#brotp ;; the moon and stars

[raayllum]

me looking at Stella and Rayla like

[assassin-asesina]

tag dump.

[blasphemousclaw]

For send a character ask: Radahn!

ahh, Radahn… forever an enigma

• favorite thing about them

who he is as a person — his family background, his beliefs, and who he ultimately chooses to be — is so endlessly interesting to me. being a child of both the Erdtree and the Moon, growing up idolizing the Erdtree’s champions like his father and Godfrey, but being a talented sorcerer in his own right like his mother, was he conflicted when Radagon betrayed Rennala? did he ever come to resent his father, both for breaking his mother’s heart and for replacing his greatest idol, Godfrey? there’s something so significant to me about Radagon despising his red hair, and Radahn embracing that same hair he inherited as the mark of a champion. did this affect his relationship with Radagon? on the other hand, did he know that challenging the stars was also halting his Carian family’s fate? did he care? there’s such a fascinating back-and-forth between Radahn and both sides of his family!

• least favorite thing about them

his writing in the dlc… will never get over how botched it feels. and I’m not talking about the actual plot points, I’m talking about how those plot points were revealed to us in the story! the reason why everyone felt like him showing up was an asspull plot twist was because there’s no hint whatsoever in the base game that Miquella and Radahn ever had a relationship at all. as a result, I think the writers had to speedrun a Radahn-Miquella reveal plotline with Freyja and Ansbach, while cramming references to Radahn into the dlc (like the Red Bear npc, and his relationship to Gaius and Messmer) to make him seem less out of nowhere… but to me it just comes across as a rushed plotline with extremely clumsy foreshadowing. I guess they didn’t know they would get to make a dlc when they made the game so they didn’t include anything about him and Miquella in the base game so there wouldn’t be random plot threads that go nowhere, or they originally planned something slightly different that didn’t pan out so they had to rework it but were only able to do so in the dlc. either way extremely disappointing. also his promised consort remembrance weapons are the laziest excuse for a remembrance of all time they’re just the starscourge greatswords again but different. is this some kind of sick joke

• favorite line

[footage not found]

just kidding he does have a few quotes: I’ve always liked “I was born a champion’s cub. Now I am the Lord of the Battlefield’s lion.” because of what it says about how he sees Radagon and Godfrey!

• brOTP

Rykard :33 his painting of Radahn means so much to me, it’s such a fond gesture… and the abductor virgins in Caelid seem like Rykard was really looking out for him! it makes me sad to think that they might’ve once been really close but drifted apart because of the war and their own priorities, but also still cared about each other

• ОТР

I don’t actively ship him with anyone tbh nothing has especially caught my interest

• nОТР

I resent Radahn/Miquella ONLY because their relationship has no buildup whatsoever and completely breaks the “show don’t tell” rule of storytelling. we’re told Miquella admired Radahn, but we never see this until he shows up as the final boss! I definitely wouldn’t dislike this ship if they had handled this storyline better but unfortunately with how things went it’s just embarrassing to me

• random headcanon

loves the outdoors… camping, hiking, riding, hunting, any physical activity where he gets to be outside. Rykard is the opposite. Radahn used to bring him on trips and he’d complain the whole way through

• unpopular opinion

I wrote a post about this already, but I think people are too quick to assume that he’s a Golden Order loyalist who wants to preserve the world in its current state. you could go on and on listing reasons why he would actually oppose the current Order… and in fact I did go on and on about it here. I think the most crucial thing to note is that Radahn has always made idolizing Godfrey his entire personality, and Godfrey was literally banished… the Order is very different now from what it once was!

• song i associate with them

again I only listen to instrumental music so I don’t really have thoughts on this sorry 🥹

• favorite picture of them

the Rykard painting <3

I really like how he’s depicted here… he’s got like a mature, lined face, and the way the painting is displayed (in a nicely furnished drawing room above the fireplace) feels like a very public declaration of respect and admiration? I think it says something about Radahn’s character that his brother who despises the Golden Order still seems to look up to him and care for him!

[hydrasshole]

My name is Rae and welcome to my goofy little blog. This is technically a multi-fandom blog but Cyberpunk 2077 has once again devoured my soul so here we are. Other fandoms you might see on this page includes: Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Dungeons and Dragons (and other TTRPG systems), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sailor Moon, and Star Wars. I'm here to gush about my OCs, gush about other peoples OCs, and just have a good ole time.

A little about me: I'm 34, bi, married to a golden retriever gamer boy, and have a very silly old dog named Data. Outside of gaming I'm super into historic fashion, oddities, and cryptids. I like to write, though I don't do enough of it. Eventually, I'd like to add my personal writing to this post if I'm ever brave enough to post it. My ask box is always open, as are my DMs so feel free to come and scream at me about anything. My OCs are always accepting friends requests. I currently live in PST!

This blog is 18+ and I will block minors who follow. I also block empty blogs. If you would like me to tw/cw a tag please let me know, I want everyone to be happy and comfy.

Vanessa Ito, she/her

Age: 27 Sexuality: Bisexual Known Aliases: Vito, Van, V, Momoko Job: Rockergirl, soloist, stage name Vito. Romantic: Judy/Van Platonic: Jackie&Van, LizzyWizzy&Van Tags: oc: van, about: van, otp: mainline, brotp: a good kinda feelin, brotp: skin and chrome

Soichi Ito, he/him

Age: 37 Sexuality: Pansexual Known Aliases: Oliver, ICVRVS Job: Cyber security, Arasaka. Romantic: Soichi/Hanako Platonic: TBA Tags: oc: soichi, about: soichi, otp: poison and honey

[real-reulbbr-band]

the queen herself, victoria (character ask)

Oh, the most wonderful girl thank you!!

Why I like them

Her solos are some of the most mesmerizing parts of the show for me, and I would love to see them live. There's just this softness and grace about her that's very comforting.

Why I don’t

The entire 2019 Mr. Mistoffelees number was unbearably cringy for me as much as I like the film but particularly when she started singing. It was giving disney zombies....

Favorite episode (scene if movie)

I have three.

One of my first favorite scene is actually from Warsaw where she's dancing with the stars. It really goes back to her connection to the moon that nobody else seems to have.

Alternatively, I love this scene where Jemima wants to approach Grizabella and brings Victoria along with her, and Victoria hesitantly looks back but decides to go along with Jem. They both scatter off when Jenny forbids them from touching Grizabella but I love how it nods back to how they're two half's of a hole.

And of course, one of the softest parts in the show for me and in my opinion one of Victoria's best moments.

Favorite season/movie

I Like Victoria in all versions of cats' media!! even when she's less prominent like in shiki. But for favorites I'll say standard version, 2019 film and broadway revival.

