Review: NCIS New Orleans ‘We All Fall…’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

“NCIS: New Orleans” season 7 episode 4 “We All Fall…” picks up where “One of Our Own” left off. New Orleans Mayor Zahra Taylor (Amanda Warren) tasked NCIS Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) with investigating the death of New Orleans Police Department Officer Mark Palmer. The case uncovered police corruption and a pattern of police brutality. Pride speculates that Palmer, NOPD Det. Donovan Blakely, and Officer Lenny Yates were involved in covering up excessive force incidents. However, all of the evidence is circumstantial at best. As such, the NCIS NOLA team relies on doing what it does best: learning things.

The suspect in officer Palmer’s murder is killed by Blakely and Yates, after which Dwayne threatens Blakely. At a gun range, Blakely and Yates practice shooting while Yates worries that the walls are closing in on their spate of police brutality. “Relax Yates, I’ve got some ideas,” Blakely reassures. A closer look at Blakely’s target shows a picture of Dwayne Pride’s face, riddled with bullet holes. Blakely is quite literally gunning for Pride, an act of stupidity, bravery, or likely both.

While preparing to sit down for dinner, Dwayne and his partner Rita Devereaux (Chelsea Field, and Scott Bakula’s real-life wife) are rudely interrupted by a SWAT team bursting into Pride’s apartment. The commanding officer, after verifying Dwayne’s NCIS credentials, apologetically explains that a confidential informant gave a tip and SWAT obtained a no-knock warrant. Although the CI isn’t revealed, it’s clearly Blakely sending a message. In a rage, Pride bursts into the NOPD precinct and assaults Blakely.

With no hard evidence, Rita uses her Department of Justice expertise to suggest a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charge. This would require proving that Blakely, Yates, and Palmer operated as a gang effectively. Special Agents Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito), Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan), and Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) analyze data from the NOPD and discover a possible connection. Whereas many police officers see sporadic complaints filed against them, the trio of bad cops had complaints as rookies fresh out of the academy. NOPD officers with a high volume of misconduct complaints share a common thread: their police academy instructor Pat Campbell, a proponent of the warrior training which reinforces an “us versus them” mentality for cops and the general public. Pride and Special Agent Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis) pay Commander Campbell a visit. Campbell proves a bust, which forces Pride and the NCIS NOLA outfit to get creative. After discovering that Yates was moonlighting as security but failing to report his earnings, Dwayne brings in Officer Yates on the pretense of tax evasion. The hope is that Yates will flip and make a deal, providing information to aid in the investigation.

While Yates refuses to cooperate, Pride notices that Yates has the same tattoo as Commander Campbell, a fire-breathing dragon. Investigative computer specialist (aka hacker extraordinaire) Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) traces this tattoo to 13 other NOPD officers and discovers that the group calls themselves the Spitfires. A sort of secret society or fraternity, the Spitfires operate under the mantra “order by any means.” And these means include excessive force, apparently. As the fulfillments for a RICO charge seems to be falling into place, Pride attempts to put together an argument in the hopes that the DOJ will take action against the Spitfires on a federal level. Unfortunately, that doesn’t quite work, although Dwayne does manage to get the Spitfires fired from the New Orleans Police Department on a technicality, similar to the way Elliott Ness succeeded in arresting Al Capone on tax evasion. Despite winning the battle, the war is far from over, and I’d be surprised if Blakely, Yates, and Campbell didn’t show up later on in the season.

Meanwhile, Jefferson Parrish Coroner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) struggles with an uptick in deaths because of COVID, which results in work-related stress, as well as raising her teenaged son, CJ. While CJ plans to go to a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest, Loretta forbids it despite previously having given her permission. The pressure of everyday life has driven Loretta to increase her wine consumption which Dr. Wade even admits takes the pain off. When Mayor Taylor wonders why Loretta won’t allow CJ to attend the protest, Doc Wade explains, “Because he’s 16 years old with no clue about the dangers that lie out there. These kids think that they will live forever, but this expert will tell you that they will not.” Understandingly, Mayor Taylor replies, “That’s a lot to carry.” Loretta reassures her, “I’m fine, I’m a strong Black woman, I can’t be anything but fine.” Zhara reveals that she’s been struggling. “Heaven forbid a woman, especially a Black woman, show the least bit of righteous anger.” Agreeing, Wade adds “It just shifts so quickly from strong Black woman to angry Black woman in these people’s eyes.” The concerned Mayor Taylor suggests as a friend that Loretta speak to a therapist.

Gregorio’s relationship with her new girlfriend reaches a new level. Unfortunately, while their romance is better than ever, Tammy faces the idea of finally breaking the news to her very Roman Catholic mother that she’s gay. Luckily, Gregorio doesn’t have to face the challenge alone. Quentin Carter offers words of encouragement: “You’re telling your mom who you are. That’s all.” Sebastian role plays with Gregorio, assuming the part of Tammy’s mother in a riotously hilarious scene where Lund is spot on. As it so often does, “NCIS New Orleans” features excellent dialogue that speaks just as much to its audience as it does to the characters within the episode. Coping with stress, dealing with racial prejudice, and grappling with family members that might not accept us for our sexual orientations are real-world, relatable challenges. It’s these elements that make “NCIS NOLA” so entertaining, and keep it grounded. Once again, the core cast of dynamic characters and their relationships are at the forefront of the story. Poignant and full of story arc which is poised to continue as the season progresses, “We All Fall…” is one of the most emotionally-charged “NCIS New Orleans” episodes to date.