Review: NCISLA “New Beginnings Part 2” (S14E21)

I’ve written over 150 reviews in 14 years with three different web sites and I can’t believe this is my final review for NCIS Los Angeles.  This is the hardest review I have had to write. I wanted so much for these characters to get the ending they deserved, and I think the show runners have accomplished that in many ways.  Was it perfect? Well, no.  But I am pleased, for the most part that their legacy has been handled well and it will continue to be treasured by their many fans well into the future.

I’ve never been one to concentrate on the plot or story line because for me this show has always been about the characters and their story.  This review will be no different but it’s my final analysis of these characters and I don’t know how to say goodbye after 14 years.  I’ll try not to be too sappy or emotional, but it will be hard.  This show has meant a lot to me, and I don’t want to see it come to an end.  Unfortunately, all good things do.  So, let’s talk about the things that made this show great and all the feels it has brought to the surface as we say goodbye.  

The Bromance Continues

The series initially began with the bromance between Callen and Sam and their devotion, loyalty and love that has always been strong.  The cliff hanger last week ended with the two agents fighting it out with the gun runners in the garage.  They have always worked together in perfect unison, and this time was no different.  The twosome take down the dirty federal agents in typical Callen/Sam fashion and move on to find Newsome.  Even on his wedding day, Callen knows he couldn’t have come this far without Sam.  It was a unique and precious friendship which will never be duplicated.

The Romance Continues

While Deeks and Kensi keep watch on the suspects location, Deeks searches for snacks and wishes he was at a picnic instead of overwatch with Kensi.  This couple has managed to keep their love alive through banter and communication.  After all these years, they are still great at being able to talk their way through any situations. And whether it’s through sarcasm or loving repartee, these two have grown stronger over the years because they know how to really talk to one another.

Deeks:  I’m all out of snacks.  Did you bring any?

Kensi:  No because we are on overwatch not a picnic.

Deeks:  Well, an army travels on its stomach.

Kensi:  You are not in the Army.

Deeks:  I was in the KISS Army.

Kensi:  Can we just focus, please?

I’m going to miss their future teasing and chin wagging. They are definitely a master class on how to keep your romance alive while trying to work together and survive the rigors of the job. 

Undercover Deeks

I’m glad we were able to watch one of Deeks best skills as a cop/agent one more time as he goes searching for his pet python to get into the gun runner’s location hideaway.  No one does it better than Deeks when playing it straight.  How much of this is Deeks or ECO, we don’t care…. we just go with the word salad and smile:

Deeks:  Hi sir, my Burmese python, he slithered under the gate, and I need your help, if you could open this that would be very helpful……  You want me to get down on my knees and beg?  I’ll get down on my knees……  If you got a cat or a dog or some sort of platypus in there, they’re going to be toast…. I have umbrella insurance, but it’s not going to cover a platypus.  Bubblegum!  You sir are unkind, and you are rude and I bid you good day!  Bubblegum!  Daddy’s coming….

Callen Takes a Bride

The original lone wolf finally finds a woman he can share his life with, who understands his role in life and accepts all his quirks and idiosyncrasies.  Anna is truly a brave woman. But Callen will have his father-in-law, Arkady to help him make life interesting and if nothing else, amusing.  Vyto Ruginis’ addition to the cast always brought a smile to my face.  I will miss their well-intentioned teasing:

Arkady:  Where do you think I should sit?

Callen:  Parking lot?   

Arkady:  Oh, so funny.     

Always thinking outside the box, Callen decides love is more important than caterers. DJs and seating charts. He does a very characteristically Callen thing and convinces Anna to get married immediately. As in today! Never one to follow the crowd, Callen calls on his inner wolf to make this a wedding to remember.

