Is [Spoiler] Leaving ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ in Season 11?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 11, Episode 19 of NCIS: Los Angeles, “Fortune Favors the Brave.”]
NCIS: LA may be saying goodbye to one of its own. In Episode 19, a core member of the team decided that it was time to resign, but was Hetty’s (Linda Hunt) reaction enough to change that?
“I don’t think I want to be an agent anymore,” Nell (Renée Felice Smith) confessed to Kensi (Daniela Ruah). “It’s not really sudden, at least not for me. It’s a lot of things really, but mainly, I don’t think I’m the same person I was when I started working here.” While the other woman argued that was true for all of them, it was more than that.
“I feel like it’s not right for me anymore,” Nell explained. “I used to be fearless, you know? I wasn’t afraid of anything, except for maybe Hetty, but some days now, I just I don’t even want to get out of bed.” Kensi suggested that she give herself time to reset, maybe step away from field work, but it wasn’t just that. “I don’t want to be an intelligence analyst either,” Nell revealed. “I’m going to resign from NCIS.” She didn’t think taking a vacation would help, either.
Nell approached Hetty after the case was closed, and her boss already knew why she was there, cuing up the opportunity for the woman she’d seen as her possible replacement with a toast “to happy endings and new beginnings.”
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
Nell confirmed she was resigning, adding, “you probably already know this too, but I’ve been through so much lately and I feel like I just can’t give this job the proper focus that it requires and frankly deserves.” But like Kensi, Hetty refused to just accept it and even had the same suggestion — and insisted she take her up on her offer.
“You are an important part of this team,” Hetty told her, “with several weeks of unused vacation days. … If I don’t hear from you once they’ve elapsed, you can consider yourself resigned.” It was up to Nell.
Will Nell be back? As she left with Eric (Barrett Foa) to tell him her decision (after avoiding him for most of the episode), she took one last look around the office, which could have been a goodbye. Smith even posted a photo of that moment and described her character as “wistful” on Instagram prior to the episode airing.
As Kensi pointed out in this episode, Nell has been going through a lot lately, from her mother’s health — which pulled her away from the job going back to the end of Season 10 — to the step back she and Eric have taken in their relationship, not to mention the job itself. It’s completely understandable that she’s questioning things and makes for a great storyline.
We’ll have to see what this means for Nell’s future with the team, but we do know that it won’t be the same without her, whether she’s only gone for a few weeks or permanently.
NCIS: Los Angeles, Sundays, 9/8c, CBS
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T
She's not leaving. Renee is taking time off to write a network pilot with her boyfriend. She'll be back next season, with the rest of the cast members.
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G
The show is excellent the way it is, they are a show family and it is what we want as fans, it is some thing to look forward to every week we do not want this huge of a change, damn first Hawaii 5-0 is over now to change this show would be such a huge bummer, come on people can,t we just have a few things to look forward to please!!
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G
what happened to Nell her cuteness hairstyle and clothing???Now all she wears are dumpy dresses that make her look so chubby
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B
Weight gain happened.
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G
The show on Sunday was one of the worst...and I love this show. Whoever that new person who was on Sunday, the one who sat on a bomb, is a terrible actor and does not fit in with the cast. If he is a new character...I will probably become a "was" watcher. It was, however, good to see "Hetty" have a few more lines...
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C
I’m not into this new person Roundtree either. He doesn’t fit in.
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P
Love the show really think the whole team works. Love Hedy no one can replace her. Would rather see her a little less than not at all
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T
I wish they'd actually explain what's been going on with her. My main problem right now is how they're not constructively addressing her absence, which is why that stupid rumor even exists now. Cuz no one will actually give a clear answer as to what the ell is going on!!
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T
I follow a few Tumblr blogs that provide BTS info, and I also keep track of the #ncis la tag on Twitter. most of what I say are just guesses, but most of them end up being right.
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TUF, I’m curious - how do you know so much about the future of the show?
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G
when is she leaving so far season 11 she still there and i got to the point that i stopped watching this show Nell is just a very bad in this show and her annoying voice omg. just watch her she makes funny faces on camera she is moving and jumping when the whole group is together she is awful
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P
no into the new girl either
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B
I think Renee has been PREGNANT this season, henceforth the weight gain and awful clothes to try and hide it. She is off to have the baby. I noticed immediately she looked like she had gained 30 pounds and her dumpy clothing. Then the camera efforts not to show her stomach area. Who else thinks that is it? I hope she will be back once the baby is born and she has recovered from the delivery. SHE MUST WANT it to be a complete secret since she is not married!
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P
What's going on, first Heddy, now Nell,and Eric. the show will never be the same. Heddy's replacement does not cut the part.
they need someone the size and humor as Heddy, She really made the show, she is great. as for Nell and Eric they are both great, I wish the three of them change and decide to stay.
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T
Hetty was never replaced, what are you talking about?
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O
I hope she leaves. I've never liked her character.
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Too bad, cuz she's not leaving!
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