NCIS: Los Angeles Review: The Long Goodbye (Season 7 Episode 8)

Sometimes life has a way of making television seem superfluous, unimportant.

This was not the episode of NCIS: LA we wanted to watch. In fact, this was not the episode of NCIS: LA we expected to watch. But, in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, CBS chose not to air this week’s scheduled episode, titled “Defectors”.

“Defectors” looked poised to be one of the best episodes of the season, and it was to be the launching pad to “Internal Affairs,” an episode that’s been a season in the making. Those were the perfect episodes for the show to air during November sweeps, and the fact that CBS postponed them was truly bad luck not just for the show, but for the fans.

And it was absolutely the right call.

My opinion might be unpopular, but airing an episode that focuses on ISIS a few days after Paris seems not only disrespectful, but rude. There’s an element of empathy to television, and shows can’t expect to prosper if they lose that connection with viewers. Airing that episode might not have been the death knell of NCIS: LA, but I’m glad we didn’t have to find out.

That being said, those episodes need to air, sooner or later. They’re too big, the overreaching implications too large. Or, at least, that’s the expectation, because from this episode alone (and this was supposed to air after “Internal Affairs”), you couldn’t tell.

So, either they did a brilliant editing job, or nothing changes after “Internal Affairs.” I’d like to think the first one is true, because we’ve been waiting for a change for a while – some change, any change, really, though a change in status for our favorite LAPD Detective, in particular, wouldn’t go amiss.

Oh, and if the fact that I’ve spent half of this review talking about what didn’t air wasn’t enough to clue you in: this episode is a snoozefest.

I didn’t care about Jada when she first showed up, and I still don’t care about her now. In fact, by pulling Sam away from the team and making him focus on her it made it hard for me to care about Sam, either.

And Talia? I only like her in small doses, and I’ve already had too much of her this season. Sure, the pool scene with Kensi was fun, but was she really needed for the rest of the episode?

The answer, of course, is no.

So really, this episode is only watchable because of Callen and Deeks. Talk about the unexpected! It’s Season 7; why are these two are only just getting regular screen time together? Shame on you, NCIS: LA. Shame on you. Especially because the dynamic works so well. In fact, this is what I want from you all the time, the core four working together (not much Sam this episode, but you get my point), interactions outside of the main partnerships, occasional Nell and Eric thrown in, very little Hetty and almost no Granger.

All in all, forgettable episode. Let’s hope next week is better. Let’s hope we actually get what we wanted to see.

Other things to note:

• There are a few weird introductions in this episode. No one is going around yelling FEDERAL AGENTS, and the only time Deeks identifies himself as LAPD feels weird to me. Am I just reading too much into the fact that this was supposed to air after “Internal Affairs”?
• I don’t buy that Kensi and Talia are suddenly best buds. I’m sorry, I don’t.
• That being said, I love that Deeks and Kensi have a mature enough relationship that she can go, ta-da, spending tonight with a girlfriend, and it’s no big deal.
• Also, the conversation at the beginning, with Kensi just wanting to vent and Deeks + Callen trying to fix things for her? Spot on. That’s what dealing with guys is like.
• I need more Callen/Deeks. I do.
• Jada is clearly not dead. CLEARLY. When NCIS: LA wants to kill a character, they don’t do subtle.

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.