NCIS: Los Angeles - Citadel - Review: "Plausible and Fun"

The second episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” this season focused on a behavioral research firm called Citadel that was building a network of covert spies within numerous federal organizations. The NCIS team finds out about it after Talia Del Campo’s DEA partner is revealed to have been “flipped.” In reality he was one of these Citadel spies – and their director was selling sensitive information to a Mexican drug cartel for big bucks. Talia enlists NCIS to help her find out what is going on. After uncovering the operation, the team has to bring down the secret network.

I thought this episode was well thought out and interesting to watch. The idea of a federal testing organization actually working its own angles and building its own team of opportunistic agents seemed plausible and scary to me. Therefore the plot felt real and the stakes high. And interspersed throughout the episode were some great scenes between the team. Bringing Talia into the mix once again created some interesting moments with Kensi and Deeks. Sam and Callen were amusing together, and Sam had a nice scene with Kensi where he gave her some helpful advice. Then we saw Hetty throwing her weight around. This episode was a lot of fun to watch. Season seven of “NCIS: LA” continues to impress.

Sam and Callen

It appears Callen has put the search for Arkady on hold for now and is trusting Sam once again. The two partners were back in their grooves this week, going undercover to infiltrate Citadel. I loved watching them argue over who would pass the Citadel test and who would fail. Sam Hanna was not about to fail any test, even undercover. LL Cool J and the show’s writers do such a great job with Sam’s character. He is so wonderfully defined, you really feel like you know him. You could tell Sam was going to win that argument, and sure enough, Callen had to give in and be the one to fail the test. But he also got the last word when he gave Sam his own pop quiz, and then he wouldn’t tell Sam if he’d guessed the answer correctly. Sam couldn’t stand not knowing if he was right. (Though by the end of the episode, Callen has to at least partially admit that Sam passed the quiz.)

During the Citadel test, though, Callen appears to actually have a hard time seeing the images they give him. Every image reminded him of his father – and his father dying. He was lucky he chose to fail the test because I’m not sure he would have passed if he’d really been trying. Of course, he doesn’t admit to Sam that he was rattled. But Sam knows better. Callen’s father is still weighing heavy on his mind.

Kensi and Deeks

I enjoyed the team scene at the beginning where everyone picks their favorite meals. Once Kensi picks an expensive white truffle meal, the boys assume that Deeks treated his lady to this feast. But it quickly becomes clear Kensi ate the meal with someone else in the past. This scene was great as Deeks recognizes what is going on and Kensi tries to appease him, calling him “baby” and telling him the nachos they ate together at a Clippers game were wonderful. Callen and Sam were completely amused at this whole relationship “can of worms.” It was fun to watch the boys enjoying Deeks and Kensi’s light-hearted relationship drama.

But all of them recognize that Deeks is hiding something else. And Kensi can’t figure out what it is. Deeks claims he’s had a plumber at his house fixing a leak. But he is acting strange, and someone keeps calling him. Kensi knows it’s not the plumber. So who is it? Fortunately we find out in the end of the episode.

In the meantime, Talia may be working a serious case, but she is also still trying to worm her way in between Kensi and Deeks – and tick off Kensi. As usual, it works. Now that Kensi and Deeks are together, watching Talia is a little easier to take. But she is still obnoxious. I couldn’t believe she told Kensi and Deeks that she never met her partner’s wife because “I look like this” (staring down at her breasts) and that her partner didn’t want his wife to get the wrong idea. What?! She has such arrogance, but I guess that is Talia for you. Then she playfully fondles Deeks’ face as she gets out of the car. It was nice to see Deeks apologize to Kensi for this, not wanting to upset her. And it was funny to see Talia still get under Kensi’s skin. But Kensi took the high road instead of “bleeding her out.”

Later, Kensi is upset to learn that Deeks will be partnered with Talia in their sting operation instead of her. But she takes some advice from Sam and lets it go. The team needs her skills as a sniper instead. But that means she gets to watch them and listen to everything Talia is saying to Deeks, holding his hand in the sting operation and pretending to be a couple. Deeks thinks the ploy is crazy, but in the end it works because the woman they’re trying to lure in the sting operation believes the only reason Talia would turn traitor is for love.

I found it interesting that the same woman mentioned Deeks’ behavioral tests showed he would eventually turn against the LAPD. This scene was set up to make us question Deeks in the internal affairs investigation again. The woman said Deeks’ tests showed he had authority issues, a talent for manipulation, and a fixation for revenge “for that one time…..” But Deeks conveniently interrupts her before she says any more, making us wonder what that “one time” was. I hope we find out soon! Just when I thought Deeks had nothing to hide, they make us wonder again if he really might.

