NCIS: LA Review: Unspoken (Season 7 Episode 6)

I commend you, NCIS: LA . In season 7, it seems that even when things are bad, they’re still sorta good.

Or maybe it’s not that this is a bad episode, just that it’s not as good as the last one, or even the one before that. Case wise, this is nothing new, bring back someone from the past (Sam’s past, specifically, because Sam’s I’m stoic but I care face doesn’t get enough on-screen time), have everything point to that person being dirty, have the team member who originally knew the person still believe in them no matter what, and then, given them an opportunity to prove themselves.

All in a day’s work.

If nothing else, the presence of Sam’s old partner is meant to reinforce why exactly Sam and Callen work so well together. And why Deeks and Kensi, do, as well. Sex aside, the two partnerships are, at t he same time: surprisingly alike and markedly different, and yet the both work, even if the boundaries between Sam and Callen are clear, and between Kensi and Deeks ….well, not so much.

The Deeks and Kensi relationship is one of my favorite parts of the season, and at the same times, one of the most inconsistent ones. At times they seem to have a mature relationship, and then, in other episodes, it’s like the writers are perfectly willing to make them look childish and immature for the sake of laughs. This is not one of those episodes, thankfully, but I need those episodes to not exist. Especially when, on an episode focused on Sam, Eric Christian Olsen and Daniela Ruah can still spin the Kensi/Deeks dynamic into the best moment of the episode.

Because, if your heart didn’t falter a bit at Deeks saying that he’d protect Kensi, even if she murdered someone, then you don’t really understand what he’s saying. He’s not saying I love you, and I’ll do anything for you, though in a way, he’s also saying that. The important message however is this: I trust you, partner. And I’ve got your back. Always.

Of course, this is all framed in the story of how Sam’s old partner isn’t really a bad guy. Not that we care. We really don’t. We only care about Sam’s new partner, and Callen’s I’m stoic but I care face, which he makes all the time, was his default mode this episode. We never doubted that Callen cared, but it’s nice when it’s not Sam being worried, or Sam being to one to prove that he’s the best partner ever.

Not that Callen does much this episode, no. His job is to support Sam, and though we’re sure he hates it, he pulls it off brilliantly. The partnership and team dynamics have been especially strong this season, as if the show-runners have finally realized that what we want to see are people who care about each other, who treat each other like family.

I’m sure they’re not only doing it for us, though. There’s a big payoff coming somewhere, probably in the already teased about Deeks and Internal Affairs story-line. And though one year ago, we might have been apprehensive, today we’re ready. Give us the angst. This team can make it through anything.

Other things to note:

• Sam saying “I did a lot of things before I met Callen” and Kensi’s horrified look at his words were hilarious. It’s like she was their kid or something.
• Granger the guru giving advice is not working for me.
• Body count for this episode of NCIS: LA: SURPRISINGLY LOW.
• There was no reason to keep Ruiz’s addiction from Kensi and Deeks. They already thought he was guilty. EVERYONE did.
• Can we bring back Rio? Has enough time passed?
• Normally Eric and Nell are okay in small doses, but the fact that they don’t get much screen time means that every once in a while they’ll do something we don’t understand and we’ll never get an explanation for it.
• Granger and Hetty have become these two characters that might pop up to say completely random stuff, or might not. They’re okay, but you don’t really need either.

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What did you think of this week’s episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

NCIS: LA airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.

Lissete Lanuza Sáenz

Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat