The Positively Positive

Linda Hunt in NCIS: Los Angeles, season 1, episode 10 “Brimstone”. Image from www.daemonstv.com

What I liked most about the first Christmas episode of NCIS: Los Angeles; is that it didn’t try to become too sappy. As much as I loved that about this year’s NCIS Christmas episode, I don’t think it would work for this show. One of the reasons it works so well for the original NCIS, is because we know those characters so well. They are able to pull out our heart strings because we know a lot about them, their personal stories, drama, etc.

Not that I don’t feel for the characters of NCIS: Los Angeles. It’s just that, without a few seasons under their belt, I don’t know the characters as well. Without knowing them intimately, it’s hard to have a really poignant episode without it feeling a bit forced. So I think for its first Christmas episode, this one was handled perfectly.

We were given a bit of humor, with the boys helping to decorate the office for the holidays by bringing in a palm tree. As an LA native, I had to laugh at that. I also had to laugh at the girl in the bikini in the opening scene. I know everyone thinks we all go running around in bathing suits in the middle of December, but believe me, we don’t. It’s usually much too cold. Heck, last week I was looking at snow on the mountains I can see from my balcony. No it didn’t snow down here, but we did have some ice.

So yeah, a bikini? Not so much. I appreciate the humor in the idea though, especially to those folks out there living in super cold conditions. I know I couldn’t survive that weather for long.

Overall a good episode and a fine first effort as a Christmas ep. Just the right amount of heart and some laughs to keep me in the holiday spirit.

More NCIS: Los Angeles….
NCIS:LA – Season 1, episode 1 “Identity”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 2 “The Only Easy Day”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 3 “Predator”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 4 “Search and Destroy”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 5 “Killshot”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 6 “Keepin’ It Real”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 7 “Pushback”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 8 “Ambush”

Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J in NCIS, season 1, episode 8 “Ambush”. Image from www.deamonstv.com

In this week’s episode of NCIS: Los Angeles, Callen goes deep undercover into a dangerous group of militia and Sam has to go in after him. Leaving the rest of the team, with Hetty in Washington, to figure out how to get them both out. This episode was full of lots of great action and also some heart as we got to delve more into the relationship between Hetty and Callen.

Highlights….

Callen asking Sam if his mom helped him with his report.

The sight of three grown men racing up the stairs like little boys to answer Hetty’s call.

Hetty telling Callen that the case was his. Does that make Callen the Senior Field Agent or the team leader?

Hetty saying that Vance had forced her to leave “the children in charge”. Okay I guess that answers my previous question. Hetty’s in charge so Callen must be her Senior Field Agent.

Kensi kicking that big guy’s ass all on her own. Yeah!

Sam and Callen undercover in the MP rig. Awesome.

Callen’s really horrible MP jokes…..okay I’ll admit, I did smile a little at the last one.

Hetty freaking out when she found out where Callen was. So interesting how much more worried she seems about him than any of the other team.

Okay I know they were just acting but watching Callen shoot Sam was kind freaky. But that whole escape scene was pretty cool.

Awesome line from Callen: “You gotta be kidding me. ….I’m being shot at by a Jonas Brother.”

Callen and the hick getting into the “at least” battle. Hilarious!

Wow, so Hetty once had an agent very much like Callen who died on an op. That explains why she seems to worry about him so much. As team leader and Sr. Field Agent, they have a very mother/son relationship. Also interesting to note that on the original NCIS, the team leader and Sr. Field Agent (Gibbs and Tony) share a father/son relationship. Nice parallels there.

Everything going to hell when Callen gets into the militia’s camp and then Sam driving in to try and negotiate – very intense.

The bad guy knocking Callen out, that was so uncalled for…….and so was Sam kicking him until he woke up.

Sam and Callen tied up, trying to figure out what to do next and Callen saying he wants his gun and hostage back. Yep, that seems like a pretty good option.

Kensi sending a Morse code message on Callen’s head……and Sam knowing that it was Kensi and not Renko since she’d be the one more likely to remember it. LOL.

Hetty figuring out what Sam’s reply to Kensi meant…..and sending in some F-22’s to boot. She’s amazing, even from the other side of the country.

The team figuring out a way to act as though there was a whole group surrounding the compound. I especially enjoyed Eric and Nate’s radio chatter. Nicely done, boys!

