NCIS: Los Angeles Season 7 Episode 12 Review: “Core Values”

Happy New Year NCIS: Los Angeles fans! The first half of Season 7 had plenty of Densi progression, the show’s superb 150^th episode, and as always, quality NCIS family time with their fearless leader at the helm. Hopefully, this is a positive indicator of what we can expect for the back half of NCIS: Los Angeles‘ seventh season.

A Gunnery Sergeant by the name of Patterson collapses after being exposed to external radiation. NCIS is called in out of concern for how Patterson was exposed to the radiation: by accident or something more sinister. Kensi and Deeks find out from Patterson’s very pregnant wife that he took a security job to make ends meet, but it wasn’t at a construction site like she thought. Patterson was actually working security at a nuclear power plant. His former employers are less than forthcoming and much too giving with their fake sincerity. This leaves Kensi and Deeks to go undercover at the plant.

In the meantime, Callen and Sam are left a cryptic message and are met by a man who works at the plant by the name of Chadmont. Chadmont warns them that the plant is not safe. Even more troubling is that there is missing security footage from the night Patterson was exposed. Chadmont is exposed for intentionally messing with the plant and the security footage so that he could show the world why the plant is dangerous. This seems to tie the case up in a neat bow, until the backup generator is blown up. Unfortunately, that’s just the warm-up. Chadmont was not only reckless; he was downright idiotic in his actions. He unintentionally helped a homegrown terrorist gain access to the plant, where he placed a bomb. Sam and Callen are able to stop the blast, until they realize it was just a distraction from an even bigger, more sophisticated bomb located in a spot ideal for maximum damage. Sam and Callen have the unfortunate task of disarming the bomb with some help from Granger, while Kensi and Deeks take care of the terrorist.

This case brings up an interesting dilemma for Deeks. While undercover, he makes a random comment about leaving the LAPD since he’s thinking about settling down. It may have been a flippant comment made under a false persona, but given Deeks’s precarious association with the LAPD after NCIS: Los Angeles‘ midseason finale, which only brought Densi closer together, it’s not a stretch to think about it. Whether because of this, his relationship with Kensi, or both, the day may soon come where Deeks has to make a decision about his future. In the meantime, we can keep enjoying Densi lullabies such as the one the couple sang to the sergeant’s newborn.

Here’s to a Happy New Year and the rest of the NCIS: Los Angeles season!

[Photo credit: Scott White/CBS]