‘NCIS: LA’ EP Breaks Down the Team & Mac’s Futures After the Season 11 Finale
Finale
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Season 11 finale of NCIS: Los Angeles, “Code of Conduct.”]
While the plan hadn’t been to end Season 11 with Sunday’s episode, it did work as a finale.
In “Code of Conduct,” Mac (Catherine Bell) reunited with the NCIS: LA team to investigate two SEALs’ claim that their chief, Argento (Juan Riedinger), murdered a sedated prisoner — and civilians. Sam (LL Cool J), Callen (Chris O’Donnell), and Rountree (Caleb Castille) head to investigate, and though they run into trouble, they do arrest Argento. However, the navy chief is certain that he won’t be convicted due to his D.C. connections, so it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger.
As for the originally planned finale, executive producer Frank Military tells TV Insider we will see that air in Season 12. The only question is when, which will depend on when they resume production and how many episodes they have.
Here, Military, who wrote and directed “Code of Conduct,” breaks down the season and looks ahead.
This was almost fitting for a finale, though it didn’t end as big as last year’s. It is much more personal for the team, especially for Sam. Was that the plan for the end of this season, especially since they’ve been thinking about the future of the team?
Frank Military: Yes, it was, but we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to shoot our last episode, so we pulled [this] up because it was so dramatic and did have a little bit of a cliffhanger in the sense that the trial of Argento and his mano a mano morality battle with Sam, we will pick that up next year. It won’t be the first episode.
(Bill Inoshita/CBS)
Mac mentioned the potential consequences of the investigation for OSP, and Argento is connected in D.C.. How big of a concern is that?
It will be a big concern. There will be pressure coming from that direction, that this gets squashed.
The season was unintentionally bookended with Mac appearances, and the stage is certainly set for a future return from her.
Given the circumstances, I can’t say exactly when we would see her, but we would really love to have her on the show as much as possible. She is a terrific character, and the fact that this is now storytelling that goes back about 23 years with that character being a through line is very cool. On top of that, Catherine Bell is an amazing person to work with, and you can see it in our cast. To jump on a set that is not her home set and to pick up the ball and run with it and do an amazing performance is really fun to watch and it’s great to have her be part of this team.
And is there a chance we’ll see Harm again?
Yeah, of course.
After watching Kensi and Deeks’ dance for years, it’s been really nice to see them happy, married, and stable, but now there’s the matter of having kids and their jobs. How might that test them next year?
It’s going to be a test. It’s a very interesting story. Most people say, “let’s have a baby,” and they think you flip a switch and you have a baby, and it doesn’t work like that for a lot of people. That’s what’s going to be embodied in the Kensi and Deeks dynamic. Then when you layer on top of that the fact that these are both people — or at least Kensi has really wrestled with this dilemma between this larger obligation to be part of the Office of Special Projects and save the world every week and having a personal life, having a baby with Deeks. And now suddenly to face, well, that might not be a guarantee, is an incredibly interesting dilemma for that couple.
(Aaron Epstein/CBS)
Callen’s planting roots with Anna, but there’s the matter of Katya. Is that going to end up being another curveball in their relationship?
That’s going to be a huge complication. Anna and Callen will be in jeopardy next year.
Will we see Arkady again as part of that? He’s just so funny.
Of course. We love Arkady. He’s terrific. He’s an amazing actor and just so funny, and he’s really part of the team.
I’ve really enjoyed watching the gradual build to Sam and Katherine because it felt like you were being respectful of him and Michelle by not having him move on too fast over the years. Can you talk about the approach to that relationship?
Sam is such a thoughtful and deliberate character, and we knew that after Michelle died, we really were going to have to handle his healing process very patiently. It’s difficult because you have LL Cool J, lady lover, and it’s one of the great aspects of him, of Todd as an actor. But on the other hand, as a character, he had to really take the time to mourn losing her because he didn’t just lose her. There was always part of him that believed it was his fault because he saves everybody else every week, and the fact that he couldn’t save his own wife was very difficult for Sam Hanna.
We had an episode where he said he thinks it’s time to stop having that pain and to move on, and it’s something she would’ve wanted. We wanted to move on, but do it in a very slow and deliberate way.
