‘NCIS’: Sam Has New Job, Brings Major Callen & Hetty Updates
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for NCIS Season 22 Episode 18 “After the Storm.”]
LL Cool J reprises his NCIS: LA role as Sam Hanna in the Monday, April 21, episode of NCIS. And with his return — he appeared on the mothership in the LA backdoor pilot and the three-show crossover with Hawai’i — comes a couple of key updates.
First of all, Sam is no longer with NCIS. After his Elite team was killed in Hawai’i, he requested a leave of absence because he wanted a change of pace. Now, he’s working in D.C., on the Hill, wearing a suit, dealing with bureaucrats, and doing his best to protect democracy. (One senator comes in handy during the case.) It’s a “course correction,” he tells Knight (Katrina Law) when she checks on him, knowing the grief of losing a team (for her, it was her REACT team). He asked to be a voice since politicians don’t see the sacrifices soldiers make. He also has a standing weekend karaoke date with Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and his daughter Victoria; Sam sings “a little,” while Palmer raps, old-school. (Love the nod to LL Cool J’s music career.)
When Knight remarks that Sam’s new position, a lone wolf job, sounds more like something Callen (Chris O’Donnell) would do, he reveals that his partner’s no longer a lone wolf: He and Anna (Bar Paly) are expecting a “new pup”! Sam also provides some news about Jane Tennant (NCIS: Hawai’i‘s Vanessa Lachey) when he brings in pastries for the team at the end: She bakes.
Sonja Flemming / CBS
By the end of the episode, Sam has quit his new job. “Seeing your team, working shoulder to shoulder with them, reminded me how much I missed it,” he explains to Vance (Rocky Carroll). The director remarks, “Well, you always were a team player, like any good SEAL,” and assures him, “There’s always a place for you back at NCIS.” Sam just has some things to take care of first — leading to news about Hetty! “Wouldn’t have anything to do with Hetty, would it? I’ve heard rumors she’s been spotted on the wrong side of the DMZ,” Vance comments, but Sam tells him it’s better he doesn’t know. The “see you around” when McGee (Sean Murray) and Sam say goodbye in passing makes us think this won’t be the last time we see LL Cool J on NCIS.
As for the case, it’s Sam’s badge number that gets him involved: The team’s suspect in the murders of three vets keeps repeating it. He gives his name, Mark Davis, once in interrogation, and Sam can’t believe his friend could be responsible. He trusted him with his life. But, it turns out, the man in interrogation isn’t Mark, but rather, his brother, Roger. Mark’s in trouble, and Sam’s the only person he trusts, so he gives Roger his badge number. While Roger was covered in the victims’ blood, he insists he didn’t kill them — he went to the motel to meet Mark but found them and tried to do CPR — nor did his brother. He wants Sam to find Mark before he ends up dead, too.
Though it does look like Mark could be guilty of murder and Sam worries he’s not the man he remembers, he’s been captured because of his attempt to blow the whistle on a private military company, Iron Horizon, hiring vets and having them protect warlords and other bad guys, which none of them signed up for. (The woman running the employment services charity that led them to Iron Horizon sold Mark out.) Rescuing him leads to Sam, McGee, Knight, and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) facing off against Russian mercenaries in some brutal hand-to-hand that leaves them all bloody. (To find someone who’s tough for Sam to take down? Impressive.)
Elsewhere, McGee continues to investigate Laroche, but Torres worries that he’s becoming obsessed. McGee hopes to have the proof he needs via a friend at the Department of Justice who is sending an unpublished report with Laroche’s name all over it. Parker (Gary Cole) warns McGee that word of what he’s doing is making its way around the building.
In fact, Vance calls McGee into his office at the end of the episode to talk to him about the file that his friend at the DOJ sent. McGee stumbles over defending himself, but Vance just warns him that he has to be “absolutely certain” that Laroche is guilty of something or they could all get burned. He leaves McGee in his office with the file while he takes a call in MTAC. McGee quickly begins reading.
What did you think of Sam’s return and the updates on Callen and Hetty? What are you hoping to see next in McGee’s attempt to take down Laroche? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS, Mondays, 9/8c, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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T
2 years of waiting has finally paid off!!
Hetty is still alive and out there. 1 step closer to an actual comeback! #NextSeason
21 1
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B
Don't call it a comeback. 😉
6
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C
Still missing an update on Kensi and Deeks' baby. They could have easily dropped that in when they mentioned Callen.
Glad to hear that Hetty is still alive out there in the NCISverse.
23 1
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G
Are we ever going to see McGee's kids?
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O
We need a LA comeback...please!!
20 3
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F
It seems to me that they really like having Sam on NCIS. Perhaps if Laroche is proven to be dirty then Sam could be brought in to take his place.
22 6
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G
A Strike team, a REACT team.... how many fancy teams does NCIS need? All in all, though, I thought it was a pretty good episode. Hella good fight scene.
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P
Glad to hear Hetty is alive. Maybe Linda would be well enough to make an appearance. That would be awesome.
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O
Love it when Sam is there. Needs to have a place on the origonal..
18 5
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O
Sam coming to NCIS would be awesome!
19 7
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R
I think they might be building up a way for McGee to leave the show. I hate to say this but Sean Murray has been on NCIS for a long time. He might very well be ready to leave to pursuit other things or just take an extended break. It would also give his character an excuse to get back to writing and spend more time with Delilah and the kids. But mainly I think Sean Murray is tired of the grind and long hours of working on a weekly television series. Let him enjoy the success the show has given him. He deserves it!