Favorite line

We're doing 2019 for this since Victoria doesn't have any solo lines.

"But at least you have beautiful ghosts."

I know a lot of people don't like this song and the criticisms for it and Victoria's character are fair, but I do think this sort of naive condescend-Iness works as a flaw for her. She doesn't mean harm, she want's to cheer up Grizabella and show that they're similar but ends up making Grizabella still feel isolated just like the jellicles.

Favorite outfit

I've grown to like the white / gold Victoria costume quite a bit but here's some designs I'm fond of:

OTP

Ah, ok so I've been convinced a little but don't be mad please. 2019 verse and standard stage verse is with Rumpleteazer but revival verse is with Plato. I don't why or how that happened either but yea I hope that makes sense.

Brotp

Mistoffelees recently, but mostly with Jemima. Again, two halves of a whole.

Head Canon

She worries a lot about injuries since she's aware about how delicate bones are and how a significant injury could hinder her dancing. So, she tends to watch her surroundings and positing more carefully than others.

Unpopular opinion

Hypothetically, I wouldn't mind if more non-reps went the warsaw/shiki route and didn't have Vitoria do a pas de deux but instead had a different solo involving the stars/moon.

A wish

More non-replica's to go all out with her design. Really emphasize the ballerina part of her look.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen

probably losing her connection to the Jellicle moon, if she can't feel it at all she'll probably panic and assume something's wrong. If you want to look at it from a monochromatic sibling's angle, then she would've lost the one thing that made her "special" in comparison to her brother.

6 words to best describe them

HER WORDS they're perfect

Innocent, Romantic, Unselfconscious, Young, Inhibited, Inquisitive

My nickname for them

Again, I don't use character nicknames. But Vic<3

[protect-daniel-james]

hopefully this isn't a boring one...how about Jamie Jamie Cousin Jamie?

favorite thing about them

The way he looks and presents himself, he's such an easy target. No wonder everyone always makes fun of him (not that I condone it).

least favorite thing about them

When we look past the Lampardverse, where obviously he has a huge role, I do not really find him very interesting. Yeah, he was hot in his old playing days, and obviously, he's still a very attractive guy, he's just very bland and I understand that people don't seem to enjoy his punditry much and consider him to be an eye candy for the 40+ years old housewives, lol. I think he does carry a certain psychological baggage with him, possibly stemming from his unfulfilled career and promise, and the way his mum and dad raised him (and a couple of other things if we take Lampardverse into account).

favorite line

"That's a corner flag there". I this this sums up his football insight.

And a lot of lines from all the mocking of him, mentioning his Daddy Harry Redknapp ("Why were you all laughing when my Dad was called?") . Plus, his meltdowns on Sky, of course, trying to be Tough. If we consider his autobiography a collection of his lines, then there's the "I've got to have a Happy Ending" one, which we both know, and I think that one shows the lesser-known side of Jamie Jamie cousin Jamie.

brOTP

I don't think Jamie Jamie is capable of a brOTP because of his toxicity. He will throw tantrums, get jealous, or want to control the other person. I think the closest to that would be Jamie and Stevie G, who said in his autobiography that Jamie Jamie Jamie took him under his wing in the early days of his England career (Stevie used to be scared shitless at the NT camps, and Jamie was the one who took care of him, which is lovely!).

OTP

Ha ha ha isn't that obvious. Franko, chubby little Franko, and Jamie Jamie cousin Jamie were meant to be. The real star-crossed lovers! Modern day Romeo and Juliet! Them against the world that is so Big and Scary that they just want to cuddle up in a bed and keep each other warm...

Honestly, I have seen a Souness x Jamie ship on AO3, and I loved it. There's so much potential - especially since I headcanon Souness as a deeply closeted gay man who lived through the homophobic horrors of the Liverpool dressing room in the '70s and '80s and has some regrets about living his life the way he did, and never finding the courage (if you look deep in his eyes, you see a broken man) to come out. He also coached Jamie for a bit, did you know that! I think in the times they both worked at Sky, there could have been some...interesting tension (especially in a non-Lampardverse world).

nOTP

I don't really ship him with anyone from ALOTO. I don't care for those guys enough lol.

random headcanon

He's EXTREMELY childish, to the point of being treated by his wife (and previously ex-wife) as yet another child to deal with and driving them both nuts.

unpopular opinion

He would scream "My Dad could beat up your Dad!" when losing an argument. (I don't think it's that unpopular over here haha). Also, he's on the verge of a panic attack during every ALOTO, and I mean - seriously. Not just for the laughs.

He's also painfully childish and immature when it comes to sex (there might be Reasons for this in the verse though).

song i associate with them

Is this even a question?

Under blue moon, I saw you So soon you'll take me Up in your arms, too late to beg you Or cancel it, though I know it must be The killing time Unwillingly mine

Fate Up against your will Through the thick and thin He will wait until You give yourself to him

One of the many anthems of the Lampardverse, The Killing Moon.

favorite picture of them

Old Hairy Times. Also, this was Jamie in Liverpool, the Jamie that Franko had numerous wet dreams about.

[miraculousbohemian]

married. abso-fucking-lutely married.

ah Aphrodite my beloved<3

Gabrielle the bard getting confused by Aphrodite using big ass words oh man i love this

quite possibly the most domestic I've seen them since season 2 idk honestly

xena that's fucking terrifying

tbh i would do the same thing idk why I'm saying that's terrifying it's actually something i would do, sound like a Minecraft zombie

"did i mention im a widow" gabrielle i fucking love you more then the moon loves the stars

"family problems." "i blame the parents" xena and joxer the ultimate brotp

joxer putting a doll in the cart is me with the power rangers samurai toys

THERE'S A HORSE LOOSE IN THE MARKET

they're actually the best brotp I've seen oh crap also argo being a little shit like her mother awww

LITTLE GABY ARE YOU SHITTING ME OH MY

she bit his fucking finger jesus i actually adore her

she's losing her braincells, slowly but surely

and now Aphrodite being a child

she's pregnant as fuck but yea

gaby is royaly fucked

NOPE SHE'S PIED

"hey she hit bob!" this has no right to be this funny

Should a pregnant woman be having pie fights? Is that good for the baby WITH THE RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES PLAYING FOR A BRIEF SECOND sorry i love that thing

looney toons ass shit right here

what's going on.

welp Argos back, that's nice

also xena laughing is making my day soooo much better

i haven't seen a single fic making this approach to a greek god, therapist Aphrodite? That's what I'm here for.