When the case wraps up, Talia compliments Kensi in third person right in front of her. In essence, she won’t say anything nice directly to her face. This annoys Kensi, who is trying to take Sam’s advice and react less and let things go. But it was kind of hard to let go of what Talia does next. I was shocked to see her grab Deeks and plant a kiss right on his lips – as Kensi watched. Deeks looked completely uncomfortable as he squirmed away. Talia is a little she-devil. I could not believe she would do that! But I was very impressed with Kensi as she took the high road once again and didn’t get mad, realizing Talia was just playing games with them and Deeks didn’t want any part of it. That showed Kensi trusted her boyfriend, even after he had been hiding things from her. She sweetly tells him she has made a reservation for white truffles at the expensive restaurant she’d mentioned before. But Deeks looks distracted. However, he makes a decision in the moment and tells Kensi he has a better idea if she trusts him.

This is when we learn Deeks’ mother is in town, and she has been staying at his house (and calling him a lot). Instead of telling Kensi, he pretended he had a plumber there. But now he is revealing the truth – and takes Kensi to meet his mom. What a sweet scene. Deeks feels it is the right time to introduce his girlfriend to his mom. Kensi is nervous when she realizes what’s happening. But the introduction goes well. She is herself, declining Deeks’ mother’s invitation to learn how to cook. But after a long pause, we see it doesn’t bother his mother. Kensi and Deeks have just undergone another big step in their relationship – meeting a parent – and they passed with flying colors. (And wasn’t it cute how Deeks admitted he liked Kensi in front of his mom?) Though this was a short scene, it was a really nice moment.

Sam and Kensi/ Callen and Deeks

I enjoyed watching Sam seek out Kensi to make sure she was okay and give her relationship advice. Sam recognizes that Kensi is a perfectionist, and she wants to extend this perfectionism to her relationships. But if anyone is a perfectionist, it’s Sam, so he is the perfect person to give her perspective. He basically tells her that you can’t force solutions to problems, especially in relationships. He says you have to let things flow on their own, with “more being, less doing.” Kensi takes the advice to heart and stops trying to fix everything and just let things play out. This worked well for her. I guess Sam knows what he is talking about. The dialogue in the scene felt a little forced to me, but the idea behind the scene was really sweet.

In his own way, Callen also gave some advice to Deeks. He advises Deeks to realize something that isn’t a big deal to him may be a big deal to Kensi. Of course, Callen cares about how the job will be affected by the personal drama between Deeks and Kensi. He doesn’t want anything knocking them off their game as they head into a sting operation. Once again, we revisit this idea that the couple’s personal relationship could affect their work. But it’s nice that their friends and partners are trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. They’ve created a supportive environment for the couple to help all of them thrive.

Hetty

I loved Hetty in this episode! It was so fun to watch her show up to take down the director of this rogue operation, Dr. Rathburn. As Rathburn implies Hetty failed her behavioral tests, it was fun to watch Hetty unveil that the “HL7” test was actually named after her, Henrietta Lange. She definitely had the upper hand there. She always has a stash of secret information in her back pocket.

I also loved how Hetty gave Callen a gift at the end of the episode – an electric shaver so he could clean himself up. (Though I admit I’ve kind of liked seeing him scruffy!) This showed me that she and Callen are back on solid footing for now. They had some tense moments in the last episode but they have put those behind them to move forward.

Other Thoughts

- Bennett, the man who tried to recruit Callen for this rogue operation, didn’t know who he was messing with! Callen turned the tables on him in seconds.

- It was cute watching Deeks figure out that the thumb drive of DEA informants was in the shoe of the slain DEA agent’s wife. That Deeks is an observant one!

- By the way, did you notice those “expensive” shoes were actually Jessica Simpson shoes? Not exactly the fancy shoes they’d been referencing.

- I loved watching Callen try on that hot dog hat at the market where they conducted their sting operation. That was a fun touch.

- I was surprised when Bennett was revealed to be alive, wearing a bulletproof vest. I love good surprises like that.


What did you think of "Citadel?" Were you shocked to see Talia kiss Deeks? What was your favorite scene? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author - Tonya Papanikolas

Tonya Papanikolas is an online, print and broadcast journalist who loves covering entertainment and television. She spent more than 10 years as a broadcast news anchor/reporter and now does everything from hosting to writing. She loves covering NCIS: Los Angeles for SpoilerTV. (She's a big fan of Kensi and Deeks!) She also writes SpoilerTV articles on other great shows.