NCIS: Los Angeles Review: From Havana With Love (Season 8 Episode 20)
If NCIS: LA has done one thing right this season – and it’s done plenty of them — it is balance the four main characters in a way that you don’t feel like you’re watching the Densi show or the Callen and Sam Comedy Hour, you’re watching NCIS: LA.
NCIS: LA Season 8 Episode 20, “From Havana With Love,” continues on that trend with the time split pretty evenly between Sam and Callen’s side of the investigation and Kensi and Deeks’s undercover operation.
Sorry, did I say undercover operation? I actually meant Daniela Ruah’s master class in salsa.
It took eight seasons – and yet they finally did it. They finally got her into a position where she could show her moves. And show them she does.
Deeks shows some moves of his own too, after a few impromptu lessons from the almost-victim. And though he will probably never be as good as Kensi, and that ending sounded painful, it’s nice to see him trying.
The stunt with the question isn’t fun – but that is neither here nor there.
On the other side of the equation, Callen and Sam’s banter is as on point as it’s been all season, and the actual mystery is something I find not only plausible, but refreshingly hard to guess. Sometimes in a procedural things can get so predictable that you’re literally only watching for the little interactions between the characters without caring anything about the case.
Not this episode – and not this season.
But, of course, that doesn’t mean the cases are this show’s strength, no. This show’s bread and butter are the characters, their contrasts, their interactions, their bond.
And though, sometimes it’s fun to mix things up, to pair Callen with Deeks, to push Sam out of her comfort zone, to send Kensi with Anna, going back to an episode like this is also fun.
It’s true and tried. It fits. It’s good.
Why change it?
The end of the season is coming. We’ve had our fun. We’ve danced our salsa.
Now it’s time for the big guns.
Deeks and Whiting – yeah, that’s coming.
Some huge and potentially deadly case? You can bet on it.
A proposal? Hopefully.
Season 8 has been, quite possibly, the best this show has been since Season 3 – perhaps the best the show has ever been. And we don’t want to ask for too much, but we’d like for it to end the way it started.
With a bang. Preferably not with a helicopter on top of anyone, but with a bang.
And if there’s gotta be some angst along the way, so be it. We can take it. These characters can take it.
When you trust the hand that guides you you’re willing to go into deep dark forests. I trust you, NCIS: LA.
I really do.
Other things to note:
- Another cliché bites the dust – Kensi doesn’t really seem concerned about Deek’s having her phone. Maybe not all people in relationships text other people on the sly and then try to hide it? Who would have thought?
- Plus, MAYBE THERE IS SUCH A THING AS TRUST.
- Deeks sure uses a lot of words to say that he doesn’t use a lot of words.
- Sweet tackle, Deeks. Sweet tackle.
- Can Daniela Ruah dance? Wow.
- I had something else to say, but I forgot it. Because wow.
- Deeks seems to agree with my general impression.
- While we’re on Deeks – he always gets the worst undercover jobs.
- His jealousy is sorta cute, especially since he doesn’t jeopardize the undercover operation.
- Believe me, Deeks, you don’t have to talk your way through searching the lockers.
- It’s like the counter made you talk more, not less.
- How is this show so real? Kensi not wanting to kiss Perez is exactly like a woman in a serious relationship would behave. Sure, she will if she has to, but she doesn’t.
- I want to give everyone in this writing room a hug.
- Two hugs.
- Every time Kensi has backup but is perfectly capable of taking out the bad guy by herself I fall more in love with this show.
- If you think that “Will you” stunt is funny, NCIS: LA, I just want you to know …it isn’t.
- I screamed.
- And jumped up and down.
- Aka, you win. You fooled me.
What did you think of this week’s episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer rating:
User rating:
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
3 comments
Thank you for agreeing with me about the “will you” stunt – EPIC FAIL.
I may be starting not to care about the proposal which makes me sad. COME ON ALREADY.
The Densi dance at the end was very sweet and WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT LEAD IN TO A PROPOSAL
My biggest fear is that the proposal becomes a cliffhanger and I will be pissed and possibly stop watching the show.
I really hope Whiting absolves Deeks so we can get the reset Gemmil talked about – maybe get some papers signed.
Sorry for the rant but this has been dragging on long enough.
I really enjoyed your review and I agree with it. It was a very entertaining episode. It had humor, action, and featured the entire team, a winning combination.I totally agree with you season 8 has been very good. I loved the scenes with Deeks and Kensi. I adored the humorous scene of Deeks dancing with Victor. I was actually okay with there being no proposal in this episode. As much as I enjoyed it, I hope the proposal comes in a dramatically heavy episode that is crucial to the path of the show as well as the characters. For me the proposal does not belong in a filler episode.
I liked your review but noticed that while you mention the balance between the characters in the actual episode, your review was sadly lacking in that area. It dealt almost exclusively on Kensi and Deeks (there was one mention of Callen and Sam’s banter and some general comments about the pairing and not changing things when they’re working). Overall, a very unbalanced review. Personally, I loved that Callen got in a touche during the bullpen conversation, the return of the stakeout origami, the depth of Sam’s trivia knowledge, and the fact that Callen–the epitome of the “lone wolf”–asked Sam if he’d heard the phrase, “Get a life.” That was subtle, but hilarious. Also, why do so many folks have such a selective memory regarding Deeks’ undercover assignments? Let’s see, he’s been a federal inspector, a talent agent, a lawyer, a businessman, a railroad inspector, a surfer/journalist, an airport/airline employee, a security guard, a chauffeur, and more. Good grief!
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