MovieChat Forums > NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) Discussion > Nell as a field agent (Spoilers)

Nell as a field agent (Spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by slackersmom
19 replies | jump to latest

Spoilers for 10/16 episode.

I admit, I'm not a big fan of Nell' to begin with. But it's only 20 minutes in, and so far two thing have bugged me. 1) Why does she get to drive? Deeks should have that, based on seniority. In fact, in some stupid touchy-feely way, it might help him feel closer to Kensi. And 2) I know Nell has been in the field before, but wouldn't it be better to have a more experienced agent on this mission, when they expect to run into bad guys? You don't become a field agent on Tuesday and then on Wednesday be 1/4 of a highly-trained team to take down bad guys. (Yeah, I know she's been on a few other missions, but still. Experience counts for something, and they shouldn't take chances.)

[–] hahaha8 8 years ago

Well, at least Nell didn't lose the assassin like Deeks did. 😀
Also, it's kind of insulting that Deeks is always surprised that Nell knows what she's doing. Why shouldn't she know? She's been trained.

IMO, there was too little Hetty. Maybe there'll be more of her as the episodes progress, but I liked Callen, Sam, Eric (loved the note for Nell ) and even Granger is becoming more likeable. I'm glad Granger and Hetty both went to see Kensi in the hospital.

[–] slackersmom 8 years ago

No, but she let the Homeland mole get away, and didn't even tell the others where she went. (The fact that Callen & Sam were waiting for the woman was sheer folly, er, I mean luck.)

Another thing I hate: they really go to pains to make Hetty into some magical Yoda-type being, who can amazingly do what nobody else can. If I was Deeks I'd be offended that Kensi responded to Hetty and not to him. 

[–] hahaha8 8 years ago

She didn't LET the Homeland thief get away; she was incapacitating the bad guy. I didn't see Deeks go running after the Homeland agent or hear him tell Callen and Sam where she went. Does Nell have to do EVERYTHING in their partnership? 😃 It's great that Kensi responded to Hetty instead of Deeks. Kensi and Hetty have a different-but special-relationship. I can't imagine that Deeks would be insulted; I would think he'd be thrilled!

[–] slackersmom 8 years ago

You're right, my wording was misleading. My point is that she didn't alert Deeks to her situation as she was incapacitating the guy. Her vocal chords were fully available as she choked the guy out.

And yeah, of course Deeks is going to be thrilled about Kensi having some sort of reaction. But I still hate the writers turning Hetty into a metaphysical wonder-woman.

[–] JB_me 8 years ago

Note to Deeks--if your partner's driving makes you nervous, STOP TALKING! 🙊

[–] Fan273 8 years ago

Well, Nell drove because she picked Deeks up at the hospital--and the time when women deferred to men and sat in the passenger seat has long past (And why would driving makes Deeks feel any closer to Kensi? He almost never drove when they were partners. So, I agree, that's a "stupid touchy-feely" idea).

As for experience, we see how that worked out when Deeks tried to cuff the assassin. And why should Nell have to say something while she's choking out one bad guy. Is Deeks blind?

Also, I didn't get the feeling that Hetty is Yoda-like. People respond to different stimuli, and Hetty is Kensi's boss and mentor; it didn't seem weird to have her respond to Hetty's voice. I mean, she's in a coma. Who knows what she's thinking and feeling?

Anybody else notice that the rest of the group doesn't seem to find much humor in Deeks' comments (his "bag" pun)? Without the appreciative Kensi, his humor falls flat--and I was glad Nell stood up for herself and told Deeks she wasn't some stereotype because she knew the purses were counterfeit; she was "detail-oriented." Good for you, Nell!

[–] slackersmom 8 years ago

Well, Nell drove because she picked Deeks up at the hospital--and the time when women deferred to men and sat in the passenger seat has long past (And why would driving makes Deeks feel any closer to Kensi? He almost never drove when they were partners? So, I agree, that's a "stupid touchy-feely" idea).