The leader’s truck doing an “A-Team” flip when Callen and Sam shot at it. I haven’t seen one of those in years!

Callen and the kid’s final “at least” battle…ending with Callen helping the kid out and putting him on the phone with his mom. Aw, so sweet.

Hetty’s little smile after Vance pointed out that she may have lost Sullivan years ago, but she had just saved two agents.

Overall a really action packed episode, full of shootouts, deep undercover missions, F-22’s and even an “A-Team” car flip.

More NCIS: Los Angeles….
NCIS:LA – Season 1, episode 1 “Identity”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 2 “The Only Easy Day”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 3 “Predator”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 4 “Search and Destroy”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 5 “Killshot”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 6 “Keepin’ It Real”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 7 “Pushback”

Chris O’Donnell and Daniela Ruah in NCIS:Los Angeles, season1, episode 7 “Pushback”. Image from www.daemonstv.com

In this episode we get another delicious glimpse into Callen’s background and history. While investigating a case of a woman shot to death, they come to find out how she’s connected to Callen and the shooting that nearly killed him six months ago.

Highlights….

The look Callen gave Sam when he saw him making tea, and then the way his face fell when Hetty asked why if he couldn’t taste the paper from his sad little tea bag.

Laughing at Vance giving the cutoff signal at the end of his call to Callen. I mean who was he signaling? It looked like he was in his office. Couldn’t he just have turned off the feed himself?

Nate folding his super tall self to sit down at Hetty’s teeny, tiny little workstation to look at Callen’s file.

Okay wait. Callen’s driving a Mercedes now? What happened to the new Impala he was supposed to have? I’m confused.

Kensi asking Sam how long he and Callen were married. LOL! She’s right, those two totally act like they’re married sometimes.

Kensi and Nate theorizing that maybe Hetty is the redactor. Ooh…I think they’re on to something there.

Sympathizing now with people who live in towns where tv shows are supposed to be set. I can’t help but to keep noticing little things. Like the fact that some photos shot at 5:47pm were as bright as midday, despite the fact that it gets dark at around 5:30pm these days in LA. That plus the fact that if Sam and Callen were driving to the Arkady’s house in Studio City there’s no way they could’ve ended up at the Farmer’s Market that fast. LOL.

Sam acting drunk to distract the bodyguards. So freaking hilarious. Especially his description of “Jolene”.

Finding out that Callen learned Russion when he was a kid and not as part of his job. Huh, that was a surprise.

Callen realizing that the girl he tried to avoid on the beach when he was talking with Gibbs, was someone he considered a little sister. Also that she was trying to avenge him as she thought he was dead. So sad.

Hetty and Nate discussing Callen and how working on this case might not be good for him, obviously they both care a lot about him.

Finding out that Callen changed foster homes so often as a kid, except for the one where he had a “little sister”.

Callen going back to his old foster house, the moment he walked in the door I said to myself that this would be his home now. I hope that’s true. Seeing him walk through the place and revisiting all the old memories was nice. The poor guy never had much, that house must have been like heaven for him. I think he deserves it.

Overall a great episode that nicely wrapped up a storyline that dated all the way back to its premiere on the original NCIS, solving the mystery of who shot Callen and why.

More NCIS: Los Angeles….
NCIS:LA – Season 1, episode 1 “Identity”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 2 “The Only Easy Day”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 3 “Predator”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 4 “Search and Destroy”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 5 “Killshot”
NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 6 “Keepin’ It Real”

Chris O’Donnell, Daniela Ruah and LL Cool J in NCIS: Los Angeles, season 1, episode 6 “Keepin’ It Real”. Image from www.daemonstv.com

This week’s episode of NCIS: Los Angeles featured the team working to find out why a young Marine apparently threw himself of a hotel roof. It leads them to a case involving counterfeit money and working with the Secret Service to get to the bottom of it.

Highlights….

The way that Callen and Sam walk in together at the beginning of every episode, in the midst of some sort of discussion/argument.

Hetty using the word “staycation”.

The fact that Sam knows his and Callen’s anniversary as partners, and Callen has no clue. These two keep coming off as an old married couple and it keeps cracking me up.

This line from Callen – “If you’re natural, then I’m supernatural.” = awesome!

The fact that no matter where they are, Eric can tap into any camera nearby with just a few clicks.

