Touch of Death (3X 21)

[phillydi]

Touch of Death (3X21)
w/ Hawaii Five-O Crossover: Pa Make Loa



May sweeps are here and CBS throws its hat in the ring this week presenting a two-night crossover event with NCISLA and Hawaii Five-0. I have to admit I rarely watch H50 but was excited to see how the two shows would combine resources to showcase their talent and exotic locations. As Shane Brennan said, “You don’t have to watch both to love what’s going to happen.”

This time Callen and Sam are called over to the Islands to team up with the gang at H50. Together they hunt down an old nemesis who threatens to release a deadly virus into the populations. It was great to see Craig Robert Young back in action again as Dracul Comescu. The last time we saw Dracul he was in Romania, bloody and beaten and presumably one of the last surviving member of the Comescu family. You could see the hatred return to Callen’s face when Danno talks about Comescu. Next thing you know, our guys are drawn back into the drama of the blood feud.

The execution of the small pox victims was disturbing and the thought of re-engineering a virus like this with a shorter incubation period and introducing it to a large urban area is scary to say the least. After the team realizes that Comescu has been two-timed by the original scientist, it’s back to LA to chase down the small pox vials.




Touch of Death is intense from the start. The airport scene with Kensi and Deeks and back at Ops with Eric and Nell couldn’t have been more suspenseful. But as they go through the search for Prodeman, the two teams have long dialogues about what is important to them in the face of an international plague. Callen wants a hobby and Deeks is obviously jealous of Kensi’s flirtations. Even Eric is hitting harder on Nell. There was a lot of really fun dialogue between all the partners with a heavy dose of anxiety riding beneath it all. Of course the team finds the real menace behind the threat and goes after her with the H50 crew. I didn’t think there was going to be too much to smile about with this story line but there was a lot of great banter flying around relieving some of the tension.

All in all, I wished the crossover had worked. I think Touch of Death could have stood on its own without the tie-in. It was a gripping and thought provoking episode. And I enjoyed watching the interaction between the characters of each show. Sometimes an infusion of new faces brings a spark of energy back into the final shows of the season, although H50 probably benefited more from the infusion of NCISLA magic than the latter. I would have enjoyed seeing a bigger show down between Callen and Comescu….it was just over too quickly. After Dracul’s death, H50 was anti-climatic. I think it would have made for a more interesting show if they kept Dracul and sent him to the mainland with the small pox vials. But it did bring to closure the season’s opening episode and a resolution to the Comescu’s dynasty story line….but it just wasn’t a very satisfying ending to one of NCISLA’s more popular villains.



Highlights of the Shows:

• I love Craig’s (Comescu) double take when he sees Callen for the first time in the market place. Great chase through the Market place too. Callen was a man on a mission and he had no intention of letting Comescu go a second time. Right back at ya!
• Sam is still worried about Callen after he kills Comescu. Always protecting his partner.
• Nell and Eric beating up on the equipment in Ops was pretty funny.
• Enjoyed Danno’s fear of Hetty!
• Great bromance scene between Callen and Sam in the car. Can you see Callen taking up scrapbooking??
• Well there was no upbeat beginning to the show but the ending was perfect. Hetty just loves Deeks:

• Hetty: Reminds me of another detective that I know.
Deeks: What me? I’m not cheeky, I’m charming…and I’m a lot funny than him. Am I not? Guys? I just want you to stop and think for a second what this place would be like without me..
Hetty: (What a smile! LOL!) Let me see….Peaceful, professional, sanitary, feel free to stop me anytime Mr. Deeks.


Best Lines of the Shows:

• Dracul: Well, well Agent Callen, you come all this way to see me? I’m honored.
Callen: Don’t flatter yourself. I came for the weather.

• Danno: Does she come with the building?
Deeks: Easy tiger. She’s got ears like a bat.
Danno: Really, does she sleep upside down too?

• Eric: You know what they say about crazy women…
Nell: No I don’t…what do they say?

• Deeks: I hope that my witty banter isn’t this annoying.
Kensi: Who said you were witty?
Deeks: Touche’

• Kensi: Have you ever put in a catheter?
Eric: Not professionally


Danno (!) and Sam Bromance Moments :

• Sam: Nice ride. What’s her name?
Danno: Her name is…car.
Sam: Car? We got to find you a name…Shotgun!

• Sam: Hold steady!
Danno: I’m holding steady! You shoot like Ray Charles!
Callen: You might want to work on your driving position, you’re wrist is in the wrong place.
Danno: My wrists are in the wrong place? What’s it about Navy Seals and back seat drivers?
Sam: Watch out for the car!!!
Danno I see the car!!!

• Sam: Why do you dress like that? You’re in Hawaii.
Danno: It’s my style
Sam: It’s not a style…it’s a bad habit


Deeks Moments:

• Who knew Deeks was Trypanophobic? Not a huge fan of needles, Deeks? Man down!

• Deeks: Did you see her? She stabled me like she defending off a bear attack!

• Deeks and Danno! Oh, I think I need to start a Deeks and Danno watch! These two are just too cute together!
Danno: Can I help you with something?
Deeks: Just thinking about your hair, is it bullet proof?



.
Densi Watch:

• Kensi: Don’t get philosophical on me, it creeps me out.

• Kensi and Deeks talking about the end of the world was heart wrenching. You never know what you have until you lose it! Kensi is extremely affected by Deeks’ rationalization of the moment.

• Kensi: Come on Deeks, I’ll buy you ice cream if you don’t cry.

• Didn’t you get a laugh out of Deeks imitating a flirtatious Kensi? Great Densi moment.

• No fair telling Deeks you sleep with nothing on Kensi!

• Robo Kensi! Really, Deeks?


