NCIS: LA Review: Love Kills (Season 12 Episode 8)

After weeks of teasing us, on NCIS: LA Season 12 Episode 8, “Love Kills,” we finally get to see Deeks start his FLETC training.

Admittedly, we expected him to struggle a little, but considering how long he’s been working with Sam, Kensi, Callen, and Hetty it’s ridiculous. It’s not like he’s some newbie.

We knew there would be some comedy, but it’s actually embarrassing how bad he’s doing. We can’t believe he would let down Kensi and Hetty like this after they vouched for him.

It also doesn’t make sense because we know Deeks is good at his job.

Since this is basically his last chance, he also should be taking training more seriously. He’s experienced enough to know his class clown act isn’t going to fly here.

He and Kensi have an emotional call toward the end of the hour, where she tries to pump him up, but it seems all his recent losses and problems are what’s holding him back. Let’s hope he’s able to bounce back because otherwise, this story is a disservice to the viewer.

Back in LA, when a DOJ witness is murdered, they investigate to find out where near perfect counterfeit bills are coming from.

The prime suspect is Brazilian guerilla Pietra Rey, who the team previously tangled with on NCIS: LA Season 9 Episode 10, “Forasteira.” This time around she’s actually cooperating with DOJ and isn’t at odds with the team.

We’ve talked before about NCIS: LA’s deep bench of supporting players. This week, one of our favorites returns, as CIA Agent Sabatino shows up to get the team’s help tracking Pietra.

The chemistry between Sam, Callen, and Sabatino is endlessly funny. They’re old friends who really like each other but will never admit it. They show love through wisecracks.

Being CIA, he doesn’t follow the same rules and procedures as everyone else, and that usually causes hilarity to ensue.

Though he hasn’t done much beyond normal investigative work, Caleb Castille has very quickly made Roundtree an integral addition to the series.

He had a particularly nice moment with Fatima, where he very sincerely expressed how he wants them, as the next generation of agents, to be better when it comes to racial injustice and public perception.

It is refreshing to see the show address the issue, even in this small manner. There is so much talk about LAPD budget cuts, but no talk about how these people can be better law enforcement agents.

Last week we lamented that the cases and storylines were starting to feel too formulaic and predictable. Seems like the show heard us, as this week’s investigation unfolds in an interesting way.

For the first time in a long while, the ending wasn’t completely obvious. It all led to a warehouse where Chinese spy Jimmy Fang was seemingly running the counterfeit operation.

Turns out, this is a two-parter that left Kensi and Sabatino outgunned and taking fire. Quite the cliffhanger.

It also helped that this wasn’t advertised as a two-parter, so we got to experience it fresh.

This was a strong outing, so we hope the second half has a payoff worthy of the build-up.

What did you think of this episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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NCIS: LA airs Sunday at 9 pm on CBS.

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