NCIS: LOS ANGELES 9x02 "Se Murio El Payaso"

There's another case in Los Angeles! But even before we relive it, it's logical to begin this review where the episode began, introducing the most marmite part of the episode: the inclusion of Anna Kolcheck, prospective ATF agent, Callen's girlfriend and daughter of OSP's sometime-collaborator Arkady Kolcheck. She's a divisive character: the internet echo chamber has as many promoters of Anna as it does detractors. Me, I'm a promoter. Bar Paly is not only a beautiful woman - to fit into the beautiful cast we already have, and the gorgeous LA backdrop - but Anna and Callen together is just cute. Stick Anna in front of an Xbox in the only room in Callen's house that seems to have any furniture and you have a recipe for hilarity, with an extra topping of the reminder of Callen's quirky nomadic tendencies. I only find it a shame that we didn't see Callen joining her in a quick Halo 5 match at the episode end.

Anna and Callen prepare to search the clothes store
Image: CBS

   However, before we move on from Calann (not sure if that portmanteau will stick), we have to relive a little more of the hilarious cuteness from early in the episode. The scene I'm referring to is their furtive search of the clothing shop. When Anna said she had a plan, I didn't think she meant Callen would pretend to be desperate to exit their relationship, to the point where he referred to Anna as "Gollum", while she searched the store; this whole scene was one of my favourites and very well-played.

   But once leads from this search began pushing the story forward, the focus became more about Sam and his undercover operation with Secret Service agent Nicole Dechamps (who some may remember from season 8's "Old Tricks", the episode set in a retirement home). If there is one thing I'm on the fence about, it's the socially inept, recluse persona Sam adopted to become financier Mr. Brighton. LL Cool J portrayed the persona extremely well, I'm just unsure - even with the explanatory exposition - that LL Cool J could ever be convincing as meek or frightened. Still, it's another part of the episode that felt nuanced and interesting, different from the usual NCIS LA.

   This episode was, in essence, a very fresh and invigorating one. Alongside Calann (is it catching on yet?), and Sam's intriguing Mr. Brighton persona, Deeks and Kensi spending almost the entirety of the episode in interrogation with the daughter of the Peruvian counterfeiting lord OSP sought - a woman whose perennially unruffled demeanour made for some captivating moments - was a clever way of conserving our energy for the escalation of the other 2 main plot strands. It even whipped up a decent twist, with the daughter, Lucilla, transpiring to actually be a decoy named Claudia whose capture by OSP allowed Mr. Marca (the counterfeiting lord) and the real Lucilla to escape the country.

   And if all of that wasn't filling enough, Hetty finally tracking down the agent, Harris Keane, who, decades before, had survived a helicopter crash alongside her, in a Vietnamese jail, was a spellbinding cliffhanger.

All things considered, I enjoyed "Se Murio El Payaso" more than the premiere. It was a very busy episode, which can only be a positive, while Anna Kolcheck heightens any episode she's involved in (if I had my way she'd have been main cast last season). I look forward to more good standalone episodes this season, along with a "dynamic storyline" in Hetty's disappearance to Vietnam that far outstrips the Kensi coma plot that brought down season 8.

RATING: 9/10

POINTS OF NOTE

• "She's like Gollum, but instead of the One Ring she wants a purse and a belt and a watch, a car!"
• Still waiting for Anna to cold-cock someone just so I can use the phrase "Kol-cock".
• Kip Pardue played Michael Silva, the guy fronting Marca's business; I only recognise Pardue as Ben, the male nurse who had a fling with Sam Taggart in ER. Not sure what the point of this point of note is, but still. I'm including it.
• In my last review I mentioned Mosley and her lapdog would be in this second episode. They weren't, and if anyone's wondering why it's because CBS switched the episodes around. This was originally the third episode. I presume we'll see them back next week - and no doubt there'll be a sense of discord from this episode juggling.