And then what we wanted to do was have a character like Katherine, who is really fun, who can challenge Sam, and who comes from an entirely different world. She comes from the upper echelons, economic strata of Los Angeles. She is dealing with the wealthiest people in Los Angeles and goes to fine restaurants and art gallery openings and all of that stuff that’s not Sam’s world. Sam comes from a military background, and with that juxtaposition, we’ll be able to have a lot of fun with those characters moving forward.
I liked seeing the question of whether or not they could trust Katherine, especially after what Callen went through with Joelle.
Yeah, that’s always in the back of everybody’s mind because of what happened with Joelle. The interesting thing is Joelle is still in the universe, and she did betray the team, but she is ultimately on their side, so it’s an interesting dilemma.
(CBS)
Are there any plans to see her soon?
Yes, we’ll see Joelle definitely.
We really, really, really take pride in building our world out further than the core group of characters. We love doing that. We love bringing people back over and over and giving the audience the feeling that even when you don’t see people, they still exist. We talk about them. They come back, [even if] you can go two or three years and not see them.
Nell and Eric really questioned their professional and personal lives. How might Nell’s leave of absence and their time apart benefit them in both areas?
We began to hint at this, that something was not right with that relationship, and they both had a need to grow. Eric admired Nell for being able to see that in herself and push them both to move forward in their lives. In a sense, as painful as it might be for Eric, it also is something that’s inspiring at this point in his life. He’s been at NCIS for a very, very long time, and so has Nell, so for them to consider all the possibilities that the world has to offer — people who are as brilliant and smart and dedicated and courageous as those two are — is a refreshing thing for them as characters.
![Is [Spoiler] Leaving 'NCIS: Los Angeles' in Season 11?](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ncis-los-angeles-cast-234x155.jpg)
It’s been such a joy to watch Fatima seamlessly join the team and come into her own. What makes her the right fit for the team?
The truth is she’s a perfect fit for the team. She is somebody who is both technically [and] geopolitically savvy. She is also a physically capable team member. She’s somebody that has the courage and the skills to go out and battle in the field.
The team really is the best of the best; that’s always been the premise of the Office of Special Projects. We’re not a regular NCIS office. We are the office that takes on cases that have the largest scope and are the most complicated and are threats that are the highest level to the United States and its allies. Those are the kinds of characters that work on the show.
And she’s definitely that. It’s a little bit of a superhero. She’s got all of those skills, and it’s also thrilling for us to have another Muslim character on the show who unabashedly wears her hijab and is Iranian and she is though first and foremost American, Iranian-American. That’s a great character to represent to the world right now.
(CBS)
Like they said in this episode, you really threw Rountree into it in his first cases with the team. But for him, it’s the family vibe that’s keeping him from immediately saying yes to joining. Is he sticking around?
That character has just worked out so well for us, and like Fatima, we really do want to be bringing around the next generation of characters in this show. He’s one that quite possibly could be. I hope he says yes. I think we can expect to see him.
Speaking of that next generation, this season has been talking about Hetty’s eventual retirement and who will take over. What are you looking at in terms of how her retirement could change the team dynamics?
It already has. We’ve seen that even over the last two seasons, that she is no longer day-to-day running the ship from the office. Hetty is always pulling strings no matter where she is in the world, and I have no doubt she could run that office without our team even realizing she was running the office.
Who would lead the team is a big question moving forward. Everybody seems reluctant to want to do that, whether it was Callen or Sam or even Nell was being groomed for that position.
There are a lot of characters who could step in and do that on a day-to-day basis that we’ve had on the show. But on the other hand, Hetty is not disappearing. She will be with our show.
Will the characters debate who takes over versus the fact they may not want someone new to come in?
It depends. It could be somebody completely new that we haven’t seen before, but there are a bunch of different characters that have come through the show that could come in that they may not like, but that would make sense for the team.
(Ron P. Jaffe/CBS)
Kilbride, the character played by Gerald McRaney, is somebody that they’ve worked with before who clearly could step into that position. Catherine Bell could step into that position. I’m not saying any one of them is going to do that. … Or Sam or Callen or somebody could relent and assume that mantle.
