After 14 seasons, Special Agent Grisha Callen (Chris O’Donnell) deserves a bit of a break but, much like the wicked, there is no rest for syndicated television protagonists. The star of CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles” said goodbye to audiences in 2023 with Season 14, Episode 21, “New Beginnings Part 2.” The episode is a finale that makes sure to give the poor guy as many challenges as rewards — not that Callen would consider the chance to save more lives a bad thing, of course.
Two big events occur during the final episode of “NCIS: LA” that inform Callen’s future beyond the series. First — and this is probably the one he’s most excited about — the Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Special Projects gets married. Callen and Special Agent Anastasia Kolcheck (Bar Paly), who began their relationship in Season 10 as a poorly hidden secret, tie the knot in a touching courthouse ceremony. A small crowd of close friends, family, and coworkers bear witness to their wedding.
Second, and this is probably more indicative of how Callen plans to spend his time, he and Senior Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) fly to Morocco at the behest of Supervisory Special Agent Henrietta Lange (Linda Hunt). The finale does not explain what’s in Morocco other than a “small side project” and intelligence analyst Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith).
Is this dangling plot thread a promise of more “NCIS: LA” stories, or is it a promise that Callen and company will carry on without an audience? Even O’Donnell doesn’t know. Or, if he does, he’s not telling.
The problem with assuming that more stories about Special Agent G. Callen’s crew are to come is that Chris O’Donnell seems satisfied with how “NCIS: LA” ended. During a 2023 interview with TV Insider, O’Donnell said as much, specifically regarding how the writers handled his character’s story. “I think [executive producer R.] Scott [Gemmill] and [writer] Frank [Military], and the rest of the writers did a great job,” he said. “They answered most of the questions Callen and the fans had been in search of, and as usual, they added a few surprises.” While that feels like it doesn’t answer the big question, it’s about as much as the actor’s spoken regarding the final episode of his longest-running project.
The “NCIS” franchise is still running strong. The flagship show, “NCIS: Sydney,” “NCIS: Hawai’i,” not to mention the upcoming “Young Gibbs” prequel series, are all on the table. So it’s not impossible for Callen to make a comeback, it’s just not a venue O’Donnell seems to be actively exploring right now. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
In 2023, Gemmill told The Hollywood Reporter that, while the “NCIS: LA” finale was written to be a complete, happy ending, he intentionally kept the door open for more. “It was really about… Leaving the characters knowing that they’re going to be okay,” he said. “That’s what we tried to do, was just bring every character’s story to some sort of conclusion that still offers hope for the future. I think ‘hope’ is the keyword.” For now, although it may not feel like much, Gemmill’s hope is the strongest tether fans have to Callen’s future.