That's one episode, NOW ONTO ZEUS BEING A FUCKING ASSHOLE YAY

[hes-a-rat-whisperer]

Alistair for the character ask!!

send me a character and i’ll list:

(HOOOH BOY, SO MUCH TEXT >_>)

favorite thing about them: tbh?? everything?? (not to toot my own horn, but asdfgh I did such a good job with him, from his design to his personality and background I am very proud of my man >w<)

least favorite thing about them: his self esteem/self worth issues! it just hurts that he fails to see the many good parts of himself ;_; (like?? Alistair, you are an incredibly handsome and sweethearted gentleman and your rats as well as your husbands love you so so much!! sdfgh ;;w;; <3)

favorite line: hmmm, there isn´t a specific one coming to mind right now, but I quite like when Alistair gets poetic >w> (like those few moments when he writes poetry for his loved one, or that one scene in the western!AU where he was talking about the stars trying to outshine the moon >w<) honestly, Alistair is a well of good lines! asdf

brOTP: Alistair/Pep! they´ve come a long way and went through a lot together in most AUs (case in point: that moment in the siren au where they teamed up to murder Ceb´s abusive older brothers UwU)

OTP: asdfghjk Alistair/Ceb, Alistair/Felonious, Alistair/Mattie ITS TOO HARD TO CHOOSE ASDFGHJK >w< (but I guess Alistair/Ceb is the otp, because that´s how it all began <3)

nOTP: Alistair/Feral (look- Feral is literally incapable of giving a sh*t about anyone´s wants and needs but his own, meaning every ship involving him would be entirely noncon(/r*pe)!)

random headcanon: (I guess it would be a random fact, actually, since he´s my own character? asdfgh) Alistair loves the opera! and he can even sing opera style! (he sometimes sings while he´s cleaning)

unpopular opinion: I wouldn´t know what that would be in this case, sry ^^;

song i associate with them: the german song "rattenfanger" (its about the pied piper, so ye asdfgh)

favorite picture of them: asdfghjk hard to say really, but this one is a personal fav right now:

the outfit, the expression, the way he´s holding the knife?? it´s all very very neat UwU (also, huge bonus: HIS TALL, HANDSOME, DOTING HUSBAND BEING RIGHT THERE, LOVING AND SUPPORTING HIM SDFGHGFDS >////w////<) (also felonious´ hand grabbing Alistair´s chin!! AH MY HEART x//u//x <3 <3)

[scribe-scribbling]

Introduction

Hi! I'm Scribe or Cyr, this blog is for organizing my OCs.

《 beyond the pines

~Urban Fantasy, set in the fictional town of Elmbridge~

|| lucien

A modern Siren, the ultimate Wife Guy, whore for glitter.

🎵The Main Character - Will Wood🎵

|| mae

Powerful healer, bitchy big sister, not taking your shit.

🎵Walk With Me - Willowbrook🎵

|| olivia

Always listening bartender, quietly raging, overly organised bookkeeper.

🎵The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives🎵

|| evan

Protector, silent hunter, broody superman.

🎵Come Over (Again) - Crawlers🎵

|| william

Ancient Vampire, major dad energy, forever grieved poet.

🎵My Love - Florence + The Machine🎵

|| alexandra

Ruthless avenger, shadow girl, untamed lost child.

🎵Born For This - The Score🎵

|| leo

Lightning boy, awful partner, loves to meddle.

🎵All My Love - Noah Kahan🎵

|| cameron

All-seeing oracle, cold-hearted traitor, mourning lover.

🎵Back In Town - Florence + The Machine🎵

|| trixie

Little God, wanderlust afflicted, loyal daughter.

🎵Paul Revere - Noah Kahan🎵

|| aurelia

Angelic singer, illusion crafter, misses her family.

🎵Orange Juice - Noah Kahan🎵

|| beau

A corporeal ghost, monochrome glam, overdramatic drummer.

🎵River - Bishop Briggs🎵

|| caine

Grieving widow, village crazy lady, madness incarnate.

🎵Free - Florence + The Machine🎵

|| nox

Magically empowered nerd, teaches dark magic, bookshop owner.

🎵Eat You Alive - The Oh Hellos🎵

|| lyra

Stubbornly optimistic, litteral ray of sunshine, overly peppy cage fighter.

🎵The Mountain Song - Tophouse🎵

|| ariadne

Spider queen, whip smart buisness woman, tongue dripping poision.

🎵Venom - Little Simz🎵

otp: glitter hearts and neon blood (lucien x aurelia)

otp: sunshine in silence (olivia x lyra)

otp: together or not at all (evan x leo)

otp: within these walls (cameron x leo)

otp: the sound of distant drumming (beau x ariadne)

Brotp: unending wanderlust (trixie x caine)

Brotp: bloodied books (nox x william)

Brotp: acid blood (cameron x alexandra x leo)

《 celestial mechanisms

~Sci-fi hoverbike racing set on the Cyber world of Neocrest~

|| ether

Talented racer, incredible modder, unsettling energy.

🎵Boss Bitch - Doja Cat🎵

|| genesis

Guilt striken, burnt out almost star, trying his best.

🎵Love Me, Normally - Will Wood🎵

|| chrome

Worlds best racer, old money runaway, overprotective.

🎵Vroom Vroom - Charlie XCX🎵

|| nova

Spoiled rich brat, freak genius, high femme at all times.

🎵as good a reason - Paris Paloma🎵

|| photon

Shy photographer, unintentional blackmailer, wracked with insecurity.

🎵Sweet Hibiscus Tea - Penelope Scott🎵

|| glitch

Charming scammer, former racer, menace when left alone.

🎵Greedy - Swiblet🎵

otp: first love again (ether x genesis)

otp: it's all for you (glitch x chrome)

Brotp: paint and polish (ether x chrome)

Brotp: image of brilliance (photon x nova)

《 blood on your teeth

~Wrestling, mainly set in AEW~

|| emmie

Ambitious fighter, passionate lover, stubbornly self destructive.

🎵King- Florence + The Machine🎵

[devoteyrheart]

need a "sun, moon, star" brotp so bad

[fairytail-incorrectquotes]

Lucy: I hope the moon is proud of me.

Juvia: She is.

Juvia: and so are the stars.

Erza: and so is the sun.

Natsu: the aliens are watching you, a little confused about your life choices, but are proud of you too.

[fictumlibrary]

never-ending plot bunnies  /  asteria winveld.

when asteria studied under totomaru, she met romeo, and when she met romeo, she was told all about the fairy tail guild he was part of. then several years later, the strongest members of fairy tail returned after being missing in action for seven years and she saw romeo less, though they exchanged letters. it’s only after the war with alvarez that romeo wrote to her, inviting her to join the guild, and now even more years later, they’re a good team. the guild hasn’t had any fresh blood in a whole, though, and they’ve decided to make an effort to recruit more people whenever they take a new job. but of course, in fairy tail, everything always ends in chaos.

taglist: @raith-way @umbreomite @espeomite��

[floraone]

So, here it is, that prequel piece to La Douleur Exquise some of you have been asking for and more of you have been dreading:

Mamoru, full break up arc angst, watching Seiya do his thing in Stars. Enjoy!

