MovieChat Forums > NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) Discussion > This week (10/16) on Homeland Security.....

This week (10/16) on Homeland Security...

posted 8 years ago by darkavenger77
14 replies | jump to latest

a/k/a Things I Learned:
Two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents are killed within a month. The second one died next to a pool. Pools have water, and the Navy has ships that float on water, so call NCIS!

Seeing as how it dealt 100% with DHS, this episode would have made a great spin off episode for a series called... Homeland Security! 

Like Chuck Norris, Nell really doesn't need a gun. Agency policy requires she carry one.

Leaving a valuable ring on a comatose patient will never result in it being taken, especially in a low-crime area like LA.

Poorly executed beard guy is well-versed in home rental laws.

If you're a couple of nerdy guys, a hot chick inviting you to a party happens so often there's no need to be alarmed, especially if you work for the DHS in an investigative capacity.

Granger works part time for the thought police.

A warrantless entry into a building. That's more like it!

If there is no telling what is inside a warehouse- drugs, guns, etc., don't use SWAT, just send in four people.

If you're a noted Chinese assassin chick and a former Triad leader, you'll never notice the doors to your warehouse have been breached. Instead, just walk in unaware.

Nell was clearly holding back on the Chinese assassin chick. She also didn't need a long gun to get the job done.

Kensi's funky eye finally gets some recognition.

In addition to rental laws, thanks to Nell poorly executed beard guy is well-versed in Louis Vuitton purses.

We're reminded once again of the non-frugal spending of the federal government, notably DHS.

Kensi's mom would be a major score for Granger.

The Chinese dude is a closet Tea Party member based on his DHS spending comments.

The trained seal has M.E. training so he can accurately determine time of death from gunshot wounds.

When going to make an arrest and you spot a bunch of Chinese gun thugs, be sure to talk about them so they can hear you and send some lead your way.

Deeks took a page out of Nell's playbook from last week for the takedown.

Portraying the main bad girl (either Chinese or American) does not mean you get any lines. Unlike the federal government (notably DHS), the show has a budget it has to live within.

Every day at work with Granger is now casual Friday, to include job titles.

In addition to everything (and I do mean everything) else she has done, Hetty possesses mystical healing powers.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] robocop-37224 8 years ago

You just realized it?

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

You just realized it?

Realized what? I listed 22 items for this episode.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Is DA referring to Callen as the "poorly executed beard guy"? If so, that's just dopey--or maybe it's an inside joke? Callen's character is SO much better than that moron Martin, and it's great that he used the info from Nell. Why not? It shows his ego's not so big that he's intimated by someone else knowing something he doesn't and he's still learning--things that make him and Sam and others great agents.    Oh, and by the way, I know the rental rules for single family homes in my town because I'm a homeowner; Callen owns a home, so that's not so farfetched.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

Is DA referring to Callen as the "poorly executed beard guy"?

Yes. I suppose a character nickname list is in order:
Poorly executed beard guy= Callen
Trained seal= Sam

I'm considering some acronyms as well:
FCN (Female Chuck Norris)= Nell
AKAPD (All Knowing All Powerful Dwarf)= Hetty

FWIW, I like Deeks and his humor. If this was a serious show I'd share your objections to the character.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Some people probably find your nicknames clever, but they are demeaning (it also might explain why they enjoy Deeks' character). There's nothing humorous about calling Hetty a "dwarf" or referring to Sam as a "trained seal." But, here's a nickname for Deeks--DYM (dirty yellow mop) which describes both his physical appearance AND mental condition. 😁

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

There's nothing humorous about calling Hetty a "dwarf" or referring to Sam as a "trained seal."

No doubt. People are easily offended nowadays by anything from the way the wind blows to a statue that's been in place for decades.

Check your facts-
A dwarf is an adult that is under 4'-11" tall. Linda Hunt is 4'-9" tall, so the description is proper. I make fun of the character (not the person) since she is shown to have done literally everything under the sun, and everyone is afraid of her. The fact is someone of her stature would never qualify as a field agent. Even under an affirmative action type of program she'd fail in field work. This is yet another comic book aspect to the show.

BTW, the height limit comes from the Little People of America site:
http://www.lpaonline.org/faq-

Sam is in fact a former SEAL, a profession requiring a lot of training. Like others on the show, he does dumb stuff, things someone with that level of training and experience would never do. At least he looks professional doing it. Again, I'm making fun of the character.

