NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 episode 11 review: Bittersweet Christmas

NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 episode 11 carried with it the title of “All is Bright” and while there were many happy moments, there was an underlying layer of sadness amidst the festivity.

While we know that there was a case-of-the-week storyline here regarding a ransomware attack that took out part of Los Angeles’ power grid, that’s not what we really want to focus on here. Instead, “All is Bright” was really more about Sam trying to figure out how to move forward. He was missing Michelle and struggling to find a way to move forward with his family — he tried confronting the holiday with silence, closing off from his friends, but then opening up with them and trying to get into the holiday spirit. Sam wasn’t trying to be a Grinch; he was instead completely lost knowing that no matter what he did, nothing was going to fill the void in his heart that was missing his wife.

Rather than uncovering a quick fix, what Sam realized was that it was okay to feel so many different things and have conflicting emotions as to how to live his life. Callen did everything he could to try to help him (Callen was in a helpful mood in this episode in general), but Sam ultimately realized that he just had to figure this out over time. It was okay for him to battle some of these emotions and he couldn’t slap a Band-Aid on it.

For Mosley, her problem was a little different — we know that she has a family out there, but she’s just not with them. How and why that happened still remains a mystery, but clearly her not wanting to embrace the holiday spirit was tied to that It wasn’t until the very end of the episode when she decided to let go, allow the team to have their fun, and then spend some time in her office quietly reflecting on her past. Not even Hidoko, the one agent who knows her better than most, fully comprehended what was going on with her.

NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 episode 11 did offer up a few fun little Deeks and Kensi moments as they’re knee-deep in the wedding planning — also, they did have a fun case earlier when Deeks’ skills of “seduction” were put to the test on an older woman. We of course always want more Densi, but at least the show didn’t gloss over their first Christmas together as an engaged couple.

CarterMatt Verdict

While we wish that Hetty was there to celebrate the holidays — or at least even mentioned — NCIS: Los Angeles closed the fall portion of the season with a bittersweet Christmas story that was sweet at times and emotional at others. Hopefully, Sam and Mosley both get the healing they need in the episodes to come.

What did you think about NCIS: Los Angeles season 9 episode 11? Was this the perfect way to celebrate Christmas for you? Share now in the comments!

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