Ao3 version here

[sinshckled]

@sensorybound asked…   ( x )

☁

[sitp-recs]

Hii Liv ❤️ I love your recs and commentary so much! Could you recomend me some fics with strong brotp feels with Ron? It could be with either Harry or Draco or both☺️☺️

Thanks anon! Oh yes, love me some Ron appreciation 🙌 I hope you enjoy these. Will also link my Dron/Dronarry reclist here, to celebrate the announcement of DronarryFest 2023!

Champion by @shealwaysreads (2021, T, 7k)

Harry thought his Eighth Year would be simple and easy. And it sort of is, though not in the ways he expected.

Come as You Are by @peachpety (2021, E, 8k). his school AU

If asked, Harry Potter would categorize his high school senior year as normal: football, friends, and one devastating crush on his tutor, Draco Malfoy. When presented with an opportunity to help Draco, Harry rises to the occasion. Unfortunately, so does his dick. Sparks fly and alarms blare… and the Hogwarts Owlz Gossip twitter feed blows up.

And a Malfoy in a Pear Tree by lauren3210 (2015, E, 8k)

Draco works in a coffee shop. Harry drops by every day to get his fix. Of coffee, Ron.

What I thought by @bafflinghaze (2014, E, 8k)

Draco thought they were in a relationship. Harry thought it was just sex.

Party of Two by fireflavored (2012, E, 13k)

Drinking, sex, and a total misreading of the concept of fuck buddies.

Give Me a Quiet Mind by @wellhalesbells (2013, T, 16k)

Draco is Weasley’s assistant. Except for the week he’s not. Whose brilliant idea was that again? Featuring offices in Edinburgh, an epic Measley Bromance (that no one will admit exists), several unrequited crushes, fantastical revenge scenarios, coffee snobbery, the dreaded – yet adorable – toddler terror, promises of organ swapping, a play about Scottish history (no one cares), sequins, and the League of Snarky Secretaries!

you've got the antidote for me by Kandakicksass (2018, M, 20k)

When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want. He's never been selfless before, but for Harry, he can try.

We Might Be Too Old for a Bildungsroman by @wellhalesbells (2015, T, 21k)

Harry finds something he’s been looking for since the war’s end. Admittedly, the packaging’s a bit odder than he expected.

Peeking behind the Curtain by @wellhalesbells (2013, M, 23k)

Draco sees things he really, really wishes he didn't. If only to get out of all the homework that comes with it.

Weapon of Choice by @lou-isfake (2021, T, 25k) - Medieval AU

Sir Malfoy is in need of a sword. The blacksmith isn’t supposed to ask why.

Expecto Patronum by @writcraft (E, 35k)

Harry Potter is the most sought after celebrity in wizarding Britain. His every movement is scrutinised, his relationships questioned and his photographs plastered over every paper. Harry's used to everyone thinking he’s a hero and has had plenty of time to learn how to keep his biggest secrets hidden from the press. As Draco Malfoy negotiates his feelings for the wizarding world's brightest star, he becomes increasingly attached to Harry and unravels the secrets he keeps hidden from the rest of the world.

Clouds That Veil the Midnight Moon by @drarrytrash (2020, E, 36k)

According to Harry’s personal narrative regarding the incident, he’d hooked up with Draco Malfoy for purely self-destructive reasons, or out of convenience, or by some unlucky accident. Looking at him, sprawled in the moonlight, Harry is devastated to recall that he’d hooked up with Draco Malfoy because he’s hot.

Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love by @aibidil (2017, E, 80k)

In which a group of wizards' rights activists goes on the offensive after a prohibition against love potions, forcing the magical world to confront the horror of magic's role in sexual assault and the murky legal nature of consent. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Draco are swept together to solve the case, and in the process they're made to confront their own love and lust—with and without potions.

A Sword Laid Aside by @korlaena (2018, E, 128k)

When Draco’s cover is blown during a deep undercover operation and the Ministry is compromised, Ron takes Draco to the only safe place he can think of—Potter. Hiding out with a taciturn Harry Potter, who has been missing from the Wizarding World for almost two decades after a shocking fall from grace, is nothing like Draco thought it would be.

By the Grace by lettered (2020, T, 140k)

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Rewatch:  “Come Together”

The basics:  When a robotic vehicle robs a casino’s armored car pick-up, the team is looking get it off the streets.  Big life changes ahead for Callen, Kensi and Deeks.

Written by:  Kyle Harimoto wrote "Omni", "Merry Evasion", "Chernoff, K", "Command and Control" as episode 150, "Granger, O.", "Ghost Gun", "Kulinda", "767", "Se Murio El Payaso", "Assets"/"Liabilities", "Venganza", "Superhuman", "One of Us", "Let Fate Decide" (season 11 premiere), "Decoy", "Answers" , "Watch Over Me", "Cash Flow", "Fukushu" and "Bonafides".   He co-wrote "Three Hearts", "Leipei", "Humbug", both ends of the "Matryoshka" two-parter, "Smokescreen" part two, "Searching", "A Fait Acompli" and "A Tale of Two Igors" (season 12 finale).  

Directed by:  John P. Kousakis directed "Imposters", "Sacrifice", "San Voir" part one, "The Fifth Man", "Parley", "Inelegant Heart", "Chernoff, K.", "Active Measures", "The Long Goodbye", "Talion", "Glasnost", "Unleashed", "Party Crashers", "This Is What We Do" (episode 200), "Goodbye Vietnam", "Ninguna Salida", "The Guardian", "High Society", "A Tale of Two Igors", "Under the Influence", "Genesis", all of the Afghanistan scenes from "Iron Curtain Rising" to "Zero Days" in season five and all of Kensi’s injury/recovery storyline scenes from "The Queen’s Gambit" to "Sirens" in season eight.  

Guest stars of note:  Bar Paly as Anastasia "Anna" Kolcheck is back from “Down the Rabbit Hole”.  Vyto Ruginis as Arkady Kolcheck, Richard Gant as Raymond Hanna and Natalia Del Riego as Rosa Reyes are all back from “Work and Family”.  Both Duncan Campbell as NCIS Special Agent Castor and Cyd Strittmatter as Ms. Janice King return from “Hard for the Money”.  Eugene Young returns from “Bonafides” as Sang.  Lesley Boone as Nina Barnes, Sara Young Chandler as Amanda Chen and Monique Mosee as Woman (Raymond confuses her for Sam’s mother).  

