Review: NCISLA “In the Name of Honor” (S14E12)

Since the last new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles aired, we received sad news about its imminent end, and knowing we’re now getting the final episodes of the series has added a bittersweet layer to my viewing. I hope you all are coping with the news and that you’ll help us celebrate the show in its final few months.

In the midst of this turmoil, we got a dark new case of the week from writer Matt Klafter and director Dan Liu that put Fatima and Kensi in jeopardy right from the first scene. 

Can we never do that again?

Speaking of the cold opening, you know how much I like it when it involves one of the main characters. It’s usually a sign that the episode will hold personal significance for them or involve some real danger, as it did here. Of course, we knew Fatima and Kensi would be fine. For me, the suspense lay completely on Deeks’ end. Exactly how freaked out and how functional would he be when it happened? Would he be there when they got taken, and if so, how would he ever forgive himself for not protecting them? And most importantly, what was the over/under on the number of chairs he would throw?

The story took several twists and turns and ended in a very dark place, but the fact that they needed to find Zahra in order to save the SEAL team from a suicide mission gave it a true ticking clock element that compounded once Fatima and Kensi were taken. Still, I never felt much suspense about their fate. It might have been more exciting had the episode spent longer watching the team try to find them. On the other hand, it wasn’t clear why the bad guys didn’t just shoot them at the restaurant (or once they got to the junkyard- seriously, all that smoke was bound to bring an emergency response!), so it might have felt even sillier had the team spent half the episode tracking them down.

It killed me that Deeks couldn’t be there to participate in the rescue, just as it clearly killed him. Kilbride cleverly gave him something constructive to do to keep him from racing off on what would have been an impossibly long drive to Wilmington. Eric Christian Olsen’s expressions as he listened to the fight at the restaurant, to Kilbride trying to reason with him, and then to the explosion, perfectly conveyed Deeks’ frustration, desperation, and terror. I’m sure Rountree looked equally upset, but I was laser focused on Deeks, so couldn’t say for sure.

Kensi’s reunion with her husband was short but sweet, with a “Just shut up and hold me, please” from Kensi and a lovely hug. Unfortunately, there was no time to decompress further, or to gauge what impact, if any, this might have on them going forward. Might they decide to leave NCIS to work for the contractor teaching self defense? Klafter did seem to take some extra time in that early scene to update us on instructor Jeremyʻs expanding business (they’re hiring!).

Classic elements

The episode offered solid examples of the show’s classic elements: banter, booms, and bromance.

The scene of a grumpy Sam bickering with Callen about whether he was turning into his father felt a little forced, I think due to Sam’s grumpiness. He just didn’t seem to be enjoying the banter. (For the record, I think Sam is very different from his dad.) But I enjoyed the safecracking scene, which was classic Sallen.

Callen: You don’t think I can crack this safe, do you?
Sam: I’m just hoping you have it open by, you know, Christmas.
Callen: That’s something your dad would say.

The Pretty Woman discussion worked well, especially once Fatima got there to participate.

Kensi: You wanna give it a shot?
Deeks: No I don’t.
Kensi: What a gentleman…
Fatima: Oh, you know what movie scene this totally reminds me of? [Does her best Julia Roberts impression]
Deeks: Slippery little suckers. [High fives Fatima]
Fatima: It’s all about the classics.
Kensi: I didn’t realize I was performing for Siskel and Ebert.
Deeks: Don’t hate the players, hate the game.
Kensi: That doesn’t even make any sense, sweetheart.

Deeks (or was it ECO?) also seemed happy to interact with Rountree in Ops, discussing the bad guys. TMI… Tell me more. And his quick line about unpacking Kilbride’s reference to his non-friend Hetty was great.

Although it made no sense that the bad guys would stage such a prolonged and elaborate murder, they did provide an exceptionally good boom. It was both large and lengthy. I give it 4 out of 4 stars.

Unfortunately the episode also included a few less pleasant components that have unfortunately become regular elements of the show. First there was the plot inconsistency of Sam claiming to be leaving his dad alone for the first time, when he had clearly been away several other times recently. Maybe this episode was originally due to run earlier? And we continued to see Densi stuck only being able to talk about parental concerns. I appreciated the sweetness and thoughtfulness behind Deeks’ worries for Rosa having to deal with law enforcement, but it’s still sometimes frustrating that they’ve become so defined as Parents that they’re unable to have any other storylines, either as a couple or as individuals. 

And finally, there was the frustration of seeing all six main characters working a case, but never putting them all together. This story could have started with the core four (or all six!) in the bullpen, but it didn’t. I can only assume that they are still operating on some COVID-era rule to keep them separated to some extent, or maybe it has to do with new scheduling strategies, but it’s a huge loss of a much-beloved core element that has made the show great.

Woman, life, freedom

Between the return of Akhil Ali, the abduction, and the ending reference to women’s rights, the episode was clearly meant to be Fatima-focused, and it successfully gave us more reasons to like her. I have to say that she has slowly but surely won me over; her character has much more depth now. Originally she seemed to whine about everything, but she has grown over time and I appreciate the way these changes have happened so organically. 

Sweet Akhil and his supportive relationship with Fatima provided a great counterbalance to what the bad guys were trying to do to their cousin. And the closing scene with Sam was lovely (even if I’d have preferred more Densi). Sam checking to make sure she was OK was very much in character. His wise words that “The world will never be fair, but it could be better… Give it time. The answers will come,” seemed almost Yoda-like. And Fatima’s final words of Woman, Life, Freedom offered a call to action to support the ongoing struggles for basic human rights that women are facing in Iran and beyond, something Medalion Rahimi has regularly advocated for on social media.

Memorable moments

• The mention of Zahra’s brother being beaten as a kid sure caught Deeks’ attention. It was a nice, albeit fleeting, moment of canon consistency. Too bad we didn’t have more time to delve into it, but instead we apparently needed to spend time psychoanalyzing Zahra’s commanding officer’s troublesome childhood. Was this another character the showrunners wanted to plant for future appearances?
• I felt the same about the lengthy scenes with Kilbride’s friend who’s working for Space Force. While knowing about the mission details did boost the urgency of the team’s quest, I’d have rather spent more time on our beloved main characters. We already had plenty of urgency thanks to the abduction and burning car.
• Deeks looked more close-shaven than usual. I wonder if that’s a new look we’ll see again?

That’s it from me for now. Come back later this week for new editions of Deeks’ Surf Log and Kensi’s Journal, plus the Drabble of the Week and next week’s Preview. In the meantime, what did you think of “In the Name of Honor”? Tell us all about it in the Comments below!