NCIS: Los Angeles Archives

The healing continued with but one mention of Mosley.

There was a thought-provoking case, and Anna went away on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7.

The theme was "There but for the grace of God," with no good feeling at the end.

The approach wasn't at all subtle, but it worked.

The case of the week was one of the borderline cases. An arms dealer, who got praised as a good man by his girlfriend, was killed soon after arriving in Los Angeles. After a cursory investigation, it was determined that the killer had had special-forces training.

OK, that's a reason for the OSP to get involved. The trouble was they were already well underway.

But this was hardly the first time NCIS got drafted before any military connection existed, and it won't be the last. So I'll move on.

While it was nice that Sam did Eric a solid by getting out of Ops and into fresh air (well, relatively fresh, being L.A.), was there a point beyond that? So Eric could download on site the camera he found? That was hardly a case breaker other than to help them decide, "Yup, this killer's good."

Some good news was an intriguing possibility for a recurring character appeared with Bill Goldberg playing Lance Hamilton.

New Face in Town - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7

Lance was more than a little cagey about his job. He was like a secret, one-man, investigative unit/wrecking ball. You know, like in any action movie starring a present or past pro wrestler.

Except for Dwayne Johnson, He has ascended.

I enjoyed how Lance and Sam met cute after a motorcycle/truck chase, with Lance totally unfazed by the equally muscular bald man smashing out the window of the truck. The fact he was unafraid should have been a clue he was on the side of the angels.

It was good to see Tom again if only long enough for him to drop off intel on Lance and remind us that Mosley isn't completely gone yet, just off getting the price off the heads of she and her son.

One of the few funny scenes was watching Deeks try to puff himself up while standing next to Goldberg, but still, he looked like a scrawny surfer. Don't worry, Deeks. At least your hair's better.

I hate those episodes when the suspect is more a victim than a villain. Daniel lost his son to a drive-by shooting because there was a drug dealer next door, so he targeted high-level criminals. He also lost his wife in the process.

In Pursuit - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7

That's also the premise of many an action movie where we cheer on the vigilante who technically is breaking the law.

No wonder those pursuing Daniel were more than a little conflicted, especially ex-servicemen Sam and Lance. As Lance noted, if he did the same thing Daniel was doing while in the military, he'd earn a medal.

Their pursuit of Daniel was temporarily interrupted as Deeks had to talk his way into the restaurant, charming the hostess only to be told he reminded her of her dad.

Been there. Ouch!

That's what Deeks does in small doses -- lighten the mood.

When caught, Daniel wanted release from his pain, and he got it with suicide by Sam. Hopefully, Callen and Lance were able to get him past blaming himself for Daniel's death.

Lance and Sam determined they were similar individuals. But where Lance disappeared off the grid, Sam chose to live his normal life, supported by his family and friends.

Much on His Mind - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7

Lance recognized they were kindred spirits, which is why he invited Sam to come work with him. It'll never happen, but it would be a cool spinoff.

Now back to Anna.

The powers that be dropped the ball on this character.

Sure, her relationship with Callen was going nowhere. So have the ATF transfer her east, and bring her back sparingly like with Joelle.

If it was important to have the storyline with her shooting Sokolov (it truly wasn't), then have her plead temporary insanity, as she feared for the safety of her father. She could be brought back after an unspecified period of time.

Now, instead, Callen is going to have to carry the burden of being partly responsible for Anna being jailed. He's got enough on his mind, what with his father missing overseas and his sister disowning him. Plus, he's got to lead the team whenever Ochoa isn't catching the red eye back and forth to D.C.

Speaking of Ochoa, I can handle him in charge, although he would be my third preference, behind of course Hetty, then Kilbride.

View Slideshow: CBS Cheat Sheet: Is Criminal Minds Really in Danger?!

To check out Ochoa, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

How did you like Lance? Did you feel sorry for Daniel? Did Callen do the right thing about Anna?

Comment below.

Did Callen find a way to save Anna Kolchek?

That was the plan on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7 when the agent's sentencing drew nearer and Callen felt like there was something he could do to help.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 7 Online

Meanwhile, the NCIS team partnered with the State Department after the murder of an arms dealer was connected to a series of crimes.

The plot thickened when it emerged that the suspect had elite special forces training.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

OK, so maybe the Office of Special Projects team was in more trouble than originally was evident.

It was a look at one possible future on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8.

If so, it's going to require more big-picture thinking than ever before on the squad's part.

Most episodes, it's black and white, figuring out who the bad guy is and chasing down him or her. Easy peasy.

But this time, the team was forced to go down the national-security rabbit hole, and they didn't like it much.

Frankly, other than Kensi, they were all fairly sanctimonious about the whole operation.

That's because Kensi was right in the middle of it when three servicemen breached a military-launch facility with an eye to bombing Muslim nations on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 9 Episode 7.

She knew about the secretive Patton Project, whose members are just as fanatical as the Muslim terrorists they hunt.

So she got what they're up against and understood why they needed to be stopped, at all costs.

I Spy - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8

All the others seemed to feel offended that Ochoa lent them out for that kind of mission. There seemed to be a whole lot of clucking about losing their proverbial souls.

But let's face it: any agents trained by Henrietta Lange are going to be, shall we say, creative.

That's why they were right for this assignment. They would find an innovative way of heading off a cell of the Patton Project without dropping bodies all along the way. They got the job done without resorting to Shaked's kind of tactics.

It's not right to come down totally on Shaked, last seen on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 8 Episode 6. He's a creature of his environment. The ex-Mossad agent has seen horrible things in his past, coming from a land surrounded by enemies. He takes the most direct, if ofttimes brutal, route to accomplishing his goal.

