NCIS: LA Review: A Tale of Two Igors (Season 12 Episode 18)
Nell makes a major decision, while Deeks is caught up in another Kirkin adventure on NCIS: LA Season 12 Episode 18, “A Tale of Two Igors.” For the first time this season, the whole gang’s back together as both Eric and Hetty return, and it’s glorious.
Unlike previous seasons, NCIS: LA Season 12 doesn’t end on a cliffhanger or down note. After a season full of attacks, stalkers, and internal investigations, the team actually gets a hopeful finale.
Going through all the drama with them has made this an extremely stressful season for fans, so it’s genuinely nice to get a happy ending for everyone.
Igor, an associate of Kirkin’s, kidnaps Deeks from the beach. It seems Kirkin left Deeks in charge of his criminal operations, and now he has to find weapons that the other Igor has stolen.
To the surprise of no one who’s ever watched a minute of NCIS: LA, Deeks’ dilemma is connected to the case of a dead Russian military dolphin. Turns out Kirkin wanted to release the dolphins from their military bonds. A task hilariously completed by both Igors.
Eric’s return leads Nell to examine her choices and decide if she’s ready to take over as Operations Manager full-time.
Though it took some time to get used to life without Linda Hunt and Hetty, it actually worked out, because it gave Nell a chance to shine and grow into the leader we’ve long suspected her to be.
Renee Felice Smith has shown the depths of Nell’s resolve, as she’s been forced to take charge, give orders to her best friends, and get comfortable with stepping out of Hetty’s shadow.
If Hunt is going to continue on a part-time basis, it helps the stability of the team if they have a leader they can trust in place. Plus, we all know Hetty has been training Nell for this for years.
In the end, she chooses to go to Tokyo and work with Eric, which confirms Smith and Barret Foa are leaving the series. With both actors taking several episodes off to work on other projects in recent seasons, we can’t say this is coming out of the blue.
The couple is last seen riding down the coast in Eric’s new sports car, headed to a new beginning.
Before she leaves, Nell gets to have a nice goodbye with Hetty, where she explains she just wanted Nell to know she could do the job if she wanted it.
In the midst of all the happy endings, Kensi and Deeks are seen relaxing on the beach, watching the sunset.
After everything they’ve been through with the bar’s financial problems, Deeks losing his LAPD position, ongoing fertility issues, and the threat of Kessler hanging over them, we are overjoyed to see them have a moment of true happiness.
Like all shows, it’s been a weird season for NCIS: LA. While there were definitely some growing pains early on, the series found its stride and settled back into what’s worked for 12 seasons.
Overall, there’s more good than bad in NCIS: LA Season 12, and that’s all any show can really ask.
NCIS: LA is set to return for Season 13 in the fall of 2021-2022 and is currently scheduled to remain on Sundays at 9/8c.
What did you think of this episode of NCIS: LA? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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NCIS: LA is now streaming 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.