NCIS: Los Angeles - Talion - Review: "Great Season Ender"

The seventh season of “NCIS: Los Angeles” has ended with a bang. “Talion” saw the team infiltrating the military academy Sam’s son Aiden attends after Aiden texted Sam the school was overtaken by armed men. Sam immediately goes into protective father mode, wanting to make sure his son is safe. It turns out Tahir Khaled has come for revenge, intending to hurt Sam through Aiden. But the NCIS team works quickly to find their way inside and stop the threat. In the end they arrest Tahir and save Aiden and the rest of the students.

This was an extremely enjoyable season finale. For starters, there was a lot at stake. You could feel the tension in the air. Sam’s scared, intense attitude set the tone, letting us know there was a lot on the line. We know how much Tahir hates Sam and wants payback. There is no doubt in my mind he would have killed Aiden and relished the task, knowing it would hurt Sam. So the plot was intense. We also saw how far Tahir’s men were willing to go, shooting a teacher to get what they wanted. The stakes were real and, because of that, the episode worked well. We may not have seen a lot of funny banter and great character moments, but this time it didn’t matter. The intensity of the plot became the focus, and it proved how well the team works together. The entire episode focused on teamwork at its best. It’s important to this group to work together and support one another, and that was fun to watch. The pacing of the episode also moved quickly, and the plot utilized a lot of skillful elements. Consistent small, thoughtful moments added up to a well-thought-out storyline. It was a fitting season finale – a great way to end the season. Now bring on season eight!

Sam and Callen (and Aiden)

From the moment Sam wakes up to a horrifying text, he is on edge, as he should be. He knows his son is in danger and wants to help. And he doesn’t want anyone (even law enforcement) risking his son’s life even more. He has to be the one to save his son. I respected his line where he said he didn’t care about NCIS or his career – he only cared about keeping his son and the other kids safe. Sam is a good father. And he is putting the most important things first. I thought LL Cool J did a wonderful job in this episode. He made you feel Sam’s tension and underlying fear. He encapsulated the character perfectly. With Sam’s personality, he just wants to fix the situation and save his son – and until he does that, he isn’t going to relax. His adrenaline was running high and he was determined to make things right. But like any father, he was also scared. You just see him jump into action instead of dwelling on his fears.

It was fun getting a glimpse into Sam’s son life – and how many parallels he shared with his father. Just like Sam, Aiden was a brave young man who knew exactly what to do in a crisis and acted without hesitation. He was extremely brave, the man you’d depend on when everything is falling apart. From thinking ahead and leaving his dorm room window open, to choosing to turn himself in and face his attackers, to fighting the men who outnumber him, Aiden proves his bravery at every turn. He’s a mirror of his father. With Sam as his role model, he’s becoming a great man.

I also enjoyed how much Sam believed in his son. When Nell tracked Aiden’s tablet and it looked like Aiden was running, Sam knew better. He didn’t doubt for a second that his son would face the hostage-takers head-on, running to the problem instead of away. Sam knew exactly who his son was, and he believed in his character.

Aiden also changed Sam’s actions. Sam had no intention of letting Tahir live. He was a violent man who’d threatened Sam’s family so Sam wanted him dead at all costs. But that changed when his son watched them fight. As Sam put the knife to Tahir’s neck, he glanced at his son and realized he didn’t want Aiden seeing him kill this man. That is not the man he wanted to be for his son. So instead of revenge, he chose to be a role model for Aiden, a young man who clearly looks up to his father and mimics his choices. I’m sure it was a difficult decision for Sam, but it was the right one. He put his son’s well-being before his need for revenge.

I loved the dynamic between Sam and Callen throughout this episode. We didn’t see their usual funny banter because it wasn’t the appropriate time for it. But we did see two partners with a strong bond and desire to help one another. Callen would do anything for Sam. And he understands what his partner is thinking, which was helpful because Sam wasn’t in the right frame of mind to explain anything. So Callen essentially becomes Sam’s mouthpiece, telling the others why it’s so important they be the ones to respond. I also like that Callen challenged Sam to call his wife and let Michelle know what was going on with Aiden. Sam couldn’t see straight because he was so focused on saving Aiden. Callen had a good point that Sam needed to let Michelle know what was happening. (It was cute that the unmarried partner was giving Sam marital advice.) Of course, Sam chose to ignore that advice but it doesn’t mean Callen didn’t have a great point. Once the standoff was resolved, I liked that Callen once again emphasized calling Michelle. This time, Sam knew his partner was right – even if he made his son do the dirty work.

When the threat was resolved, Callen and Sam return to their friendly banter. Aiden even notices how funny these two are together. But it goes beyond that. They each know how much the other cares. And they appreciate that love. One of my favorite moments in the episode was when Sam told Callen thank you for helping. And Callen responded, “This is what we do, brother.” Hearing Callen call Sam his brother tugged at my heartstrings. They may not be physically related, but they are as close as two brothers can be. That acknowledgement showcased their special bond.

Kensi and Deeks

This episode didn’t focus on Deeks and Kensi’s relationship. But we still saw how close they are and what a good place they are in together. And you also saw how concerned they were about the rest of their team. I love that they knew without being prompted that this was the academy where Sam’s son attended school – and they were immediately concerned for their friend. And when Sam and Callen want to head to the school, Deeks and Kensi insist on going, too – because they’re a team. They aren’t about to let their teammates face danger on their own.

