NCIS: Los Angeles 14×13 “A Farewell to Arms” is a pretty standard episode of a show that, sadly, doesn’t have that many more to give us. Densi works well together — and keeps up the banter — and Callen and Sam are the Callen and Sam of old, always pushing each other but always walking in lockstep. It’s a good example of what the show does right, and the dynamics that have carried us here, fourteen seasons in.
The dynamics we’re about to lose.
But the episode also attempts, with varying degrees of success, to make us care about Kilbride’s personal life — something we have never really gotten to explore all that much, and that at this point, feels like a little too late for us to really invest in. There’s very little in the way of real romance in this episode (for Kilbride, at least), but there is a good setup for the one thing we have seen him struggling with, and that is his relationship with his son. Even if the show manages to go somewhere with that, though, like everything in NCIS: Los Angeles 14×13 “A Farewell to Arms” that isn’t just reinforcing the dynamics we have invested over a decade in, it’s way too little and certainly too late.
Considering Killkbride is a character the show has struggled to make us connect with, and that his son is a new variable we haven’t had time to make an emotional connection with, the only way Alex’s appearance can work is if it ends up tying into who Killbride is in relationship with the team. And this might still be where NCIS: Los Angeles is going with it, there’s just no time to really explore it now — which is a shame. There could have been something there, particularly in Kilbride’s relationship with Fatima.
As it is, all we can do now is enjoy the moments episodes like NCIS: Los Angeles 14×13 “A Farewell to Arms” give us. Moments of our favorite characters being who they are, who we have always enjoyed. We won’t get many of those anymore.
Things I think I think:
- What does it say about me that my first thought was: those shoes cannot be comfortable?
- Are we even going to see Anna again before the season ends? Or are we gonna see her for the wedding, and that’s it?
- I’ve greatly enjoyed Densi as parents.
- I really didn’t want to think about Killbride’s sex life.
- Fatima worrying about Killbride was kinda cute. Not so cute? Her and Roundtree forcing me to think about his sex life, again.
- Densi just working a case together feels like coming home.
- Add Callen and Sam banter, and perfect case.
- I love Fatima and Roundtree together.
- Not that into Killbride’s personal life, but I guess the son can be an interesting storyline if done right.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Los Angeles 14×13 “A Farewell to Arms”? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays on CBS.