Deeks is an unapologetic slob, so your description fits as far as appearance. I'd disagree on the mental part since he passed the bar and worked as a public defender. IMO, his clownish actions are a good fit for a show that clowns around with an actual law enforcement agency.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

I didn't say Linda Hunt wasn't a dwarf; I said there was nothing humorous about calling her one. It's interesting you believe there is (or was) a height requirement for working in intelligence. Maybe there was in the old days (although there's no height requirement listed on the CIA website), and that seems unlikely given that any agency would want a variety of operatives working for it.

Again, everyone who watches the show knows that Sam is a former SEAL; to refer to him as a "trained" seal has negative connotations (similar to calling someone a hillbilly because he lives in the country far away from cities-check out merriam-webster.com).

The show is fiction and no one does more dumb stuff than Deeks--and he would NEVER be hired by the LAPD (having friends who actually work for that organization). The idea that he passed the bar and served as a public defender is more laughable than anything associated with any of the other characters, and the idea that he wouldn't have been written up numerous times given his plethora of inappropriate comments and unprofessional behavior--again, in a federal workplace--is one of the most unbelievable aspects of the show.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

I didn't say Linda Hunt wasn't a dwarf; I said there was nothing humorous about calling her one.

I didn't call the actress a dwarf (even though she is), my comments deal with the character and her unrealistic actions and reputation. As one example, I believe it was last season when PEBG  went rogue and Hetty had to stop him by herself. She used a Taser, and when that failed she was unable to physically stop him, so he got away. Let's say fictional actor John Smith is a person whose personal life you adore. However, he plays a character that you despise on a series via a series of unrealistic actions. You make some comments regarding the character. Should fans of the actor take these personally? Some no doubt will, see easily offended above. BTW, I appreciate the lack of insults in your responses.

It's interesting you believe there is (or was) a height requirement for working in intelligence.

I'll agree a person of high mental capacity and limited physical ability would be sought after for intelligence work- in an office. Field work (my comments related to Hetty being a field agent) on the other hand has a physical requirement. Police agencies find that out the hard way at times when officers that have no business being in the field are placed there so as to comply with a court order.

In fact, if the character is about the same age as Ms. Hunt, then she would have been inducted into the intelligence field in the mid to late 60's while in her 20's. That was certainly a different time for women in the workplace. The only way I see her doing any field work is as a part of a team where she plays a minor role so far as activity- perhaps surveillance- and there are other members more physically capable with her. That is not how the character is depicted in the show. She's considered a "#1 badass" to borrow the term that was applied to Granger recently.

to refer to him as a "trained" seal has negative connotations...

Only if you see the things the character does that are completely inconsistent with the training and discipline required to attain that position. There are similar criticisms leveled at a character on a new series called Timeless (2016). He's supposedly a former Delta Force member that can't accomplish a fairly simple mission to take out a time-traveling suspect. He recently had the chance to do so after wounding the suspect yet failed to finish the job.

The show is fiction and no one does more dumb stuff than Deeks--and he would NEVER be hired by the LAPD...

I agree 100% and will add it is entertaining fiction. I see Deeks as comic relief on the show. Again, if this were a serious show (it is classified as a "Crime, Drama, Mystery" here ), then his actions would be way out of line. Aside from having so much fun making fun of it, Deeks, Granger, and the Challenger are the only reasons I watch the show.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] bliss_pepper 8 years ago

Now that I know what you actually like about the show--Aside from having so much fun making fun of it, Deeks, Granger, and the Challenger are the only reasons I watch the show.--it makes your commentary much easier to understand and why there are so many negative comments about the plots and other characters and so few about Deeks or Granger, in comparison (and who would diss the Challenger). Interesting!

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

...it makes your commentary much easier to understand

I didn't notice until now you just joined in July. I've been doing these weekly threads for several seasons. I've expressed my likes about the show in the past, but that would have been before you were a member.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] artdogg50 8 years ago

Little 5'1" 90Lbs Nell with the MMA 30 second sleeper hold. Believable No, but still fun to watch.

Could believe the female assassin literally had no lines.

[–] robocop-37224 8 years ago

I was busting your balls/ovaries dark ..that was a great list. Some deep thinking there.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

that was a great list. Some deep thinking there.

✅ Thanks for the clarification.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] slad47 8 years ago

Great recap. Hope you keep it up.