Review: NCIS New Orleans ‘Something in the Air Part 1’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

“NCIS: New Orleans” season 7 episode one “Something in the Air, Part 1” kicks off the CBS hit series. The COVID-19 pandemic proved disruptive to virtually every industry, even causing a delay in television production. Cleverly, “NCIS NOLA” works the novel coronavirus outbreak into the plot of its opening episode, and likely the entire season. It’s March 2020, and NCIS Resident Agent-in-Charge Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) witnesses a pickup truck crash into a fire hydrant. Pride rushes to the rescue where he finds the driver suffering from what appears to be a respiratory illness. Dwayne dons a facial mask and calls 911. One week earlier, Pride joins his half brother Jimmy Boyd (Jason Alan Carvell) and Tru Tone employee Jasmine for a round of coffee. In the background, a news report warns that COVID-19 might soon begin to impact New Orleans and the rest of the United States, as strange as it is to ponder just a few weeks after Mardi Gras swept through the Big Easy. “You’ve gotten through hard times before,” Pride offers encouragingly. “You’re gonna get through this, too.”

At NCIS New Orleans headquarters, Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan) debriefs with the NCIS Deputy Director Jessica Scarborough (Nidra Sous la Terre). Special Agent Khoury was responsible for exposing the previous deputy director, Van Cleef (Richard Thomas), as a misogynist predator. Though the new deputy director claims her video call with Hannah is merely to check in and assures that there’s no blowback from the Van Cleef incident, Khoury isn’t entirely convinced (nor am I). Meanwhile, Hannah’s daughter Naomi has traveled to Southern Italy with her father, Khoury’s ex-husband, for spring break. Hannah intends to visit for a vacation, although the coronavirus pandemic has other plans for Khoury’s final destination. 

Aboard a humanitarian ship run by the NGO Eternal Hope, Navy Lieutenant Paula Cooke winds up dead after taking a tumble overboard. With the Coast Guard shorthanded, Special Agents Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito) and Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis) are sent aboard the Good Hope ship to investigate. Agent Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) remains behind to assist in the case on land. Upon arriving on the scene, Gregorio and Quentin quickly suspect foul play. Further supporting their hypothesis, Pride receives a mysterious phone call warning that Cooke wasn’t the first death and won’t be the last.

Showing continuity, Sebastian is understandably anxious about the coronavirus pandemic. “I sound really paranoid, right?” Sebastian asks Pride. “Actually, you sound less paranoid than normal considering what’s been on the news,” Dwayne reassures. “You need to be prepared.” Lund gave his hurricane survival kit an overhaul with face shields, masks, and gloves. Sebastian not only has one for himself, but gives pandemic kits to his fellow NCIS NOLA teammates as well as Jefferson Parrish Coroner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder).

At the morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Wade is overwhelmed with an influx of patients and a shortage of supplies like PPE and face masks. Loretta begins doling out masks from her personal stock to overworked EMTs such as Roger Colton (Escalante Lundy). Wade balances a steady stream of COVID-related fatalities with working the Lt. Paula Cooke murder case virtually. Investigative computer specialist (read: hacker) Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl Mitchell) traces the call to a logistics manager with Eternal Hope. It’s clear that something shady’s going on, but Lt. Cooke’s killer and the motivation behind the murder remain a mystery.

Heading into its seventh season, “NCIS: New Orleans” once again proves why it was renewed. “NCIS: New Orleans” S07E01 “Something in the Air, Part 1” is one of the freshest “NCIS NOLA” episodes to date. It does pretty much everything well, delivering a familiar whodunit while concentrating on its excellent characters and adapting to the coronavirus outbreak. By embracing the COVID-19 pandemic, “NCIS: New Orleans” succeeds on two fronts. Most obviously, it incorporates what are presumably production precautions like social distancing and masks directly into the plot of the show. More importantly, it’s increasingly relatable, from showing the increased safeguards that must be taken in everyday life to discussing the hardships of business owners and employees.

Over the course of its seven seasons, the “NCIS: New Orleans” cast has grown quite a bit. Nevertheless, “Something in the Air, Part 1” manages to squeeze in most of its characters. Pride’s half-brother Jimmy Boyd gets some much-needed screentime after not nearly being on the show enough during season six. Jasmine, who’s employed at Dwayne’s bar the Tru Tone, seems poised to be a recurring character throughout the season. Similarly, it appears as though Triple P’s goddaughter Donna will show up again. And hopefully Donna does, as her sparring with Patton provided an exciting dynamic.

Overall, “NCIS: New Orleans” episode “Something in the Air, Part 1” is one of the series’s best entries to date. The Lt. Cooke murder has me genuinely intrigued wondering about the killer and motivation. Its COVID-19 subplot, which is poised to continue for the remainder of the season, lends a different vibe to the show and one that’s unfortunately all-too-relatable. Plus, the case of core and supporting characters gets balanced screen time which is a major bonus. One of the reasons many fans, myself included, keep returning to “NCIS NOLA” is not only for the action but the characters and relationships. I’m excited for “Something in the Air, Part 2” as well as finding out what else “NCIS: New Orleans” has in store for its seventh season which is off to a tremendous start.