It's easy for the OSP to look down at him from the safety of Los Angeles. But he was a Jew working to protect Muslims, his natural enemy, from fanatical military men, so he deserved some credit for that.

Yes, his methods were heinous. That's why Turk was there, to keep Shaked somewhat in line.

Sketchy Mission - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8

Turk has been as great an addition this season as Mosley was a bad addition to NCIS: Los Angeles Season 9.

He's kind of an agent without a portfolio, who doesn't seem to answer to anybody and is can do things that the regular team, under scrutiny, just can't.

I loved Max Martini in The Unit, and Turk is a kickass soldier along that same line. Let's have him pop up whenever the OSP needs that little bit of extra help

Eric and Nell also gave an edge to the squad by digging up deep intel to which they shouldn't have had access. That kept them a step ahead of Shaked, which limited the body count.

Now if only Eric can get past his insecurity. When dispensing info, Nell gets to the point much faster than he does, and time is always of the essence. There is no "I" in "team," Eric. Nor in "Ops."

I'm still not sure what to think about Ochoa. As a Washington insider, he knows you have to play the game. The OSP was about to be scattered to the wind, so he volunteered them for an op they would find distasteful, but for which they were well suited, once they somewhat set aside their scruples for the greater good.

Cool Runnings - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8

I still think he has their best interests at heart, especially if he can requisition them all new cars. Deeks could use an upgrade from that skateboard.

I'm just afraid this means no more Hetty. She's still in the credits, so there's hope.

On the flip side, no Mosley either, so there's hope.

I'm in the minority in that I'm Densi weddinged out, but it was funny watching Deeks playing "Terrorist or relative." He was right that some of Kensi's relatives looked sketchy.

Still, this begs the question if this was a one-time thing or a new direction. If so, they're going to be sorry about all the times they looked down their noses at Sabatino and other CIA agents.

The other question is whether the Patton Project will be this season's big bad. There were more than 100 suspects on the list Eric and Nell compiled, and they arrested exactly one. So this is definitely a storyline worth further investigation. A little conspiracy cracking never hurt anybody.

View Slideshow: CBS Cheat Sheet: Is Criminal Minds Really in Danger?!

To follow the team's chaotic season, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

How are you enjoying Turk? How about Ochoa? What did you think about this new direction?

Comment below.

Was the future of the team in jeopardy?

That's what Callen worried about on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8 when Deputy Director Ochua volunteered the NCIS team with a covert operation tied to a terrorist group advocating for the extreme military force.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8 Online

With the fate of the team uncertain, the characters tried to complete the mission in a quick manner.

However, things took a turn when one of the team members were put in a compromising position.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

As more and more women are being recognized around the world politically beyond just their beauty, we couldn't help but recall our list of 47 Sinfully Sexy Jewish Men on TV. It didn't seem fair to leave the men without their competition.

Since it’s about more than just brains and beauty, this list takes into consideration women of the Jewish faith who exude confidence, strength and own their power.

In celebration of the spotlight finally shining on amazing Jewish women, here are some of the most badass TV babes of the bunch.

49. Melissa Rauch

As Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on "The Big Bang Theory," fellow Jersey girl Melissa Rauch juggles being married to Howard (Simon Helberg) with her job as a microbiologist, all while handling first-time motherhood like a (lady) BOSS.

48. Zosia Mamet

Zosia appeared on "Mad Men," United States of Tara," and "Parenthood," before scoring a leading role on the HBO series, "Girls." As fast-talking Jewess, Shoshanna Shapiro, we never tired of hearing every word that quickly came flying out of her mouth!

47. Sara Gilbert

Sara might not be a conventional beauty, but her stock as a badass is through the roof. Not only is she twice nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role as Darlene Conner on the sitcom "Roseanne," she also kills us as the adorably dorky Leslie Winkle on “The Big Bang Theory." And that's not all Sara's slain. She'also a co-host and the CREATOR of the daytime talk show, “The Talk.” Come on Y'all -- Gilbert's got GAME.

46. Lisa Edelstein

Once Dr. Cuddy on the medical drama, “House," Edelstein recently helped independent ladies find their way as Abby McCarthy on "The Girlfriend's Guide To Divorce." Nowadays Lisa's back where she belongs in official doctor mode as Dr. Blaize on "The Good Doctor." and we think it's a very good move.

45. Jane Levy

Jane played Mandy Milkovich on Showtime's "Shameless" and in 2011, landed her first lead role on the sitcom "Suburgatory." Levy has since strayed from comedy to prove just how frighteningly talented she is on Hulu's psychological thriller, "Castle Rock."

44. Mayim Bialik

If you were alive in the 90s, you likely remember Mayim as the young star of "Blossom." Since then, Bialik's back on TV as Amy Farrah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory," coupled up with hubby Sheldon (Jim Parsons) as the female half of the smartest newlyweds on television. As the neuroscientist to his physicist, Mayim's supersmart character isn't exactly a stretch -- because Bialik's a neuroscientist in real life, she doesn't just play one on TV.

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This spinoff is shaping up well.

The foundation for NCIS: Hole in the Wall was slowly forming on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9.

First, there's Callen, living above the bar, who would serve as the bouncer. He has already been making himself at home in the neighborhood, which is a pleasant change of pace for Callen.

And now Roberta as their bartender? Genius.

Not that it wasn't amusing watching Deeks and Kensi realizing how little they knew about running a business, and how they both were far too picky when it came to choosing employees.

All told, this is a positive development. It's been a while since there's been a successful NCIS spinoff. I'm not counting the stillborn NCIS: Red, from which Kim Raver, John Corbett, and Scott Grimes were freed to go on to better things.

