Review: NCIS: New Orleans “Diplomatic Immunity”

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Warning: Post contains minor spoilers

“NCIS: New Orleans” season 5 episode 3 “Diplomatic Immunity” opens with a murdered Navy intelligence officer killed amidst a conference of foreign diplomats. Resuming as Special Agent Dwayne Pride (Scott Bakula) assumes his role as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the southeast, the NCIS NOLA team dynamic has shifted. Now, Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan) spearheads operations at the New Orleans field office.
Plunging into the investigation of the Navy intelligence officer, Khoury takes Special Agent Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito) and Agent Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) along to the conference. While there, Sebastian strikes up a conversation with Carmen (Izzie Steele), a British agent who Sebastian is instantly smitten with.

Unfortunately, Carmen appears to be a deadly murderer. Despite her protestations that shes really a British intelligence agent, it’s only Sebastian who believes her. At his post as SAC, Pride proves still invested in the well-being of his team. Though his new role is an office job, Pride maintains a field investigation attitude.

On his first day as SAC, he starts off reviewing cases and approaches discussions as an investigator first, SAC second. Similarly, Dwayne pulls rank to track a foreign suspect with diplomatic immunity visiting the Big Easy. ASAC Steven Thompson (Reggie Lee) warns that Pride’s actions could cause a major kerfuffle. But ultimately, it’s results which matter, and Pride’s team delivers.

Observations:

Special Agent Khoury continues building rapport with the NCIS New Orleans team. Notably, Khoury and Gregorio function as a solid pair. It’s Sebastian who further evolves. In “See You Soon,” Lund took Pride’s near-death experience particularly hard. Again, Lund distances himself from the geeky, comic relief character of old. He’s more confident, an invaluable member of the NCIS NOLA outfit. But he clearly struggles.

“Hey, are they having a bulk sale at Suits R Us?” Gregorio quips. “As a matter of fact yeah, pretty snazzy right?” Sebastian replies. “Yeah, if it’s your First Communion,” Tammy responds. “Or if you’re picking up the keys to the sweet new house you just bought.” Sebastian exhibits an impulsive streak, brought on in part by Pride’s close encounter with death.

Khoury persists in fitting in, arriving on scene with a black coffee, touch of chicory for Loretta. “You don’t take coffee LaSalle,” she states handing Chris a bottled water. While I appreciate the notion that Khoury is trying to gel with the team, some of these interactions feel a bit forced. That’s no fault of any actors, more a matter of slightly awkward scripts. Thankfully, Sebastian’s bumbling presence makes these moments less stifled.

As Khoury meshes with the NCIS New Orleans field office, Pride adjusts to his new role as SAC. When he arrives for his first day, Pride’s informed that he’s late for his first meeting even though he showed up several minutes early, there’s a stack of reading for his morning meeting. “This is more of a read as you go kind of deal,” ASAC Thompson informs Pride. Though Dwayne’s instinct is field work, when reviewing cases he’s unable to afford each the proper time he’d like to. Instead, Pride must approach work from an administrative, rather than investigative, perspective.

Sebastian’s interactions with Carmen provide a different side of the NCIS agent. He’s clearly attracted to Carmen, and meets for drinks to discuss the investigation, which feels very mich like a date. It’s not the first time on the show that Sebastian expressed interest in a romantic partner, but it’s the closest we’ve seen him to a hookup. Ultimately, despite the protestations of his friends and peers, trusting his gut serves fruitful. It’s a heavily Sebastian-centric episode, and appropriately it’s written by Rob Kerkovich. It’s a necessary and fascinating probe of Lund, delivering added depth to his character.

Though the team dynamic feels a bit off with the addition of Khoury, I’m still a fan of Hannah. She’s a confident, caring leader and graces the show with additional diversity. Plus, Pride’s role as SAC proves that he persists in fracturing the rules while getting results.