Back in December 2013, we posted our first discussion about the relationship about Callen and Arkady. With the former KGB’s reoccurrence again in Beacon, we thought it was appropriate to reflect on the interesting relationship that these two have had from the start and what may be coming up in Beacon.
Beacon (S6E21) Press Release…
Callen and Sam are shocked when an old acquaintance they thought had been murdered shows up and asks for their help. Their investigation uncovers a possible breach of America’s economic sanctions against Russia.
The press release for Beacon had us curious to know who the old acquaintance was, until we watched the promo and realized that it’s Arkady Kolcheck. Based on the sneak peek, we witness someone’s attempt on Arkady’s life (think back to the Third Choir), making the team think that it was Arkady who was killed. But while the team are concerned over how this news affects Callen, he refuses to accept his old friend’s death.
(Callen knees down beside the charred body)
“This doesn’t feel right. There’s no way knowing who this is.” (Stands up) “Dental records are going to take forever.” (Shrugs) “Maybe Arkady’s not dead.”
Sam: “Fascinating”.
Callen: What!”
Sam: “You’re not sure how you feel about your friend, Arkady being dead.”
Callen: “Let’s get one thing clear, we weren’t friends. I was ready to pull the trigger on him myself, a few times.”
Sam: “Don’t let me get on your bad side.” (Beacon, S6E21)
Notice Callen’s refusal to call Arkady a friend. In previous conversations they have had an easy banter, Arkady was concerned about Callen enough to let federal agents arrest him, and Callen trusted him to watch his back; these are all things friends would do. Add to that Callen’s unwillingness to accept that Arkady is dead and it seems he doth protest too much. Sam knows Callen is stonewalling him and he’s letting him, also knowing it’s hard for Callen to deal with how he feels about the former KGB officer.
But.
Later, the formerly-known-as-dead Arkady comes to them for help. We don’t yet know how that has happened, but maybe we can piece together the story that brought him to this point. Let’s take a look back at that conversation earlier in Season 6, The Third Choir (S6E04), which may be what’s led to this attempt on Arkady’s life.
(Sam and Callen enter gym)
Callen: “Not answering your phone?”
Arkady: “I’ve been busy. How did you find me?”
Sam: “Your ex-wife’s sister.”
Arkady: “Which one?”
Callen: “Svetlana.”
Arkady: “Aah, she always talked too much. Must be genetic.”
Callen: “Arkady, what are you doing here?”
Arkady: “My doctor told me to join gym.”
Sam: “Yeah? Probably expected you to work out.”
Arkady: “I’m between sets.”
Arkady: “In case you haven’t noticed, Cold War is back, only it’s not so cold lately. And for someone like your Hetty who has a head full of secrets they’d love to get their hands on, this is just the beginning.”
Sam: “What does that mean?”
Arkady: “I mean, it will get worse before it gets better, and your Hetty won’t be the only target.”
Sam: “Who else will they go after?”
Arkady: “Use your imagination.”
Callen: “We’re not playing around, Arkady. Who else will they go after?”
Arkady: “I don’t know! And to be honest, I don’t care. I’ve got my own problems.”
Callen: “We will be your problem if you don’t start to level with us.”
Arkady: “You don’t scare me – but they do, because I am one of the people they will come after.”
(Callen and Sam turn to leave)
Sam: “Don’t strain yourself.”
The Third Choir (S6E04)
In the past, it’s been Callen who has turned to Arkady for help to solve a case, except for in Tin Soldiers. Here the tables have turned, it’s Callen and the team’s turn to help Arkady. However, he might not be the only one in trouble. Arkady might be the canary in the mine of buried secrets; his attempted murder is signalling that it’s not safe for those who carry old knowledge of a past war that may not be over.
How do you think this new information ties into previous storylines like Hetty’s attempted kidnapping and the mole? With the team heading to Russia before the season ends, do you think Arkady will appear again? Do you want him to? Share your ideas in the comments.
Let’s take a look back at each episode so far with Arkady Kolcheck…
Season 1 Pushback (S1E07)
Callen suspects that Arkady was the one behind his shooting (NCIS Legends episodes), only to find that he had sent his foster sister, Alina Rostoff to warn him.
Season 2 Tin Soldiers (S2E15)
Arkady sends Niko to see if Callen is living in the old Rostoff home and wants him to look into something for him. At the end of the episode, we see Callen and Arkady caught up in a battle and having each other’s back.
