NCISLA Classified Preview: “Uncaged” (S8E23)

Title:   “Uncaged”

Airing:   May 7th
Filming:  April 4th to April 13th (this episode was filmed after next week’s season finale)
What CBS is telling us:  After Sam’s wife, Michelle (Aunjanue Ellis), is taken from her home, the kidnappers demand the prison release of Tahir Khaled (Anslem Richardson), Sam’s arch nemesis, in exchange for information on her whereabouts, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES.
What we think is happening:  Don’t know about you but I find the payoff for having Tahir Khaled released from prison being Michelle’s whereabouts as opposed to say Michelle herself is very troubling.

Be on the lookout: GUEST CAST:

Anslem Richardson as Tahir Khaled

While Tahir Khaled has been behind bars since the season seven finale, Anslem Richardson spent the last year behind the scenes on the NBC series Timeless as a staff writer.   A man of many talents.

Aunjanue Ellis as Michelle Hanna

Ellis’s last appearance (not in photographs) was “Humbug” in season six.

Not in the press release but in the promotional photos:

Layla Crawford as Kamran Hanna

Crawford also had her last non-photo appearance in “Humbug”.

David Paladino as LAPD Detective

Paladino appeared in the “Decompressed” episode of NCIS in season 13 as Retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Diego De La Rosa.  Was in episodes of Colony, Rosewood, The Young and The Restless, Leverage and CSI.  Works as a voice actor in a number of video games and animated series.

David Paul Olsen as Tom Olsen

Olsen was last seen in this role in “Crazy Train” as Sam’s SEAL buddy with the boat.

Masterminds:  Written and directed by Frank Military.

Oh, the maker of happy episodes is back, this time writing and directing.  Frank Military who wrote/co-wrote “Little Angels”, “Deliverance”, “Lockup”, “The Job”, “Greed”, “Betrayal”, “Crimeleon”, “Vengeance”, “Out of the Past” Part One, “Rude Awakenings” Part Two, “Descent”, “Ascension”, “Allegiance”, “Spoils of War” (which he directed), “Black Budget”, SEAL Hunter”, “Rage” (which he directed), “Unspoken”, “Unlocked Mind”, “Revenge Deferred”, “The Seventh Child” and season eight’s “Crazy Train”.

Looking at that list, Military wrote the episodes that introduced the characters of Tahir Khaled (“Betrayal”) and Michelle Hanna (“Rude Awakenings”).

Insider Intel:  Nothing so far.

Official Photographic Evidence:  At SpoilerTV this week.

Unofficial Surveillance:

Linda Hunt up in Ops:

Anslem Richardson is happy to be back on set:

This looks like a delightful location:

Some behind the scenes photos:

And some behind the scenes eating:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSy4BNBF82P/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSy9inAlwX9/

Layla Crawford is back:

Also in the episode, David Paladino:

(Please click through the Instagram link for a photo)

 

Video Surveillance:

Preview:  No generic preview this week:

Nice little bit of writer/director continuity by Frank Military.  In “Spoils of War”, Hetty spoke to Sam about rescuing Kensi in the gym in pretty much the same location (and definitely the same camera angles) as she’s speaking to him in this “Uncaged” promo about Michelle.

Sneak Peeks:  CBS did not put the regular sneak peeks to the NCIS: Los Angeles channel at YouTube.  Thanks to Alasia, we have the video through dailymotion:

This does not look to be the happiest of episodes….oh yeah, Frank Military.

Possible Sports Related Delays:  None expected.

Back next week for the season eight finale!

 

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Tess DiCorsi is a wikiDeeks contributor. You can read more by Tess HERE.