Outside and inside the school, they provide support to Sam and Callen. And they’re good partners together. Even when Deeks doesn’t love Kensi’s idea of posing as a cadet to get into the rec room, he supports her. He was nervous because he knew she’d be in danger. But Kensi can hold her own. She proved that when she took on the armed man at the front of the room. First I was impressed with how quickly Kensi came up with a distraction plan. Then I was impressed with her fighting. Callen and Deeks are both ready to shoot the man with machine guns but can’t get a shot. They nervously tell Kensi to get down but Kensi has the situation under control. She stabs the man before Deeks or Callen can shoot him. Kensi is one tough cookie. And Deeks looked pretty proud of his girl (in addition to being relieved she was okay).

The one fun Densi scene came at the end of the episode when the standoff was over. First Deeks jokes about how the military teacher could get an anchor to cover her bullet scars. Then Kensi shows her love by pretending she has something in her eye so she can lean in and kiss him. (I loved Deeks’ cute comment about Kensi’s “pretty little birthmark,” a nice reference to actress Daniela Ruah’s actual birthmark in her eye.) But just when you think they’re going to end on a sweet, touching moment, things quickly turn funny when Deeks tries to point out his girlfriend has a booger in her nose. This was hilarious. As Kensi gets embarrassed, I love how she turns the tables on Deeks and chooses to wipe her nose all over his shirt. His joking definitely backfired on him. I was really happy Kensi got the last laugh. I thought this was a great season ending for them. The scene was short but showed how funny they are together, how comfortable they are together, and how each of them can dish out the teasing banter and jokes. These two are a great match. And I’m really excited to see what happens between them next season.

Eric and Nell

Because of the nature of the episode, Eric and Nell’s role was mostly forwarding the plot. But their small moments together made a difference. I loved how Nell reassured Eric that things would be okay when he was worried for Sam. I enjoyed how Eric didn’t understand Granger’s request that they should purposefully delay patching in the Secretary of the Navy’s video – but as Nell prompted him, he figured it out. And of course their best scene came at the end when Hetty points out it looks like they’ve already been celebrating because Eric has lipstick on the side of his mouth and cheek. Oh my gosh – these two were kissing! And they got caught! How fun. I often wonder if these two are friends or more. And while she didn’t smooch him squarely on the lips, Nell did kiss him right next to his mouth. Pure platonic friends don’t do that! So whether this was a comforting kiss reassuring Eric that everything was okay with Sam or perhaps more, I loved that they let the fans know something definitely happened between them. And I also loved their adorable response. Both of them were completely embarrassed and tried to cover it up. The way they stuttered around, trying to hide the truth, was so cute and funny. And it wasn’t just Eric – Nell was lying, too. Their amusing excuses belied the fact that everyone already knew they had kissed. This scene was such a fun surprise and great moment for fans.

Other Thoughts

- I went to college with the actor (Mike Peebler) who played the night watchman who died. It was cool to see him in the role!

- I wish we would have seen what happened to the boy who was beaten in the beginning of the episode. And I wish the girl would have made it clear she changed her mind and wanted to stay at the academy after all. It was sort of implied but could have been a more touching moment.

- I loved how Callen questioned where Hetty came from in the gun room and she told him, “I’m everywhere these days, Mister Callen. You should know that by now.”

- How cute that Hetty brought Nell and Eric coffee, even though she doesn’t allow food or drink in Ops. But it was also funny how she told Eric not to get used to it.

- It was nice to see Hetty and Granger working together as they tried to postpone telling the Secretary of the Navy what was happening. I was also amused they were drinking alcohol at 6:30 in the morning! These two are a funny pair.

- The joking about how Deeks would be a military school dropout seemed out of place. It felt odd to hear Sam and Callen joke at a time like that.

- It was cute to see Deeks nervous about the young female cadet holding Kensi’s gun.

- I was unclear if Tahir had ordered his men to kill Aiden right away – or only if someone besides him came into the room. But that made things even tenser as you didn’t know what would happen to Aiden.

- Callen is pretty lucky Aiden was not behind the door he shot through. I know he heard the bad guy’s voice but that was still a risky move.

- With everything Tahir has done to Sam, I was happy to see two big fight scenes between them. It would have felt too easy to just arrest Tahir when Callen showed up with a machine gun. It felt much more appropriate to see Sam fight the man hand-to-hand in a significant battle. Tahir had tried to harm Sam’s son and family. Sam needed to get out his anger. I was glad everyone let him fight it out without intervening.

- I was a little surprised that Sam once again got on Callen’s case for not helping him in the fight. This time Callen knew it was Sam’s fight and he needed to take care of things on his own.

- I’m so excited for season eight. We have several things left over from this season that will come into play next season: Kensi and Deeks getting engaged, finding out more about the mole, and seeing if Daniela Ruah’s pregnancy will factor into any storylines. They certainly did have a lot of discussions about children this year so it will be interesting to see what happens.

- There have been seasons where I have been overly frustrated with the writing and direction of the show. But I can confidently say I thoroughly enjoyed season seven. I felt like things moved at a nice pace, progressing forward instead of staying stagnant. And for the most part the writers really utilized all the different elements that make this show great. They got in a nice groove. That makes me extra excited about season eight. Here’s to a wonderful new season next fall! And thanks to everyone for reading and participating in our reviews and discussions. Even when I didn’t get a chance to respond to comments, I loved reading all your thoughts. This “NCIS: Los Angeles” community is the best! That’s thanks to all of you! I appreciate you all.


What did you think of "Talion?" What was your favorite scene or moment? How did you feel overall about season 7? What are you looking forward to in season 8? Please join our discussion 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.