Come back next week when I review the Densi episode we’ve all been waiting for – Neighborhood Watch! I had a chance to interview two of the supporting guest starts – D.C. Douglas and Gabriel Suttle and we’ll talk to them about their time on set and working with the NCISLA crew over on NCISLAFan (http://ncislafan.blogspot.com/). See you next week on NCISLA Rewind!

[Diamond Jade]

I enjoyed your review ...

I never gave the same importance to Dracule as everyone else seemed to ... He could have been developed but the story was very interesting without him, imo ...


ncisladreamteam.proboards.com/index.cgi

[ceindreadh]

I'm feeling somewhat unsettled by all the mentions of

You never know what you have until you lose it

and Deeks comment about thinking what this place would be like without him (although I did love Hetty's list, and it was clear that she was only joking)
THen again, I always get a bit nervous coming up to season finales, especially given the rumors that abound.

After Dracul’s death, H50 was anti-climatic. I think it would have made for a more interesting show if they kept Dracul and sent him to the mainland with the small pox vials. But it did bring to closure the season’s opening episode and a resolution to the Comescu’s dynasty story line….but it just wasn’t a very satisfying ending to one of NCISLA’s more popular villains.

I'm not sure I'd class him as one of the 'popular' villains. I mean, it was more the Comescu family rather than any single member of it that was the threat. And do we even know that he was the last of the line?

I was surprized that they took him out on H50 - although I was even more suprized that they released 'behind the scenes' info that pretty much gave it away that Dracul was going to go down by Callan's hand.

Hmm, wonder if they'll put the H50 ep on the season's DVDs and vice versa.

[ncisvermont]

May 6, 2012 21:14:06 GMT 1 ceindreadh said:

After Dracul’s death, H50 was anti-climatic. I think it would have made for a more interesting show if they kept Dracul and sent him to the mainland with the small pox vials. But it did bring to closure the season’s opening episode and a resolution to the Comescu’s dynasty story line….but it just wasn’t a very satisfying ending to one of NCISLA’s more popular villains.

I'm not sure I'd class him as one of the 'popular' villains. I mean, it was more the Comescu family rather than any single member of it that was the threat. And do we even know that he was the last of the line?

I was surprized that they took him out on H50 - although I was even more suprized that they released 'behind the scenes' info that pretty much gave it away that Dracul was going to go down by Callan's hand.

I feel that the writers didn't do Dracul justice by giving him 15 minutes of screen time in the H5O episode and then having Callen shoot him. Especially when the H5O fans probably didn't get the full understanding behind the Callen/Comescu feud. Very anti-climatic if you ask me from an NCISLA perspective.

I really wish that Dracul had been able to flee to LA so the entire team could have been involved with his demise. Oh well, it was a lost opportunity. I do believe that the Comescu family is not completely killed off. I can think of two people from that dinner table scene in the S2 finale that were not in the house when the firestorm called Callen/Sam/Deeks/Kensi went thru shooting anything that moved. The man at the head of the table (father figure) and the woman next to Dracul (daughter figure) weren't seen during that firefight. Not sure about all the men at the table but I think this gives the writers some more ammo if they want to continue the Comescu story line.

Deeks moments:

- I love seeing Deeks in a very serious frame of mind. Running thru LAX with Kensi at the beginning of the episode really set the tone! You always seem get him laughing/smiling/joking around but you rarely get to see him in a totally serious mode. When he goes undercover though, you seem to see another side of this character. Just think back to when Deeks was Jason Wyler/Max Gentry/Dale John Sully and in those episodes the range of Eric's acting skills are fully on display. That is why I love when they do full undercover episodes and not episodes where the undercover scenes last for 4 minutes... like our biker scene in Patriot Games. When Harold outed Deeks as soon as he entered the garage, I almost screamed with frustration! I had been looking so forward to Deeks posing as a biker... oh well, maybe next season!

- I just loved when he was talking about the global pandemic in a very subdued voice. Really made me think about that scenario... Again, not something you see Deeks doing in every episode.

- Danny and Deeks joking around about hair. I could see them doing that all day. This is the Deeks we see every week. I did like that at the end of the episode they both agreed that they should be flown to Las Vegas on Air Force One and given a high roller suite in one of the Casinos. Fat chance on that!

- Nothing like exposing your fear of needles to the entire team (plus others from outside the team). Now he joins Kensi's fear of shaggy back hair and Sam's fear of clowns. However, Deeks now has the privilege of having passed out in front of everyone. Poor guy!

Densi moments:

- Deeks mimicking Kensi when she was flirting with the H5O guys... You could really see the jealousy brewing below the surface! I did love Kensi's last comeback about sleeping naked (or with a costume)! Ouch!

- I also loved how he got his revenge on Kensi at the hospital. Doctor vs Nurse... Kensi thinks she won that battle until Deeks sends Dr. Blye (Urologist) to help the nurse fix her patent's catheter! I can only image the pain Kensi inflicted on Deeks after that one! I do have to admit that Kensi does look more like a doctor than Deeks does...

Loved Hetty and Deeks end scene:

Hetty: “Detective Williams is just a tad bit cheeky for my liking.”
Deeks: “No kidding.”
Hetty: “Reminds me of another detective I know”
Deeks: “What me, no, no, no, no, I’m not cheeky… I’m charming. I’m actually much funnier than him, am I not? Guys? Can you back me up on this? I’m actually much funnier. I just want you to stop and think for a second what this place would be like without me?”
Hetty: “Let me see…peaceful, professional, sanitary… feel free to stop me anytime Mr. Deeks.”

I love any scene that has Hetty and Deeks trading dialogue.

I am so looking forward to "Neighborhood Watch" tonight. Hope everyone enjoys the episode as much as I am anticipating to!