‘NCIS: LA’: Who Should Be the Team’s Operations Manager in Season 13? (POLL)

NCIS: Los Angeles Kilbride Hetty Callen
CBS

The Office of Special Projects has been without a permanent operations manager for some time now, and something’s gotta give in NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13.

Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith) took over temporarily while Hetty Lange (Linda Hunt) was MIA on an unknown mission in Season 12, but the former analyst left NCIS in the finale. And while Hetty did return (Hunt’s absence was due to the pandemic), she’s still in the middle of something. So what does that mean for leadership at OSP going forward?

As much as we might like to see Hetty around as often as she used to be — which could mean her assuming her old job — NCIS: LA first has to address just where she’s been. After all, in the finale, she did tell Retired Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride (Gerald McRaney, upped to series regular for next year) that they needed to have a chat. That’s clearly not over, but we have a feeling that, depending on Hunt’s availability, the rest of the team will be read in and part of how that ends.

Whatever happens there, it’s entirely possible that Hetty doesn’t return to NCIS in the same capacity. And if that’s the case, someone has to take over. Could it be Kilbride, who was spending more and more time at OSP? That would certainly be entertaining, considering his reactions to everything involving the team, but would he want to take the job? Could it be Callen (Chris O’Donnell), especially given Kilbride’s line about Hetty brainwashing him and the agent insisting, “She didn’t groom me for anything”? After all, back in Season 11, Sam’s (LL Cool J) plan for the future of the team did include Callen taking over for Hetty while he handles training younger agents.

Then again, someone new could always come in. NCIS: LA did just say goodbye to two cast members (Smith and Barrett Foa, who played Eric Beale). New blood has come in in the past to take charge in some capacity, though it hasn’t always worked out quite so well (such as Nia Long‘s Shay Mosley). Maybe it’s time for that to change, especially since if it’s not Hetty, Kilbride, or Callen, it’s hard to imagine anyone else from the regular cast taking on the role.

What do you think? Who do you want to see in charge next season?

NCIS: Los Angeles, Season 13, Fall 2021, CBS




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  1. T

    TUF

    Hetty.

    No one else can replace her, ever. And this show isn't the same without her, the last 3 Seasons are the absolute proof of that.

    20

    1. G

      GreenBulb

      Absolutely totally correct!!

      Hetty is irreplaceable

      13

  2. C

    CyanBucket

    Hands down, Hetty!! No ifs, ands or buts!! 😀

    14

  3. O

    OlivePaw

    Hetty!!!

    She is irreplaceable to the team & to the Show!!!

    14 1

  4. O

    OliveBeer

    only Hetty will do! I do take care for Kilbride at all, and who wants Callen stuck in an office all day

    13

  5. P

    PurpleGlasses

    Hetty needs to stay. She's been there the whole time except for the last few seasons. She's the best one

    12

  6. O

    OlivePaw

    Hetty!!!

    She is irreplaceable to the team & to the show!!!

    12

  7. O

    OrangeScissors

    Hetty

    10

  8. P

    PurpleRing

    hHetty is the best, funny and smart

    9

  9. O

    OrangeCoathanger

    Hetty

    7

  10. B

    BlueFlower

    Hetty of course. Without her the show doesn't flow right and seems like there's too much fill and not enough content

    4

  11. C

    CyanStrawberry

    ABSOLUTELY HETTY

    3

  12. P

    PurplePopsicle

    Hetty, there can't be anyone else. Don't break up a good thing.

    3

  13. P

    PurpleLeaf

    Hetty, of course!

    3

  14. O

    OrangeMagnet

    Hetty

    No one can replace her.

    3

  15. O

    OrangeBasketball

    Hetty is irreplaceable!!

    3

  16. O

    OliveTooth

    Hetty!

    3

  17. P

    PurpleScooter

    There is no replacement for Hetty and no one could ever replace her role in the NCIS LA family!! If she has things going on that cause her to not be able to come in full time than I would say Kilbride, Ochoa, or Rogers...it can not be anyone from the team because they have to be in the field. A surprise twist for me would be Sabatino...Please Please Please do NOT bring back Shay Mosley!!

    1

  18. O

    OrangePopcorn

    Kilbride will probably end up taking it but my thinking is... Why not bring in someone from NCIS: New Orleans being that it just got cancelled. That way it will be someone we already know.

    2 2

  19. O

    OliveChefHat

    I like Hetty but lets face it she is in her 70s. She is going to "retire" evenually. Have to start thinking about replacements.

    1

  20. P

    PurpleTeepee

    Hetty is always gone so McRaney has my vote

    1

  21. G

    GoldSubmarine

    Hetty, then Holas

    1

  22. G

    GoldTrumpet

    If it can't be Hetty for whatever reason, I'd prefer Ochoa or Rogers to fill in. I don't think Callen would be happy in the role. He wouldn't want to deal with all the bureaucratic stuff. Maybe it could work with Kilbride. He's not my favorite character though he has has some good lines.

    3 5

  23. G

    GoldCar

    Lieutenant colonel Sarah Mackenzie

    1 5

    1. R

      RedBulb

      or Harm Rabb???