Our heroes:  Have a barbeque.  

What important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Getting married. Sam:  Really trying with his Dad. Kensi: Foster parent. Deeks: Foster parent. Fatima:   Dating profile whisperer. Rountree: Bad dating app luck. Kilbride:  Admiral in the Navy, BBQ master at the beach.

What not so important things did we learn about:

Callen:  Mr. Carl. Sam:  Switch. Kensi:  Brings Deeks a bagel sandwich for his ride home from LAX. Deeks:  Still looking to do trust falls with the Admiral. Fatima:  Good at circuit training and hot yoga. Rountree: Good at circuit training and bad at hot yoga. Kilbride:  Big “Moana” fan.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Callen talks to Sam about wanting to speak with her about his past.  Hetty’s décor choices in the boat shed got a thumbs up from one visitor and a thumbs down from another..

Who's down with OTP:  Kensi and Deeks are parents, Callen and Anna are getting married.  Things are going well.  

Who's down with BrOTP:  Sam tells Callen that Anna is good for him and Callen agrees.  Everyone on the team is over the moon with Kensi and Deeks bringing Rosa to the OSP family.

Fashion review:  Callen starts the episode in a grey quarter-zip with blue sleeves that looks a lot more like Chris O’Donnell fashion than G. Callen gear.  For the rest of the episode, he is wearing his blue and black checked button down shirt.  Long-sleeve black tee-shirt for Sam.  Kensi is wearing a golden brown cropped hoodie for Kensi.  Grey henley for Deeks.  

Working out, Fatima wears a dark pink and white workout top with dark pink running tights.  Working, Fatima is in a blue sweater.  At the beach, she’s wearing a pale, purple turtleneck.   Rountree works out in a medium blue tee-shirt and grey shorts. At work, he’s in tan sweater.  At the beach, he’s wearing a green and white button down short-sleeve shirt (a Hawaiian shirt cut without the bold colors).   The usual dark blue suit, pale blue dress shirt and blue and grey tie for Kilbride.  At the beach, the Admiral is wearing khakis, a Hawaiian shirt and a beige bucket hat.  

Music:  “TV Dinner” by Holy Wars is playing in the casino.  “Carry On With Me” by Junius Meyvant is playing when Kensi, Deeks and Rosa get to the party.  “On the Nose” by Ryan Pollie is playing while Kilbride, Raymond and Arkady chat.  “The Magician” is playing while Callen and Sam talk.

Any notable cut scene:   No but there was a gag reel.  Chris O’Donnell introduces himself as Agent O’Donnell, Eric Christian Olsen has a hair emergency on the Allegiance and Gerald McRaney wears his mask into a scene.    

There is also a Season 13 season wrap-up.  They try to explain the Callen childhood nonsense.  Chris O’Donnell is incredibly complimentary to Linda Hunt, who always surprise him in how she delivers her lines.  Pembrook is being set up as a “fun villain” in the future.  LL Cool J likes playing Switch because it take Sam and the audience on different journeys.  The producers talk about prior mentions of Sam’s father and they wanted to see the man who made Sam the way he is.  The program is doing more than catching the bad guys, they are looking at their character’s humanity.

The infertility storyline didn’t take the easy way out and brought in the issues with immigration.  They talk about celebrating the family you have and not the family you though you’d get.  

Growing more comfortable with her place on the team, Fatima is getting a chance to shine.  Rountree is learning to think before he acts and be a part of a team.  The two of them are friends, not a couple “for right now.”  This is a more interesting relationship, especially with Fatima being the more tenured of the two.  

Gerald McRaney is thrilled with the way his character is written.  He’d like to go into the field more.  He feels guilty calling what he does working.  

The program takes their social responsibility seriously with the violence against Asian-Americans.  Gerald McRaney’s father trained Japanese Americans who were fighting in WWII and always thought it was terrible these young men were going to die for the country that had their families in internment camps.  Caleb Castille spoke about “Perception” and the fear young Black people live with.  

The program asked Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen if they were OK writing and directing together.  Daniela Ruah is thrilled that the start of her directing career is someplace where the team is so good.  Cast and crew loves her work.  Frank Military thinks that directing is her future.  Eric Christian Olsen wanted to write an episode that was funny and became a freight train by act four.

The season finale was written as a series finale if they weren’t renewed.  

Quote: Tie:

Rosa:  “Who are all these people?” Deeks:  “They, they’re…” Kensi:  “That’s our... and now your family, Rosa and I think it's pretty clear they're excited to meet you. Are you ready to meet them?” Rosa:  “Yeah.” Deeks:  “Oh my God, this is happening.”

Callen:  “Anastasia Kolcheck, will you marry me?” Anna:  “Of course I will.” Callen:  “Yes.” Anna:  “Yes.”

Anything else: At a casino, a waitress picks up her things from her locker.  The tips have been bad and she’s questioning her life choices as she walks to the employee parking lot.  What looks to be a golf cart blows past her firing a weapon mounted on the cart’s roof.  Over a speaker, someone in or around the cart orders two armed security officers making their casino bank run to stop and cooperate if they want to live.  The officers are told to put the money into the vehicle.  They comply as the waitress watches.

When the cart drives off, the two officers start firing at it.  The waitress moves behind a dumpster to protect herself and to watch what’s going on.   The cart stops and races back to the officers.  The big gun on the roof fires into a nearby vehicle, causing it to explode.  The officers go flying off their feet.   The cart races away as the waitress does the same in the other direction.

A grateful Deeks is playing up to Kensi for not only picking him up at LAX but having a Nate ’n Al’s bagel sandwich waiting for him.  It is next level love.  When he asks about Callen, Kensi tells him he’s being really open about his feelings and the entire team is helping him through this difficult time.  That earns a ‘touché’.  

Kensi’s phone rings, it is Janice King, the social worker.  Deeks says hello too.  While she has no new news on Pilar’s case, she has great news about Rosa’s adoption.  “Congratulations, you two have been approved to be a resource family.”  Kensi and Deeks look at each other, stunned.  They will be fostering Rosa.  Kensi and Deeks thank King, who tells them they did the hard work to make this happen.  She knows they will provide a wonderful home.  Deeks is looking for a time frame for when Rosa can move in with them.  It is “tonight”.  Kensi and Deeks are a little freaked – they just became parents.  Deeks thinks he should save some of his bagel for Rosa.