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 8 Review: The Patton Project

Also, it's been a while since a winning sitcom was set in a bar. You'd have to go back to Cheers and the criminally short-lived Frank's Place. Sorry, I forgot It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Still, there's always room for another one around.

Let's just hope Densi's bar happens quicker than their wedding has.

Then there was the subplot about Eric and Nell living together. Or, as I like to call it, Meerkat Manor.

Quiet Moment - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9

I'm shocked there's turmoil in paradise already.

Even before they've found a place to live, arrested adolescent Eric has been buying toys with which to fill it, without consulting Nell. Quelle surprise!

I understand that if it's an episode where Kensi and Deeks, are simpatico, the relationship drama has to come from somewhere, even if it is about piddly shit.

Eric's used to just listening to his inner child. That's why he keeps getting caught playing video games on expensive government technology. So it's going to take a while for Eric to adjust to sharing his living space. And Nell's just the person to bring him around.

This was also the first episode in too long that there was no continuing uncertainty. No mention of Hetty or Mosley, just Ochoa giving them an assignment then mostly staying the hell out of the way. He's come to appreciate the local way things get done, I think.

I've got two words for Ochoa: weekly rates.

Celebrity Shutterbug - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9

The case was properly convoluted enough that it defied solving, at least for a half-hour.

So the naval officer and the Pakistani general were college roomies sometime back way before the millennium. Then the general, who hasn't stayed in touch, suddenly needed a place to stay because, like, his reservation fell through. That wasn't at all suspicious.

Then shockingly there was a robbery, just as the two couples had sat down to a nice meal.

Related: CBS Cheat Sheet

Then everyone's a suspect: the general, the general's country, rogue elements, even the officer's wife's Instagram model daughter. After that, politics and diplomacy mucked up the investigation.

Fortunately, it was a simple smash-and-grab by the girl's boyfriend and some thugs, who had no idea what they had, leading to the equally buffoonish fence. It's a good thing that that was the lesser part of the case needing solving.

Did anyone not guess that the doe-eyed diplomat was the Taliban mole? Why else even make her presence felt?

Neighborhood Newbie - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9

Was Abidi a traitor for his willingness to reveal the Taliban encampments to which his government was turning a blind eye? No. He was doing the right thing for the murdered daughter.

It was a good thing the team was able to find a way to gain asylum for Abidi and his wife so that they could start over away from painful memories.

It was a great episode for Kensi and Deeks starting with the bartender interviews. I loved the Deeks-as-photographer scene, which showed them both feeling old. Then there was their grilling of Lucas, who rolled so easily, and the collecting of the stolen merchandise.

There was also the early scene with Sam and Callen, giving each other grief while strolling and sipping their coffee, a reminder of their strong bond of friendship.

Is this what we can expect for a while, strong team interaction while solving mostly self-contained cases? I'm good with that, even though it does feel a bit like treading water. Long, drawn-out story arcs aren't essential.

I want Hetty back, but Linda Hunt's availability is being played close to the vest. Ochoa will do in the meantime, with recurring characters worked in where it seems organic.

View Slideshow: 49 of TV's Beautifully Badass Jewish Babes

To catch up on this season as the holiday hiatus nears, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

Which pairing did you enjoy the most? How soon did you solve the case? What're your desires for the next third of the season?

Comment below.

Did Deeks and Kensi find the right person to manage the bar?

That was the big question on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9 when they realized that they were not going to be able to invest much time in it.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 9 Online

Meanwhile, the NCIS team investigated the home invasion of Navy Captain Dean Hadlow, who was ambushed when robbers took money, jewelry, and highly classified information.

Things took an explosive turn when it emerged that the person Dean was liaising with could be behind everything.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

What an odd little episode!

Polite bank robbers led the squad to a seemingly corrupt Navy contractor on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10.

But nothing was as it seemed.

A Corrupt Consulting Firm - Tall - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10

Except for Rogers. He was still pretty much a dick.

The revolving door of adult supervision kept spinning, and this time it spit out the special prosecutor we all thought was gone. But I suppose you don't hire Peter Jacobson for a one-off.

And Rogers frankly was ... almost tolerable.

The team just figured out how to work around him, most by avoiding him in Hetty's many hideyholes but also sometimes by either ignoring or bullshitting him.

It was mean of Nell to sacrifice her socially awkward boyfriend leaving Eric to entertain Rogers, who he already feared because you can always bet on Eric to blurt out exactly the wrong thing when he's nervous.

Still, that division of labor worked. While on the run, Nell could even come up with the information that the duos in the field needed. If Hetty can't come back, maybe Nell should be put in charge.

Working From the Shadows - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10

Oddly, Rogers actually attempted to bond with Eric offering life lessons and boasting about his IT skills. Then they ended up playing video games in Ops after solving the case.

I think one of the highlights of the episode was when Rogers insisted in riding in the Hellcat's child seat, then Sam terrorized him during the car chase with the Saudi agents, as Callen cackled in the shotgun gun.

Talk about your initiation!

I think Rogers got down off his not-so-high horse and learned to appreciate the OSP work process, like Kilbride and Ochoa before him. They may seem to be involved in a lot of unrelated activities, but they get results, and isn't that what matters?

The case of the week turns some enjoyable twists and turns, starting with the polite robbers who left their plastic guns and the borrowed cell phones. I wonder about the significance of the Lincoln masks.

Stephens, the contractor, was hiding something, likely in her safe-deposit box. Sam was clever to determine that the robbery's main purpose was to expose Stephens' operation, whatever that might be.

Under Investigation - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10

Her being a veteran CIA deep-cover operative selling lousy intel to the Iranians was a nice touch. I didn't get why the Saudis would want to disrupt that. Wouldn't operations planned on such false information damage their main rivals in the Middle East? Were these rogue agents?

