NCIS: Los Angeles Review: Party Crashers (Season 9 Episode 1)
It’s good to be back.
NCIS: LA Season 9 Episode 1, “Party Crashers,” brings back the action, the camaraderie. and the sense of family, all while setting up a whole new slew of conflicts to unfold this season.
First, there’s the Deeks/LADP storyline, which sort of gets started and then is put on pause, but which looks to be the kind of thing that will take a while to finally explode, so to speak.
In a way, it’s to be expected. Season 9 is way longer than I thought it would take for this show to make Deeks a full NCIS agent, especially since that convo between Hetty and him in Season 3, the one with the signed papers.
Because, mind my words, that’s where this ends. It might be a bumpy ride, but the show is not getting rid of Deeks for good.
Just as there is no way Sam Hanna wasn’t coming back to the team. Yes, he needed time with his kids, he needed time to grieve. But, as he says in that final scene with the core four:
If something happened to this team and I wasn’t there to do everything I could, I don’t think I could live with that.
We talked a few times last season about how this show was, at first, about individuals, then about partnerships, and now it’s about family. Because Sam and Callen, Kensi and Deeks, Eric and Nell, and yes, Hetty – they’re family.
And these people might sometimes fail at getting along with their actual blood relatives – case in point, Deeks and his mom – but they know how to have each other’s back.
Sam’s journey towards a new normal is not over, but he’s not alone. He’s got a support system to prop him up when he falls down, and he will. That’s just the nature of grief.
Common sense even indicates that support system will, at some point, include Hetty – whether that is because she decides to clue the team into what she’s doing or because they actually track her down. Either way, not even Hetty can fly solo these days.
That’s the thing about family. They never, ever leave, even when you want them to.
So – Mosley might think she’s got the upper hand, and she probably does, for now. But she seems to be underestimating the lengths these people will go for each other. And, unless she does a complete U-turn, that’ll be her undoing.
I, however, find that I don’t really want it to be. I will be the first to admit I wasn’t a fan of Granger for a really, really long time, and then I became one, so maybe I can warm up to Mosley.
Maybe. If the writing takes me there.
Because that’s the thing, right now, she comes off as just your garden variety antagonist, and as refreshing as that is – the team hasn’t really had one since the first days of Granger – it can also get old really quick.
Sooner, not later, Mosley’s going to have to choose a side. And I’m not saying there’s a good one and a bad one, but there’s one that leads to becoming a part of this team long-term, and there’s another one that just leads to being in Hetty’s crosshairs.
And we all know how that ends.
For now, though, Mosley’s purpose is clear, and we’ll put up with her and hope for good writing as we go onto this Season 9 journey. If NCIS: LA Season 8 earned this writing team anything, it’s our good faith.
Take me on the journey, NCIS: LA. I’m ready.
Just remember, my expectations for you are now sky high. Don’t disappoint me.
Other things to note:
- First things first – ERIC AND NELL IN THE BEGINNING CREDITS! BY THEMSELVES! Also Kensi and Deeks get a nice shot together. And hey, new boss lady Mosley is there. Joy of joys.
- I rolled my eyes, in case you were wondering.
- Not that I’m not glad for a time jump – because the aftermath of Michelle’s death was rough, but I kinda wanted to see Sam and his kids, you know, together.
- But – I guess the show went for work family helps Sam heal. I can deal with that too.
- I was afraid for a moment that Callen was going to get kidnapped or something, and that’s why Sam was going to come back.
- Thank the Lord this show doesn’t usually take the expected, dramatic route.
- Deeks has the most dysfunctional relationship with his mom. The show tries to joke around it, but let’s be honest – not normal.
- Also, did everyone get hotter during the break or something?
- Yeah, right, Hetty retired. Good joke. HILARIOUS. I’m cracking up here.
- I feel like everyone who’s ever watched this show has, at some point in time, uttered the words: “Why can’t you just shut up Deeks?”
