Episode 3, Season 12 - "Angry Karen"

Before anything else, I think we can all agree that the fact that the cast and crew are working during the current pandemic is something that they should all be applauded for getting done. It's obviously affected the way the series is being written and filmed: no more "team" meetings in the bullpen, no team briefing in OPS, and no team after work gatherings in the bar and the in-person scenes have been replaced with a lot of phone conversations.These are all to be expected while working during a pandemic, but that they're working is something positive.

Now that we've covered what's different because of the conditions, there are some things that shouldn't be affected, such as the quality of the storylines. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case so far this season, and although the storyline of "Angry Karen" has a few issues, it's really pretty tight. There are some general things I hope the writers will work on during the season.

First, if writers don't show or tell us something, as viewers, we don't have it. So, while we know Nell came back to do Hetty a favor three episodes ago, we have no idea of her current status at NCIS. Nell reminded Hetty when she returned that she no longer worked at NCIS, so since she's still "acting Operations Manager," someone besides Hetty must have approved her stepping in. After all, it's doubtful Nell would have been speaking to Sec Nav if she wasn't authorized to be in OSP by someone back in DC. A single sentence could clear up her status. 

Second, even when Hetty isn't running OSP, there is a clear hierarchy in place, so the first agent Nell should be calling when there's a potential case is Callen as the team leader. He would be the one sending Sam out to meet an anonymous whistleblower at night on a deserted street without backup (yea, right). And I get that Hetty's everywhere, but since no one on her team knows where she is, how did Hetty know his information dealt with national security? 

Third, maybe the writers could slip into a conversation somewhere that this season is taking place after the COVID pandemic. Sam's remark about lots of people working from home seemed a little strange only because no one on the show talks about COVID. It's okay that the pandemic is over, but for the characters to ignore the impact and changes it brought to daily life is just strange. After all, it might have more to do with the bar's lack of business than the fish on the wall.

Lastly, it's much more effective when we see something instead of being told things. Now, to the episode itself.

It was an interesting idea: a scheme to bilk the Navy out of millions of dollars by creating a fake company contracted to build a fake missile that is "approved" by a corrupt Navy commander but discovered by a civilian accountant working for the Navy.

There were some problems along the way. As mentioned, the first was Sam meeting an unknown informant, alone at night. That would never happen, especially since Nell gave him the assignment instead of the informant calling Sam directly. Gemmill has been with the show long enough to know the hierarchy. 

The scene between Kensi and Deeks gave us a reason for his absence in the episode (that was nice since having Hetty disappear with no reason is already one character too many), but Deeks seems to have turned into something of a whiner. I mean, Kensi seems to do all the heavy lifting--carrying cases of liquor--while Deeks sits and makes comments about his choice of bar decor. He may not "complain," but he sure seems to feel sorry for himself, and I get that he's disappointed about his liaison position being terminated, but he still has a job.

It would have been nice to see the roommate call 911 instead of tell Sam that she did. After all, she didn't have to enter the apartment (Sam didn't) to make the call, but these little bits of  "action" could help keep the storylines from being slowed down by too much dialogue. If the writers can show what happens, they should.

There was more action in this episode: the car crash at the beginning, the gurney "hit" by Rountree, the "gnome" smackdown by Kensi, the shootout with the commander, and the drop-and-roll by Callen out of the Hellcat. It was strange to have the two characters who instigated the investigation--the whistleblower and the accountant--never actually appear and take part in the episode.

There was also less humor in this episode. Kensi made a joke which Fatima appreciated but Deeks not so much. And then there was the "human directional" scene. I admit I loved Callen and Sam in this scene, but I wish it hadn't been so out of character for two experienced federal agents. I'm not sure why they approached lizard-man the way they did--without identifying themselves as federal agents and then knocking him down with a punch. Even rewatching it, I still don't understand the logic behind their approach. After all, when they got lizard-man in the boatshed, he seemed genuinely concerned about his missing friend, and he was the one who cracked the case by showing them the plans for "Angry Karen," the bogus missile. Once Callen and Sam got this information, the resolution of the case was swift. 

The scene in this episode that felt most like NCIS:LA was the final scene between Callen and Nell. She's not Hetty, and only time will tell if she can do the job, but to find that out, the writers will have to give her some more challenging cases to manage. That's something I look forward to seeing.

All-in-all, it was a pleasant episode.