What a timely statement by Callen, when he threatened to turn Stephens over to the Saudis so she could be sent back to Riyadh in several diplomatic pouches. That makes you wonder when that script was written.

Related: CBS Cheat Sheet

Another wonderful scene was Deeks chasing Greg the wannabe actor on motorized scooters, only to have Kensi knock down Greg with a skateboard. What an appropriately California chase scene!

Greg continued the series' exploration of the vacuous Californian. Already this season there's been the snooty hostess, the self-absorbed trust-baby and now the airheaded, unemployed actor. Still, I'm sure there are many more variations of the stereotype to explore.

Although Sam seemed to think this would get NCIS in trouble with the Saudis, I'm not sure why it would. Now they know about Stephens' true mission, but so what? Yeah, the CIA isn't supposed to work on U.S. soil, but it seems to regularly, at least on TV.

Nearing Completion - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10

Will Stephens join the rotation of CIA operatives interacting with NCIS? Maybe. But haven't those types of storylines been overused enough on NCIS: Los Angeles?

Finally, there was Deeks' bar, which seems like it's almost ready to open. That was a helluva quicker than Steve and Danny's restaurant on Hawaii Five-0, which they bailed on ultimately.

That bar looked exactly like I expected Deeks would design, kitschy as all get-out. Also, it's apparent that it's going to be Deeks' bar, with Kensi steering clear of operations as much as possible.

It's also clear the new running joke will be what the bar's name is going to be. I can't believe The Blowhole is its final name.

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11 will be the holiday episode. Is it too much to hope that Hetty will come back then? Probably so. More likely after the hiatus.

View Slideshow: 49 of TV's Beautifully Badass Jewish Babes

To catch up before the break, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

What should Deeks call his bar? Which fill-in leader do you want to see more of? Should Stephens become a recurring character, or is once enough?

Comment below.

Was Veronica Stephens the villain everybody thought she was?

On NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10 a bank heist to steal a single safety deposit box held by the Navy contractor seemingly painted her in a bad light.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 10 Online

That's why the NCIS decided to investigate whether her consulting firm was corrupt and if she was working with known people who opposed the NCIS.

Meanwhile, the team learned something new about Hetty.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

Alas, still no Hetty.

But the usual elements of an OSP holiday episode were present on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11.

There was a fairly easily solved case of the week, leaving time for the personal interactions that make this series so much fun.

Enjoying the Holiday - NCIS: Los Angeles

This year's festivities got moved offsite because Special Prosecutor Rogers was being a stick in the mud about people drinking around firearms.

Since the episode started with a Marine reservist shooting up a Christmas-tree lot, maybe, just maybe, he had a point.

Let's talk about Rogers. He's not adding much to the dynamic, other than making Eric even more tightly wound than usual.

Yes, he's less annoying than he was when first introduced on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 4. But just marginally so.

Still, this revolving adult supervision (it can't be called leadership) among Kilbride, Ochoa, and Rogers gives me hope that Linda Hunt will soon be able to come back as Hetty, maybe as soon as after the holiday hiatus.

If that wasn't the case, wouldn't the powers that be have settled on a new unit chief by now, halfway through the season?

At least the substitutes haven't been outright obstacles for the team, unlike, say, Mosley. So that's a plus.

Scene of the Crime - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11

They also haven't interfered with the pairings upon which the series was built: the bromance between Sam and Callen, the cutesy couple Deeks and Kensi and the brainy couple Eric and Nell.

Mosley broke up these couplings far too often, implementing change for change sake. But that doesn't mean that shaking up things occasionally is a horrible idea.

One example would DeChamps filling in again for Callen, just like she did on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 2.

I once thought that she might be Sam's next great romance. I've since decided that Sam is one of those widowers who doesn't look to date again after the great love of their lives dies.

Sam and DeChamp have decent chemistry. They shot the breeze about their holiday plans and seemed genuinely interested in each other's lives.

Sam welcomes her like the cousin from out of town with whom he enjoys spending time. Only instead of drinking beers at a barbecue, they're tracking down criminals.

Or, in this case, hunting down the victim of criminals. Bad enough that Garza was already dealing with PTSD. Now he got drugged for his knowledge of waste-management procedures as well? Talk about adding insult to injury.

Preparations Underway - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11

The whole scheme seemed pretty convoluted: Stalk an employee to find out when expired drugs were to be destroyed then steal the truckload of drugs especially for the geniuses who parked the loot right near the drug dealer's home, while he's having a party.

Little wonder the whole takedown took about five minutes, including the time for punchlines.

But hey, this was yet another occasion where the case was incidental. The two Marines fixed the damage they caused while drugged, no harm no foul as far as their military careers, and Garza's girlfriend was there to support him. Peace on Earth, goodwill to men, etc., etc.

Related: CBS Cheat Sheet

Eric and Nell did what they've been doing most of this season, working around restrictions imposed by the chief pro tem while helping out the teams in the field. It seemed odd that they weren't making their usual elaborate holiday plans until Eric sprung that complete Old English dinner at Yosemite on Nell. That felt right.

The running joke was Deeks poaching food for the OSP holiday party at his bar. I don't know why he was so freaked out. As long as the booze was flowing, any decorating or culinary deficits would be overlooked.

Deeks' impromptu toast to those who couldn't be there was touching. It was especially telling that Mosley wasn't on his list.

Festive Couple - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11

One who wasn't there was Callen, sitting watch at Anna's bedside.

I'd always wondered how Callen and Anna had seemed to unravel. Granted, relationships aren't his strong suit, but their drifting apart just didn't seem organic.