- Like everyone else, I also knew the Deeks-LAPD thing was coming. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
- You know how I know Michael Lee is into bad shit? No graduate student can afford that house.
- Go Roberta!
- “You want me to respect your decisions, fine. Then you better start respecting mine as well.” CALLEN THE TEAM LEADER, I’VE MISSED YOU.
- If you think Callen going to bat for Deeks didn’t give me feels, then you don’t know me.
- Driving the ambulance into the harbor IS hardcore. It’s also exactly what I thought Callen was gonna do.
What did you think of this episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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NCIS: LA airs Sundays at 9/8c 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
4 comments
I really enjoy your reviews, I think you captured the premiere quite well. I did laugh when I read your line about no graduate student could afford that house, we made that same comment as we watched. I will only add that I love the cast and the characters on the show.I thought each of the main cast delivered great performances last night. I truly understand the need to add new characters. However, the introduction of Executive Assistant Director Mosley was just a total disappointment. I have no idea what the actress’ credentials are , but she delivered every line the same way. She was a very boring character that ruined the positive team dynamic I watch the show for.
It’s nice that the season’s started–it seemed like a very long hiatus. I actually liked the premiere and I like Mosley (not everything she does, but I like having a confrontational character who challenges the team). I thought her scenes with Callen were excellent; both of them were in top form. The opening scene between Callen and Sam was wonderful; their emotional ties to each other were obvious. And how sweet that “Uncle Callen” is keeping tabs on Sam’s kids! The jogging scene was perfect (Happy? Ecstatic) – great delivery by both. I actually thought the scene between Deeks and Bates was just about the funniest in the entire episode (Bates’ humor reminded me of Granger–dry and sarcastic). The premise of the story was tight and well-constructed. I liked that Callen couldn’t open the safe (that was funny) and that Beale couldn’t break the laptop security (that’s more realistic). The ambulance drive and the reference to Deep Trouble were also nice touches. I look forward to more clashes between Mosley and the team. She does, however, have some good points and the team has had its fair share of problems, so maybe they need to start being more responsible for their actions. It seemed natural when Sam returned to the team, but getting through his grief is far from over, I’m guessing. I wasn’t too keen on Deeks’ scene with his mom–it was weird. I can’t get over the feeling that Guy has an agenda–he’s French and maybe Roberta is his ticket to staying in the US? I agree that Deeks’ relationship with his mom is odd; almost like he’s a momma’s boy at times. As for him becoming an NCIS agent, I don’t know. Would that make marrying Kensi more difficult? We’ll just have to wait and see. (I am happy to see Anna coming back so soon in the season and hope she’s in more than 4 episodes. I’m also interested in seeing how Eric and Nell’s relationship progresses.) BTW, it’s not unheard of for a foreign grad student to be able to afford a high-end residence. They’re usually paying a fortune in tuition already, and many come from wealthy families. All in all, a satisfying beginning. And as for the credits, I’m glad that after the Kensi-Deeks shot, it’s Kensi who’s shown first–as it should be. She is, after all, an original member of the team AND an actual NCIS agent (it bugged me when they changed the order and showed Deeks before her).
I’m glad this show is back and I liked the first episode a lot. I don’t care for Mosley but I hope she’s just there temporarily. I’m hoping that Hetty’s retirement letter is just a cover for whatever she’s really doing. Did anyone notice that the scene when Deeks finds a strange man in his mother’s bed and pulls a gun on him was very much like the scene in Kindergarten Cop when Kimball (Arnold) comes into their hotel room, finds a strange man in Phoebes (Pamela Reed) bed and pulls a gun on him? Coincidence? I think not and I think it was very cool!!!!!!!
NCIS LA is the worst show on TV now but they added the 2 new characters that stand out and show their boobs off all the time this was a good show get rid of themh and bring hetty back completely this thing needs to be off the air I don’t watch anymore I watch dumb shows that they make more sense in NCIS LA
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