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Warning: Post contains spoilers
“NCIS New Orleans” season 7 episode 7 “Leda and the Swan, Part I” finds a street performer witnessing what appears to be an assault. She calls New Orleans Police Department, and when NOPD discovers a murdered Navy therapist, Lt. Commander Amanda Gregson. As Special Agent Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis) reveals while briefing Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan), Lt. Commander Gregson was a Naval therapist out of Belle Chasse. Because Gregson had her wallet, cash, and a .45 on her, the murder doesn’t seem like a robbery.
Hannah and Carter interview Naval Captain Donahue about Amanda Gregson. Donahue paints a glowing picture of Gregson. Initially, a bit of digging by investigative computer specialist Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) suggests espionage. Gregson held a high security clearance related to a tactical long-range drone project. Patton discovers that Gregson’s notes were written in code. But following the clues leads back to the Master-at-Arms at Belle Chasse who reveals that Amanda Gregson was attempting to help out patients reporting sexual assaults by a high-ranking military officer. Amanda was working with Ted to find back-channel means of punishing predators by getting them demoted, transferred, and even discharged via roundabout methods since many victims were reluctant to come forward with accusations against their abusers because of potential blowback.
Special Agents Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito) and Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) seek out the street performer, Fiona Devlin, who witnessed Amanda’s murder. Arriving at Fiona’s last-known address, Tammy and Sebastian learn that Fiona was evicted some months prior along with her young daughter. Gregorio and Lund track Fiona by pinging her cellphone, and track her down to a 1999 Subaru station wagon, her new address.
After learning of Fiona’s hardships of moving to New Orleans for a past lover, raising her daughter as a single mother, and attempting to start a music career which COVID ultimately derailed, Sebastian offers to help. And in doing so, Lund recruits most of the NCIS NOLA squad. Jefferson Parrish Coroner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) lets Fiona stay rent-free in her guest house. Rita Devereaux (Chelsea Field, and Scott Bakula’s real-life wife) provides her services as an attorney to grant Fiona custody of her daughter. And NCIS Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) provides employment working the food pantry at the True Tone. It’s a true group effort, and it seems Sebastian may have a newfound friend, possibly even a romantic partner.
After Pride recruited Loretta to join the Crescent City 2.0 Commission, a group organized by New Orleans Mayor Zhara Taylor to fight issues plaguing NOLA, Doc Wade expresses her annoyance. “Dwayne Cassius Pride,” she greets King. “I’m not sure I’m talking to you.” Dwayne counters, “Even if I bribe you with cafe au lait?” Although Pride argues that the committee is poised to change the city, Loreta points out “we couldn’t even get ten people to agree where to order dinner.”
Special Agent Quentin Carter avoids phone calls from an FBI special agent. His mother is in the middle of a confirmation under Secretary of the Navy. As such, Carter is needed for a background interview with the FBI. However, a secret from Carter’s past threatens to rear its ugly head and disrupt the entire Carter family. When Quentin was 17, his older brother got a DUI. Although Carter wasn’t driving the car, he took the blame so that his brother, who had just gotten into Annapolis, didn’t have his offer rescinded. Carter avoids the FBI interview, and his mother. But when momma Carter arrives at NCIS New Orleans headquarters, greeting her son with a terse “Quentin Carter,” erasing Carter’s typically suave demeanor.
“NCIS NOLA” S07E07 “Leda and the Swan, Part 1” provides a solid whodunit plot. There’s a well-executed red herring with the long-range tactical drone project Gregson was involved with which initially hints at espionage. With a major breakthrough in the case that uncovers a yet-unnamed serial sexual predator, a riveting part two has been set up. Learning more about Carter’s background comes as a neat surprise. While Quentin had the best intentions while covering for his brother as a teenager, this misstep could derail his career, along with that of his brother and mother.
Much of “NCIS New Orleans” season 7 has grappled with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Fiona Devlin, “NCIS NOLA” further probes the effect of the pandemic on individuals. Aside from heightened health precautions and safety measures, the novel Coronavirus outbreak ushered in a major economical upheaval. Devlin, a singer-songwriter making a living at what she loved in the before times was hit hard. Unable to keep performing and getting gigs, Fiona was unable to pay rent and evicted, losing custody of her child in the process. Thankfully, it’s Sebastian to the rescue. I’d be shocked if Devlin didn’t make another appearance later on in the season. A twisty narrative full of surprises on many fronts, “Leda and the swan, Part I” sets up what promises to be a taut thrill-ride of a part two.
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