The original ‘NCIS’ may still be America’s top-action show, but its west-coast cousin (‘NCIS: Los Angeles’) storms into a seventh season (out on DVD box-set this cominh week) with confidence and a sense of fun…
When NCIS: LA began it was very much a case of trying to measure up to the most popular show on television – no mean aim. But after being launched in a two-part NCIS planted-pilot, the series proper took off and slowly but surely it emerged as having a distinct identity of its own.
Over the years the show has played with its more ‘laid-back’ formula. Whereas NCIS is very much about the formal investigative procedures of the Navy Criminal Investigation Service, the LA branch – while just as brave and resourceful – has a more ‘casual Friday’ approach each week. Very few formal suits and ties in this particular boatyard and the rule book seems to allow for some more improvisation…
By the time this seventh series debuted, the rhythms and beats are well-established and I know several people who now prefer this to the original – if only because there’s a clear lightness of touch to the banter that comes from an innate sense of fun on set and that the ‘LA’ strand has it in abundance.
After some darker episodes in the previous run, the most recent season made sure it played to some of the positives. Yes, Callen is still searching for answers to his heritage – a source of several key episodes exploring his divided loyalties, but that’s balanced out by the more comedic banter between Deeks and Kensi – now formally a couple. The possible ‘mole’ in the department story-arc that’s been bubbling under for a while now is frequently referenced through the 2015-2016 season but, somewhat frustratingly, takes a back seat – essentially reduced to brief hushed lines of dialogue and shared frowns between pint-sized powerhouse Hetty Lange (Linda Hunt) and the solemn Owen Granger (Miguel Ferrer). Hopefully ithis is one strand of story that will be resolved when the show returns to screens in September.
Perhaps the only thing to note is the fact that every seasonal box-set for the series so far boasts a picture of the Chris O’Donnell and L L Cool J ‘dynamic duo’ on its cover and it was surely established several years ago that one of the strengths of the show is its ensemble nature. There’s no denying the two men were the biggest names when the show was launched and remain a key draw, but it seems a little unfair simply to highlight them continuously at the expense of their colleagues’ significant contribution.
Maybe when Season 8 gets its inevitable box-set debut, the cover designers can show some overdue love to the ‘supporting’ cast?
Along with the main episodes, there’s also plenty of additional material including several behind-the-scenes featurettes covering the action choreography, the special-effects, deleted scenes, audio-commentaries and a special look at the show’s 150th episode.
NCIS: LA – Season 7 BOX-SET (Region 1) is released 30th August by CBS DVD ( http://cbshe.com/NCISLA7 )
