It can be argued that NCIS: Los Angeles is the most underrated addition to the NCIS franchise. NCIS: Los Angeles is the first spinoff of the original NCIS trilogy and follows the secretive Office of Special Projects, an NCIS unit specializing in undercover operations. The team regularly handles matters of national security and secretly works to keep the country safe from threats.

NCIS: LA balances adrenaline and humor to create an elite series with an entertaining cast and high-octane cases. The series concludes in 2023, marking the second NCIS franchise series to end. These 5 episodes mark the best of this concluded series.

5
Expiration Date Shows an Espionage Case With Fatal Consequences

Season 6, Episode 16
Aired February 2105
Guest character Gurka warrior Jemandar Thapa, played by Ernie Reyes Jr, returns

“Expiration Date” sees the return of the Gurka Thapa to Los Angeles, where an operation goes sideways and results in Sam being shot. The team must deduce how the case, which sees Thapa and the team on opposite sides, was compromised. The team is on edge with one of their members down, and Thapa’s loyalty is questionable, so the episode is rife with dramatic tension.

The case is intense and covers highly sensitive matters with high international stakes. The spycraft adds a psychological element of intrigue to the case. There is also no shortage of adrenaline, as proven by the intense showdown at the end of the episode.

4
Impact Deals With Intense Topics of Trauma

Season 5, Episode 2
Aired October 2013
Sees the return of reoccurring guest character Peter Cambor as NCIS Operational Psychologist Nate Getz
“Impact” follows a storyline that saw the kidnapping and torture of Deeks and Sam. They went through Hell and back before coming out the other side. However, they didn’t make it out without some mental and physical scars. Shaken, an Operational Psychologist returns to evaluate them while Callen and Kensi partner up to investigate a plane crash.

The episode does a good job of balancing two central storylines, the plane crash case and the mental health of Sam and Deeks. The case has national security implications which is able to hold viewers attention and not falter against the emotional storyline. The evaluations of Sam and Deeks cover sensitive topics that cut deep to the psyche.

3
Till Death Do Us Part is an Adrenaline and Romance Fueled Adventure

Season 10, Episode 17
Aired March 2019
Features the wedding of main characters Kensi Blye and Marty Deeks
“Till Death Do Us Part” sees two members of the NCIS: Los Angeles team, Kensi Blye and Marty Deeks tying the knot with a wedding ceremony. However, with this team, nothing goes to plan. The reoccurrence of a criminal from the team’s past complicates them in an intense but comedic way as the team has to juggle nuptials and a potential kidnapping.

This episode was long awaited by fans, as the romantic tension between the happy couple has been simmering for almost 10 seasons. The episode is a bit more light-hearted than some other episodes, but that meshes well with the overall plotline and feels well deserved. There is just the right amount of hijinks and adrenaline to make sure this wedding feels appropriate for an NCIS: Los Angeles episode.

2
Deliverance Concludes a Two-Part International Spy Story

Season 2, Episode 10
Aired in November 2010
Concludes a two-part Cold-War spy storyline that began in “Absolution”

“Deliverance” carries the Cold War spy drama of “Absolution” into a dramatic conclusion. When a former asset of Hetty’s is killed, the hunt for the mysterious book of Cold-War secrets intensifies. The window into Hetty’s murky past grows in this episode and it adds a layer of intrigue to the episode. The high-octane action only grows as this episode ends the saga with a bang.

Another element of this episode is the bond between the team and their leader, Hetty. When it comes to Hetty, she makes it hard to protect her because of her flair for secrets. However, this team doesn’t take no for an answer and goes the extra mile to protect her, cementing their strong bond.

1
Absolution Begins an Espionage Saga With Historical Implications

Season 2, Episode 9
Aired in November 2010
Begins a two-part Cold War spy storyline
“Absolution” begins off a spy thriller that sees hordes of international intelligence operatives descending on Los Angeles and wreaking havoc. When a former operative is murdered, agents from all over the globe come to LA to look for a rumored black book that he possessed. The contents of this book could have devastating implications on international relations, so the hunt is on for the NCIS: Los Angeles team to find it before a foreign power does.

This case centers a lot around Hetty’s past in espionage during the Cold War era. The window into the past of the most mysterious member of the team makes for incredibly intriguing television. When more Cold War ghosts make themselves known, the case gets dangerous for all involved.