I’m glad you mentioned all the recurring characters because that group is so strong. I love seeing all those people come back, like Sabatino, who is always fun.
Oh my God, that’s a character that’s been on the show for years and years and years, and we love bringing him in all the time. He’s a great foil for the team, so that’s a perfect example of somebody we really love. And Erik Palladino is a great guy to have around.
Conversation41 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
I get the actress might want to retire but the show wont be the same. It already feel incomplete without her. Her banter with the team brought the humor the show needs. She imo cannot be replaced.
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Love Hetty she gets it; hard to replace
perfection the role was made for her
they could bring her in when Calen is in trouble
she is mist connected to him and Nell
hell All the actors. That’s right she can’t retire
what can I say
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100 % agree with all of this. If that is what the show is going to turn into, might as well just end it. Cuz once the real heart of the show is gone, (or unofficially gone), what's the point of existing? I may like the ships, but no Hetty? very unacceptable. and no ships will convince me to stick around if she's gone.
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We shall see
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I cringe at an NCIS L A without Hetty. Every once in a while I play The Year of Living Dangerously... and watch her great performance.... There is only ONE Hetty....
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Linda Hunt is 75 year old and was in an automobile accident 2 years ago. I love the Hetty Lange character, but I think we fans must be grateful for the work this Oscar winning actress has done. It is important to remember that she was not the Operations Manager in the backdoor pilot That was Lara Macy (played by Louise Lombard). Her character was killed off. During later absences NCIS: LAs showrunner brought in the Lauren Hunter character (Claire Forlani) and she was killed off. Shae Mosley (Nia Long) was driven out of NCIS for her actions in retrieving her son and using NCIS resources to do it. Ideally I'd like to see NCIS LA come up with a similar accommodation for Linda Hunt as they did on the Mother Ship for David McCallum (Dr. Donald ?Ducky" Mallard) who is 87. They keep him involved in the show in a reduced number of episodes per year and in a less central roll. Have her step back into a senior advisory role and bring someone in as operations manager. They've telegraphed that the intention is to make Callen Operations Manager and having Sam train newer agents. Like Hetty, Callen can go into the field on occasion.I'd really enjoy them bringing back Peter Jacobson as John Rogers as a Deputy NCIS Director and basically a political officer liaising with Washington or Esai Morales as Deputy Director Louis Ochoa in a similar role.
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There's a lot of flaws to your idea. ONE: Sam wanted to have Callen HELP him train new agents, but Callen has already said no to all of that. He wants to have a future with Anna. TWO: We seen time and time again what this show is like without Hetty, and it's unrecognizeable. THIRD: Replacing Macy was the best decision ever. FOURTH: Rogers is a screwball, can't be trusted. (not after seeing him with that list in Mother).
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If Callen steps into Hettys shoes, he can still train agents just as Hetty did and Callen can have Anna too. Maybe Rogers could turn out to be the mole, which would allow Hettie to take over his position.
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EXCEPT, that TV Guide article from a couple of weeks ago clearly stated that Callen said no. Being in charge means less field time, and he's not the 'work behind a desk' type. (plus, he's too ruled by emotions) we don't even know if the Rogers thing will even be brought back up. and Sam is the one who wants to train agents.
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O
Get rid of Roundtree. He keeps making too many mistakes and is going to get one of our guys killed. He does NOT fit in.
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Don't like Anna who's a female version of Sam and just about as romantic. Joelle is complicated, sexy and a much better character for the show.
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I really like your ideas !
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Nell already said no. and I highly doubt she'll change her mind. She and Hetty have a cute mom/daughter type of relationship
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R
PLEASEEE
Did anyone see the wedding ring in Sarah´s hand during the last episode "Code of Conduct" of NCIS LA?!?!
I havent see anyone saying anything about it, am I seeing things or what?!
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B
I used to watch Jag all the time and when Mac left there she was a full Bird col. why was she demoted to a Lt col.? she should have been higher ranking after all this time
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What happened to Sam’s daughter on the show?
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Catherine Bell sure looked .... well..... different last night. Like ... Hummm Did she have some changes done to her ....
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I thought Mac had been promoted to full bird colonel back in JAG. Am I wrong?