Leaving a neighborhood breakfast spot, Sam is dealing with a seemingly cranky Raymond.  Raymond wants to know if Sam wants a parade thrown in his honor for feeding him and putting blankets on his mattress.  Raymond sees Sam’s reaction and tells him he’s kidding.  He remembers that Sam takes his ribbing to heart.  Sam is happy to be living with his father and wants to make the most of it.  Raymond tells Sam he sounds just like his mother.  Sam misses her every day.  It is obvious Raymond does as well.  Looking at his take-out breakfast, Raymond could not see his wife being happy he was eating a breakfast burrito or Sam drinking a smoothie.  Sam agrees.

Raymond tells Sam about a place he’d go for dinner once a week after Sam’s mother, Vivian, died.  The owner, a Miss Sarah D’Arcy, would sit with him.  Never let him sit alone.  He would look forward to the company.  Sarah wanted a relationship but Raymond thought he was disrespecting Vivian.  Sam disagrees – his mother would want Raymond to be happy.  “Don’t ever have a Miss Sarah D’Arcy son, regret is real.”  Michelle would want Sam to be happy.

As a woman walks down the street, Raymond grabs her, mistaking her for Vivian.  Sam is able to pull the woman away and explain that his father is just confused.  Raymond is yelling that he knows his wife when he sees her.  He’s livid.  It takes Raymond a minute to get his bearings again.  The two walk home.

In a park, Fatima and Rountree are working out.  He’s impressed seeing her go from hard circuit training into yoga and being good at both.  It was Rountree’s final hot yoga class since he was a hot mess.  Rountree calls his prior night’s date a hot mess.  Fatima wants to know what went wrong.  Rountree says it was almost everything.  They couldn’t agree on movies, sports, food, even houseplants.  They had nothing in common.  Fatima thinks the algorithm did him wrong but Rountree agrees – the algorithm never did him right.

Reviewing Rountree’s dating profile, Fatima tells him the algorithm can’t help when he gave it so much bad data.  His dating profile says he enjoys eating takeout and reading a book on a Friday night.  A tiny bit defensive, Rountree says he’s done that before.  Fatima keeps going – he says he enjoys long hikes but she knows the longest hike he likes is from his car to the basketball court.  The profile says his fashion sense is “frugal, durable and functional.”  Rountree agrees – he wears Dickies.  He does, Fatima agrees.  He also pays someone on Beverly to make them look distressed and fashionable.  Rountree thinks characterizing himself as “salt of the earth” could be a problem too.  Fatima laughs – “you’re helpless”.

Sitting near the window of a house, Callen and Anna are sharing some quiet time.  She doesn’t want to leave but since it is a short time rental, sooner or later they’ll have to leave.  Anna still feels guilty about nearly killing Callen by opening the shipping container’s door.  She wants to be normal with him – go to work, come home, cook dinner and watch TV.  They kiss.  Callen is about to say something when Arkady knocks on the window.

Reluctantly going to the door, Anna lets her father in.  He gives her a big hug, he’s so happy she’s OK.  Callen says hello, Arkady does not react.  Saying that he came as soon as he got her text, Anna tells Arkady she texted him three days ago.  He was occupied with a beautiful, voluptuous – and Anna’s had enough of that chit chat.  Pulling out a bottle from his jacket pocket, Arkady has some nastoyka for “a celebratory drink.”  Turning to Callen, Arkady says he is glad he’s safe too.  It is obvious to Arkady how much Anna loves him.  Callen says “I like you too.”  They are going to drink to that.  

Walking into Ops, Kensi and Deeks join Fatima and Rountree.  The team is investigating the casino heist with military grade firepower.  There were dozens of spent shell casings found on the ground.  An Army vet from the Vietnam War playing poker at the casino told LAPD that the sound of the weapon reminded him of an M60.  Kensi is stunned.  

Bigger problem was the car blowing up – it was taken out by a grenade.  There was a second, undetonated grenade found next to the car.  The guards are sedated and recovering from the assault.  NCIS is looking into whether the weaponry was stolen US military property.  Kensi notes they haven’t seen any surveillance footage.  The machine gun took out all the cameras before the robbery.  Their only witness is the waitress – Amanda Chen.  Callen and Sam are on their way to speak to her because Admiral Kilbride wants to speak to both Kensi and Deeks.  Deeks thinks the Admiral just wants a hug.  Kensi gives him a hug instead.

Knocking before entering the Admiral’s office, Kensi and Deeks start with a good morning.  Of course the Admiral doesn’t have good mornings in Los Angeles.  40-minutes to drive 10-miles which gives everyone time to work on their mindfulness practice.  Deeks thinks the Admiral is serious, talking about taking a little scheduled time every day to check in with yourself.  Deeks is pushing trust falls once again.  The Admiral looks stunned.  Deeks thought they were at the point where they could banter but admits he miscalculated.

Getting back to the case, with a vehicle with an M60 driving around Los Angeles – and Deeks brings up crawling because of the Admiral’s previous comments which goes about as poorly as you can imagine – weapons and ordinance that can’t be bought by civilians, there has to be someone supplying them.  Kensi thinks the heist crew is being financed by someone.  The Admiral discusses an above-board, high end arms dealers with access to these type of weapons.  Putting some photos of a woman on his office plasma, the Admiral mentions a criminal dealer could be moving them too.

When Kensi comments that the woman in photo is a tough looking lady, the Admiral thinks that is an understatement.  Her name is Nina Barnes.  Barnes used to be one of the most connected arms dealers on the West Coast.  Deeks asks if she was above board or one of the criminal ones.  The Admiral thinks it is a 70% legal/30% illegal situation.  Barnes was caught making a purchase of stolen weapons a few years ago and the Admiral helped her out.  She owes his a favor – a big one.  Living in LA, the Admiral wants to them to find Barnes and find out what she knows.  Deeks is still open to some trust falls as he leaves.

In the boat shed, Castor drops off Amanda Chen.  She finds the boat shed has a “touch of that serial killer vibe”.  Sam asks about the shooter.  Chen explains that there were no shooters, it was a “supped-out armored go kart”.  Callen is surprised that nobody was driving it.  She compares to a life-sized robotic car that her brother used to play with when they were kids.  Chen also mentions to robotic voice that ordered the security officers around.  She saw the cart go south on Vermont.  

Calling it a UTV drone, Fatima can’t find the armed cart anywhere.  An excited Rountree brings up pulling “a full-on Knight Rider.”  For a change, Fatima is confused by the entertainment reference.  Growing up, Rountree’s neighbor had a TV and loved a show with a talking car “and the guy from Baywatch on it.”  The Knight Rider car would move around the country undetected in a big truck.  The casino is in a commercial area – a lot of trucks in the immediate area.  Everything in LA is a target if the UTV can move around without being detected.  Not just jewelry stores or banks, the UTV could go after soft targets and LAPD couldn’t stop it.

