NCIS: Los Angeles 13×08 “A Land of Wolves” is, in many ways, an episode about Densi. Or about Deeks and Kensi separately. But it’s also an episode about family, as most of this show’s episodes are. Thirteen seasons in, it couldn’t really be any other way. The OSP is family, and though Deeks and Kensi literally are, because, you know, official documentation, Sam and Fatima and even Killbride are part of that family too.
Sam, in particular, has an important role to play in an hour that sees Kensi in some trouble and Deeks spiraling. It’s a role he often plays with Callen, but rarely gets to play with Deeks, even if at this point his relationship with Deeks isn’t just one of begrudging respect, but one of actual mutual appreciation.
Deeks has put his neck on the line for Sam — and his family — and Sam isn’t the kind of guy who forgets that. But Deeks has also been there, for years, and Sam has been able to see that, whatever his first impression of the man was, Deeks is a not just a good guy and great friend, he’s also a pretty good agent.
His job in this hour, as a friend, because that’s what he is, he isn’t just Callen’s friend or Kensi’s friend who wants to help her, he’s Deek’s friend too, is to keep Deeks calm. Not that Deeks can actually remain calm, not truly. But calm enough that he isn’t hurting Kensi’s chance at survival instead of helping her. Meanwhile, Kensi’s job is actually showing that she’s probably the best of them all by saving herself, over and over.
But Kensi being Kensi isn’t surprising. It is, however, worth mentioning that the character this show has created, the one Daniela Ruah has played splendidly for 13 seasons, is not just the definition of a kickass female. She’s also soft and funny, a great partner, a good friend, half of one of the best OTPS on TV. Kensi is everything, and that’s not out of the norm, no. Instead Kensi represents countless of women who do it all and sometimes, don’t get the recognition. That’s what makes her so relatable.
That’s what makes us root for her, just as the relationships on this show are what makes us want more NCIS: Los Angeles, even all these seasons in. We love Densi, we do. And it’s hard not to, when this show makes a point to give us scenes like the last one not once a year, but regularly, because they understand love as a regular part of life. But we also love when we get to explore dynamics like the one between Deeks and Sam and yes, Fatima and Killbride.
This episode also appears to set up the Densi + kids storyline to go exactly where we thought it might be going considering the latest developments: fostering. And to be honest, I cannot imagine a better fit for both Kensi and Deeks, particularly considering their upbringings, than being foster parents. They both have so much love to give, individually, and together, and though babies are always complicated on TV, and a lengthy pregnancy pause makes no sense for Kensi’s character, fostering doesn’t just fit, it has the potential to grow these characters even further.
Nearing the end? With the Hetty/Callen plotline anything but resolved, Densi basically on a new path that can bring great storylines, not to mention Kessler still to be addressed, and Anna basically MIA, with all that needs to be tied up there, one things’ for sure: this show has a lot to go on. And that’s without going into Sam’s relationship, Fatima and Roundtree in general, or Killbride.
What I’m saying is … I know it’s a little early, but I’d like a season 14 promise, please and thank you. The show needs it, and honestly, so do I.
Things I think I think:
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- Daniela Ruah speaks better Spanish than the presumably “native” speakers at the beginning of this episode.
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- Medalion Rahimi too.
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- Am I supposed to be getting attached to Aliyah de Leon or?
- Look, Killbride, if Kensi goes missing, you tell Deeks first, okay? Okay.
- “I’m sorry, who are you?” I mean, sometimes the question needs to be asked when you bring a character in cold turkey.
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- Though Killbride’s whole grumpy thing works for explaining why people just aren’t around.
- And, honestly, this isn’t an issue, considering that in real life …people also have, you know, real life.
- Fatima and Aliyah was cool, I’m not gonna lie.
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- I mean, bringing up Kessler makes more sense than not bringing up Kessler. But also, when are we solving that?
- Daniela’s acting in this episode was the kind that should get awards recognition. She’s so good at playing soft Kensi one second, take-charge Kensi the next.
- “Knowing Kensi she built a house by now. With a Zen garden.” I adore Sam Hanna.
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- Not loving the fat joke as much.
- One thing I do appreciate is when the bd guys are just …your garden variety racists, you know, like in life.
- “You found me.”/”We’re always going to find our way to each other one way or the other.”
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- Fatima and Killbride continues to give me more FEELINGS than it probably should.
- She might need foster parents, you say? That is the most SURPRISING development ever.
- Not.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Los Angeles 13×08 “A Land of Wolves”? Share with us in the comments below!
