NCIS: Los Angeles Review: An Unlocked Mind (Season 7 Episode 7)

I made a critical mistake that’s going to color my reactions to “An Unlocked Mind.”

I watched the promo right after the end, and now I’m in a tailspin of Deeks (with a splash of Densi) feels. For your sake, I’m going to try to get over it and focus on this week’s NCIS: LA but if I go on a Deeks tangent, just …give me a break. It’s going to be a long and hard week, followed by an even longer and harder week.

What a creepy episode this is. For a moment there, as I watched the beginning sequence I contemplated whether I’d tuned into the wrong channel, and instead of the new episode of NCIS: LA I was watching an episode of The X-Files that, for some reason, I could not remember. Later, the feeling kind of went away. And then it came back, with a vengeance.

Because, okay, this isn’t just a creepy episode, it’s a fantastic one.

Everything works. Everything. Kensi and Deeks undercover, each doing their thing, but mindful of the other to the end. Eric in Ops, interrupting at just the right moment with crucial information. Callen and Granger, yes, Granger, working together. And, of course, Sam and Nell.

But you know what the best part of the episode is? And I’m not even saying this because of the promo; I’m saying it because it’s true. The best part is Deeks.

We hear often about how good an undercover agent he is, but we rarely get to see it. The fact is, Deeks gets the job done. He is method, he’s in character, he never flinches, he convinces the guy they were after to leave the cult-like Church of the Unlocked Mind and then, when they try to stop him, he takes on like five guys with relative ease.

If the show would spend more time showing us this side of Deeks, the well-trained, extremely capable side, instead of looking for holes in his training, then maybe episodes like this would be the norm, instead of the exception. I’m not saying I don’t understand why they always go the funny route with Deeks, Eric Christian Olsen is a magnificent comedic actor, with perfect timing and a wonderful natural chemistry with Daniela Ruah, but he can be much more than the butt of all jokes. This is the side of Deeks I’ve been waiting to see for ages, and it’s typical of NCIS: LA to only give it to us one episode before you-know-what happens.

But, I’m not going down the rabbit hole, no. Not today. But you’ve been warned, next week’s review might be a thousand words of incoherent babbling.

For now, let’s focus on the ending of this wonderful episode – first, with Sam, Callen, Granger and Nell all falling over themselves to take a blame that was all Sam’s, and then with Kensi and Deeks showing vulnerability in the workplace. Kensi has a rule, yes, but, despite what Hetty might say, PDA is not always a bad thing. We all need reassurances, it so happens that when before these two might have hugged, now they exchange a kiss. I’m pretty sure the rest of the team is also taking it’s reassurances where they can find them. They had a hard day, and they came out the other side, together. Stronger. A family

And, boy, is that a good thing. Especially considering what’s coming.

Other things to note:

• Eric Christian Olsen and Daniela Ruah seemed to have gotten over the awkward I’m kissing my brother/sister in law stage of their working relationship. They’ve really sold the physical side of the Densi relationship the last few weeks, and I’m glad. I waited too long for this couple to get together to be squicked out now.
• Where was Hetty? It seems like we get less and less of her every episode, and it’s not so much that I miss her as it’s that I’m scared we’ll have to see 40 straight minutes of her to make up for the time lost.
• I like Nell in the field. I like her with Sam, I like her with Callen, and I especially like her with Granger, which is surprising, because I usually don’t like Granger with anyone.
• How creepy is the Church of the Unlocked mind? Not only are they a cult that literally forces you to confess your deepest secrets just to sell them to the highest bidder, they apparently also drug all the pretty girls so the founder can have personal orgies! There’s disgusting, and then there’s this.
• Bad-ass Deeks is hot; I’m not going to lie.
• This episode seems to recognize one thing that this show has always had trouble accepting: Deeks is better at undercover than Kensi. She almost breaks character in the pool, and yet he, the one in real danger, doesn’t.
• Kudos to Chris O’Donnell, who directed this episode. Usually, when one of the stars of the show is directing, you get the sense that something’s missing. Not tonight.
• Also, if shirtless Eric Christian Olsen is a direct result of Chris O’Donnell directing, then he can direct any time he wants.
• LL Cool J’s delivery of “scared the hell out of me” when talking about Nell threatening Sam with bodily violence, is a thing of beauty. That’s how you do comedy, ladies and gentleman. That’s how you do comedy.

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

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