For the dedicated fans of NCIS: Los Angeles, one of the most nerve-wracking aspects of the series is watching their beloved characters face life-threatening situations. Special Agent Kensi Blye, portrayed by Daniela Ruah, is no exception. Over the years, Kensi has grown from a talented, fierce agent to a beloved core member of the team. Yet, her journey on the show has not been without its physical and emotional challenges. In fact, there was a period in Season 8 when Kensi was set to undergo a devastating injury that would have drastically altered her character’s arc—and the trajectory of the show as a whole. Initially, the writers planned for Kensi to suffer a traumatic injury that would result in the loss of a limb, an event that would have reshaped the character forever.
In a revealing panel discussion in 2017, Daniela Ruah herself opened up about the emotional toll this storyline would have taken on her as an actress and how it would have impacted Kensi’s future on the show. Ruah explained that when the showrunner pitched the idea of Kensi losing a limb, she was struck by how difficult it would have been to portray such a monumental change in the character. Ruah’s deep connection to Kensi made it hard for her to emotionally distance herself from the potential loss that the character would face. For an actress who has invested so much into playing the role, the prospect of having to shift the character’s identity so dramatically would have been heartbreaking.
This potential injury was not just one single event in the season—it was part of multiple tense and life-threatening moments Kensi faced during Season 8. In one particular episode, Kensi finds herself trapped after a helicopter is shot down during a mission in the desert. She’s pinned down by debris, and the team rushes to save her. However, the serious spinal cord injury she sustains leads to temporary paralysis of her left hand and leg, as well as a loss of sensation in her right leg. The trauma was severe enough to require extensive physical therapy, and there was genuine concern that Kensi might not recover fully, with the possibility of her losing a leg becoming an unsettling reality. But even more devastatingly, the story almost went even further, as another episode featured the terrifying prospect of Kensi’s leg being amputated entirely at the hands of a sadistic captor.
This terrifying scenario unfolds in the episode “Payback,” where Kensi is kidnapped by a man named Ferris, who was once a part of her physical therapy journey. Ferris threatens to cut off her leg, a chilling moment that had fans on the edge of their seats. The scene could have marked a pivotal turning point in Kensi’s character arc, as it would have introduced a new vulnerability to her persona that would be difficult to undo. Thankfully, the plot takes a turn, and Kensi is rescued by her fellow agents before Ferris can carry out his threat. But fans are left wondering how different Kensi’s future on NCIS: Los Angeles would have looked if this storyline had been carried out.
While the loss of Kensi’s leg would have been a devastating blow, it’s a testament to the strength of both the character and the actress that she emerged from such a traumatic moment largely unscathed—at least physically. The idea of Kensi losing her leg serves as a reminder of how fragile these characters are in their high-risk roles and how every mission could have a life-altering consequence. Fortunately, the writers ultimately decided against this extreme change, allowing Kensi to continue as the formidable, inspiring agent we’ve come to love. But the near-miss of this storyline highlights the depth of emotional engagement NCIS: Los Angeles has with its audience, and how Kensi’s journey, both physically and emotionally, could have taken a very different course. The fact that Kensi didn’t lose her leg doesn’t make her journey any less compelling—rather, it makes her resilience even more remarkable.
