In the gripping January 9th episode of NCIS: Los Angeles, titled “A Long Time Coming,” the stakes are higher than ever as the NCIS team embarks on a mission fraught with danger and intrigue. The episode, which serves as the third installment of a thrilling crossover event, dives deeper into the world of covert government operations, uncovering a web of deception and betrayal. The team is thrust into chaos when Admiral Kilbride, a key member of their team, vanishes without a trace. The disappearance is not just a mystery—it is a pivotal moment in a much larger conspiracy tied to a secret CIA assassin program known as “Simon Williams.” The program, once sanctioned but now hijacked by rogue operatives, has become a deadly tool used by shadowy figures for personal gain. With Kilbride being one of the few individuals capable of testifying against the program, it becomes clear that his life is in grave danger. But the plot thickens as Kilbride’s disappearance is linked to these operatives, who are now systematically targeting anyone who poses a threat to the secrecy of their operation, including the NCIS team.
As the team works tirelessly to track down Kilbride, they make a chilling discovery: not only has the admiral disappeared, but the evidence points to a meticulously orchestrated cover-up. Fatima, one of the team’s key agents, inspects Kilbride’s house, only to find it eerily devoid of personal belongings—no photos, no personal mementos, nothing to suggest that anyone had ever lived there. The more they investigate, the clearer it becomes that Kilbride’s life has been wiped clean, leaving behind only the chilling suspicion that his entire existence may have been manufactured by forces far beyond NCIS’ reach. In the midst of this, the agents also find themselves under siege as a kill list targeting several NCIS agents surfaces on the dark web, offering a $200,000 Bitcoin reward for anyone who kills one of them. This reveals the full scale of the threat they are up against as random attackers begin targeting the team, forcing the agents to stay on high alert and protect themselves while they continue to search for Kilbride and uncover the secrets of the Simon Williams program.
The tension escalates when Roundtree, a beloved member of the team, is captured by the rogue operatives. His abduction is no random act—he is taken specifically to force him to reveal Kilbride’s whereabouts. Roundtree’s witty remarks and steadfast resistance to his captors’ demands result in him being tortured, a harrowing sequence that showcases the stakes of their mission and the lengths to which these rogue agents are willing to go. Meanwhile, as Fatima and the others scramble to rescue Roundtree, they also must deal with a new puzzle: the cryptic message from Hetty, which leads them to an unexpected source of help. Hetty’s involvement in the case becomes clearer as she directs them to use a look-alike of Admiral Kilbride, Jimmy McCain, as bait to lure out the assassins who have been hunting the team. This leads to an intense confrontation where the team must rely on quick thinking and impeccable timing to outsmart their attackers. Despite the team’s best efforts, they are confronted with the shocking revelation that Morgan Miller, one of the rogue CIA agents, has been playing a much deeper game, deceiving Roundtree into thinking she had Fatima in her custody while plotting to kill him once he had outlived his usefulness.
As the team narrows in on Morgan Miller’s location, the intensity reaches a boiling point. The agents track her down, culminating in a dramatic showdown where they successfully rescue Roundtree, who is left physically and mentally scarred by the ordeal. But the story doesn’t end there—Admiral Kilbride, who had been following the team’s progress from the shadows, reappears, revealing that he had been tracking the rogue operatives all along. In a climactic moment, Kilbride executes Morgan Miller, putting an end to the immediate threat. The team, though victorious, is left to process the gravity of the situation, and Kilbride’s casual return to the office serves as a chilling reminder of just how much he has been involved in the shadowy world of espionage. The episode concludes with a moment of levity, as Kilbride offers to trade places with Special Agent Parker, who politely declines, preferring to stay in Los Angeles. While the team may have survived this particular mission, the episode leaves the door open for more adventures and challenges, with the lingering question of whether the dangers they faced are truly behind them or whether a new threat awaits just around the corner.
In this action-packed and emotionally charged episode, NCIS: Los Angeles continues to deliver heart-pounding drama, rich character moments, and a complex narrative that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. From the shocking revelations about the Simon Williams program to the heart-wrenching moments of Roundtree’s torture and rescue, the episode exemplifies the series’ ability to blend thrilling action with deeply personal stakes. The conclusion of “A Long Time Coming” offers a satisfying resolution to the immediate crisis while leaving plenty of room for future storylines, ensuring that NCIS: Los Angeles will remain a fan favorite for years to come.
