Oh, the joy of a good, old case-of-the-week.
NCIS: LA Season 8 Episode 16, “Old Tricks,” goes back to what made the show a success in the first place and it doesn’t quite hit a home-run, but it doesn’t strike out either.
For some the episode might feel like a let-down after the last three, but in a way, it’s also refreshing to see our team dealing with the run-of-the-mill kind of danger. Maybe that’s just me, but I kind of want a few weeks without having to personally worry about their well-being.
Of course, the result of that is a much slower episode. The team (minus the Kensi/Deeks partnership, which is blissfully back on) spends most of the episode apart, and that makes everything drag a bit more than usual. This show always thrives when their main characters are together.
And yet, for an episode that is clearly not meant to be the most moving and/or the most exciting, NCIS: LA does a pretty good job of delivering a couple special heartfelt moments, among those one we didn’t see coming.
To start off – Callen and his family. I’ve been watching this show regularly for eight seasons, and I can say without a doubt this is the most I’ve ever liked Callen, the most I’ve related to him. He can act though, our Grisha, but deep down, everyone longs for a family, and though I don’t truly trust his father, I want to believe he can get a semblance of that too.
We continue on to Densi – and we’ve had Densi this season, don’t get me wrong. We just haven’t had this: pure fun, Kensi and Deeks in their element. NCIS: LA episodes can sometimes get too dreary and it’s good to see Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen can still break the gloom and make us laugh just by sharing a scene.
There’s also Eric and Nell – who get a more poignant moment than they’re usually allowed, a moment to reflect on mental issues and a subtle and yet powerful reminder that you don’t need to be okay all the time. That it’s okay to ask for help if you’re not. Add this to the pile of things NCIS: LA has done right this season.
It’s a big pile.
Finally, there’s Miguel Ferrer’s goodbye, the one we hoped would never come but were sure had to. There was no right way to do it, because the only thing that could have really made it better would have been to have him back, and that’s impossible. But the show did as good a job as it was possible to honor both Ferrer and the character he played.
Miguel Ferrer left us, so Owen Granger had to leave us to. And yet, through the tears at the dedication at the end, I found myself somewhat happy that Owen Granger didn’t have to leave us the same way, that he could go on, get better, see his daughter again.
That he could get to be happy.
Goodybe again, Owen Granger. Goodbye forever, Miguel Ferrer. We’re better off for having had the pleasure of watching it.
Other things to note:
- If they CAN bring back Nate for these small cameos, can’t they bring him back for a juicer storyline? It’s been years since Peter Cambor has had anything good to do.
- “I don’t want to talk about that bitch” Hetty’s mad. I love it.
- Diomedes? That’s the code word?
- OF NCIS? I know he only said it because of the Hetty connection, but come on Deeks. It’s about time.
- The papers have been signed for like 5 seasons. I’m growing old here.
- Hetty of Troy. I’m never gonna stop laughing at that.
- Callen’s dad looks like a 5-year-old who’s been caught being naughty.
- The Deeks/Kensi scene at the nursing home. And the interrogation. MY HEART. I’ve missed my babies.
- No one ever gets hit by a bullet on this show, it’s amazing.