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l would love to see more crossover episodes also. Just maybe Harm and Mac will finally get together with Hetty,s help. Let,s make Director Vance more active with LA also. NCIS:LA has become the top TV Drama left on TV.
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love deeks, but won't be watching anymore
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J
Katherine? Katya? Who are these people? ANd more importantly, who cares? Viewers don't tune in to watch the Dating Game. We want operations and we want action. We want to see the team in the field, doing what they do, and not being all angsty about who they're going to date that weekend.
I like Fatima, she's been around quite a while but not shoved at us relentlessly. On the other hand, this Roundtree guy just seemed to appear out of nohwere and is suddenly a BFF and trusted to be on the team. Sort of like what McGarrett used to do on Hawaii Five-O-- work with someone once and boom! invite that person to join the team. (Believe me, the government does NOT work like that!!)
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You're the only person who's said it turned into The Dating Game, and you're flat out wrong. (and Katya is Anna's old cellmate and potential enemy.) and more people care about the ships more you'll ever care to admit. (you should've seen Twitter the last 2 weeks!!)
Roundtree dosn't fit in. Fatima fits in perfectly. that's that.
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Sorry, I don't use twitter so I neither know nor care what the Twits say. And a LOT of people don't care about Who's Dating Who.... they just don't yak about it.
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I think someone that admires Hetty will pull some strings and she will take over the assistant director position. Callen would slip into Hettys positon and Sam would start working on everyones skillset.
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11 seasons yup seems about right to slowly introduce the future special agents. key word slowly. the main cast isn't old yet. not even close. they have plenty missions left.
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Lol I think it should be Nell. Maybe they should say Nell took the time off but really went for training. And I think it would be Awesome for them to reveal that Nell is Hettys Daughter that she had her best friend raise her to keep her safe and have a good life. This is Why she would make the perfect replacement for Hetty. And to keep Hetty in the loop she gets a higher promotion which would still keep her in the loop with the team. I think this would be a great twist to the story and the team respects Nell.
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I think Harm wluld be perfect to replace Hetty! David James Elliott would bring so many possibilities to the show and throw in the possibility of he and Sarah (Katherine Bell,) back together finally!
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Nope. They belong in a JAG reboot
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K
i wanna know how they came up with Barr and Kendricks last night! this is a major connection to Pro football linebackers. oh and PLEASE do NOT bring in Gerald McRaney!
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J
I'd rather see Adm Chegwidden.
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I like it like is but N el should take over
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What a meh finale. (tough episode, but hey)
So, if Hetty isn't disappearing, THEN WHERE IS SHE???!! #HettyDeservesMoreRespect. #NoOneCanReplaceHetty, EVER.
Great, Callanna will be in trouble. sigh.
Season 12 will have to be a bona fide miracle now if this show wants to claim ANY real sense of greatness.
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Stop talking like she'll just up and leave and never come home! No one, and I mean NO ONE can be Hetty!!
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They're not saying that. But she's not going to be working forever. If it's easier for Linda to be more recurring then so be it. It's not disrespectful to plan for the future. Nell could change her mind and become Hetty's protege again.
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Nell is not meant for it. she's too emotional and unable to have a bad side when she needs to have one.
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True
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I agree but the rest of the characters are very good actors .
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The actress who plays Hetty is the one who wants less episodes because of her age. You really cant hold onto someone who wants to go. So should they stop shooting because she retires? I think they can do well without her.
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NO ONE knows what the real truth is, this is nothing but speculation!!! and havn't you seen ANY of the bad S11 episodes in this 2nd half? they're lost without her! seriously. this is why we need REAL answers instead of trying to guess on our own!
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If Hetty were to actually leave for good , they would have to bring in ONE HELL of a replacement. And def NOT Callen/ Sam.
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No one can replace her. NO ONE is as good as she is!! she thinks on a whole different level then everyone else. Callen already said no (most likely offscreen), Sam wants to train agents so he's most likely said no. Nell said no a long time ago and I doubt she'll change her mind. Densi want to start a family so it won't be them. Eric isn't qualified. Plus, they've seen what she's had to do over the years, I doubt she'll want to make any of them have her job. That's that.
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