Also, like Arkady, I didn't understand why he didn't cover for her in her shooting of Sokolov. If he had backed her up, that ATF investigation would have gone nowhere.

Is there some professional reason she wants to be in prison? There must be. Otherwise, why subject herself to the abuse that she will continue to receive as a former member of law enforcement and Arkady's daughter?

At least Arkady seemed to have come around on how Callen feels about his daughter so that he and his tovarish are on good terms again.

Now, after the hiatus, let's hope that Hetty comes back and the series gets out of the holding pattern in which it seems to be.

View Slideshow: 49 of TV's Beautifully Badass Jewish Babes

To catch up during the hiatus, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

What's Anna up to? Do you want to see more of DeChamp? Did this episode have enough holiday for you?

Comment below.

Did someone kill a Marine reservist?

On NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11, the team joined forces with NCIS Special Agent Nicole DeChamps when the aforementioned reservist went missing following a drunk and disorderly altercation.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11 Online

While thinking of the past, the team learned that the missing man had a history of PTSD and worried that it could be the cause for him being missing.

However, someone stepped forward with a surprising piece of the puzzle.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

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Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

It's happened to all TV viewers. A series that had captured our attention over time loses a certain something.

Then, somehow, things turn around.

It might because of a different narrative direction. Or a new actor. Or a cast that just gels.

You can't always put your finger on why. It somehow works again.

Check out the shows below and see if your most-improved series is here. If not, feel free to add it in the comments.

1. American Horror Story

It works for reality shows. So why not do a greatest-hits mashup for an anthology series? The last few seasons of AHS have been a roller coaster. Cult was mediocre at times and dull. Apocalypse made up for that lackluster season with the return of several amazing characters from Coven and Murder House. Sarah Paulson ended up playing three characters all by herself. The pacing picked up, the story was interesting again, and it breathed new life into the series.

2. Arrow

Arrow Season 6 was probably one of the shows worst seasons the show had, so it's been such a fun surprise to see Arrow Season 7 thrive the way it has. It feels as if the show hit a reboot button almost because many elements that made Arrow so special in the beginning were brought back. Oliver's prison storyline was fantastic and the Felicity and Laurel dynamic has been a breath of fresh air.

3. Big Brother

Big Brother Season 20 made up for the complete and utter mess that was Big Brother Season 19. Instead of Coasters and Floaters that made up the BB19 cast, the batch of house guests in BB20 came to play and they were so likable/fun. Plus, the drama heightened week to week with blindside after blindside. Big Brother Season 20 was one of the best seasons of Big Brother to come along in five-plus years, and it got fans who gave up on the series to become invested again.

4. Black-ish

Black-ish Season 4 was too much dramedy. It got bogged down with the tensions between Andre and Bo which then got suddenly pulled back from the brink with her father's death. Maybe the writers were distracted by the grown-ish spinoff. Black-ish Season 5 has regained its pacing and Junior's "gap" year has been a hilarious storyline.

5. Daredevil

Daredevil Season 3 was by far the best one of the series. Daredevil Season 2 was the weakest and focused too much on Elektra and the Hand. Neither were as interesting as Wilson Fisk and bringing him back for Daredevil Season 3 was a great call. The story was gripping from beginning to end and the actors put in some of their best work. So why did Netflix cancel it, and will it return in another form?

6. The Flash

After two subpar seasons, the series came back with a fantastic The Flash Season 5, rebooting a bit by having Barry and Iris's daughter Nora West-Allen come back from the future, and resurrecting its amazing The Flash Season 1 villain, with Tom Cavanaugh playing several versions of Harrison Wells. There was no Kid Flash, but Nora, Ralph Dibny and Cecile Horton all were promoted to series regulars, with the show benefitting from those changes.

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The best type of ships are the ones that take seasons to actually happen.

They keep the audience on the edge of their seats and sometimes just seeing them stand next to each other is enough to ignite your inner fangirl.

It takes serious dedication to stick with a slow burn ship. In fact, we've included a few that are still waiting patiently in their ports.

But if you can stand the wait, these relationships are almost always worth the investment.

Check out our slideshow below of 31 ships that took seasons to sail!

1. Jane and Rafael - Jane the Virgin

Whether you're Team Rafael or Team Michael, it definitely took a while for these two to get together. However, given the most recent events of the show, we don't have a clue what's in store for them next.

2. Barney and Robin - How I Met Your Mother

No one expected Barney and Robin to fall for each other at the beginning of the series. On the outside, they seemed like they were complete opposites, but the more we got to know them, the more their relationship made sense.

3. Eric and Nell - NCIS: Los Angeles

Eric and Nell somehow manage to be extremely badass together and extremely adorable together. And we wouldn't change a thing about them.

4. Lucifer and Chloe - Lucifer

These two have been denying their feelings for far too long and everyone can see it. Thankfully, they finally seem to be seeing it themselves.

5. Oliver and Felicity - Arrow

Oliver and Felicity have it all. Slow burn, angst, break-ups, and make-ups! Even though it may have taken a while for them to get there, they're finally where they belong. With each other.

6. Charles and Liza - Younger

Charles and Liza didn't become a thing until a little later on in the series. But if we're being honest, we're still more on Team Josh.

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Now and then, it's good to have one of those ripped-from-the-headlines episodes, somewhere other than on Law & Order: SVU.

So a recent espionage trend showed up on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12, giving it a more timely feel.

There's been the mystery, often speculated on but not solved, about what made American embassy staffers in Cuba and China ill, whether it was some kind of sonic attack or something else.

Studying the Evidence - Tall - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12

I can accept those nations' intelligence apparatuses developing some secret weapon to drive out those they suspect of being spies.

