Photo credit: @NCISLA
Here’s my review of NCIS Los Angeles season ten episode “Into the Breach.” Please note that this isn’t a recap of what happens. I’m assuming that you’ve already seen the episode. There are spoilers in this review.
It’s hard to follow after a well-done pair of episodes, but “Into the Breach” did a decent job of trying. It wasn’t a spectacular episode by any means but it had several very nice character beats to make up for the pretty standard plot.
This season has felt a bit disjointed because of the lack of leadership and an overarching plotline, so the pacing has been strange as well. Due to all that, there hasn’t always been a lot of time to devote to the characters. We just jump from one episode to the next without giving characters a lot of time to react to what’s been happening in their lives. It’s just been a lot of mostly meaningless wedding planning chatter with Kensi and Deeks. Callen had a brief and confusing b-plot with Anna as she was sent to jail. And Sam really hasn’t had much focus outside of work at all. (Jokes about Otis the sea lion’s diet aside.)
So what I enjoyed about “Into the Breach” was the focus it put on Sam and Deeks, outside of a case.
Let’s talk about Deeks first. While I’m excited about the upcoming wedding, I feel like we’ve been inundated with wedding planning all season. It’s cute (sometimes) but it doesn’t really add a whole lot to either Deeks or Kensi and their relationship together at this point. This episode, however, pivots to focusing on Deeks and his mother Roberta. Unlike plenty of her past appearances, Roberta isn’t as over-the-top here, so she feels like a more relatable character. She even gets a rare moment of vulnerability when she admits to her son why she doesn’t want to dance at the wedding. It’s resolved perhaps a bit too neatly (thank you, health inspector guy), but the final scene of the two dancing together is really sweet, so the tradeoff is worth it.
As for Sam, much of his storyline in the episode is centered around Callen teasing him about a supposed “date” with Agent DeChamps. It was really just a hangout between friends, which Sam insists to Callen the whole time. As always, it’s so entertaining to watch their banter-filled friendship play out on screen. Jibes about shoes and jokes about sea lions are great. But what really elevated this b-plot was the last conversation they have about the subject at the end of the episode, where Callen tells Sam that it’s okay for him date if he wants to. He’s basically reminding Sam that it’s okay to start moving on after Michelle if that’s what he chooses to do. It’s a brief moment but an even more excellent demonstration of their friendship than the constant banter. Their friendship is based on strong support, and it’s really nice to see that kind of thing represented on TV.
Of course, DeChamps may or may not be interested in dating either. But that will have to be a story for another time, I suppose, because there wasn’t much time to get her point of view in this episode. She was preoccupied with the court case she was dealing with, but that too provided an opportunity to flesh out her character a bit. She’s a nice recurring character to have around, and it was a bonus to pair her up with Kensi this time to see their dynamic.
The case itself was not as high-stakes or as adrenaline-pumping as the previous two-parter, but it had enough twists to keep things mildly entertaining. The pacing didn’t lag at least so things kept moving right along, one discovery after another. I thought it was a good message to show that Ikande was trying to do good in the wake of disaster, especially in helping to tell Ruya’s story along with the others. It’s a shame the journalist getting murdered kicked off this case, because I would have loved to see her perspective as well.
“Into the Breach” might not be an episode I want to rewatch often, but it had plenty of enjoyable parts to it. With the next episode being THE WEDDING EPISODE, perhaps we needed this kinda low-key breather episode anyway.
Notes from the Boat Shed
- I absolutely loved how the episode opened with that misdirect with the bird watchers. On this show we’d expect shady people doing surveillance, but they were just watching birds! Fun!
- Honestly, the Lakers aren’t that good this season so… Sam picked the better option to hangout with DeChamps instead. Sorry Callen.
- I’m baffled by the decision to have Roberts in this episode. Since he’s not investigating anymore, why send him there? (Was his actor the only one available??)
- My favorite kind of moment: Callen says it’s gonna be tough to figure out foul play in the crash, and then Sam: *immediately finds evidence of foul play in the crash*
- My favorite line of dialogue: “You and I, we’re just gonna stay friends” LOL
- We got a minute or two of Sniper Kensi, and for that I am grateful.
- I’m always a fan of Callen’s mathlete jokes directed to Sam.
- NOT THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN. DEEKS NO. <—the actual note I made after Deeks said he’d throw himself into the chocolate fountain as a distraction. Please Deeks, if you have to make a scene, throw yourself into the vegetable tray. No need to waste good chocolate!
- Predictions for the wedding episode? Will the Tiffanys be there? Will Monty?? Who’s gonna catch the bouquet? And if Hetty doesn’t show up, do we riot? (Note: please do not actually riot. Thanks)
So what did you think? Like it or hate it? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Notorious Rambler 