Season 3 Neighborhood Watch (S3E22)
The team needed information with regards to a Russian sleeper agent. He reacts to one of the women in the photos, but distracts Callen and Sam. This is the first time Arkady helps Callen with a case and not just personal matters.
Arkady: “She resembles my ex.”
Callen: “Which one?”
Arkady: “The one who recently passed, God rest her soul.”
Callen: “Aren’t they all dead?”
Arkady: “I do not have best luck with women.”
Sam: “Think how they feel.”
Arkady (to Callen about Sam): “I do not like him.”
Season 4 Rude Awakenings (S4E06)
Sam and Callen meet with Arkady down a lane way to inquire about who might have stolen the nukes and killed the Russian sleeper agents.
(Referring to Sidorov) Arkady: “It’s a delicate subject matter.”
Arkady: “Don’t judge. Morally corrupt people are my business!”
Arkady: “Oh, don’t be naive. We both spent decades pointing nuclear weapons at each other’s children.”
Season 4 Wanted (S4E17)
But Arkady is needed again when a Russian is found dead with his index finger cut off.
Arkady: “You two still together. That’s nice. You’ve lasted longer than any of my marriages. What is secret?”
Arkady: “Why would I know? Because I’m Russian? We all look the same to you? You think I know everything every Russian is doing in this state?”
Callen: “Only the criminals.”
Arkady: “That hurts.”
Season 5 Reznikov, N (S5E04)
When the Comescus kidnap a man whom they believe to be Callen’s father, he turns to Arkady for help.
(At Arkady’s home, he’s enters the house, on his mobile)
Arkady: “Fine, fine. You do that. And when you come back to me to complain about them, remember what I told you -I know, I know. It’s just business. But when you come back to me, price is double. Yes, it’s just business.”
(He opens the fridge – grabs a gun and wheels around)
Arkady: “I should tell you, I’m having bad day. Come out slowly.”
(Callen makes himself seen)
Arkady: “You trying to get yourself killed?”
Callen: “Not with that gun.”
(Callen shows the shells from Arkady’s weapon)
Arkady: “Now you leave me defenceless against my enemies.”
Callen: “Who leaves a gun in the fridge?”
Arkady: ‘We all do. How did you get in?’
Callen: “Parked the car in the back alley, jumped the fence. You’ve got a security camera blind spot by your pool.”
Arkady: “Thanks for finding it.”
(Callen hands a photo of a younger Arkady with Reinhardt)
Callen: “That bring back some memories?”
Arkady: “I’m more handsome now. Richer.”
Arkady: “Ask the real question. The one you came to ask me.”
Callen: “Is this my father?”
Arkady: “No one has ever introduced themselves to me as your father. So maybe he is, maybe he isn’t.”
Arkady: “Do I owe you favor?”
Callen: “No. But when this is done – I’m gonna owe you one.”
Arkady: “Then it is business.”
(Arkady loads his gu and its it into the small of his back)
Arkady: “Ay-yi! Gun is still cold.”
Arkady: “My brother-in-law’s car.
Callen: “It may get a little rough.”
Arkady: “Is okay. I don’t like him anyway.”
(Boat Shed)
Kensi: “Sit down.”
Arkady: “No, after you.”
(Kensi glares at Arkady)
Arkady: “Okeydokey, dokey, dokey. No niceties today.”
Kensi: “Where’s Callen?”
Arkady: “I don’t know.”
Kensi: :Okay, we found you beside a car with two men who’d been shot to death. We swabbed you for gun residue. And when that’s processed, what do you think we’re gonna find?”
Arkady: :That I fired weapon. Self-defense. Agent Callen will tell you same thing.”
Deeks: “Well, then you better hope we find him alive, pal,’cause he’s the only friend that’s gonna vouch for you.”
Arkady: “I don’t know where he is. I know what he went to do, and I can truthfully say I don’t know where he went to do it.”
Deeks: “Why’d you wait with the bodies? You could have been long gone by the time we got there.”
Arkady: “Because I wanted you to know what happened, what Callen was going to do.”
Kensi: “Why?”
Arkady: “Because Callen is a friend of mine and I don’t want him to die today.”
These two have had an interesting history. At first, they appear to not care for the other and Callen in particular has trust issues with Arkady. But when it comes down to it, when it really matters, it appears that these two men really do care for each other. Share your take on their relationship in the comments.
Thanks to Hypnoweb for the quotes and Bee for her help in putting this post together.
