‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ 13×07 Review: “Lost Soldier Down”

NCIS: Los Angeles 13×07 “Lost Soldier Down” is all about the boys — and about Kensi, or shall we say, Daniela Ruah, directing the boys. Ironically, though Kensi’s absence is truly felt, you can also feel her presence through Ruah’s directing. The episode is about as entertaining and seamless as this show typically is, but there’s also a sense of a “boy’s night out” to the hour, even as, presumably, they were all looking at Ruah to actually lead the way.

Though we never want to miss out on Densi moments when both actors are available, it was great to see Deeks getting to pair up with Roundtree — and yes, this made Deeks seem older than this entire NCIS training arc, I promise.

It was also great to get some Deeks/Callen/Sam moments, something we don’t always get enough of as the show focuses on the already established partnerships. It’s been over a decade. Whatever issues Sam and Callen had with Deeks are water under about 5 different bridges. Now they just tease him because they care.

Of course, NCIS: Los Angeles 13×07 “Lost Soldier Down” is also tasked with advancing the Callen/Hetty storyline set up in the first episode of this season, even while Hetty is absent. It’s a little disappointing — fine, a lot disappointing — to be dealing with this whole thing without Hetty around. We’re still in a pandemic, of course, and things are actually looking worse than they did a few months ago, but Linda Hunt’s absence is sorely felt, especially as this storyline that we’ve waited so long to see explored is finally centered.

Hopefully, as the storyline advances — and Callen’s questionable decisions, again, make it clear it will, we will get Linda back. This isn’t a story that can be told just from Callen’s point of view. It’s not a story that should be told just from his point of view. And as much as the team works without Hetty, has had to work without Hetty for a while, the family this team has become isn’t really the same without her.

In the end, though, the episode isn’t about Deeks being old, or about Callen once again going lone wolf even though he’s learned this lesson about 74 times before. It’s not about whatever’s going on with Kensi in Mexico. It isn’t about Fatima’s issues, or Roundtree’s, for that matter. This episode, as so many of them, is about …the team.

And that’s why it works. We want to see more of a lot of storylines. We miss Kensi. And oh yes, there are times in this episode we want to shake Callen, not for what he’s doing as much as how he’s doing it. But in the end, if this episode proves something is that, Eric Christian Olsen’s bad jokes aside, this show still has a lot of life left in it.

That’s not something many shows in season 13 can say.

Things I think I think:

• Yeah, telemarketers. Of cooooourse. Why are you even trying, Callen?
• No, Deeks, don’t surprise Kensi.
• “Don’t blow anything up,” Killbride said. That felt like setup. But then, something miraculous happened.
• Nothing. Nothing happened.
• Fatima putting Devin in his place is my favorite.
• Roundtree making fun of Deeks was also A+.
• Talk to Sam, G. Talk. To. Sam.
• Also where in the world is Anna? The situation with Bar Paly is infuriating, at best. Bring her in permanently, or at least make her recurring — either that or have her break up with Callen.
• Deeks letting Roundtree run — yeah, I felt that.
• “That was sort of discreet.”
• Killbride’s conversation with Fatima gave me FEELINGS.
• Does anyone ever believe Callen when he’s like “I’m not doing this thing I probably shouldn’t do”? Inquiring minds want to know.
• This hour did a really good job at shinning a light on PTSD. Not that it’s enough. It never is. But it’s a good start.
• CALLEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Los Angeles 13×07 “Lost Soldier Down”? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.