In an episode
entitled "Answers", there is a natural assumption that there will be,
well, lots of answers. That is certainly how the CBS
promotional clips presented this week's show, that many fans questions
will be answered. Trouble is there are a lot of fans and so many
questions about each of the characters. So how to decide which are the
most important? Veteran NCISLA writer Kyle Harimoto had the audacious
task of deciding just that...which questions do the majority of fans care
about? How do you fit so much in-depth dialogue in to an episode,
and just how much of an answer will be given? Remember there is
still the second half of the season to come, and of course the inevitable
season 11 cliffhanger next May. If all the answers are given now, there
would be nothing left to tease or reveal later.
The first point is
how the narrative structure of the episode will change to allow the necessary
time and space for the characters to have such conversations. The answer
is to use a formula which was touched season in 'Searching', when Callen
was shot in the leg during the opening, and the team then had the day
off. That also allowed for some interesting conversations between Kensi
and Deeks in their bar, Callen trying to bond with his nephew whilst Sam and
Fatima assisted DOJ Agent Lance Hamilton on an op. 'Answers' also uses a
cold open to conclude an unknown case. The team are undercover in the
field, after some minor action the case is over and the team relax with
breakfast at the Squid and Dagger, they are called back to work when Army
CID Special Agent Evans has a strong lead on an impending large scale terror
attack on either LA or Chicago. The team are on alert, ready go tactical,
and are left hanging around the mission, waiting for the call to arms. This
provides ample opportunity to pass the time by talking about their personal
feelings, issues and concerns, conversations not usually seen onscreen
(Kensi/Deeks excepted). The episode has a very different pacing than
usual, particularly after the frenetic tempo of last week's 'Mother'.
The tone too
changes with move to the Squid and Dagger, becoming much more sombre. Kensi
asks the first and probably most important question that has been thought of by
many fans. Is Hetty going to retire from NCIS? Hetty has not been consistently
present for several seasons now, sometimes that has been covered through an
underlying story arc, for example with her in Vietnam (S9), but frequently she
is just absent, and referenced occasionally. Kensi also asks if Sam or Callen
would step in to Hetty's role. Sam instantly states he has no interest and
Callen deflects. He is adamant she is not going anywhere and is clearly in
denial, in fact rather than discuss the matter further he excuses himself to
the kitchen to get more breakfast.
From here on, the
characters really branch off in to their pairs, the closeness allowing for frank
conversations. Kensi and Deeks' talk is a further development from
Kensi's concern about possibly being pregnant earlier in the season.
These two have had countless conversations about marriage, children
and careers, most of which have built on previous ones. In S11E04
Yellow Jack, Kensi realised how much she does want a baby with Deeks. This
is developed further here when for the third month Kensi has failed to fall
pregnant. She verbalises her feelings and emotions, which are so true
and valid and experienced by many women. Three months is not really that
long but feels like an eternity. In a very telling line, Kensi reveals how
frustrated she is about not being able to control her body, when her
professional life is all about control and protocol. Deeks too opens up,
admitting that he is terrified of everything involving children because of how
he was brought up. They share the fear that they may have left it too late to
have a baby together. The big news is that Kensi really is all in, and has
grown tremendously over the seasons. However there is one big elephant in the
room that was not addressed at all: what will Kensi and Deeks do when she falls
pregnant and has the baby? Will Kensi be desk-bound? Will she leave NCIS or
continue working? Will Deeks give up his career in law enforcement? The outcome
would have a tremendous impact on the show as they are an integral part of the
show's success and continuing attraction. On the plus side, Kensi is not yet
having a baby so they remain on screen.
Callen and Sam's
in-depth talk is something that is rarely seen, mainly as Callen has a tendency
to shut Sam down as soon as it becomes personal. The entire team is suffering
from lack of sleep which triggers some barbed words between Callen and
Sam, leading to worrying talks about their future. Sam pushes Callen about
why he doesn't want Hetty's job, with him admitting if he did, it would be permanent.
Remember Callen has been harking back to his lone wolf days recently and now
Sam has the key, that Callen can't handle permanency in his life, citing his
relationship with Anna when Callen pushes back. The pair come to verbal
blows when Callen bites back that not everyone can be perfect like Sam, the
heartbreaking moment comes when Sam says if he was perfect, his wife would
still be alive. The guilt is written across Callen's face and he cannot
apologise enough, and it is probably this guilt which allows Callen to open up
a bit more to Sam.