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L
Oh no. I would hate for McGee to leave. We have watched NCIS since day 1.
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P
Let Sam join the team and let McGee get the rat
10 4
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B
Didn’t care for it. Certainly don’t want him to be a regular.
6 2
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L
We love every episode. The characters are terrific and adore them. I don’t think you need another team member. We never miss an episode and record them if we miss it.
3
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C
Keep Sam OUT of NCIS !!!!!!
4 1
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G
If they bring LL to ncis I'll be done with the show! I been with it since the beginning. He is not right for NCIS. Does not fit in with the team.
3 1
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G
Need to kill off Wilmer's character, he's an awful actor.
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C
I'm not buying the whole 'Laroche is dirty' angle. I think it's his wife, Tammy, who's the real big bad. (Otherwise, why introduce her ? It's Chekhov's gun in plain view.)
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G
I really like Sam’s character but this team is set! When he comes in it seems to be all about him. Let him find his own spot on his own show.
3 1
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O
No need for Hanna in NCIS. Charactor does not fit well.
12 10
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P
keep ll cool j off ncis bad actor.will ruin the show like the other shows he was on.
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G
Well wasn't to impressed with him being on there, that is part of reason I quit watching ncis Hawaii...hopefully he won't becoming one of their cast members...they are doing great with the one's they have. No new ones needed.
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B
Great to see Sam; but, do not wish to see him as a regular in an established show. He was Hawaii's kryptonite. He messed up Hawaii's dynamic and their heirarchy. My wife and I love NCIS. It won't work to see the team defer to Sam while trying to accomplish their missions. Love to see Sam again; but, in his own show.
2 1
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G
I think it's a dangerous move to have Sam become part of the NCIS team. Every time he's relocated, the show is cancelled.. 😆
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G
Need to bring back NCIS Hawaii
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C
I want to see more of how McGee takes down LaRoche. Tell LL Cool J goodbye. He ruined NCIS: LA and then he ruined NCIS: Hawaii. Keep him off NCIS! His chacter has a chip on his shoulder and NCIS doesn't need that
3 2
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C
MY WIFE & I LOVE NCIS, WE MISS NCIS HAWAII. LL COOL J IS SUPER COOL HIS CHARACTER BRINGS EXCITEMENT. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BRING IN CHRIS O'DONNELL "G" IN ALONG WITH THE OTHER ACTORS. HAVE THEM ROTATE IN & OUT IT WOULD KEEP THE SHOW FRESH. THEY'RE SO MANY STORIES THAT CAN COME OUT.
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O
Chris O'Donnell has a new role in the 911 spin-off coming up this fall, and is not available to come back. And the original show, to be frank, would suffer greatly from having all these other characters - it would take time away from them which I would not care for. I can put up with it for one episode a season, but not the whole season.
7 1
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P
I'm so excited that we actually have a real McGee storyline. Next week looks amazing!
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C
yes we need a LA comeback ASEP
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R
I would love to see 22/18. For some reason I didn't get it. I'm glad Sam is again in the picture, He is definitely my
favourite.
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C
It makes me super mad that they even mention NCIS Hawaii, it's like rubbing in our faces that they didn't listen to the fans and didn't have to... because we all still watch! I hate it, and boycotted for a long time...but I freaking love the show....I hate CBS, sucks that they are the producers.
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O
I love Sam, but even he couldn't revive old tired NCIS
As for Callen he's somewhere in the south
Would love to see Hetty
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G
So was it implied that he and Tennant are together?
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G
If that was implied, I missed it. He did mention Tennant, but I didn't think it was in a romantic sense. She's got a busy life.
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G
I didn't hear anything to suggest that he and Jane were together for anything more than friends.
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O
Great team update. Miss NCIS LA and Hawaii. Need a TV movie centered around finding Hetty with cast of the NCIS universe including Tony and Zina.
1 1
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G
The awful couple known as 'Tiva' is getting their own show. Should start sometime soon on Paramount Plus. I certainly won't be watching.... I couldn't stand Ziva, and Tony was a jerk.
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G
That was very cruel for fans of NCIS Hawaii to say the whole team was killed off.
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O
It was not the Hawaii team that was killed off but the elite team that Sam had trained while he was appearing on Hawaii (happened in either the last or the next to last episode of Season 3). The Hawaii team lives on in the fictional world of NCIS.
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G
Thanks for the update I appreciate it.
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R
My goodness great to see
Sam Hanna ; have missed
NCIS LA so badly
Miss Ana and Calen too
But Don’t leave off Deeks and
Lindsey either . Love the Director Rocky
Miss Hetty she was my favorite
Get rid of all
The others as far as I am concerned
Please bring back Sam and
Company Calen too
At least give us reruns of
NCIS LA more
Take off
Hawaii never interested
NCIS no good without Gibbs
Or Abby
Just saying
Biggest fan ever of
NCIS - LA
Joan Givens
1
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C
I was happy to see Sam return.
.
1 2
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O
My husband said he believes Sam will replace LaRoche...I'd just like to see Sam and Callen again
2
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C
Would love to see NCIS Hawaii return! Was canceled far too early!
1 4
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G
Please kill off Sam that was a lousy bit of acting I’ve ever seen, he will ruin this show just like he ruined the others he was on.
11 38
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