Season 13 of NCIS: Los Angeles premiered on October 10, 2021, on CBS, continuing the tradition of delivering action-packed drama, character-driven storylines, and engaging missions. Fans were eager to catch up with their favorite characters and see what new challenges awaited the team after the gripping events of Season 12.
Cast
The core cast of NCIS: Los Angeles returned for Season 13, with some slight changes. Familiar faces included:
- Chris O’Donnell as G. Callen, the leader of the team, who continues his search for answers about his past while leading his team through high-stakes missions.
- LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, Callen’s trusted partner and a former Navy SEAL, balancing his professional responsibilities with his role as a father.
- Daniela Ruah as Kensi Blye, the skilled and fearless field agent who faces new challenges with her husband, Marty Deeks.
- Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks, a former LAPD liaison and now a full-fledged NCIS agent, navigating married life and potential parenthood.
Season 13 also introduced some notable changes:
- Gerald McRaney, who played Admiral Hollace Kilbride in a recurring role, became a series regular. His character took on an expanded role in overseeing the team’s operations.
- Linda Hunt, who portrays the beloved Hetty Lange, was largely absent due to health concerns and scheduling complications. However, her character’s storyline remained important, with hints of her involvement in off-screen missions.
Plot
Season 13 continued to explore the complex dynamics within the NCIS team while addressing new threats and unresolved storylines from the previous season. Some key themes and arcs included:
- Callen’s ongoing quest for the truth about his identity, including his connection to Hetty and the revelations about his past.
- Kensi and Deeks’ journey toward becoming parents, exploring the challenges of adoption while balancing their dangerous jobs.
- Sam Hanna’s family life, as he navigated raising his children after the loss of his wife and balanced his career with his personal responsibilities.
- Kilbride’s leadership style, which brought a new dynamic to the team as he assumed a more central role.
- Intriguing new cases and high-stakes missions involving terrorism, cyberattacks, and espionage.
Trailer
The trailer for Season 13 teased intense action, emotional moments, and new conflicts. It showcased the team facing dangerous missions while dealing with personal struggles. Fans also got glimpses of Callen’s growing mistrust of Hetty, as well as moments of humor and camaraderie that have always been a hallmark of the series.
Release and Reception
The season premiered in its usual Sunday evening slot on CBS, and new episodes aired weekly. Fans were excited to dive back into the world of NCIS: Los Angeles, particularly to see how long-running character arcs, like Callen’s and Hetty’s, would evolve.
Season 13 was praised for balancing personal storylines with thrilling cases, maintaining the blend of action, drama, and character development that has kept the show a fan favorite. It also set the stage for what would eventually be revealed as the show’s penultimate season, leading into its conclusion in Season 14.
For fans who missed the original airing, episodes became available for streaming on CBS platforms and Paramount+.
