Expiration Date (6×16) Preview
by Gayle (@DensiLand)
Written by: Dave Kalstein; Directed by: Terence Nightingall
Official CBS press release – “Expiration Date” – When Callen and Sam are tasked with apprehending a spy contracted by the CIA, Sam is shot and the team enlists the help of Thapa, the elite Nepali soldier from their past, to help to find the shooter. Also, Kensi and Deeks have their first official argument, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Monday, Feb. 23 (9:59-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Ernie Reyes, Jr. returns as Thapa and Parminder Nagra guest stars as the spy.
The much anticipated and highly promoted “Expiration Date” by the often havoc-provoking, yet endearing Dave Kalstein is finally here! Partnered with Terence Nightingall who makes his NCISLA directorial debut, is anyone brave enough to speculate what they might surprise us with this week?
During our last adventure it appeared as if Sam had been shot. While that was technically true, it was false in our regular understanding of the term. Tranquilizer yes, bullet no. This week however is definitely the real deal. We are again reminded even our (jokingly) self-professed superhero can’t escape the physical damage of a bullet. How might this affect his partner?
Familial fallout is an extended theme as Michelle and the Hanna offspring are notably mentioned. In that Granger effortlessly voices the thoughts of many in alluding to Hetty’s existing yet often veiled maternal words and actions. To whom might he be connecting Hetty with? The orphan Callen? The young tech experts? The long-brewing romantic ‘ship between Fern and Shaggy? Most likely, in one manner or another, every member of “her” team.
Partners will be more important than ever this week when the team comes under attack by a group of less-than-humanitarian… surgeons? They’re dressed in scrubs brandishing “scalpels”, right? Whoops! Definitely not helpful physicians! More like present day ninja assassins! And it’s easy to surmise “an apple a day” won’t keep these “doctors” away!
We know a case takes a serious and usually more deadly turn when a third party is brought in to assist our expert team. This week reunites OSP with the uniquely skilled Jemadar Thapa. Wait. What?!
In burying the lead, the Gurkha’s back! As Deeks responds to Thapa about his partner being sharper than his weapon (massive understatement), we are immediately thrust back to the famed Season 5 episode of “The Frozen Lake”, sending certain fans into a winter avalanche of “Densi Frenzy”! Might the show’s newest “bromance” be a blade-wielding Nepalese warrior and a gun-toting California surfer? Will Thapa simply provide a follow-up to his past advice, offer new wisdom or warning, or even expand his sage advice to the fair lady of the situation?
Speaking of Ms. Blye, it appears we may have the female agent’s version of her own “dream sequence”! Intriguing. Yet based on her response, could this be her feared occurrence of “too much too fast”? Could Kensi realize she’s already crossed/crossing her “frozen lake” or might something occur to cause her pause in her progress? What effect might Thapa have in her advancement with Deeks? (Likewise, the same question can be posed in reverse.)
The Gurkha’s previous visit ended with one agent being deployed to the other side of the world, launching the rest of the team into months of anxiety resulting in personal torment and life-threatening events. What repercussions might Thapa’s latest appearance produce Next… on NCISLA?
So we heard from Kalstein that we are going to see Densi like never before. My first thought after seeing the promo is we are going to see them in a Kensi dream. Up until a few seconds ago I was thinking we’d never seen them like that before, but technically we did see them in her dream/memory on the deleted scenes. I think whatever causes her to think they are moving to fast might cause her to pause, but not backpedal. I wonder if the promise of Deeks being patient with her will come up? Especially since patience was a big theme in the Frozen Lake episode.
On another note, I really, really hope it is not somehow Kensi and Deeks’ fault that Sam gets shot. I don’t know that the writers could or would do that though because I think that consequence would be too dire and have too much of an impact for them to be able to continue their relationship.
I too can’t wait to see what is up with Thapa. Looks like he might not be too helpful in this episode. I can’t wait to see the Thapa/Deeks interaction and I hope Kensi gets more interaction with him as well.
I just want it to be Monday so the wheels can stop turning in my head and I can just watch and enjoy what happens.
Silly me, that looked like Deeks thinking back to them in the morning, probably after he did something that annoyed Kensi.
I actually thought, according to the sneak peeks, that Thapa being there had nothing to do with Sam being hurt, but him coming after the CIA spy. I think he only helps Densi because this benefits him too.
Well, I just wish they (TPTB) would not make such a great deal out of the Densi argument.
I mean, hello, it’s hardly new for those two hard heads to fight.
Why does them being in a relationship make a fight so special, a fight which btw. seems to be a classcal male/female communication MOP misunderstanding, so why of why, make such a fuss?
I think this one of the instances the more critical Densi shippers feared.
I mean yes, let them get into arguments, let them work it out, film it – just do not base an episode ‘s markenting on it, for crying out loud.
Ep lineout sounds gripping enough without all that Densi argument ado.
Looking forward to the ep – truly !- sounds like an exciting and interesting mix.