S13.E02: Fukushu

[thewhiteowl]

NCIS takes the case personally when an LAPD officer’s father, a beloved elderly Japanese American veteran, is the victim of a vicious hate crime.

[LittlePeas3]

Roundtree seemed like window dressing in this episode.  The wardrobe for undercover ops seems a little outdated, since they never seem to do any these days.  If only it they still did undercover.  

While the storyline was valid, it was such a boring episode.  I don't even have suggestions for improvement.  

[milkyaqua]

Filler episode which is fine.

Enough of the Kensi/Deeks family drama.  I've started to mute or turn the channel whenever they start yakking about it.

[threebluestars]

It feels like someone on the writing team is struggling with infertility and using the show to work out their feelings.

[laugard]

I found this episode to be poorly written, lacking any nuance or insight (not that I expect that from this show) and mostly incredibly offensive. Oh really, Deeks, you're sad because this isn't the America you—a straight, white, man—has come to know? Way to take the subject of violence against Asian Americans and center so much focus on how the upset white lead character feels about it. Newsflash Deeks, traveling around the country in your van may have been a different experience were you a Black or Asian man. 

Also tired of the Kensi and Deeks family planning drama.

I never watched this show when it first aired, but then discovered reruns on ION and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I liked how it involved undercover missions and the team aspect, without a overwhelming authority figure dominating the group a la Gibbs on the original NCIS. Callen was clearly the lead agent, but he was also a peer, and Hetty while overseeing them, wasn't out in the field and it was a great group dynamic. The last few seasons haven't been anywhere the same quality as the earlier ones, and mostly I just find the show boring now.

[mythoughtis]

I feel like I  missed an episode.  Callen was screaming about subject 17 last episode and this one he’s been on vacation with Anna.   Kensi and Deeks were stil only thinking about adoption last episode and this week they’ve already signed the application forms. 
I find Roundtree  to be incredibly boring and a poor excuse for Nell and Beale in op center. 

[LadyIrony]

Wow did they lay it on thick this episode. It was like a series of political speeches. I actually lost interest in whatever it was they were trying to solve and I still don't understand how most of the crimes they investigate are linked to the Navy. 

Deeks' speech in the car about being so angry and how America is the best and most powerful country and how could this happen? Ok, so I am not American but he was talking as if crime doesn't happen there. As if the elderly don't get abused as if people in general don't get assaulted and murdered etc. It came off as very try hard and naive. The rest of the team were just as nauseating. 

 

 

[MissLucas]

He!  I thought I had overlooked the 'written by a sledgehammer' in the opening credits.

Also: nobody thought it necessary to call out that bit of vigilantism at the end? I know the franchise likes to flirt with revenge porn from time to time but normally there's at least some lip service done to the rule of law.

[EtheltoTillie]

I thought the son seemed hinky at the beginning but I wasn’t expecting the vigilante action. It seemed totally contrary to what his father would have wanted. 

[Arthur Jury]

Possibly the.worst.episode ever in NCIS LA !!!  Poor stereotypical writing,  predictable characters, boring personal relationship drama, trendy victim of the year mentality, lazy phoned in acting - drowning is self-flagellating white prividge.  NCIS LA needs to remember: get woke, go broke, no joke, ask coke. Many more terrible episodes ike this and this franchise will be gone. 

Edited October 23, 2021 by Arthur Jury

[sharkerbaby]

Preach.  I stopped NCIS NoLo last season during episode 2 because I don't want to be preached at by my entertainment - Thank you very much but I'll pass.    I'm midway through this episode and I'm not sure if I'm going to finish it and if I don't finish it, I can guarantee I won't watch another episode so I'm debating between giving some slack due to loyalty and cutting ties because I'm weary of the social commentary.

[Sweet Tooth]

I don't really buy into pithy sayings as anything people should live by. Some of these sayings are attributed to companies that merely say they support certain communities. I take things on a case-by-case basis.

I think it's fine if these shows want to tackle some real-world problems, but I do agree that it can be given a lighter touch. We don't need to be hit over the head with a sledgehammer in the dialogue. Let the story tell the story. Let it breathe. We're intelligent enough to get the point without long, drawn-out speeches. 

The son throwing away his entire career was ridiculous. Those statements could have been gotten in a much more humorous way, with the rest of the team in on it. 

[LittlePeas3]

is there a reason why there isn't an episode 3 thread yet? 

[Sweet Tooth]

I  saw there wasn't at first, but it was while the show was still on. I'll make one if there still isn't one.

[CheshireCat]

The beginning of that one was sloooooow! LA could clearly use some of the improved writing from the mothership!

Cranky Killbride is starting to get on my nerves. It's funny in small doses but it gets annoying on a regular basis. And I sure hope that he won't complain if any of the agents want to investigate something that is personal; the guy hasn't even been there for a month and he's already using his position for a personal agenda.

And seriously, the guy comes in and starts to bark orders but he doesn't even know what the wardrobe is for? Maybe he should familiarize himself with the unit that he's leading before he takes over? I like the actor but I really hate what they're doing to the character.

The "it gets annoying on a regular basis" also applies to Kensi's and Deeks's private life. Yes, those are concerns that they need to talk about but they do not need to talk about them on a crime show in every single episode and at such length.

Do writers still do research or do they just write what they've heard somewhere? As far as I know, the Quran does not stipulate that women have to wear a Hijab; there are many practicing Muslims who don't wear one and therefore, Sam's statement that Fatima found religion and is therefore now wearing one sounds like Sam does only recognize Hijab wearing women as faithful women. I don't think that is Sam and I don't blame him, I blame the writers.

Speaking of Sam, when did he become such an ass? He and Callen have always had some back and forth but lately, more often than not, Sam sounds almost hostile/aggressive and it doesn't come across as light/friendly anymore.

On 10/19/2021 at 4:17 PM, mythoughtis said:

I feel like I  missed an episode.  Callen was screaming about subject 17 last episode and this one he’s been on vacation with Anna.  

I think he took Sam's advice from the last episode and took some time to get some distance? But yeah, there's definitely something missing. I can see him realize that/talk to Anna about it and coming to the conclusion that getting some distance will give him a new perspective but that's a lot of conclusions and assumptions the viewer has to draw/make.

 

On 10/19/2021 at 1:29 PM, laugard said:

I found this episode to be poorly written, lacking any nuance or insight (not that I expect that from this show) and mostly incredibly offensive. Oh really, Deeks, you're sad because this isn't the America you—a straight, white, man—has come to know? Way to take the subject of violence against Asian Americans and center so much focus on how the upset white lead character feels about it. Newsflash Deeks, traveling around the country in your van may have been a different experience were you a Black or Asian man. 

Good point and likely true.

 

On 10/19/2021 at 1:29 PM, laugard said:

Callen was clearly the lead agent, but he was also a peer, and Hetty while overseeing them, wasn't out in the field and it was a great group dynamic.

I miss Callen, the team leader as well. Hetty always inserted herself when she saw fit but she trusted the team, Mosley had trust issues and that was addressed and Callen argued with her over authority issues. But ever since Mosley left, there are times when the writers have completely lost the team-hierarchy and I miss that. Callen was a great team leader and while Sam often called the shots, too, there were situations when he still deferred to Callen. It was a great team dynamic and I'd like that back!