‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ 14×02 Review: “Of Value”

NCIS: Los Angeles 14×02 “Of Value” does this thing really good procedural episodes do, which is …it makes you invest in an hour, even when you don’t actually care about the case. That is, of course, not the only thing good procedurals have to do. Every once in a while, they have to make you care about the case as well — even if you only do because of how the facts of the case affect the characters you know and love. This, however, wasn’t one of those episodes.

This was let’s give fans some character development just by letting these characters interact with different people than they usually do. And though we certainly enjoy Densi working cases together and Callen and Sam’s typical banter, it was great to see Kensi and Fatima get to save the day, while Callen and Deeks bonded a little bit.

I said this in the last review, but long-running procedurals can never forget that they, and us, have been here a while. And if we have it’s not because we truly care about the cases, but about the characters. Not just that, we feel like we know them. However, just as people don’t remain static, good characters don’t either. There’s an opportunity for growth, or at least there should be.

No, Deeks and Callen aren’t going to turn BFFs tomorrow, and there’s still a personality clash there …but at this point, Deeks isn’t just a guy Callen is hoping will leave and Callen isn’t an obstacle to Deeks being part of the team. Deeks and Callen are family, period. And that means they can share things have a semi-serious conversation, and yes, tease each other and even annoy each other while at it.

And yes, Fatima and Roundtree are relatively new, but it is okay, even normal, for the team to bond with them. Because the Kensi who didn’t let people in …well, she’s become a woman who learned to love, open herself up, and is now happily married with a kid. The Callen who didn’t even know his name or where he came from has become someone who has found his place in the world, even if he still doesn’t have all the answers.

The family this team has built has been built brick by brick, yes, but it isn’t just Callen and Sam, Kensi and Deeks. There’s space for Fatima and Roundtree, just as there’s space for Anna — and for Killbride. That, however, doesn’t mean we will stop wishing and hoping for Hetty’s return, because that’s what you do for family. You always leave a spot for them, just in case they can make it.

Things I think I think:

• Ah, domestic moments. My favorite thing. And outside of Densi, too!
• Though I will still, all these seasons in, take all the Densi domestic moments you want to give me, show.
• CALLEN LET’S NOT KEEP SECRETS FROM YOUR FUTURE WIFE.
• She’s seeing right through you, though. She is.
• The hi baby got me.
• Also also the casual I love yous.
• I do feel like Callen and Fatima suddenly sort of bonding has come a little out of nowhere — Callen did take 74 years to warm up to Deeks, but I still like it. I think it says a lot about Callen’s character.
• But also Callen and Deeks working together this episode? Be still my beating heart.
• The thing I do find ironic in an “only in TV” way is that before we needed people who had special knowledge in Ops and now anyone can be in Ops.
• But more Kensi and Fatima bonding, please.
• Callen is even sharing casual past details about himself with Deeks. Don’t tell me this isn’t Callen 2.0
• Deeks basically telling Callen he cares was ADORBS.
• Kensi and Fatima kicking ass and taking names was great.
• Worried Deeks hits differently now that they have a kid at home.
• KENSI MARIE BLYE.
• Team Bonding dinner too?!
• “Things are good now. Maybe we deserve things to be good for a moment.”
• Give her a few episodes before you go looking for trouble, won’t you G?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Los Angeles 14×02 “Of Value”? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays at 10/9c on CBS.