Sam too opens up,
talking about the future and the opportunities he has now he's on his own for
the first time in many years. He talks of his future, his vision as well
as talking about Michelle and their kids. Just because he doesn't mention
her doesn't mean he's not thinking of her or hurting. Sam admits he overcame
the darkness he felt after her murder - he is not that kind of person at
heart. Conversely if that was Callen or Deeks, the story would play out very
differently. His revelation that he had considered leaving NCIS for the DOJ
shook Callen, who even asked if Sam was the kind of person who would up and
leave in the middle of the night. A true bromance!
Sam's
talk of the future involves NCIS and it involves Callen, and he lays out his
plans of finding raw young agents with potential, that he could mould and
mentor out in the field, with Callen running the Operations by assuming Hetty's
role, so they could make their team the best it could ever be. It is an interesting
seed to plant, setting up the possibilities for several more seasons, taking
into account Hetty's (impending) departure, the possibility of Kensi and/or
Deeks becoming (temporarily absent) if/when they have children. It also lays
the groundwork for the introduction of new team members, even if it is one
every week until Sam finds the perfect recruit. The one person who springs to
mind is Finn, the teenage boy Callen told he had 'potential', in a throwback to
Hetty's words to a fifteen year old Callen. It would be most fitting and
delightfully completing a generational cycle, if this were to happen. What is
worrying about this, is that Callen will take Hetty's job for Sam but not
because he wants it for himself.
Both
Kensi and Sam raise the point of promotion from within which makes perfect
sense. How many times have outsiders come in and failed? Hunter, Granger (for a
few seasons), Rogers and Mosley have all butted heads with the team and
Callen in particular. However Callen is a great field agent and undercover
operative and it would be a struggle for him not to be in the thick of the
action and thinking on his feet.
Sam has
a kind of tough love for Callen and often tries to force him to voice
his thoughts although it seldom works. This time it does, twice! Callen is
never seen with a shrink although Granger once underlined that he'd seen
Callen's psych evaluations and confirmed he has issues! Repeatedly during the
episode, Sam puts Callen in uncomfortable situations, particularly pressing him
to discuss whether he wishes to have a relationship with Anna Kolcheck.
Callen:
I just don't know what kind of relationship I would be even capable of having.
I-I think a shrink could spend a year trying to unpack all the...
Sam:
That's because you don't know who you are.
Callen:
What?
Sam:
You spent your entire adult life trying to find your father and uncover your
identity. You've done those things. Now you don't know who you are without that
weight on your shoulders.
The original
premise of NCIS: Los Angeles
centred around Callen and the search for his identity. Over the seasons
he has found out about his family history and found living relatives so it is
natural the show needs to develop his character in other ways. The above
lines expand on the season 7 episode 'Head of the Snake', when Nate
kidnaps Callen and challenges Callen that even though he knows his name, he
does not know who he is. It certainly makes a change for Callen to reveal so
much and 'Answers' manages this is a perfectly credible manner.
Finally
Eric and Nell also experience their own heart to heart and basically, their
relationship is a mess. A lot is revealed here. Eric has moved out
of their apartment as Nell's sister Sydney
has temporarily moved in, and her mother is still extremely ill. Further to
that Nell admits it was her idea for her sister to move in and Eric to move
out. And Eric is fine with it. On the plus side, the pair are happy, but
hopefully there will be no more appearances by Sydney , that would really be a
negative.
'Answers'
was excellently directed by
Frank Military. The transition between scenes and partners, all talking in
different areas of the Mission ,
showed how connected yet disconnected they are their worries are. The case of
the week is negligible and may go down in history as the quickest case ever.
They still managed a quick action gunfight and the obligatory explosion,
showing how quickly the team focus after their respective conversations. While
some questions were answered, many were just verbalised and more questions
generated, ranging from why Kensi remained in his stunning red dress for so
long when cooking, and did she really cook the loco moto breakfast? On a
serious note, there is now so much potential for the future which will start to
play out as the second part of the season progresses early next year.