NCIS: Los Angeles Review: Old Tricks (Season 8 Episode 16)
Oh, the joy of a good, old case-of-the-week.
NCIS: LA Season 8 Episode 16, “Old Tricks,” goes back to what made the show a success in the first place and it doesn’t quite hit a home-run, but it doesn’t strike out either.
For some the episode might feel like a let-down after the last three, but in a way, it’s also refreshing to see our team dealing with the run-of-the-mill kind of danger. Maybe that’s just me, but I kind of want a few weeks without having to personally worry about their well-being.
Of course, the result of that is a much slower episode. The team (minus the Kensi/Deeks partnership, which is blissfully back on) spends most of the episode apart, and that makes everything drag a bit more than usual. This show always thrives when their main characters are together.
And yet, for an episode that is clearly not meant to be the most moving and/or the most exciting, NCIS: LA does a pretty good job of delivering a couple special heartfelt moments, among those one we didn’t see coming.
To start off – Callen and his family. I’ve been watching this show regularly for eight seasons, and I can say without a doubt this is the most I’ve ever liked Callen, the most I’ve related to him. He can act though, our Grisha, but deep down, everyone longs for a family, and though I don’t truly trust his father, I want to believe he can get a semblance of that too.
We continue on to Densi – and we’ve had Densi this season, don’t get me wrong. We just haven’t had this: pure fun, Kensi and Deeks in their element. NCIS: LA episodes can sometimes get too dreary and it’s good to see Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen can still break the gloom and make us laugh just by sharing a scene.
There’s also Eric and Nell – who get a more poignant moment than they’re usually allowed, a moment to reflect on mental issues and a subtle and yet powerful reminder that you don’t need to be okay all the time. That it’s okay to ask for help if you’re not. Add this to the pile of things NCIS: LA has done right this season.
It’s a big pile.
Finally, there’s Miguel Ferrer’s goodbye, the one we hoped would never come but were sure had to. There was no right way to do it, because the only thing that could have really made it better would have been to have him back, and that’s impossible. But the show did as good a job as it was possible to honor both Ferrer and the character he played.
Miguel Ferrer left us, so Owen Granger had to leave us to. And yet, through the tears at the dedication at the end, I found myself somewhat happy that Owen Granger didn’t have to leave us the same way, that he could go on, get better, see his daughter again.
That he could get to be happy.
Goodybe again, Owen Granger. Goodbye forever, Miguel Ferrer. We’re better off for having had the pleasure of watching it.
Other things to note:
- If they CAN bring back Nate for these small cameos, can’t they bring him back for a juicer storyline? It’s been years since Peter Cambor has had anything good to do.
- “I don’t want to talk about that bitch” Hetty’s mad. I love it.
- Diomedes? That’s the code word?
- OF NCIS? I know he only said it because of the Hetty connection, but come on Deeks. It’s about time.
- The papers have been signed for like 5 seasons. I’m growing old here.
- Hetty of Troy. I’m never gonna stop laughing at that.
- Callen’s dad looks like a 5-year-old who’s been caught being naughty.
- The Deeks/Kensi scene at the nursing home. And the interrogation. MY HEART. I’ve missed my babies.
- No one ever gets hit by a bullet on this show, it’s amazing.
What did you think of this week’s episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer rating:
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NCIS: LA airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.
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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
5 comments
I think your review was perfect. I think in general it was an average kind of episode. Parts of the episode were way beyond average though. The scene with Linda Hunt at the end was amazing, she is truly an incredible actress. I thought the way they wrote Granger out was perfect and a lovely tribute to Miguel Ferrer. I was overjoyed to see Deeks and Kensi back in the field and I thought the scenes between them with Debra Jo Rupp and Martin Mull were just golden. The chemistry between Eric Christian Olsen and Daniela Ruah is just off the charts. There are times when I wish they would go off and do their own show, a recreation of “The Thin Man”, light comedy, touch of romance and mystery/crime.They really are wonderful and they brighten up an average episode.
Totally agree with you Stef. Rather then cram Callen/Anna and their horrible no chemistry down our throats, spend more time on Callen/Garrison. Please more Densi and Deeks, time to put a ring on it. And more Nate would be lovely. Granger disappearing into the mist was perfect.
I don’t understand why so many viewers (especially Densi fans) think Anna is being shoved down their throats. She’s only appeared in 4 episodes this season (this will be 5), so it’s hardly as if she’s on every week. Maybe the Densi fans just want one couple to be a focus? I know some criticize her acting, but that’s a matter of taste. I don’t think couples should be the focus of the show–Densi or others–but I would much rather see more of Callen and Anna (and Eric and Nell). Callen is a very sexy character and has chemistry with any woman.
I loved the ending: it was beautifully done. I didn’t expect much action in this episode because of all that needed to be wrapped up, but the writer did an excellent job tying up loose ends in such a short amount of time. I loved seeing Nate again, and I also wish he would appear in episodes more often. And Hetty’s comment about Joelle showed the depth of her angry about how she had used her team. The scenes between Callen and his dad were wonderful. I’m so glad Callen finally stood up and told him he couldn’t be a father from a distance, either he was there or he wasn’t (the flashback scene just brought everything full circle). And the scene with Pacey in the trunk was hilarious! That expression on Callen’s face. It was good to see Kensi and Deeks back together and nice that they were sweet and professional (no PDAs while working), and their interactions with the con couple were charming. The scene between Eric and Nell was also well done; it helped make the “secret squirrels” more human, dealing with the stress of their work just like everyone else (made me wonder if any of the agents might be seeing Nate on a voluntary basis–I’d love to see some of those sessions). Even the Secret Service agent had a good rapport with Sam. Overall, it was a terrific “transitional” episode from the mole story line.
I got distracted by the previous comment, but I did want to say your review was as excellent as always. The ending was better than I could have imagined, and Linda was simply mesmerizing–her expressions were absolutely believable. I can only imagine how difficult filming that scene must have been for everyone.
I was glad to see Nate–it was only right that he should be there after all that’s happened–and I like Peter as an actor. There was quite a bit of humor from all the characters which was needed after the tension of the last few episodes. The story itself was thin, but enjoyed seeing coins in both and the flashback. Even though the characters got back into the swing of things, you could sense that they’ve all been changed by the experience, and I’m interested to see where the writers take them through the remaining episodes. For some reason, I have a sense of foreboding that something even worse awaits the team.
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