Alsiyadun
is written by the NCISLA showrunner Scott Gemmill and features the return of
both NCIS Special Agent Fatima Namazi and CIA Officer Sabatino. Thrown in
to the mix is the return of SEAL Chief Wallace and the acting debut of US Egypt 's Sinai Peninsula , only to be ambushed.
Amidst the chaos of explosions and gunfire, Fatima , accompanying
the joint task force as an intelligence and cryptology expert, is
separated and goes missing. The team's mission is to locate and extract Fatima .
In
week that ended with International Women's Day (8th March), much is made
about how strong and resourceful Fatima
is. It is well established that Kensi - aka 'kick-ass Blye' - can hold
her own with any guy, and has the sense to get shot whilst wearing a
vest. Nell has demonstrated her strength of character and resolve through
her forays in to the field and lately, in coping with her mother's illness
as well as her relationship with Eric, her lack of faith in Hetty, and
her professional role in Ops. Fatima
was introduced last season in a boxing ring and has since taken down her
share of bad guys in support of the team. In Alsiyadun, the message about
Fatima 's character is drilled home.
Deeks reassures Hetty and himself, that Fatima is 'smart', 'highly skilled' and
'more than capable of taking care of herself'. When Sabatino asks if
she's tough, Callen replies with 'I think so'. Kensi has a similar
conversation with Hetty, stating she is strong and smart and
references her own time in captivity. Hetty is displaying a much
more vulnerable side with her appearances this season, questioning whether her
actions and live choices for others (e.g. in Mother) are right, and maybe that
is why Kensi and Deeks independently have mini heart to hearts with her.
She almost feels a physical pain with Fatima 's
disappearance 'Oh God, why does it feel like a knife in my gut?'
Character
affirmation comes from Fatima during
captivity, where she is fearless. With the exception of the opening
and the confusion of the ambush, she is composed and resourceful (although it's
unclear why she moved from her hiding place after the bad guys ran past
her). She is bold and defiant when captured, earning a few bruises, and
she thinks on her feet to provide a civilian alias, rather than reveal her more
valuable status as a federal agent. It is t sill the men, the experienced
field agents, Sam and Callen, alongside the CIA in the shape of Sabatino and
undercover operative Kadri Kashan Khan (Offset), who rescue her. Her super-human
status takes a slight backseat as Fatima
reveals a touch of vulnerability at the very end, when she calls her
parents and the screen fades to black.
There
is much to enjoy about the episode as the team race to find Fatima .
Sabatino is on fine form and sassy as hell with Sam and Callen, the banter
flowing very naturally between them all. In fact it seems that
Sabatino has not had much contact with anyone, the amount he
talks. Also returning is SEAL Chief Wallace. He's in LA briefing
Kensi and Deeks about the disastrous op in Egypt Los Angeles
The
episode does not focus on the bad intelligence, the leak or the elusive high
value target and these are quickly forgotten about. While there is plenty
of action in Egypt Fatima 's
parents about her kidnap and ransom demand. The seriousness is tempered
with a realisation they will be the worst parents, but at least their kids will
have great hair and teeth!
There
are some questionable elements to the episode. For example in what world does
Nell think it's acceptable to take her federal laptop with highly classified
material and brief Deeks in his public bar? The same with Callen
accessing his laptop and reviewing files in coach class on the plane. There is
a sudden jump from Kensi and Deeks walking out of the Mission Fatima 's
parents were also introduced, filming a video about paying the ransom which
Eric sent to various terrorist websites, and this level of visibility could
potentially undermine any undercover work she may do. Her parents are presented
as level headed, rather than hysterical with worry, cementing why Fatima is such a solid character. Her mother though, was
not wearing hajib unlike her daughter who is clearly more devout in her faith.
On a side note, Sabatino wears a wedding band...
Alsiyadun continues
the mid-season trend of strong episodes and serves to forge more of a bond
between the team and Fatima. The banter in the field is great with some
amusing one liners, mixed in with serious dialogue back in LA, the expected gun
fight and explosions that result in the bad guys dying and the good guys saving
the girl and all living to fight another day.