Red: Part Two (4×19)
Written by: Shane Brennan
Directed by: Tony Wharmby
In retrospect, Red: Part One was not exactly a very interesting episode in terms of a story line but there was probably a reason for that. Like NCIS and NCISLA before it, NCISRed will only succeed if the fans come to like and care for the characters in this new show. I have to admit that by the end of the first hour it wasn’t the contractor on the lam that had my attention….it was the NCIS characters and their backstory that I wanted to know more about. The episode left me wondering about the explosive relationship between Paris and Roy…. what goes on inside the mind of Clare Keats (I found her charming)….. And how will the tech ops, Flynn and Ash actually be able to work their magic in the less than the accommodating surroundings of their quirky mobile trailers, Laverne and Shirley. (It was fun to see the trailers come alive in the open sequence! I thought I was watching an episode of Transformers!)
Exploring how these characters will work and play together under these circumstances will bring endless opportunities to highlight their relationships and find out whether or not we will fall in love with them or walk away forever. It looks like from our NCISLA Magazine poll, you were also willing to give it a chance and come back to find out more as well. In Part Two we get to see a little more of what makes these men and women tick and if there is a future for a third NCIS franchise.
In the opening of Red Two, the teams are back in the hunt for the mastermind who helped a group of Afghani terrorist almost pull off a second 9-11. The Red Team is off to Texas with a new team member in tow who also happens to be Paris’ former partner – Roy Haines. Will their old relationship jeopardize the mission? It will definitely make it a whole lot more interesting, that’s for sure! Meanwhile, Hetty’s team is back in LA tricking their captured Afghani into helping them find Spears who seems to specialize in shooting his victims in the back of the head with a low velocity round. It looks like Spears isn’t working alone either and is connected to a fellow by the name of Tony Kraus who is a Mr. Fix It of sorts for underworld clientele. Back in El Centro, the team finds a compound with a house full of dead illegal aliens along with the one man who can get Spears out of the country. The team suspects Spears but they are confused as to why he would kill Ramirez who is the one man who could get him out of the country alive. Spears is an enigma. But Roy has his own theory…maybe Spears isn’t the killer. Smart man.
The Red team with the help of Sam and Callen are able to capture Kraus and Kensi and Deeks find that all the cold cases relating to a low velocity round killing are pointing to a different contract killer. Surprise! It was Kraus who hired the contract killer to go after Spears and Ramirez. Didn’t see that one coming…hmmm. Now Callen and Paris are after the terrorist and the contract killer. A lot of bullets and long hair flying around at the end of this episode. Still not sure who killed Spears. But good to see that there’s a chance at redemption for both Roy and his old partner. This new team may make it after all. I think once they are on their own and find a rhythm; we’ll be able to get a clearer idea if this new NCIS mobile team idea is going to work. I’m willing to give it a go….what about you?
Show Highlights:
I enjoyed the coffee house chat with Sam and Claire. In another time or place, I could even see them together as partners. Sam seems to be amused and enchanted with the Red Team agent. What happen to the Callen/Paris flirtation…seems to be toned down a notch with the return of Roy? Thank God for complicated. I know you Callen fans are heaving a sigh of relief! But don’t get too comfortable. Hetty knows more than she is sharing. Don’t forget…Hetty know everything.
Best Lines from the Show:
Claire: What did you say to him Dave? Ask him out on a date?
Claire: Curiosity killed the cat, Dave.
Dave: Probably a head shot!
Bromance Moments:
Do we actually have a bromance moment with Hetty and Granger? Looks like Granger is sharing information this time and Hetty finds it refreshing for a change. Can’t have you losing sleep, Owen!
Densi Moments:
At first I thought Deeks wanted to work together with Kensi on the Red Team but I should have known better:
Deeks: I wonder what it would be like. You. Me. Red Team.
Kensi: Unbearable.
Deeks: ….working together…
Kensi: You’re supposed to be working on an unsolved murder case in which the victim was shot in the back of the head with a low velocity round….Deeks.
Deeks: …living together. Me walking in on you in the shower…or the bunk room. You walking in on me in the shower…or the bunk room.
Kensi: You walking in on Sam or Hetty.
Deeks: Who invited them?
So…. no sign of the Box in this episode! It was definitely conspicuous due to its absence. But I’m sure it will return soon, according to a Tweet we received from Dave Kalstein after our Roundtable discussion. Stay tuned!
Will I watch Red, next season if it is picked up? The answer is probably….yes. The characters have piqued my interest and I definitely want to find out more about them individually and as a team. I feel their storylines will also have to be captivating as well as they struggle to find their place in a sea of crime shows. But the only way I will keep coming back is if I fall in love with these characters. They have to grab me by the heart and not let go….just like NCISLA did back in season two. If the writers and producers can replicate this magic one more time then they will have a fan for life. What do you think? Did these two crossover episodes grab you and want to make you come back next season for more?
Join me next time for our review of Purity (4X20). I can’t believe the year is almost over but I’m looking for a few surprises coming up as we race to the end of season four. See you next week!
Follow me on Twitter @phillydi!
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