After checking the rental trucks in the area, none of the renters seemed suspicious.  The non-rentals are more of a problem since there are an awful lot of them and they are owned through corporation.  Reviewing the UTV, it is dangerous and it is expensive.  The people behind it wouldn’t move it around in a rental or stolen truck.  Callen realizes they know someone who moves things around.

Outside of the Premiere Bake Shop, Kensi and Deeks think they are in the wrong place.  Going in, they are not.  Nina Barnes is teaching a class in cake decorating.  Thinking Kensi and Deeks are Deana and Colby late for class, she’s surprised when they pull out their badges and drops the “federal agents”.  With a paying class, she’d be happy to help later that afternoon.  Kensi drops Kilbride’s name and Barnes is defeated.

When Fatima says it is a strange place they live in where an UTV could be used to rob a casino, Rountree breaks into song – “It’s a whole new world” – at his work station.  Fatima laughs – that is the version of Rountree that should be in his dating profile, his love and deep, deep knowledge of Disney musicals.  While he goes on about the Disney musicals, the Admiral shows up.  The Admiral is pleased Rountree can “carve out time to watch cartoons.”  After getting a sit-rep from Fatima, the Admiral asks Rountree “How can you not mention ‘Moana’?”  It tells the Admiral a lot about the person he is.  

Apologizing to her students, Barnes is sweetly offering the next class on the house as they leave.  With the shop empty and the “closed” sign on the door, Barnes asks “how is that old bastard Kilbride?”  Kensi brings up his dislike of LA.  Barnes is stunned he’s there.  “He must be miserable.”  If Kilbride sent them, Barnes knows some weapon is in LA that shouldn’t be – what is it?

When Deeks gives the specs, Barnes is impressed.  The machine gun is something that the SEALs use.  That gun would be easy to find.  The grenade launcher is the issue – that would be hard to bring to town.  If the weapons are in LA and she didn’t bring them in, she wants to know who did.  Since she doesn’t do guns in her cake shop, Barnes needs a place to work, a clean laptop that runs Kali Linux and Tor, internet access to the dark web and an untraceable cellphone.  Kensi orders it all for the boat shed.

Sang, the guy who messed with ‘Switch’ in “Bonafides”, leaves his home to find Callen in his back alleyway.  Callen asks for a good spot to get food in Koreatown.  Sang threatens Callen, pulling a gun what Sam as Switch easily takes from him.  “Damn you, Switch.”

Saying he knows nothing about a remote UTV and driving it around the city, Sang isn’t interested in even helping Sam since Switch stole from him.  Sam says it is redistribution program, not stealing.  Callen asks if Sang wasn’t moving the UTV, who would?  Sang has no interest in talking to Switch or his accountant.  Callen tells Sang his name is Mr. Carl and he is Switch’s life coach.  

Saying he needs the UTV, Switch wants Sang to help him.  Sang wouldn’t help Switch if he was hanging off a building.  Listing a few places where Sang has garages, likely with stolen items stored there, if Sang helps Switch won’t rob them all.  Sang reluctantly tells them to look for a 14-foot truck with out-of-state dummy plates.  He has a name.  But after that, they’re done.  Switch disagrees – Sang is going to take them to the name.  Now.  

Speaking in German, Barnes is working the phone.  When one call ends, another comes in.  Barnes is speaking Chinese.  Deeks finds Barnes impressive.  Kensi is worried she might be launching a missile strike.  When Barnes finishes her calls, she tells them she’s just waiting to hear who is bringing a rocket launcher into LA.

Arriving in the Land Rover at Pelican’s home, Callen asks Sang why is he called Pelican.  Sang doesn’t know and doesn’t care.  In Korean, Sang tells Sam Callen is annoying.  “I’ve gotten used to it,” Sam replies.  Sang wants Callen to change his look – he comes off as an accountant or law enforcement.  Callen asks what they’re talking about.  Sam lies about Callen becoming Sang’s life coach.  

Walking up to Pelican’s secured gate, Sang is allowed in but Callen and Sam are not.  Waiting, Callen admits to Sam that Anna is struggling a little about what happened with Katya.  Sam thinks most people would.  With Katya gone, Callen and Anna can live their lives without looking over their shoulders.  Callen brings up Pembrook and Sam tells him not to.  “Things start going good, you start focusing on the next thing and pushing people away.”  Sam tells Callen that Anna is good for him and Callen agrees.  

An aggravated Sang returns.  Pelican didn’t want to talk but Sang threated to steal all of Pelican’s business.  Pelican gave up a name – Lou Faria.  Pelican tracks all his vehicles – he gave Sang the transponder, which Sang gives to Sam.  As Callen and Sam get in the Land Rover, Sang is not allowed to join them.  He wants a ride home but Switch says they’re good.  Callen makes a life coach push.

Rountree tells Callen and Sam there is no response from the transponder but that may be because it only works when the vehicle is in motion.  Fatima has a long list of  Lou Faria’s crimes – drunk driving, robbery, assault.  Callen sees him more as a strong arm guy than someone who could build and control a UTV.  

In the boatshed, Barnes is looking at the photos on the wall, seeing pictures of Doc Paskowitz’s family.   She asks who hung them up.  Kensi speaks generally about the woman who decorated the place.  Kensi likes the life Paskowitz was living the photos.  Barnes asks if Kensi has kids.  She and Deeks look at each other and explain that they didn’t this morning but by tonight expect to be parents.  Barnes is surprised they are a couple.  She laughs and Deeks doesn’t see what’s funny.  Barnes thinks Deeks is punching a bit above his level and Deeks agrees.  

Barnes gets a phone call, she answers in German but scolds Elias on the other end for not telling her about the deal going down.  Based in LA, she needs to know these things so make sure it doesn’t happen again.  She learns the terms of the deal – it was a German grenade launcher that was traded for an unarmed UTV drone.  Deeks is a big concerned that a high-level arms dealer now has a UTV drone.  The two men who traded the UTV drone are Jacob Griffiths and Gordon Cassella.  

Both Griffiths’s and Cassella’s homes and offices were checked out by LAPD – nothing.  Both are engineers with the technical know-how to build a UTV.  But Jacobs works at a chemical plant in Hawthorne while Cassella works for a mechanical engineering firm in Simi Valley.  There is no link.  Different colleges, different homes, the only thing they have in common is being connected to the UTV.  They are likely hobbyists.  Thinking the men would need space to build the UTVs.  Checking, Fatima learns both men live in condos.  Fatima is going to see if they rented a warehouse – she immediately finds it.  

