NCIS: Los Angeles Review: Battle Scars (Season 8 Episode 21)
I’m pretty sure the alternate title for this episode was: “Where We Make You Miss Granger Even More” or maybe “Gone but Not Forgotten”
Fitting, for an arc that’s presumably meant to tie up some lose ends before the end of the season, and that in more ways than one, brings up emotional moments for each of the members of the OSP.
NCIS: LA Season 8 Episode 21, “Battle Scars,” doesn’t only end on the dreaded: “To Be Continued…” it actually brings up more than one issue that gets anything but resolved by the end of the episode.
First, there’s Eric’s reluctance to fire his gun again after killing a man in the undercover assignment he and Nell went during NCIS: LA Season 8 Episode 18, “Getaway.”
This ties in nicely with Eric’s continued treatment with Nate and puts his desire to be a field agent in direct contrast with his nature. Does Eric have what it takes? More importantly, can he ever become the kind of person who is happier in the front lines?
I don’t know. I don’t think Eric knows either, but the fact that the show is shining a spotlight on his troubles speaks to how great a job they’ve done this season of shinning a light on the little things.
Take, for example, Kensi and Deeks.
She had a traumatic injury, yes. She recovered, yes. But the emotional scars remain, and it’s not only Kensi who bears them.
While Kensi was injured – while she was on the road the recovery, the show was smart to keep the focus on her. Now that she’s better, though, they’re also smart to turn their attention on how they’re both handling, not just the aftermath, but the fear and the anger about what went on.
And, even when he’s gone, it all ties back to Granger, in a way, too, to that wonderful conversation he had with Deeks on “Home is Where The Heart Is.”
Because this team is a family. And what does a family do when one of its members needs it? They have each other’s backs.
That is, of course, the whole point of bringing in Sterling Bridges and AJ Chegwidden, not just to parallel against Sam and Callen, though they do that beautifully, but to highlight the bond between Hetty and Granger, and of course, Hetty and these thre men.
Callen and Sam, Deeks and Kensi, Eric and Nell might be Hetty’s family now, but before that, it was Granger, Chegwidden, Bridges and Langston. And if we know one thing about Hetty is this – she will fight for her family.
And – isn’t the family of your family in some convoluted way your family too? Sterling and Sam do have a lot in common. Callen is, in some ways, molded after Chegwidden. And if they are to help Hetty, if they are to recover the stolen gold, I have a feeling Sam and Callen are going to have to get used to their temporary partners.
It’s like a buddy-cop movie, and to be perfectly honest, I can’t wait for more.
Other things to note:
- “People treat homeless people like they’re invisible.” – NCIS: LA, you’re gonna have to stop with the on point political commentary or I’m just going to have to raise my expectations re: other shows and that will just lead to disappointment.
- “I thought I was Keith Richards!” – Yeah, so did I Hetty, so did I.
- Hetty can’t be sick. I refuse. Hetty is immortal, you heart me? Immortal.
- I miss you, Miguel Ferrer.
- Also, once again on point with the commentary? The whole VA issue and the stupid bureaucracy around it.
- If ever a show was going to bring it up, it was this one, and I’m glad they did. It might seem like a small thing, but raising awareness is never useless.
- Sam: There’s a shed back there. Me: HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT, SAM? Are you psychic?
- Daniela Ruah’s acting in the veil scene and the Granger mention legit brought me to tears.
- But I just gotta say – if you want to make off-hands comments about your eventual wedding, YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY PROPOSE, okay Deeks?
- I can’t get over Kensi/Deeks calling each other babe.
- Agents come in with a warrant and you shoot at them? Was that really the best plan you could come up with?
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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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
2 comments
Very good review. I really enjoyed this episode. It was very emotional to watch and I am sure the actors felt emotional while filming while talking about Miguel. It was a well balanced team episode. I thought Sam and Callen were really wonderful , I just so enjoy them working together, so good to see them back together. I totally enjoyed Kensi and Deeks who were mostly serious in this episode. From their talking about Kensi’s time in the VA hospital to Granger walking her down the aisle, I thought those scenes were beautifully done and beautifully acted by Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen. As many other fans, I anxiously await the proposal .
Well, all I can say is if Gemmill and company are going after the geriatric crowd, they’re doing a darn good job. This was one of the most boring episodes EVER. You’re nearing the end of a very good season, you’ve just had two good episodes (767 was terrific and From Havana With Love was so much fun), and you bring in this clunker? There was almost no action, the two admirals were annoying (but not as much as that perky FBI doll baby) and rude and not too bright (since it never occurred to them that Langston’s house was tossed because he was in charge of $40 million in gold). I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really getting sick and tired of Hetty keeping secrets; it’s pointless and just plain bad management. And when did Sam become the “Father Confessor” to everyone on the team: giving advice to Shaggy, G, and now Beale. Maybe he should take Nate’s place. And don’t the writers remember earlier episodes (Kensi made a quiche for Deeks for dinner; the whole cookies for dinner was ridiculous). And what was the point of the kidnapping? To shine a light on the problems at VA hospitals (because it had nothing to do with the story), but if I want that information, I’ll watch 60 Minutes. What a waste of an episode. Thank goodness next week’s episode isn’t written by Jordana (whose stories usually stink), so maybe it’ll be better–but the way things went this week, there’s no guarantee. I’m just waiting for Military and Gemmill, but even those might be disappointing.
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