NCISLA Case Briefing: “Blame It On Rio” (S7E5)

NCISLA Case Briefing: Blame It On Rio (S7E5)

“Blame It On Rio” – NCIS Special Agent DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) partners with the NCIS: Los Angeles team to search the city after his prisoner escapes custody on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Monday, Oct. 19 (9:59-11:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Written by: R. Scott Gemmill | Directed by: Dennis Smith

Let’s not even try to pretend. Is anyone going to focus on the case this week? Yes, there in fact is a case; the team is chasing down an international fugitive. However, if we “cut to the chase”, it has nothing to do with the case. This season it appears our NCIS:LA team, cast and crew alike, has it’s “character scope” set on automatic with their finger pressed firmly on the trigger. We are the happy recipients of a barrage of “character”. Character development. Returning characters. Cross-over characters.

Wait. What? Did someone say cross-over? As an NCIS:LA viewer, you’d have to be buried in Kensi’s Afghani cave of horror to have missed the fact the NCIS mothership’s (Very) Special Agent Tony DiNozzo has made the cross-country journey to the left coast. Apparently dreams do come true!

True fans may recall the original introductory episodes of NCIS:LA from NCIS featured both Team Leader Gibbs and Agent McGee. Then twice, Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto was featured, including a visit to LaLaLand (with some dire consequences). However, the teams’ paths have failed to cross during the past five years.

The last cross-over was a two-parter on each of the shows NCIS:LA and Hawaii Five-0. Many will recall the pointed barbs traded between Detectives Deeks and (Danno) Williams. (Seriously. With those two distinctive coifs, the jokes virtually wrote themselves!) As much as DiNozzo enjoys making a mockery of his own teammates, it’s simple to surmise the fugitive won’t be Tony’s only objective during his visit. However, fear not! The literal “long arm of the law” (in the form of Gibbs’ characteristic “alignment” of his subordinate) reaches all the way to Los Angeles – and through Hetty none the less! (That’s gotta have a bit more sting to it, don’tcha think?) Witnessing a famous “Gibbs Head Slap” to the senior agent surely has Deeks grateful Hetty can’t reach him in the same way! (Although she finds her own creative “punishments”…)

Even if we really wanted to focus on the case, they haven’t given us much to go on. We know the traditionally light-hearted opening scene will provide us more cherished character insights. In fact, you’d think it was Halloween week already! (What could they be planning for that?!) Get ready to be transported to the previously referenced “Ren Fair” (from both prior episodes and cast interviews)! So Nell is accompanying Eric, you say? So might this outing have come about?

Adding to this bit of cosplay is of course our resident jokester, Deeks. In a yellow onesie! (They’re really putting the Wardrobe Department to work this season!) While the image alone is comical, Deeks’ yellow striped jumpsuit is a trademark of martial arts expert Bruce Lee. The attire was made famous from the incomplete 1972 movie The Game of Death, which fatefully Mr. Lee died during its filming. The outfit has been used to pay homage to Bruce Lee in many gaming, music, animation, and film offerings such as Revenge of the Nerds and by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, Vol. 1.

Deeks’ Week: Oh buddy! Since the arrival of our dear detective Deeks, the highly-imaginative minds of fans soon and easily began envisioning an interaction between the two humorous LEOs. Half a decade later we’re granted just this in living color! From eleven seasons of DiNozzo, viewers can only hope the fewer years Deeks has been bantering with the team have him on his A-game, because he’s certainly going to need it! Will Deeks enjoy having a new banter buddy in town, or only long for Tony’s departure, singularly returning Deeks to the top of his mountain of mockery? On that note Deeks seems a little “squirrely” at the idea of Kensi and Tony partnering; what prompted that?!

One significant question primed for us in advance is: How will Deeks (particularly internally) deal with the mention (yet again) of him not being an official agent? Might we be graced with some encouraging words of wisdom from the elder former detective? Could Tony provide another brick in the growing foundation Deeks needs in order to finally make the professional leap to agent?

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Gayle H. is a contributor at wikiDeeks.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DensiLand