NCIS: Los Angeles Review: The Queen’s Gambit (Season 8 Episode 3)

Hello, coma, my old friend.

In a way, “The Queen’s Gambit” transpires exactly like we’d expected. In another, though, NCIS: LA takes the Kensi situation and instead of going over the top, pulls out one of its most subdued and cerebral episodes yet.

The question in everyone’s mind in this episode is: Was it worth it? Kensi is in a coma, Hetty has been detained and the OSP seems like a ghost town. But still, this team is carrying on.

And that’s the heartbreaking and yet, unquestionably true part of this episode. Life goes on.

Even if Sam goes home earlier at night because he suddenly understands how important it is to hug his kid goodnight. Even if Deeks looks more like a lost puppy than he ever has. Even if the jokes feel forced.

You go on, because what else can you do?

In this case –NCIS: LA goes on with a case that, were Kensi awake, she would really appreciate them handling the way they did. Because that’s who Kensi is.

She’s a bad-ass ninja-warrior. And she’s a woman.

One who, like me, cringes at the notion of human trafficking. One who would have taken down that first suspect (with possibly more than a chipped tooth), and yet also one who would have understood the reasons why Jasmine did what she did. Sometimes you can’t sit still.

Sometimes you have to act.

And the team does act. They do their best, and they save the day. They just can’t save Kensi, not that easily.

In her honor, though, Callen and Sam are just as good at their job as they always are – especially the part where they banter back and forth and somehow, someway, manage to get what they want.

In her honor, Nell, who’s always been more Hetty than Kensi, goes full-on bad-ass on two different people.

In her honor, Deeks gets up in the morning and tries.

We all have different levels. Some days are harder than others.

There are times where we can run at danger. Other days we can’t even take three steps. The point is that we continue to try.

So do these characters.

Wake up and marry Deeks, Kensi. Wake up and be you again. Wake up and remind us what a strong, nuanced, bad-ass female character is.

Because it’s been like two episodes, and we already miss you. TV misses you.

Come back to us. Make the team whole again.

Please.

Other things to note:

• Hetty falling asleep as she’s being questioned is, without a doubt, my top Hetty moment of the last like …two seasons, at least.
• Especially because, poor amateurs …they really thought they could break Hetty. It’s hilarious.
• “I remember us being young – I don’t remember us being stupid.”
• NCIS: LA, don’t do this thing where you paralyze Kensi for Deek’s manpain. Don’t do it. I beg of you.
• If you’re gonna go the paralysis way, though – do it right. Treat this with the care it deserves. Make the story-line about Kensi, about her struggles, her doubts, her triumphs. Don’t just magic it away in two episodes because Daniela Ruah is back.
• In other words, don’t be Arrow.
• While we’re talking about Arrow, though, I’m very disappointed that no one ended up in Lian Yu in this episode. Very, very disappointed.
• Not gonna lie, I wouldn’t have minded if they’d filmed Callen/Granger having a few drinks. I really wouldn’t.
• Also, yay, Kensi’s mom is back. I love it when there are little hints of continuity. Like Deeks calling her by her first name.
• “I’m just going to put it on to see if it fits,” might sound cute to you now, Deeks, but wait till she wakes up and realizes she missed the proposal.

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 Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

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