Kensi and Deeks are first to the warehouse.  Deeks find one of the men dead in a room in the warehouse with a bullet in his head. It is Jacob Griffiths.  The two wonder where is Gordon Cassella.

In Ops, Faria’s transponder is back working.  Fatima contacts Callen and Sam with the truck’s location.  

Seeing Faria’s in a truck coming their way, Callen and Sam try to cut the vehicle off.  They yell “federal agents”.  Faria picks up a gun and that’s the last things he does.  In the back of the truck, Callen and Sam find Gordon Cassella bound and gagged with the UTV and its remote control.

Saying that Castor is on his way with the car, Kensi and Deeks are sending Nina Barnes home.   Barnes find Castor pouty – doesn’t get her sense of humor.  Deeks says he’s “an angry, angry man.”  Kensi sees Barnes is still working on the laptop.  She hopes Barnes isn’t making illegal arms deals with it.  “Hope is a powerful thing.”  Barnes wants to know about the case.  Deeks confirms that Griffiths and Cassella built the UTV drones.  When they tries to sell them, Faria saw the criminal potential and strong-armed them into going for his plan.  Since both Faria and Griffiths couldn’t operate the UTV, Faria killed Griffiths and left Cassella alive to run the UTV.  Free to leave, Barnes packs up the laptop and starts making her way to the door.  Kensi thanks Barnes and hopes she can come back – depending on how many favors Kilbride can call in.  “And, that gear stays with us.”  Barnes says you can’t her for trying.  She also says she wishes her foster parents were a little more like Kensi and Deeks.  

Complaining that he’s missing his shows, Raymond asks Sam “why are we here?” as they pull into a parking spot.  Sam is going to introduce Raymond to some people.  If he can’t get to Raymond in a time of need, some of the people they are going to meet will be his back-up.  Raymond tells Sam he doesn’t need someone to “spoon-fed me.”  Sam promises Raymond he will like everyone.  Raymond isn’t so sure.  “Some people are morons.”

Raymond also tells Sam that he doesn’t know how fast whatever his has is going to run through him.  So Raymond wants Sam to know that who he is as a man…Raymond has a hard time saying proud.  Sam knows his father is proud.  After feigning that he didn’t remember why they were in the car, Raymond asks his son to lighten up –  Sam takes things too hard.

Worried that he’s not wearing a collared shirt, Kensi is calming down Deeks, who wanted things to be special.  Kensi promises him it is going it be special.  Rosa runs down the stairs to hug Kensi.  Mrs. King will speak to them next week.  Rosa says hello to “Mr. Deeks” but Deeks tells her Martin or Marty or Martisauarus Rex are all fine.  Deeks thinks it is a Dad joke.  Deeks gets a call ��� Kilbride wants to see them.  Deeks explains they are busy but they’ll be there.

Really annoyed, Deeks can’t believe that tonight of all nights, they have to see the Admiral at the beach.  Kensi is trying to keep him calm.  Rosa tells them if they have work she’s going to be fine.  She wants to take a walk on the beach – it looks beautiful.  Kensi hands Rosa a phone.  It is so she can keep in contact with both Kensi and Deeks as well as her family back in Guatemala.

Deeks is still railing against Kilbride and their lost dinner reservations when Kensi’s breath is nearly taken away.  She points out the welcome Rosa party starting on the beach.  There are big balloons that spell out ROSA, beach chairs, umbrellas, blankets, a portable barbeque, coolers – Deeks can’t believe it.  Everyone is there – Callen, Anna, Arkady, Sam, Raymond, Fatima, Rountree with the Admiral running the barbeque.  

Confused, Rosa asks who everyone is.  Kensi explains that they are our, and now your family.  Since everyone is excited to meet Rosa, is she ready to meet them.  She is.  Fatima spots them first and everyone is so happy.  Lots of hugging and introducing Rosa.  Kensi and Deeks meet Raymond.  The Admiral introduces himself as Hollace.

Enjoying their meal, the Admiral, Raymond and Arkady are chatting.  The Admiral is complaining about young people putting a lifetime of knowledge in a back seat to “technological acumen.”  Arkady doesn’t know much about young people except his ability to deposit their rent checks.  Raymond announces this is the most fun he’s has since being “kidnapped and brought to LA.”  Arkady talks about being on different sides of the Cold War but now they are comrades, sharing drinks and “a very fine cow.”  The Admiral is not his comrade and if Arkady goes back to his old ways, he will be locked up.  Arkady thinks Kilbride knows how to kill the vibe.  

“My man” Callen brings Sam a beer while Kensi and Anna are playing cornhole behind them.  Callen talks about it being a wacky few months.  Both are glad the deep fakes thing is over.  Kensi and Deeks are parents and Sam is living with his dad.  “Didn’t see that coming.”  Sam asks if Callen will ever speak to Hetty again.  Callen admits he needs to talk to her.  Sam sees Callen watching Anna.  “She’s always been good for you,” Sam tells him.  Callen agrees.

As the sun goes down, almost everyone is in a beach chair around a fire pit.  Anna is standing near the ocean, Callen arrives with a blanket.  He tries to say something but it  takes a second.  Telling Anna that in every aspect of his life, he didn’t know who he was until he met her.  Saying that he can’t give her the normal life she’s looking for, Callen tells Anna he’s broken.  She seems concerned where this is all going.  Callen wants to give her what she wants.  Anna says it is no secret that he is broken.  She’s broken too.  “That’s why we fit.”  They have their normal that makes senses.  The two share I love you’s and a kiss.

Kensi notices Callen going down on one knee and tells the group to shh.  Everyone watches as Callen propose.  Anna is giggling and crying.  She says yes.  Everyone is cheering Callen and Anna.  Another big round of hugs.  Even Arkady hugs Callen.  Sam offers a toast that they dodge all of life’s bullets and have a super successful family.  

What head canon can be formed from here:  Lesley Boone is a keeper as Nina Barnes.  

Doc Paskowitz lived on the beach and surfed for peace with his nine children from his third marriage.

This would have worked perfectly as a series ender.  Callen, the man introduced with no name and no family, now has a name and people who love him.  Sam is being the man his father brought him up to be.  Kensi and Deeks who came from troubled places in their childhoods are offering a safe home they didn’t always have.  

This works perfectly for another reason.  If like my other big show – The X Files – this one screws up the way things go for the characters when it ends, the show can just end here.  Mulder and Scully wound up on his couch sharing a beer and watching “Caddyshack” in “Je Souhaite” (season seven’s second to last episode).  Nothing happened after that. Those four seasons and a movie - nope.  If dumb things happen to this program going forward, it all ends here.

Episode number:  The 22nd and final episode of season 13.  This is the 302nd episode overall.