Review: NCIS New Orleans ‘Relentless’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

Over breakfast, Seabee out of Belle Chasse Ben Kinnaman (Jay Huguley) and his daughter, Rachel (Lillian Carrier), discuss going on a trip to Arizona. Rachel, however, protests each method of travel because of potential danger. But their brunch is unceremoniously interrupted by gunshots. Arriving at the scene of the crime to investigate, Special Agents Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito), Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan), and Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis) investigate the attack. While Seabee Kinnaman is laid up in the hospital, Rachel is nowhere to be found. Covington Police Officer Tim Breaux (West Liang) bursts into the house shouting for Rachel. Breaux, a friend of the family, explains that Rachel’s on the autism spectrum, being both highly intelligent and extremely anxious. Breaux and Gregorio track Rachel to a favorite haunt, a childhood treehouse.

This sends Gregorio and Rachel running through the woods. Thinking quickly, Rachel leads Gregorio to an abandoned power plant. At the lab, Special Agent Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) joins Jefferson Parish medical examiner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) to analyze crime scene evidence. Stating what the audience is surely thinking (I know I was), Loretta informs Sebastian, “I really enjoy seeing you back here. You’re an excellent field agent, but the lab suits you.” Sebastian replies, “Yeah, well, at least here nobody’s calling me stupid nicknames.” The “new guy,” Quentin Carter, as Sebastian complains, is abrasive in every single way, full of himself, wears fancy clothes that fit him perfectly, and calls Lund “Slim.” Defiantly, Sebastian wonders, “I don’t know that that’s about, I’ve been beefing up.” Loretta admits, “You are still rather thin.” Lund, exasperated, complains “I thought this was a safe space.” Investigative Computer Specialist Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) hacks Rachel’s computer, and finds critical evidence suggesting that the hitmen were out to silence her, not Seabee Kinnaman. Through her research, Rachel discovered potential evidence that an airline was sabotaging its own flights. The NCIS NOLA team theorizes that the airline may be out to get Rachel.

Meanwhile, following up a breakthrough during a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy session, Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) summons his mother, Mena (Joanna Cassidy), to learn more about a mysterious figure from Dwayne’s past, The Man in the Red Suit. Pride’s girlfriend Rita Devereaux (Chelsea Field) arrives with Mena at the Tru Tone, where she meets Dwayne’s half-brother Jimmy Boyd (Jason Alan Carvell). Although Pride introduces Jimmy as the bar manager, King suggests that Jimmy reveal he’s more than merely the bar manager. Despite her memory loss, Mena recalls Red “Clarence Redding,” she reports. “He was kind, and funny.” Dwayne remembers admitting to his father, the late Cassius (Stacy Keach), that Red and Mena were spending a lot of time together.

Observations:

“NCIS: New Orleans” season 6 episode 15 “Relentless” is a spectacular show. The investigation into the Kinnaman attack remains intriguing enough. From the onset, there’s a sense that the attack is about Rachel, not Ben. Although that ultimately proves true, the why isn’t clear until the third act. Scenes between Rachel and Gregorio provide a different dynamic. Tammy must adapt to Rachel and her needs in order to keep the teenaged Kinnaman calm. Unsurprisingly, Gregorio is more than up to the task.

Despite his abrasive personality, I’m a huge fan of Agent Carter. On the surface, he’s cocky and brash, but I suspect there’s a more complex character underneath. And already, Quentin has hinted at that, what with his family’s rich military history. It’s likely he’s out to prove himself. What I enjoy the most is the fresh dynamic that Carter infuses into the show. “I rather like him,” Loretta admits after meeting Carter. “And the way he dresses,” Wade adds coyly. “So this is the taste of betrayal,” Sebastian laments.

The continuation of the Man in the Red Suit storyarc satisfactorily wraps up. Pride suggests that Jimmy reveal to Mena Pride that he’s Dwayne’s half-brother, but Boyd doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. Mena shockingly shows that she knew Jimmy and Dwayne were half-siblings.

It’s the relationships that take “NCIS NOLA” from a good to a great series. And that’s even more evident during “NCIS NOLA” S06E15 “Relentless.” Pride’s team, more than ever, operates as more than just a unit, but a family.