But were we supposed to buy a disgruntled, xenophobic engineer and a couple of loan shark's thugs were capable of designing and employing such a device, so precisely that it affects only one individual?

That seemed unpretty unlikely.

What, they couldn't disable her by having their insider dupe slip something into her coffee, that would keep her out of business for a couple of days?

Still, this being TV, we suspend our disbelief and hope we don't trip over the plot holes.

A Tiny Clue - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12

So let's leave the case of the week behind for a time and speak of the OSP's pairings instead.

Sam and Callen were copacetic.

Sam ragged on Callen for being an unimaginative workaholic and Callen basically had no defense.

So they focused their energies on, duh, investigating.

Eric and Nell were tiffing with each other, and it was affecting their performance.

You know things were bad when Deeks, of all people, told them nicely to get their shit together.

View Slideshow: 31 Ships That Took Seasons to Sail

All of that occurred over the tuna sandwiches Eric had prepared for their lunches and that Nell had forgotten.

That was on Nell. After all the time she had spent working with Eric, and the short time living with him, she had to realize he is touchy, insecure and anal.

That shouldn't be news to her.

She's got to focus on the qualities she loves about him. I mean, look at Kensi and Deeks.

She's learned to roll with his Deekiness, and he's gotten a skoosh less hyper through the years as a result.

There was actually some fun Kensi-Deeks wedding planning this episode. Make that honeymoon planning.

He wanted adventure; she wanted culture. No surprise there.

Sam had some fun ideas, Callen didn't get the concept of vacation, and they knew better than ask Eric, who stumbled into the discussion.

Insider Accomplice - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12

Deeks' idea of putting all the continents in a hat was inspired.

Fortunately, Kensi didn't pull Antarctica.

South America does offer tourists more than drug cartels and rampant hyperinflation.

And the pair came up with another socially conscious choice, volunteering in a rural area of Peru.

Also, I'm enjoying the new setting this season -- Deeks' bar.

I know it's Kensi's as well, but it's genuinely a Deeks creation.

It gives the team a homey place to unwind after a tough case, and it does beat them drinking Hetty's Scotch after hours at the office, although I'm sure the liquor is lower quality.

View Slideshow: Golden Globes 2019: All the TV Winners!

I'm sure naming the bar is going to be a season-long running gag. However, I liked Kensi's suggestion of The Bar With No Name.

It had a real spaghetti-Western quality to it.

And if the bar is going to become a recurring character, let's make Roberta one as well.

I love how she makes Deeks squirm, as the only person who seems to put less thought into what she says than Deeks does.

Let's have Monty there as well for those episode cappers.

Bar with No Name - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12

Finally, this mission worked just fine without a substitute leader.

The six of them have been working together so long that they don't always need adult supervision.

Plus, since Hetty isn't available, there's no clear choice among the others to be in charge.

Hopefully, this cobbled-together approach ends soon.

Now, back to the case. It was a timely concept, but oh so convoluted a crime.

Let's look at it in broad strokes: Impair the logistics commander, so you can insert her compromised underling, who will provide you with the timetable and routes for cruise-missile deliveries.

Knock out the truck crew with the microwave weapon, then use the missile to make a political statement.

View Slideshow: 13 Stuttering Shows That Made A Comeback In 2018

Couldn't the money they poured in this misadventure have gotten them the weaponry they needed, not as flashy as a cruise missile but still functional, from any disreputable arms dealer?

Then again, other than the engineer, they didn't seem like the sharpest pencils in the box.

To catch up on the season at the halfway mark, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

What did you think of the case of the week?

How about Kensi and Deek's honeymoon choice?

How long will it take Eric and Nell to adjust to being together 24/7?

Comment below.

Was a terrorist trying to take down the chief of logistics for a naval weapons station?

The team entertained that theory on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12 when the man collapsed on the job and everyone tried to determine whether it was a stress-induced breakdown or something more sinister.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12 Online

Meanwhile, Kensi and Deeks researched different honeymoon locations, but quickly realized they didn't agree about the type of locale they wanted to visit.

Who stepped in to help them?

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 13 Stuttering Shows That Made A Comeback In 2018

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

Sometimes, there's just no comic relief.

Of course, that was to be expected when chemical attacks in Syria were at the heart of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13.

Nope, this one was sad pretty much from beginning to end. And that's alright, occasionally.

Kensi Comforts Sarraf - NCIS: Los Angeles

Like on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 9 Episode 7, when radical service members took over missile silos in hopes of blowing up Muslim nations. Kensi was at the forefront of that one as well, in part because she was the only one skinny enough to slip inside the silo to retake the command center.

Daniela Ruah is great in these serious episodes because she can emote effectively when needed. The rest tend to take the stiff upper lip approach.

Those seeking escapist TV needn't have switched on here.

The fact that the Assad government used chemical weapons on its own people, including many children, was a crime against humanity.

This episode mirrored the same sense of futility at the conflict. Eighteen months after the U.S. pounded a Syrian airfield in retaliation for the chemical attack, American service members are pulling out of the country, ceding it to the butcher Assad.

In this one, David sought to get some justice for his son who killed in the chemical attack, only to be killed by one of Assad's generals for an incriminatory flash drive that he smuggled out of the country.

Through his talks with Kensi, we did find out what drove David to take such huge risks in order to expose the Assad regime's crimes against the Syrian citizens, so that by the time his end came, it was as much a gut punch for viewers as it was for the team, especially Kensi.

Unexpected Help - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13

They then spent the whole episode trying to recover the flash drive to make David's sacrifice worthwhile, failing in that effort. At least David found peace in the end, but I doubt anyone else did.

At least we got some more insight into Turk this episode.

