NCIS: Hawai’i 3×01 Review: “Run and Gun”

NCIS: Hawai’i 3×01 “Run and Gun” is both a really good episode for Jane Tennant and the team, as the show tries to pick up the pieces of a traumatic Season 2 finale, and a rather frustrating episode that doesn’t go anywhere because yes, there is a second part to this story. And of course, it’s one we won’t get to see until next week.

The emotional center of the hour is centered on Tennant and the new addition to the Hawai’i family, Sam Hanna, and though it works well for someone like me – a veteran of NCIS: Los Angeles, it feels like a lot to ask for someone who has only ever watched this show to emotionally connect with what Sam is trying to tell Tennant. Particularly because the show never really gives viewers new to Sam any kind of backstory into his pain, or how he could relate to Jane Tennant.

So let us try to unravel the Sam Hanna of it all, as well as how the team has fared without their fearless leader as we discuss NCIS: Hawai’i 3×01 “Run and Gun”:

WHO IS SAM HANNA?

That is the question everyone who hasn’t watched NCIS: Los Angeles is probably asking right now. And it’s probably a hard one to parse out because Sam Hanna is more than just the tough guy LL Cool J seems to be. There’s a lot of depth to Sam and a lot of feeling. And people who watched NCIS: Los Angeles for over a decade know there’s also a lot of pain.

During the episode, Sam mentions Michelle but gives very little details as to who Michelle is and what happened to her. But fear not, I’m here to fill you in! Michelle was Sam’s wife, a former CIA agent, and the mother of his two kids: Aiden and Kamran. In Season 8 of NCIS: Los Angeles, Michelle was kidnapped and subsequently killed after helping NCIS on a mission. Afterward, Sam goes through a very dark phase, understandably, one that he gets through thanks to his family – his partner G. Callen, and his team.

Now, it seems like he’s around to be around for Tennant, who has a team but doesn’t have what one would call a partner. Sam’s partner just got married to the love of his life, after all. If there’s ever been a time for Sam to not move on, but try to find his place and help someone else, well, it would be this one.

LIFE GOES ON

And it’s clear that everyone has missed Tennant, but it’s also clear that this team is very much competent. Jesse might not want to be the boss, but he’s been holding down the fort. And Kai and Kate made very good besties – and they would be the ones to bond over food. Lucy can be a little jealous (totally on brand, let’s not lie), but her interactions with Kate and with Kai in general prove that everything is going well with Kacy, as well.

There’s a level of comfort to the team, of ease. If the biggest problem between Kate and Lucy is truly that Lucy is a little jealous about Kai and Kate being food buddies, then …I’ll take it. I really, really will. Just as I’ll take Jesse’s loyalty, Kai and Kate’s not-so-surprising friendship, and Ernie’s general everything, because Ernie is perfect.

Jokes aside, these people will have Tennant’s back, just like Sam will. And things don’t have to be perfect right away, they just have to get better, one day at a time.

Things I think I think:

• “People suck sometimes.” Indeed.
• Boss Jr is better than Baby Boss, I’m just saying.
• Tennant has all the answers, she just doesn’t seem to be doing the work.
• Look, Sam, I have to agree with Tennant, I get it, but also …this isn’t even close to what happened to Michelle.
• Okay, Lucy, but are you weirded out by the friendship OR by the fact that the friendship is rooted in food?
• But Kacy is cute, anyway.
• Don’t share your food, Kate. Don’t.
• “Not a lot of folks are both smart and kind.”
• Ernie being THAT nice in a throwaway way, I cannot process.
• I love this team.
• How many more times will I just say: are we ever meeting Jesse’s wife?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Hawai’i 3×01 “Run and Gun”? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS: Hawai’i airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.