The Positively Positive

Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J in NCIS: Los Angeles season 1, episode 3 “Predator”. Image from www.daemonstv.com

The third episode of this new series proved to me that it’s got was it takes to stay on my list of “must watch”. Not because it was particularly spectacular, but because it showed me that a “case ep” is strong enough on its own. It contained no mysteries about the characters and wasn’t overly dramatic. It was just a good script with action and humor, just how I like it.

Highlights….

If I haven’t mentioned it yet, I really like the opening credits to this show. Great music.

The team’s reaction to Hetty talking about (obviously) dating Frank Sinatra and George Hamilton.

The meeting in the car with Sam, Callen and Hetty’s contact. That guy was hilarious.

Okay I don’t know if that “kaleidoscope” thing is real but if it is, it’s kinda cool……and a little scary.

The fact that Hetty has the ability to intimidate everyone on the team. Loved the scene where she was mad about not being able to watch the video “with the cats and trampoline”.

Learning that the team has a boathouse they use as a secondary base. Nice.

The interrogation with the drone pilot. I thought that guy had some really good points about the dangers of using drones over real pilots.

Okay not that I don’t like Sam’s car, cuz lets face it, we all know I do, but Callen supposedly has a new Impala. Where is it? Maybe they’re hiding it cuz the new Impalas aren’t nearly as cool……just sayin’.

Callen telling Sam his ears wiggle when he tries to avoid a conversation and “it’s kinda adorable”. OMG! I know it’s wrong to call these two strong macho men cute but…..that was so darn cute!

Finding out that Callen can read Arabic (at least I believe that’s what language that was. They never said so forgive me if I got it wrong).

Callen’s awesome flying tackle to take down the suspect. Whoa!

Sam speaking Arabic to the suspect. Wow, so I guess they both speak and read it? Wonder how/when they learned?

Hetty’s anger over Sam and Callen getting the suspect’s blood all over their clothes.

Absolute best line of the ep, and of course delivered by Hetty. “These guys have spent more time with their World of Warcraft avatars, than REAL women who aren’t called ‘mom’ “.  So funny to me as I know a few guys who fit that description. LOL.

Kensi going undercover as the ex-hacker/sexy teacher. Love how the team was reading all the IMs between the students.

Dom’s distress over not getting there in time to save the guy in the bathroom. Poor guy.

Noticing how the whole team works together to solve the case without any discernable leader that I can see. Hetty may the Ops Mgr but she doesn’t go in the field. Obviously Callen and Sam are the Sr Agents in the field, but I don’t see that one is more senior than the other. It’s very interesting and quite different from the original NCIS, where Gibbs is the definite leader of his team.

The team running out of time to stop the UAV, asking the drone pilot to help and when he says he can’t as last time he failed, Dom steps in and gives him a pep talk based on how he too messed up and someone died. That was great.

The way Eric figured out how to clear out the high school in a “fast enough” way by setting off the fire alarms. Brilliant.

The pilot getting control of the missile at the last second….whew!

Callen being upset that Hetty told Sam the Nepal story and not him. Too funny.

Nate checking in on Dom. I like how his character really seems to care for all of the team, not just as part of his job but as a friend.

Overall a good episode with a great premise and lots of team interaction to solve the case.

More NCIS: LA…
NCIS:LA – Season 1, episode 1 “Identity”

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 2 “The Only Easy Day”

More NCIS…
NCIS, Season 7, episode 1 “Truth or Consequences”

NCIS, Season 7, episode 2 “Reunion”

NCIS, Season 7, episode 2 “The Inside Man”

LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell in NCIS Los Angeles, episode 2 “The Only Easy Day”. Image from www.sidereel.com

In the first episode of NCIS: Los Angeles we got to delve a little bit into Callen’s past. This time, it’s Sam’s turn as the case ventures into his past with the SEALs. I enjoyed the banter between the characters, continuing to build on what we know about them and how they work together.

Highlights….

Loving all the beach locations they’re using on this show. Reminds me that I only made it to the beach once this past summer. Oh well.

Sam still working on the probie’s training and Hetty helping out by telling Dom to learn the “proper Pavlovian response” to Eric’s whistle. Too funny.

Hetty telling Nate that his stand-up needs work.

Sam being able to identify one of his SEAL buddies simply by seeing the man use hand signals on some grainy footage. Impressive.

Callen telling Sam “I complete you” when Sam talked about getting another partner. These guys crack me up.

Callen comparing SEALs to the seminary “If priests actually blew things up and could kill you with a Bible”….and Sam threatening to bounce him off a rock for it.

Kensi pretending to be in a fight with her boyfriend on the phone and scratching someone’s car to keep her cover. Nice touch that she also thought to find the owner and pay for the damage.

Nate’s crush on the coroner and him trying to explain why she dreamt that a gnome flipped her off.

Seeing Sam’s sweet Challenger again. I know Callen drives an Impala but it’s not nearly as cool. Maybe if he got himself a ’67 Impala, I’d be more impressed.

Hetty telling Sam… “I criticize, I scold, I chastise. I’ve even torn someone a new one, but I NEVER mock.”  – you know, I could totally see her tearing someone a new one. She may be small, but she’s wily.

Kensi being totally okay with peeing in a bag in the back of a car for the sake of surveillance. Now THAT is dedication.

Sam taking Nate’s advice and leaving the interrogation of the SEAL to Callen, until it was time to take over and talk to guy, SEAL to SEAL.

Seeing Sam pop up out of the water hazard to save the day. That was awesome.

Callen saying “I’m really trying to give up getting shot so much” – LOL!

The way Callen seems to know exactly the right way to mess with Sam to keep him from getting too far into his own head.

Overall a strong second episode of this spin off series, giving us more insight to one of the main characters and showing us more of the strong bond between Callen and Sam.

More NCIS: Los Angeles…

NCIS:LA – Season 1, episode 1 “Identity”

NCIS…

NCIS Season7 Promo

NCIS, Season 7, episode 1 “Truth or Consequences”

NCIS, Season 7, episode 2 “Reunion”