NCIS: Los Angeles

Shay Mosley has wreaked what used to be my fav crime show.

It took a while to get me interested in this series. Having been a long-time NCIS fan, I felt obligated to give it a fair shake. After the first few episodes, I felt bored and wondering if I should keep watching. Maybe it was because I was preoccupied when NCIS: LA would air. However, after settling down and focusing on the episodes, mainly the one where Dom gets kidnapped, I felt like they've hit their stride. There's no doubt this is a completely different show than the original NCIS. That's what makes it tolerable. They're not trying to copycat the other like the CSIs did in my opinion. They've got humor. They've got crimes they're trying to solve. They've slowly gotten some chemistry. Keep in mind, Shane Brennan is running both shows and he has yet to disappoint me on the original. They're in good hands and hopefully, they'll get even better. The first NCIS had a few bumps in the road during the first season and hit their stride in Season 2.

The latest season is ..... Way too many mistakes. Hand guns with no recoil. Magazines with max 15 rounds now suddenly 30+. Seriously? Why do you have to bring in faith, regligion? Flogging a dead horse can only happen so many times. In your episode 5, the woman goes to pray because while on surveillance, really? The guy opens the elevator doors with his bare hands, sure. The blast doesn't knock the woman out while running to the elevator? Episode 6 the bus eventually explodes, all the windows nearby does not blow out, again, seriously? Either fire your writers or get realistic, but currently this BS is going to blow up in your faces.

I really love this show but not so much since Mosley has been on board. Mosely's character is irritating & I can't stand the way she talks down to the other characters, especially in the season ending episode where she threatened everyone into compromising themselves for her own purpose & causing the entire team to fight! I've DVR'ed the new season & haven't watched it yet because I love NCIS LA but really don't want to see her character! Gawd I really hope they get rid of her character!! Love Hetty...so go back to what worked & leave her in charge & alone to run things!! Geez! I don't mind the Hidoko character though...IF she's still alive!

NCIS:Los Angeles was something I wasn't expecting to like. At first, it was rather rocky, with some sluggishly paced and unoriginal stories, clichés in the writing and characters that didn't come into their shell for a bit. Over time though, while it is not as good as the original series NCIS:Naval Crimimal Investigative Service, it has gotten better.

The series is handsome to look at, and the music is memorable and clever. The writing, pace and stories have gotten better and more interesting, and the characters more absorbing. When it comes to the acting, Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J, two actors that I initially thought "no way is this going to work" are surprisingly good, and casting Linda Hunt I agree as the show's most interesting character to date is a masterstroke.

Overall, far from perfect but over time it has gotten better after a rocky start. 7/10 Bethany Cox