Turk this episode was more like Max Martini's character on The Unit, all kick-ass and take no prisoners. It was nice to see him cut loose.

Turk had been a fun addition this season, although there was always the question of why he worked alone. We found out why ... that Nasar had had Turk's longtime NCIS partner killed in the most gruesome of ways.

Obviously, Turk had been keeping his ears open for any opportunity to get to Nasar, even if it got in the way of what the OSP was trying to accomplish. Also, they were bound to obstruct his whole killing-Nasar plan.

Getting the Rundown - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13

This is what happens when Hetty's not around. Being the intelligence ninja she is, she would have picked up on what Turk was planning and headed it off.

Instead, it was the locals and Turk working against each other rather than together, with the expected results. I'm just glad the outnumbered Deeks knew to stay undercover until Sam and Callen's timely rescue.

It was good that in the end Turk settled for beating the crap out of Nasar. I doubt there will be much blowback because of Turk's actions. Nasar will undoubtedly again be turned over to the Lebanese, who will make a weak protest before he's spirited back to Syria.

That's why this whole episode felt like a waste. A good man was dead, and an evil man was allowed to walk, as no evidence was found. Kensi got put through the emotional wringer, and for what?

To the Rescue - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13

This was a good day to own a bar so that it was easy for the team to get a stiff drink. Maybe Roberta will be there to dispense some timely wisdom for these battered souls.

I suppose the message was that one man can't make much of a difference when it comes to geopolitics, especially in a morass such as Syria.

Hopefully, when NCIS: Los Angeles returns, the topic will be a little more upbeat with something like a threatened terrorist attack.

The only frivolity came early when Eric was using his best Renaissance Fair voice to show Deeks how to deliver his wedding vows. Kudos to Nell for keeping a straight face when she came in at the end of that performance.

View Slideshow: 13 Stuttering Shows That Made A Comeback In 2018

To find the best of Kensi, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

What was your reaction to David's noble sacrifice? Was Turk right to leave Nasar alive? Will there be any repercussions?

Comment below.

Did the NCIS team manage to help a Syrian seeking justice?

On NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13, the Global Criminal Tribunal asked the team to step in when a man named David Sarraf was brutally attacked while delivering evidence that could prove chemical weapons were used on civilians.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13 Online

With the media catching wind of the story, the team had to try and keep details quiet to protect David.

However, Kensi learned the hard way that it's difficult to comfort someone who is close to death.

Use the video above to watch NCIS: Los Angeles online right here via TV Fanatic.

View Slideshow: 13 Stuttering Shows That Made A Comeback In 2018

Catch up on all your favorite shows and reviews and join in the conversations with other fanatics who love TV as much as you.

With the 2018-19 TV season well underway, it's time to take a look at how the new and returning series are performing and their odds at being renewed for the 2019-20 season.

Most shows on CBS are on the downside year-to-year, and that could give some of the more marginal shows a fighting chance at garnering a reprieve.

Criminal Minds which was expected to conclude with a truncated secured an early renewal for another season.

Have a look at how the CBS shows stack up and hit the comments with your thoughts.

1. The Big Bang Theory - Ending

The Big Bang Theory will wrap up in May 2019 at the close of its twelfth season.

Season to date, it is averaging 12.7 million total viewers and a 2.3 rating in the demo. It's down in the ratings, but could have continued for several more years if the powers that be wanted to keep it around.

It's still a strong performer on the DVR front, with the demo tally swelling by over 70 percent with a week's worth of DVR factored in.

2. Young Sheldon - Certain Renewal

Young Sheldon is down over 20 percent in the demo this season, but 10.9 million viewers and a 1.7 rating is a fantastic result for any show.

With The Big Bang Theory ending, it will likely become the network's highest-rated series. It will be around for a long time.

3. NCIS - Certain Renewal

NCIS is showing stability this season. Currently averaging 12.1 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating, it is right on par with last season's average.

It surges more than 50 percent in the demo with seven days of DVR factored in. Even if some of the cast members want out, CBS will not want to part with the show quite yet.

4. Mom - Certain Renewal

Mom has always been a reliable performer for CBS. With 8 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating in the demo, it's still very safe.

5. The Neighborhood - Certain Renewal

The Neighborhood has been a consistent performer since it debuted earlier this month. Averaging 6.4 million total viewers and a 1.1 rating, CBS has already rewarded it with a full season order.

6. FBI - Likely Renewal

This freshman drama is averaging 9.3 million viewers and a 1.1 rating. The show is adding almost 60 percent to the demo rating within seven days, so that's a major positive. If it can stop the week-to-week bleeding, it should be safe.

View Slideshow

It's always fun when a familiar face from daytime shows up on your favorite primetime show!

If you're a soap fan, you might not be expecting to see your favorite daytime stars in primetime, but more often than not soap stars land cameo and guest appearances on popular evening shows.

Here are our top 17 times soap stars guest starred on primetime series. Did you recognize them when the shows aired?

Miss any of your favorites? You can watch full TV episodes online here on TV Fanatic to refresh your memory.

1. Vanessa Williams - The Flash

Vanessa Williams is best known to daytime viewers as Valerie Grant on Days of Our Lives, but if you watch The Flash, you may know her better as Francine West, Iris West's estranged mother who struggled to re-establish a relationship with her daughter after two decades.

2. Eric Martsolf - Rizzoli & Isles

Eric Martsolf plays good-hearted Brady Black on Days of Our Lives, but on Rizzoli & Isles Season 5 Episode 5, he got the chance to play a murderer! Martsolf's character killed a terminally ill cancer patient -- and not because of her illness either, but because of a twisted family situation that rivaled any soap storyline.

