency at work. Nell: I’ll have the pager. Eric: How very 1980’s of you. So what’s that number? Nell: Hetty has it. Dead in the water again, but he keeps trying!
Jaime’s reaction was priceless when he finds out Kensi is going to help him infiltrate a body shop as an undercover car thief . ‘That’s loco, what you been smoking cuz?!’ Ah, Jamie….you know Kensi is one tough chica!
Did you notice that the restaurant at the end of the show was actually the NCIS driveway (with a few alternations) where Hetty and Callen usually park their cars?

Best Lines from the Show

Hetty: Mr. Deeks and I enjoyed the sunrise this morning ….it was glorious.

Deeks: Cell phones! Get them while they’re hot….get them while they’re phones!! (What????)

Callen: Kensi you drive like an old lady.

Sam: Could have totally nailed your ass!

Sam: You remember that orange soda you had for lunch…well 41 milligrams of caffeine.

Callen: Oranges do not have caffeine.

Sam: Well there aren’t any oranges in what you were drinking. Just corn syrup, red dye 40, yellow dye 6….caffeine.

Callen: Ah, mh….why didn’t you tell me?

Sam: You were irritable…it was driving me crazy.

Bromance Moments

Poor Callen….Sam has no faith in his New Year’s resolution: Sam: Double shot of expresso G! Sealed and untouched. You must be ready for a little pick-me up.

Hetty: Send Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna to the scene.

Eric: Crockett, Tubbs are you still with me? (A little homage to Miami Vice…nice.)

NCIS: LOS ANGELES

Densi Moments

Deeks: I’m pretty in touch with my feminine side.

Kensi: Yeah, see that’s the problem. If you did have a feminine side, you’d be touching it all the time.

Deeks: Wow….and yet so true.

Kensi: Well done, counselor.

Deeks: I thought that went well.

Funny how Deeks overhears Kensi making a dinner reservation but walks away calmly. He figures she’s making a date for his birthday celebration. But my heart broke when Kensi tells him the date was with some else. Did you see the look on his face? Ah, poor Deeks. At least she stood him up for Jaime!

NCIS: LOS ANGELES

Check out about our time spent on set during this episode in my column “In the Bullpen, with Phillydi. Next week, Nate’s back! What more is there to say…except we are excited to see Peter Cambor back on screen where he should be with his fellow NCISLA co-stars in the next episode… Paper Soldiers. See you next week for another review on NCISLA Magazine!