Who said anything about women 'deferring' to men?  The fact is, Deeks is the senior agent in the vehicle. If he wants to drive, he gets to drive.

And he might feel 'closer to Kensi' because Kensi usually drove (or at least drove a lot) and he would be doing what she did.

Deeks' humor falls flat even when Kensi is around. She makes fun of him a much as everyone else does. Similar to the way McGee is (or certainly was) treated in NCIS, I don't like the way everyone disses Deeks in this show. He must be related to Rodney Dangerfield, because he really does get no respect.

[–] hahaha8 8 years ago

Then he must not have wanted to drive. Next time Nell should simply NOT drive. As for others "dissing" Deeks, it's usually because he's acting or saying something stupid.

[–] cameronc-865-261299 8 years ago

If she needs to be sitting on the first aid kit then she definitely shouldn't be driving

[–] itslikethis 8 years ago

I think she was kidding cuz I don't think she'd reach the pedals if she were on a booster seat. 😉

[–] cameronc-865-261299 8 years ago

Hopefully

[–] robocop-37224 8 years ago

Or Deeks is trying to subdue the bad guy and Nell just stands there while the bad guy/girl gets away..great writing

[–] itslikethis 8 years ago

It did happen fast and Martin was injured by the ninja-like assassin, so maybe Nell wanted to make sure her partner was okay before leaving him. I still like Nell more than Martin and find her conversation less annoying. Nell for all her talent and intelligence is also humble; a nice trait.

[–] bgirlmagic 8 years ago

Yeah, I agree. I am not a fan of Nell at all. I find it very hard to take her seriously in the field. She is very believable as a computer nerd. Maybe I'm comparing her to Kensi who I think is the most bad-ass agent (male or female) on any of the shows. Nell just doesn't cut it and I hope this unrealistic farce ends soon. Will Kensi be in a coma all season? I'm not sure how far along she is in her pregnancy.

[–] Fan273 8 years ago

I USED to like Kensi in the field and she USED to be a bad ass agent, but ever since she hooked up with that bonehead Martin (I like that name for him ever since Hetty used it last night), she's gone from bad ass to wimpy ass. All she does is moon over Martin, laugh at his stupid comments, and let him make condescending remarks about her and embarrass her in front of others. She's turned into a first class wuss.

I LOVE it that Nell doesn't take any crap from Martin! I don't care if she is small in physical stature; she's HUGE when it comes to self-respect and putting him in his place. She's a 🐯 compared to Kensi's 🐑.

[–] brandon-caplan 8 years ago

Am I the only one curious as to why Nell was the only one not carrying a carbine during the initial confrontation at the warehouse?

Also, since there are normally two teams with two operatives each (Sam/Callen and Kensi/Deeks), how come Nell hasn't just been flat-out reassigned to the field when there is an assignment until Kensi is better? They're not just gonna let Deeks go out alone (unless he's on assignment, obviously), and Eric isn't field-ready yet.

"He kidnapped me! I have Patty Hearst Syndrome!"

[–] itslikethis 8 years ago

I noticed that, too. Maybe they haven't assigned Nell to the field because of their manpower situation; it's not as if there are extra agents just sitting around with nothing to do, and as Sam said when Dom went missing, "This isn't a job for a temp." There are shortages in every agency; NCIS probably isn't any different.

[–] brandon-caplan 8 years ago

We know they have more agents (albeit rarely seen - I remember at least one was killed off-screen while guarding a prisoner at the boat house [I think that was the one where Sam got taken hostage]), but that's a valid point - almost forgot about Dom's disappearance. Also, did anyone else notice Nell patting herself down before entering the warehouse where they found the purses? I thought it was kinda weird - anyone know what was going on?

[–] klingons-eat-cherries 8 years ago

Methinks that the whole point of the Granger/Nell conversation at the end was that they don't need any replacement, 'cause Nell covers it well Granger reviewing personal files earlier on and making his mind on Nell in the end.