3. Daniel Cosgrove - Law & Order: SVU

Soap veteran Daniel Cosgrove who most recently Aiden Jennings on Days of Our Lives had the opportunity to play the protective father of a boy whose mother was, among other things, raping his best friend on Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 10. This powerful story also marked the long-running procedural's 400th episode!

4. Mary Beth Evans - Law & Order: SVU

Mary Beth Evans' appearance on Law & Order: SVU Season 10 Episode 1 was no accident. NBC wanted to cross-promote by giving some of its daytime stars cameo roles on primetime dramas. In this case, Evans played a doctor who was overly quick to prescribe ADHD meds, making her the semi-evil twin of her character on DAYS, who is a far more conscientious and ethical doctor.

5. Shawn Christian - The Rookie

Shawn Christian is no stranger to either daytime or primetime, having played significant roles on the defunct As the World Turns and as Dr. Daniel Jonas on Days of Our Lives as well as having played Rachel's gynecologist on a famous episode of Friends. Most recently, Christian was featured on The Rookie Season 1 Episode 6 as a rogue cop who the force had to track down. Interestingly, Christian was not the only soap star featured in this episode, as Aaron D. Spears from Bold & the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives played Mr. Campbell, the father of a victim.

6. Drake Hogestyn - Criminal Minds

Drake Hogestyn, best known as super spy John Black on Days of Our Lives, played a senator on Criminal Minds Season 13 Episode 16. Ironically, his character stood up to an ineffective BAU chief to get the team back together at the same time that his DAYS character failed to stand up to a weak ISA chief who wanted him to poison his best friend.

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Running a bar has to be looking better to Deeks and even Kensi.

That's because of a terrorist attack on Los Angeles on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 14.

The whole episode seemed designed to hammer home the message that life is short. Kensi was especially vulnerable to feeling that way after watching whistleblower Sarraf slowly die on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 13.

Working With the FBI - NCIS: Los Angeles

Kicking ass and taking names was no longer enough for Kensi. She wanted to help people, but she seemed uncertain of how best to accomplish this.

After a bumpy patch near the end of last season, Deeks and Kensi are back to being a solid couple again. That doesn't mean that all their issues have been worked out. And I'm not just talking about the entrees at their wedding.

Being a second away from being blown up is enough to make anybody pause and take stock.

It was a lovely scene with Kensi and Deeks lying in bed discussing what the future might hold. They were both feeling their years and their mileage. Kudos to Deeks for not saying, "I told you so."

Fount of Information - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 14

When it comes to being part of law enforcement, Deeks has had one foot out the door for a while now, hoping against hope that Kensi will follow. He's mostly still at OSP to keep Kensi safe. It's entirely possible to conceive of Deeks trimming those ratty locks and moving into corporate security.

Then there's the Bar With No Name. Perhaps that will turn out to be Deeks' gap year before moving into the private sector. How long do new bars last in L.A.?

Besides, Kensi still doesn't seem onboard with the whole bar idea, as much as Deeks wants her to be. I think she sees it as a phase he'll outgrow.

A better question is can Kensi ever wean herself off the adrenaline? Of the entire squad, she would miss the action the most.

Find theTarget - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 14

And yet her experience with Sarraf is having a lasting impact on Kensi. Hearing about the murdered FBI agent just becoming a father hit her hard. She also reached out to help the homeless woman, not really expecting anything in return.

It's clear Kensi is struggling with something. What's less certain is what the result will be. I don't see them going anywhere, but maybe they'll take a hiatus holiday to ponder their future.

Or better yet a hiatus honeymoon. There is still a wedding in the works, right? I suspect it's just being held until Hetty can return to be a part of it.

Now onto the terrorist attack on Los Angeles.

Seeking a Location - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 14

First, let's give the powers that be credit for a balanced portrayal. If there's going to be a Muslim terrorist cell, let's have a Muslim agent helping with the effort to find it. Show that, like with any race or religion, there are good and bad representatives. It's a more layered approach.

I like Fatima. Despite all the crap she must have taken growing up during the post-9/11 and current xenophobic eras, she's still in there fighting the good fight, both figuratively and literally.

It was a nice touch to have Fatima be a fangirl of Nell's. She gave Nell just the boost she needed after her self-doubts about her abilities. Eric seemed a little threatened by Fatima, but then he's threatened by a lot of things. It comes with being the neurotic comic relief.

Fatima will obviously be back for the conclusion of this two-parter. I expect she will be the one to come up with the group's target after she overcomes her initial shock,

Incomplete Intel - NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 14

But I could see her working with Nell and Eric, much as Hidoko did last season. Having three in Ops would allow at least one member of the trio to do some fieldwork during the rest of the season.

But that's probably expecting too much for a new character. Still, it would be a nice change of pace to have a probie there among the veterans, to steal a term from NCIS.

As for the terrorists, I wouldn't be shocked to find out the missing Omar is actually the cell's leader, although that seems unlikely from his wife's description. But then, she could be in on it as well.

This was definitely a timely choice of a villain with terrorist attacks around the world, especially Europe. It's unrealistic to think that terrorists can't be homegrown here as well. Thankfully, this ongoing jihad didn't get wrapped up in one hour.

But it's also important to have Muslim protagonists such as Fatima and Agent OA on FBI, rather than taking the antagonistic, simplistic approach of some political leaders.

I still hold out hope for Hetty's return after having Sam walk in on Callen's continuing effort to find her and his father. I'm betting both of those searches will bear fruit by season's end.

View Slideshow: 13 Stuttering Shows That Made A Comeback In 2018

To follow those searches, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

How did you like Fatima? How well was the topic of terrorism handled? What's going on with Kensi?

Comment below.