Review: NCIS New Orleans ‘Biased’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

Although LeVar Burton might be best-known for his role as Geordi LaForge on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” also known as the best “Star Trek” series of all, or hosting “Reading Rainbow,” Burton has enjoyed extensive acting and directing career. Among LeVar’s top works is Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) “Smart House,” a tragically underappreciated, visionary sci-fi comedy. Burton has guest-starred on “NCIS New Orleans,” as well as directed, and in season 6 episode 17 LeVar returns to the director’s chair for what might be the best episode of the CBS hit series to date.

NOPD Detective Ted Bradley (Matthew James Thomas) chases suspect Gerald Young (Brandon Gill) through the streets, before Young takes a detour through a crowded backyard house party. Bradley announced himself, gives a warning, and shoots who turns out to be Petty Officer Mitchell. Ted claims that Mitchell pulled a weapon, and he was forced to fire. Petty Officer Mitchell’s murder unceremoniously interrupts a date between  Jefferson Parish medical examiner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) and NOPD Det. Gene Holloway (Keith David). Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) arrives on-scene shortly after Wade.

Although Det. Bradley sticks to his story, no weapon is found. And the case proves difficult to work. Pride concentrates on searching for the gun Bradley claims Mitchell brandished in the hopes of confirming or denying that allegation. But naturally a white police officer killing a black Naval Officer who appears to be unarmed sparks quite a reaction. And not merely from the community at large. Quickly, the media begins to take sides spewing sensationalist headlines. Amongst the ranks of NCIS, there’s turmoil. Special Agent Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis), an African American, quite justifiably feels passionate about the murder.

While Dwayne searches for clues and attempts to keep everything above board, cooperating with NOPD, Carter feels differently, and understandably so. When Quentin finds a high school graduation photograph of Petty Officer Mitchell with the suspect Gerald, he confiscates it rather than sharing the evidence with NOLA PD. “Please tell me you’re not trying to bury evidence…” Pride confronts Carter. “No Pride,” Quentin corrects, “I figure we should get the complete story before our friends over there jump to all types of conclusions,” he explains motioning at NOPD. “You’re so busy trying to remain neutral,” Carter fires at Pride, “there’s nothing neutral about this situation.” Similarly, Carter critiques his fellow NCIS agents, Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan), Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito), and Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) for not taking a stance. From his perspective, the rest of the NCIS NOLA outfit isn’t dedicated to proving Mitchell’s innocence. But as each of them explains individually, they’re all working the case in their respective manners, searching for evidence.

Likewise, Doctor Wade exhibits a zest for finding justice for Mitchell. And Loretta gets into a spat with romantic interest Det. Gene Holloway. Initially, Holloway comes to the defense of Bradley who, it’s revealed, was trained by Gene. However, Wade lists off a string of unarmed African Americans who were killed.

Observations:

“NCIS New Orleans” season 6 episode 17 “Biased” tackles a heavy topic with loads of nuance. With tragic real-world incidents of unarmed African Americans murdered such as Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, this is an unfortunately timely episode. And it marvelously presents several differing perspectives. Loretta arrives to find the murdered Mitchell lying in a pool of his own blood, handcuffed, and completely exposed with no body blind. In the wake of Petty Officer Mitchell’s murder, she thinks of her own two sons and the racial profiling they’ll have to deal with. “My CJ could have been on the other side of [Bradley’s] gun,” Wade wonders. Investigative Computer Specialist Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) makes the bold claim that in a way, the accident placing him permanently in a wheelchair was a great means of negating stereotypes directed at him. Special Agent Quentin Carter exhibits an extremely understandable distrust of official channels.

NOPD Det. Gene Holloway, who served as Det. Bradley’s trainer, can’t bring himself to believe that Bradley could have shot Mitchell unarmed. Though Carter taunts Holloway by stating that Gene has come to prefer the food in the house over the field. While initially Gene appears bullheaded in his unwillingness to consider any possibilities other than Mitchell having a gun on him, Holloway reveals a complicated sentiment. “If I go to far one way, I’m a traitor to the badge. Gp too far the other way, I’m a traitor to the race.” He recalls first joining NOPD and getting banana stuck in his locker, being called “gorillas in the mist.” Since he’s overcome so much racism throughout his law enforcement career, and seen strides such as over 60% of NOPD being black and the police chief being black, it’s tough for Holloway to accept that Bradley may have acted differently had Petty Officer Mitchell been white.

Among the most powerful scenes in the entire episode, Loretta lists off a slew of unarmed black men shot because of racial profiling. “Alton Sterling. Tamir Rice. Eric Garner. Charles Kinsey, Oscar Grad, Philando Castile. Sandra Bland! Stephon Clark!” The ending is bleak, necessarily so. It clearly states that there’s no justice in this sort of situation. Even if an officer kills an unarmed African American and is found guilty, that’s not justice. While it’s a step toward exposing racial profiling and systemic racism, it’s not bringing anyone back from the dead. Patton sums it up well. “One thing’s for sure. Everybody has a bias, even if you’re unaware of it. Things will get better. We just gotta keep pushing. Keep open. Keep real.” While the finale is admittedly extremely bleak, Patton provides some hopefulness. This is “NCIS New Orleans” at its best and most nuanced.