Eric and Dom’s rather enthusiastic reaction to the seeing the women in the elevator footage. I totally knew that Hetty was standing behind them. She’s like a mini Gibbs.

Callen telling Sam that he won’t be going in the water because “Too many holes in me, Sam. I’d sink.”

Finding out that Callen has a rule about dating law enforcement. Interesting…

Callen’s story about the kid that looked out for him when he was in foster care. Oh man, this guy’s got one heck of a history. That story broke my heart and the way he looked at the Secret Service chick, I knew it was true. Made me kinda wanna slap her for asking. Just sayin’.

Hetty telling Kensi that she once had to hide in a cake while undercover. Totally makes me wonder what Linda Hunt looked like when she was younger.

I’m with Hetty. Kensi could totally take the Secret Service chick.

Hetty prepping Callen before he goes out undercover. Love that she’s like their little Yoda – testing them and getting them ready to face the bad guys.

Giggling at the fact that I just drove past that western bar a few hours before I saw this ep. Yes it does actually have swinging doors.

Eric hiding jpegs on Callen’s fake website to make him more legit. Nice.

Feeling relief when Callen knew how to ink the press. For a minute there I thought maybe he was gonna get caught. Guess I should’ve known better.

Noticing that Callen was wearing a wedding ring. Wow, Hetty really knows how to dress her boys and girls for the parts. Not sure I would’ve noticed a detail like that.

Finding out that “Gunny Pallette” was the bad guy. Didn’t actually see that one coming.

Hmm…So Callen dated a cop once, that’s why he has the rule. I’m intrigued.

Overall a strong episode full of lots of action and a bit more backstory on Callen.

More NCIS: Los Angeles

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

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

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 3 “Predator”

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 4 “Search and Destroy”

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 5 “Killshot”

Adam Jamal Craig, LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell and Daniela Ruah in NCIS: Los Angeles, season 1, episode 5 “Killshot”

Not one, but two special guests from the original NCIS showed up in this episode. Director Vance came to help the team track down an old enemy of his and though she only helped spoke via phone, Abby helped too. 

Highlights….

Sam suggesting that Callen live on a boat. Since Callen likes to move a lot, I think that’s an awesome idea.

Nate catching Dom filming him with his cell phone. Aw, the probie still has lots to learn.

The team using the huge touch screen to look at all the victim’s documents. So cool.

Hetty catching Nate reading a comic book.

Sam continuing to try and find a place that Callen would like to live. I forget, is Callen staying with Sam? That could explain why he’s so anxious to “help” him out.

As soon as I saw the shooter get in the car I knew it was a woman.

Vance showing up and giving them the lowdown on the shooter and Sam and Callen figuring out that he’s dealt with the woman before.

The whole conversation between Vance and Hetty. Nice to see that these two have apparently been friends for a long time and that Hetty can get the truth out of him about the woman.

Abby! Yay! Though I’m confused. Why was she not in her lab? Cuz that wasn’t it. I wonder if they can’t use the same sets since it seems like Vance never calls from MTAC, despite the fact that he uses that for video conferences on NCIS.

Eric calling Vance “Leon” and quickly realizing that was a mistake. I was kind of surprised when Abby called him that, but I guess she’s earned it. Eric apparently has not.

Sam spotting the assassin on the roof from nothing more than a quick flash.

Kelsi using Nate as a block so that she could read the lips of the couple in the safe house.

Seeing Vance get to act a little bit like an agent, working on catching his old foe.

Dom figuring out from the security system that the second victim knew her killer. That was pretty slick.

The team now having to prove that their original assassin didn’t kill the second victim.

Dom going undercover as a cop. That’s pretty funny when you think about it. An agent pretending to be a cop.

The team going into action to protect the victim’s brother (and possible suspect).

Nate correctly guessing that Vance sent the victim out as bait. Sneaky Leon, very sneaky.

Vance showing up and saying that the assassin must be dead. Ha! I’m with Nate, there’s no way Vance actually believes that. Oh boy…I wonder if we’ve just found this season “La Grenoille”?

After all that everyone has been through, all of them completely wigging out when they find out that Dom lost one of Hetty’s camera buttons. LOL!

Overall another good episode that has the LA team chasing a quarry that I think may just end up showing up again.

More NCIS:Los Angeles…..

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

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

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 3 “Predator”

NCIS: LA – Season 1, episode 4 “Search and Destroy”