Mommy and Daddy Deeks

We’re having a baby!  We have suffered through all the ups and downs and heartbreak with this couple in their quest to become parents.  To see the tears in Deeks’ eyes was worth all the pain.  I can’t believe we won’t get to see them through the pregnancy (I can hear Deeks now!) and watch as they become the best parents to a little one who is going to be so loved.  Will this be the end of Kensi’s career as an NCIS agent?  Most likely.  I think she would make a great trainer to new recruits. But I can’t see her pushing paper at a desk job either.  It could make for some interesting fireworks going forward. But Kensi has given 14+ years to the agency and it’s time for her to enjoy being a mother.  Although Deeks may stay with the agency, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him turning to a new career.  He’s got a new baby to think about and I have a feeling he may look for something a bit less dangerous and safer.  OPS won’t be the same without these two. 

Deeks:  God, I love you.

Kensi:  What’s not to love?

Exactly.

Hail, Hail the Gangs All Here!

When I saw Nell’s face peak out from under her scarf, my heart soared!  But seeing Nate and Sabatino all working together on a plan to save Hetty was more than my heart could take.  Even knowing Eric was giving a Ted Talk made me all warm and fuzzy inside.  It was great to bring all these characters together again to rescue Hetty.  It feels good to know the team carries on doing what they do best even if we don’t know how it will all turn out.  But who am I kidding?  We know there will always be a happy ending for these guys.  And I’m counting on it.

New Beginnings for the Rest of the Team

• Roundtree and his sister are presented with a big decision on taking a settlement on their lawsuit against the LAPD or standing up to their principles and taking it to court. Not an easy decision to make.  I’m not sure what decision I would make either.
• I’ve always loved Gerald McRaney as an actor, and it didn’t take long to accept him as Admiral Kilbride and Hetty’s replacement. He has been a much-needed anchor, keeping the senior members of the team from going rogue and teaching the newbies a thing or two about the business.  As Deeks tells Newsome, at some point every member of the team has gone lone wolf but they will always be stronger as a team.  Kilbride kept that team together and as much as I will always miss Hetty, Kilbride was an important addition to that team. Will retirement be in his future, or will he decide his new family needs him more?
• I wish we could have seen more interaction with Nina our wise-cracking informant. She would have made a great addition to the Bromance.
• I’m glad we got to see Mama Deeks at the wedding. Wait until she hears she’s going to be a grandmother!  Oh boy.  Could there be a new romance waiting in the wings?  If that happens, Deeks is going to have his hands full with a new baby and Arkady.
• Fatima may have a wedding in her future, but I don’t think that will happen for a long time. This girl has places to go and people to see.  Good luck Fatima.

So how do I end this review?  I’m glad that we don’t get to see all these characters walk off into the sunset.  It’s comforting to know that Sam and Callen will keep doing what they do so well and go in search of Hetty with their NCIS family.  Deeks and Kensi will welcome a new member into their expanded family and hopefully stay with the agency in a much safer capacity. Rountree and Fatima will continue to hone their craft and become the seasoned senior agents they are destined to become, and Kilbride will remain behind waiting for Hetty to relieve him of duty.  But until that time NCIS Los Angeles carries on even if it’s not every Sunday night on CBS.  We can be content that these characters are still out there somewhere fighting the good fight and keeping our world safe from all those bad guys out there.  I will truly miss them all.

Like the show’s characters, wikiDeeks will also carry on for a while longer.  Looking back, it’s been a great ride and for the most part I’ve enjoyed working with some fabulously creative people and partnering with Eric Christian Olsen to bring you this amazing site (if I do say so myself!) that featured everything Marty Deeks and company. I can’t believe it has all ended in one final episode before we all go our merry ways. But wait! Don’t stray too far…..because we have decided to keep this website open and continue to report on all of ECO’s future endeavors so you can continue to have access to all the content that we have posted over the last 10 years. And who knows….. maybe some future Deeks activity as well? We’ll wait and see….  Thank you to all the members of this team, including Karen, Colleen, and Lindy who have worked side-by-side with me for over 10 years to bring wikiDeeks to the fans and all the current members of our team, Lyssa, Em, Gayle, Randy, Brenda, Pat, Donna, Tess….  I couldn’t have done it without you. 

Thank you all for the great memories.  Signing off….for now.