NCIS: LA Review: Red Rover, Red Rover (Season 12 Episode 13)
The team attempts to rescue Joelle from a dangerous Russian spy on NCIS: LA Season 12 Episode 13, “Red Rover, Red Rover.” With Jo still being held captive and tortured by Katya, the team has no time to slow down in a surprisingly thrilling hour.
We haven’t been subtle about our lack of interest in the Russian mole storyline. We’re also not excited to see Katya back, as her obsession with Anna is uncomfortable and uninteresting.
However, the ticking clock that accompanies Jo’s situation makes every moment of the episode crucial and adds to its importance.
As the team figures out its next move against Katya, Callen and Sam conclude that she’s the one who sold him out as a Russian spy. DOJ Special Agent Carlson agrees that she was fooled, so it seems like Callen is off the hook for now.
Everything that’s happening could have been avoided if Anna had trusted Callen and the team from the beginning. They could have all worked together to neutralize Katya.
In the past, we’ve talked about how Anna never seems to be totally honest with Callen. There’s always something she’s holding back, in order to protect him she says. Now her lies lead to Jo being tortured so badly, she loses her leg. It’s hard to see how their relationship can recover from this.
For the sake of everyone involved, especially fans, Callen needs to move on from both Anna and Jo. The way the show keeps yoyoing him between the two is frustrating. Surely, there’s a balance between a civilian he has to lie to all the time and a fellow spy who keeps him stuck in nonstop drama.
As exciting as this episode is, we really hope the conclusion of this arc with Katya is coming soon. When it was about the hunt for a Russian mole, we weren’t super invested, but at least it felt connected to the rest of the show.
This whole ordeal with Katya has essentially been a standalone arc that doesn’t seem to have a tangible impact on anyone besides Callen. Yes, the team wants to find their friend, and they definitely don’t want Arkady to lose his daughter, but those are fleeting moments.
A couple of episodes back, we were told the mole hunt was the reason why Hetty left. She’s off negotiating for the release of captured agents. We understand it may be a while before Linda Hunt is back full-time, but if we at least knew this involved Hetty, we could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
We did get one great scene of continuity with Kensi and Deeks. Kensi explains that she knows what Anna is feeling, as she has Kessler, a brilliant monster who’s made it clear he wants to destroy Kensi then kill her, looming in the background.
She and Deeks decide when they get past this situation with Katya, they’re going to start looking for Kessler, so they can get him before he comes back to hurt them.
Whether it’s dealing with their fertility issues or battling a criminal mastermind, Kensi and Deeks continue to be the highlight of NCIS: LA every week. They are the steady foundation Season 12 has been built on.
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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Stephanie Holland
Stephanie Holland is a nerdy lover of Star Wars, Disney, Doctor Who, Arrowverse, Star Trek and WWE. Is living the dream of turning a lifelong obsession with TV into an actual job. Still waiting for a reboot of the '80s classic Small Wonder.