NCIS: Los Angeles 13×17 “Genesis” focuses on our very own Grisha Callen, and does a pretty good job at examining not who he is, something the show has done before — kind of messily, might I add — but what it has cost him to become that person. We know Callen at this point, the kind of man he is, the way he loves, the kind of friend he can be. What we don’t know — what he doesn’t know — is how his childhood has shaped that.
In a way, though, Callen puts a little too much importance on his past. Sure, our past shapes us. And he has every right to find out what happened to him, and the reason for the secrets Hetty kept. But the person Callen is, well, that’s who he’s chosen to be. There’s nothing that can change that, not unless he lets it.
At some point, we all have to make a choice. About who we are, about what we want to do with our lives. It’s infinitely better, and easier, to do that when we have all the pieces of the puzzle. But it’s still a decision, and it’s still one hundred percent ours.
This episode is also about friendships
This show almost always is, but NCIS: Los Angeles 13×17 “Genesis” uses Nate instead of the usual suspects to reinforce the message this entire show is built on. Grisha Callen was once a young boy, all alone. Now, obsession or not (yeah, he’s obsessed), Grisha Callen is a grown man with a family — and a woman he loves, one that loves him. Sure, life isn’t straightforward and easy, but he doesn’t have to face the secrets of his past, or his future, alone.
But it’s so hard to break from a lifetime of thinking you do have to. Almost impossible to trust that letting people in won’t let them hurt. Because it’s not that Callen doesn’t trust the team, doesn’t trust Sam, doesn’t trust Anna. Of course he does. It’s that Callen doesn’t — cannot — trust that they will be okay if he drags them into “his mess.” So he won’t.
When you’re family, however, all messes are shared. That’s the way it is. And I just hope that, when Callen finally gets to the end of this line, his entire family, Hetty included, can be there with him.
And about the future
The show’s two ships look toward the future in NCIS: Los Angeles 13×17 “Genesis,” with Densi very much ahead of Callen and Anna — they’ve had a lot more time and focus — but with the show finally feeling like it’s ready to commit to Callen’s romantic life. It’s honestly long overdue. We’re way past any other relationship making sense for Callen, and there are only so many lone wolf storylines they can tell with him. It’s finally time to give him something else, a semblance of peace, stability and happiness.
And as for Densi, well …for all this hour focused more on Kensi’s feelings, the two are — have always been — on the same page. And the next step feels pretty obvious. Kensi and Deeks are going to be great parents, and they don’t need to be parents to a baby to be parents. Not every family looks the same way, or is created in the same manner. This show has already proven that, time and time again. So, what a better way for this season to end than with both Densi and Callanna moving forward, in their own way.
Things I think I think:
- This Anna storyline continues to be ALL OVER THE PLACE. What’s the point? Where is it going? Does anyone know?
- And, and …is it ever gonna get a conclusion? Does anyone remember when Callen was gonna propose? How did we get here?
- I’m tired of the deep fakes, and tired of Katya.
- Nate, bestie. Time to knock some sense into Callen.
- I don’t like that word either, Nate.
- The friendships on this show remain one of the best things about it, thirteen seasons in.
- Deeks in blue is UNFAIR. The reason why Deeks wasn’t around at the beginning of the episode? Even more unfair.
- “Or whatever your name is”
- This storyline is the best use of Nate yet.
- It feels real good to get some answers.
- The “greater good” kinda sucks sometimes.
- Deeks looking at Kensi talking to Rosa — MY HEART. They’re going to be such good parents. It bears repeating.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Los Angeles 13×17 “Genesis”? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.
I wouldn’t mind this whole Callen thing so much if it wasn’t changing what we already knew about him and wasn’t making Hetty look bad (when we know she never did what she did to hurt him!), next thing we know, it’ll get revealed that Hetty is actually related to him in some way! (joking, but with what little memory these writers seem to have nowadays about a lot of things about this show’s past, wouldn’t surprise me.). There’s ways to explore childhood without actually changing history!