Review: NCIS New Orleans ‘One of Our Own’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

“NCIS New Orleans” season seven episode three “One of Our Own” finds Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) personally tasked by New Orleans Mayor Zahra Taylor (Amanda Warren) with investigating the death of New Orleans Police Department Officer Mark Palmer. NOPD Officer Palmer and his partner Officer Laughton respond to a breaking and entering call when Palmer is shot and killed. As Mayor Taylor explains, “the officer was ambushed before he could even enter. Mark Palmer, 12-year veteran of the NOPD.” Confused, Pride states what we’re all thinking: “Which makes me wonder why I’m here.” Since Palmer’s murder isn’t related to the Navy, it’s odd to have NCIS called in. But Zahra reveals that she needs Pride’s discretion in running a shadow investigation into excessive force cases, three of which involved Officer Palmer. Shortly before his untimely demise, Palmer reached out to the Force Investigation Team (FIT), which is responsible for probing complaints against officers claiming to have information to provide. Unfortunately, Mark never got the chance.
Because one of the excessive force cases involved a Navy sailor, Mayor Taylor sought out Pride. “Did the sailor threaten Officer Palmer?” Dwyane questions. “No, in fact he dropped the whole case which unfortunately happens too often, but one thing Black Lives Matter and the community has shown us is we can’t let the incidents get swept under the rug.” It’s really refreshing to see a show like “NCIS New Orleans” acknowledging the invaluable work that BLM and community organizing has accomplished.

Working the case, Special Agent Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito) discovers that Officer Palmer and NOPD Officer Lenny Yates were partners until eight months before his death. Gregorio and Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan) head to Belle Chasse to interview Ensign Steven Cox, the Navy sailor brutalized by Officers Palmer and Yates. Ensign Cox elucidates that a NOPD detective pressured him to drop the case, even going so far as to insinuate that Cox would be discharged or arrested if he didn’t. “That detective was right about one thing. No one’s going to believe the word of a black man over two cops.” Supportively, Gregorio offers “We do.” With the help of Cox, the NCIS NOLA team finds out the identity of the New Orleans Police Department detective. Det. Donovan Blakely presumably formed a trio of crooked cops along with Officers Yates and Palmer who together covered for one another on excessive force reports. Investigative computer specialist (translation: renowned hacker) Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) traces the breaking and entering 9-11 call to which Palmer responded to a pay-as-you-go phone that’s been off since the shooting. This further suggests a set up to silence Officer Palmer.

Jefferson Parrish Coroner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) is as distressed and frustrated as ever. As in the two-part season opener, “Something in the Air, Pt. I” and “Pt. II,” the Big Easy transforms into the Big Petri Dish full of COVID-19. In addition to battling a coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Wade expresses her (incredibly justifiable) anger at systemic racism. “Cops know how to work the system,” Loretta laments. “These guys are dirty,” Mayor Taylor reassures. “We’ll find the proof.” Doc Wade counters, “I wouldn’t count on it. Have you any idea how often medical examiners get pressured to label excessive force deaths as accidents, not homicides?” Zahra remains hopeful: “Well, if there’s ever a time to change things, it’s now.” Disillusioned, Loretta points out, “And we’ve heard that public outcry before, and now here we are back in the same place again.”

The heated debate between Doc Wade and Mayor Taylor is crashed by Agent Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich). Sebastian provides a much-needed break in the case by identifying the presumed shooter in Officer Palmer’s death. In a riotously hilarious speech with far-too-much extraneous detail about an experimental technique used to lift DNA off of the bullet casing, Lund reveals that Lamont Russell was identified. Pride and the NCIS NOLA outfit scramble to find a connection between Russell and Palmer. Sebastian and Pride pay a visit to Officer Laughton and while she’s not able to establish a link between Lamont and Palmer, Laughton does shed light on NOPD harassment. Laughton explains that a dead rat was shoved into her mailbox, threatening notes left in her locker, and menacing phone calls made to her house. Disappointingly, Laughton doesn’t deliver any solid evidence. Although, she reveals that once Palmer became her partner, he started changing, going so far as to say he needed to make amends.

This isn’t the first time that “NCIS New Orleans” has touched on systemic racism as well as police brutality. The excellent season 6 episode 17 “Biased” (guest-starring Keith David as NOPD Det. Gene Holloway who is long overdue for a re-appearance on “NCIS NOLA”) similarly depicted wrongful New Orleans Police Department violence. And although the investigation into Yates and Blakely goes unresolved with an ominous “To be continued…” screen before the credits, Pride steps out of the shadows warning Blakely, “you abuse that badge, and that reflects on all of us who wear it…I may not have enough to make a case against you yet, but I don’t ever give up. So get ready. I’m coming for you.” Personally, I think I’d rather stay on Dwayne Pride’s good side. In a conversation with Mayor Taylor, Dwayne and Zahra reaffirm their dedication to taking down Blakely and Yates.

While “NCIS New Orleans” season 7 episode 3 “One of Our Own” grapples with some heavy topics, there’s some levity and positivity sprinkled throughout. Previously, NCIS Deputy Director Jessica Scarborough (Nidra Sous la Terre) checked in on Hannah, commending Khoury’s bravery in ousting misoginystic predator and former NCIS Deputy Director Van Cleef (Richard Thomas). Scarborough, as a thank you to Hannah, offers a position leading the NCIS London office. Khoury politely refuses, explaining that her daughter Naomi is back in New Orleans. Yet, Hannah presents an alternative favor: providing assistance to the family of Farid Mokrani, Khoury’s informant from Algeria who was exposed by Van Cleef resulting in his torture and death. In the wake of his demise, Mokrani’s wife and daughters were forced to flee, ending up in a refugee camp. Hannah wishes to locate the Mokrani family and give them asylum in the United States.

Meanwhile, Tammy struggles with a newfound romantic relationship. Although Gregorio appears smitten with a love interest, Kara, it seems that the seasoned NCIS agent, despite her bravery in the field, is scared of committment. After encouragement from both Hannah and Sebsatian, Gregirio finally agrees to meet up with Kara in the real-world – at a live socially-distanced concert in Audobon Park, organized by Pride, no less. Overall, “NCIS New Orleans S07E03 “One of Our Own” is a marvelous episode that tackles some tough topics, blending standalone story arc with character development and relationship building perfectly. Seven seasons in, and the hit CBS television series is consistently pumping out some of its best episodes yet.