Should ‘NCIS: LA’ Explore a Sam-Katherine Romance? (POLL)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 11, Episode 7 of NCIS: Los Angeles, “Concours D’Elegance.”]
It’s been about two and a half years since Sam (LL Cool J) lost his wife Michelle (Aunjanue Ellis) on NCIS: LA, but is he ready for a new relationship?
Two episodes in the beginning of Season 11 certainly suggest there are at least sparks between him and insurance broker Katherine Casillas (Moon Bloodgood) and the potential for something more than occasional allies. She even gets an honor that not even Sam’s longtime partner, Callen (Chris O’Donnell) — who has saved his life numerous times — has in “Concours D’Elegance”: driving privileges.
In Episode 7, Sam and Callen run into Katherine while talking to a witness to an attempted murder at a video game streamer’s party; she ensures the gamer’s properties and possessions. We’re treated to the same dynamic as in “Provenance”: she sees the agents as a bit out of their element, they’re all amused by one another, and she and Sam continue to bond, this time over their shared interests of wine and cars.
They once again need her help on the case, this time for access to an exclusive private auction, where the gamer’s car (and important tech hidden inside) is up for sale. She refuses to let anything happen to the car — it’s worth at least $250,000 — and, just like when Kensi (Daniela Ruah) went undercover in the art world, clues them in on the main players at the auction, including those bidding on the car.
While doing so, Katherine opens up about her family, sharing a memory of her father with Sam. She then insists on joining him in pursuit of the car (and the tech) for the final chase. But it’s the last moment they share that holds the most weight.
(CBS)
Early on in the episode, Sam shows off his red key — which “no one touches” — to Callen, but when Katherine asks if she can take the Hellcat for a spin, he hands it over immediately. “She’ll appreciate it,” Sam tells his partner, but it’s clearly meant to be a sign of more than that, of the trust that has formed between him and the broker (which also is addressed during the case).
Could it be we’ve met Sam’s new love interest? In previewing the season, executive producer Scott Gemmill told TV Insider that producers were “working on” a storyline involving a romance for him.
The actors clearly have chemistry, and so far, we’ve seen quite the fun, interesting dynamic between their characters. It’s a light-hearted flirtation, something that could become more. It may just be a matter of whether or not Sam is ready to move forward after losing Michelle (and perhaps Bloodgood’s availability, depending on the plan for the storyline and his next relationship).
We’ve seen him grieve, and the series has handled that properly. And if we are going to see Sam and Katherine together, that’s been done right as well, with the two slowly getting to know one another and feeling each other out.
(Trae Patton/CBS)
We’ve seen her twice in a span of a few weeks, and she’s not only fun to watch with Sam, but with the rest of the team as well. (We saw her meet Fatima in “Concours D’Elegance.”) Whether or not anything develops between her and Sam, we can’t wait to see her working with the team again.
What do you think of the potential of a Sam and Katherine relationship? Vote in the poll below.
NCIS: Los Angeles, Sundays, 9/8c, CBS
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O
I couldn't care less honestly where's Hetty? I'm still a Sam\Michelle fan tbh. Rare to see beautiful black love like that on tv these days, still hate that she was killed off.
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P
She'll be in episode 9.
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G
We have accepted interracial relationships a long time ago, no need to have another one, more black love is needed.
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P
No! We have not seen Sam deal with his grief. We got a man who ingnored his feelings, sell all his belonging, his house, live in a camper then a boat. That is not dealing with his pain, a few moments of being drunk on their anniversary, throwing a bone.
Sam being a father, being there has always been important especially with Kam. Now he wiped her away like his life with Michelle. A young tween who had her mother murdered, with her dad dropping her off at boarding school to deal with her lost alone.
Now we have had three different women be paraded for Sam to try to spark something. With the last being the worst, so far(because we know they can get worse). This is not the story I want to see, nor the actions of this character. They need to stop! Please.
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OH PLEASE! didn't you pay attention AT ALL in Season 9?? he's DEALT with his grief! and BTW, feel free to stop watching if you're THAT frustraited!! People deal with grief IN THEIR OWN WAYS, which is what he's done!! Show dosn't evolve around you, GET USED TO IT!! and Katherine looks to be VERY GOOD for him! so deal with it!
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O
You seem like you got a lot of anger issues lol sure you're alright? Btw it's frustrated not frustraited.
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O
NCIS LA has been all screwed up since Granger died and Hetty was replaced by Nia Long's character. It's best days are longgg gone. Everyone's just here for a pay check that's all.
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P
I'm fine, anyone who's paid attention the last few seasons knows very well he's dealt with his grief.
Plus, there IS NOTHING wrong with seeing him date again!
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P
She wasn't replaced!!
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O
Nooo. I liked special agent Nicole Deschamps. She is tough and they would be a perfect match both in the field and off.👍👍
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R
Sam and Dechamp perfect Match
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G
No way, if he does get involved again, we need to see more black love.
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C
CANNOT stand this woman - she's trying too hard to be seductive - maybe tone it down a bit?
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B
NCIS LA what happened with his younger Chiid
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P
Boarding school.
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R
In other words, it got inconvenient for Sam to have a young teenager at home, so they did what all TV shows do with inconvenient kids: ship them away.
Out of sight, out of mind.
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P
I don't think she's his type at all. I also think he needs to focus on his kids a little while longer.
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Kids are at boarding school
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R
NO. Although the woman wasn't quite as annoying this time as she was the first time we saw her. Anyway, Sam was already flirting (sort of--at least attracted to) with some other woman. Can't recall her name, but I think they went out for drinks or something.
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B
What happened to Sam daughter the son was older
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B
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
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P
YES!! I already have a ship name: 'SamKat'.
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B
Yeah I never got why the writers decided to throw out that storyline and replace it with a boring and annoying character that Sam has no chemistry with. Even if DeChamps never worked out, why not hook up Sam with another female military officer who brought the same dynamic?
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B
Yes. Good couple.
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O
Katherine was Rose Tico levels of annoying and the chemistry between her and Sam wasn't believable. Why the writers chose to ignore Nicole Dechamps who had better chemistry between her and Sam for Katherine made no sense.