NCIS: Los Angeles (2009 — 2023)

Premiering on CBS on September 22, 2009, NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) is an American action crime drama that combines elements of military and police genres. It centers around the Office of Special Projects, a specialized branch of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Los Angeles that focuses on undercover assignments. This is the first spin-off of the successful series NCIS and the second installment in the franchise. The team is led by Special Agents Sam Hanna and Grisha Callen, who both work undercover under the guidance of Operations Manager Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange. Sam, an ex-Navy SEAL and dedicated family man, and Callen, a former foster child with a reputation as a ‘legend’, are joined by fellow agents Kensi Blye, Dominic Vail, Nate Getz, and Eric Beale.

During the first season, Vail is taken captive by terrorists and sadly meets his end during a rescue attempt. In the latter half of the season, Getz enrolls in training to become an agent and then moves on to a new assignment in season 2. He does make some guest appearances in later episodes, however. In season 2, LAPD Detective Marty Deeks joins the OSP team as a liaison between LAPD and NCIS. He replaces Vail as Kensi’s partner and holds this position until departmental reforms in season 12 result in its termination. After completing FLETC training, he officially becomes an Investigator for NCIS. Throughout the series, Deeks and Kensi’s relationship transitions from being partners to becoming lovers, leading to their marriage in season 10. They later become foster parents to immigrant teenager Rosa in season 13 and are soon expecting their first child together in the series finale. Joining the team in season 2 is Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones, a brilliant agent handpicked by Hetty to potentially take over her role. She also develops a close bond with Beale.

In season 3, Owen Granger, who is a longtime friend of Hetty’s, joins the team as her oversight. He quickly establishes a warm rapport with the team after initially starting off on a cold note. Unfortunately, during season 8, Granger becomes sick with cancer, mirroring Ferrer’s own real-life struggle with the disease. After Ferrer’s passing, Granger’s character is written to have escaped from the hospital during his recovery from a failed assassination attempt and is later revealed to have succumbed to his illness in the following season. Season 9 introduces Executive Assistant Director Pacific (EADPAC) Shay Mosley to the OSP team. She takes over after Hetty departs on a personal quest to free a former colleague in Vietnam. The team is forced to rescue Hetty when the mission goes awry. Meanwhile, Mosley entrusts the team with an unofficial task – to save her son from her dangerous ex-husband in Mexico towards the end of the season. Although their mission is successful, it comes at a high cost – Mosley’s loyal assistant is killed, most of the team is injured, and it puts the OSP under scrutiny at the start of season 10. In light of these events, Mosley assumes full responsibility and steps down from her position before going into hiding with her son to evade a cartel connected to her ex (whom she eliminated during their mission).

During seasons 11 and 12, the OSP welcomed rookie agents Fatima Nazami and Devin Rountree, while Beale and Jones pursued opportunities in the private sector at the end of season 12. Following a prior mission, Hetty departed for damage control, leading to Admiral Hollace Kilbride stepping in as the Director of Special Operations for season 13. The series concluded with Callen tying the knot with his longtime love Anna Kolcheck, and he and Sam embarking on a new ‘side project’ mission to rescue Hetty alongside a team that includes former colleagues Nate and Nell.