#when will hoodie!rio return from the wars

[mego42]

Best of Brio Hitlist: 1x05

Apparently I’m still doing this so that’s cool I guess. 1x05!!! Some absolutely top notch Brio content here, folks. This episode is packed with classics and overall I think makes my series top 10 list but don’t hold me to that bc I have a goldfish memory and there’s easily tons of stuff I’m not thinking about rn. 

More nonsense under the cut. 

Turner’s mustache is terrible how did I not notice how terrible it was before it’s literally all I can see

“Well maybe he didn’t know if Dean could read?” GOD WHY DID THEY SCRAP THIS LEVEL OF QUALITY CONTENT

Another flannel for Annie, still no girlfriend 

AND ANOTHER HOODIE FOR RIO

AND MORE RIO + ANNIE CONTENT

s1 truly was god tier

omfg I forgot Finn Collins was in s1 (if you didn’t watch t100 this is meaningless to you but let me just say it delights me to no end that two separate casting directors looked at that actor’s face and said yep that’s a fuckboy if I’ve ever seen one)

taking a page out of the shows book k and pretending this fake cancer storyline isn’t a thing

RIO!

HIS NAME’S RIO

oooookay

oh is his name Rio??

hEL P

I love slick!Beth and her lying superpower 

“There’s a band aid on my arm and it’s not mine” might honestly be the grossest thing this show has ever done

OKAY SO WAIT I will be the first to admit I pay v little attention to the Boland kids (for real which one is Kenny what is the other boy’s name I don’t even know) but isn’t Jane supposed to be the youngest?? And yet Beth hasn’t had sex since Emma was born???? I’m so confused

serious question does this show have a script supervisor

hello again turner’s terrible mustache

“I’m on Facebook too” tbh Rio seems more like a twitter person to me but what do I know

Before I go all caps, I love how Manny plays Rio cycling through amusement and impatience and irritation so quickly that he’s nearly doing all of them at once while dealing with Beth in the early eps, it’s such a rich performance

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH SOMEONE LIKE ME

it’s actually kind of weird hearing this line in context, I’ve watched it in videos so much it like, exists on its own

Was lowkey expecting a soundtrack to kick in after he said it and the shot to freeze frame or drop saturation

maybe something by hozier or kaleo

I’m absolutely fcking feral for the way Rio says “right, right” all slowed down and soft

Love how hittin’ it straight up bounces off of Beth’s brain, if Rio hadn’t clarified, how long do you think it would’ve taken her to figure out what he meant are we thinking minutes or would she have like, driven off the road halfway home when the shoe dropped

OH I’M SORRY SWEETHEART TELL HIM WE’RE MAKIN’ LOVE

I love love love how hard that scrambles Beth’s whole brain, I love it with my whole heart, I love how you can see it sink in, see her brain go there and then just b r e a k

Ugh god and that little smile when he ducks out after dropping that grenade what a little shit I love it

And then he leaves and that long shot where she’s like, really thinking about it

She’s totally picturing it

(same bitch)

That feels over the line my b

GOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD beth and annie giving ruby their cut gets me right in the godamn feels every time I love their friendship so!!!!! much!!!!!!!!!!!

right in the honey nut feelios <- @medievalraven

the extended shot of three of of them laughing their asses off over Annie being ridiculous feels so real, it’s one of those moments that makes the show and their friendship feel so lived in and genuine, like if you’d told me that was an outtake from after they’d cut I’d believe it, it’s pure friends having a moment and it makes my heart do stuff

beth: my life long bff (who you have known as long as you’ve known me)’s daughter is in the the icu I don’t have time to eat

dean: I don’t underStaND?????!!! hOw tHIS is nOT??????!!!!????? aBoUT mE???????!!!!!!!!???????!!????????

sidebar, I miss Beth’s camel coat it looks so soft and lush and comfy 

like don’t get me wrong the black pea coat has it’s advantages as we all saw in 309

but the camel one is so classy, i love it

hello again again turner’s terrible mustache

godDAMN DO I LOVE THIS BETH AND TURNER SCENE

we don’t talk enough about the electric chemistry turner has with everyone he shares a scene with

i mean not dean but who has chemistry with dean, dean has like, negative chemistry. he’s a dampner

all of his scene’s with Beth???? W H E W

with Rio????? *fans self*

can you imagine what that threesome would be like? aside from wildly hot they’d be like a pack of praying mantises at the end all racing to rip the others head of first

it’d be a massacre

but worth it

ahem anyway

AND HE KISSED ME add this line to the list of things I’m absolutely fcking feral over 

Something about Christina’s delivery just does!!! It!!!!!! For!!!!!!! Me!!!!!!!!

Whenever people use it in videos I lose my entire godamn mind

remember when Beth was chill about the word panties

And we close with a flawless use of Phantogram 10/10 I want to send the s1 music supe a gd fruit basket

[riosnecktattoo]

so you're getting well-fitting quality!beanie!rio next episode. meanwhile, they released a whole-ass video of rio in a hoodie and i'm still waiting.

Oh, anon, you know me so well!

A QUALITY, NON FLOPPY BEANIE!? The Fisherman Rio I crave?! I will be screaming from the bottom of the well he always pushes me down.

And omg hold out hope for that Hoodie!Rio I would also Like To See It.gif

[booksandchainmail]

nanoha vivid liveblog: episode 7

we off left last time with nanoha and teana both preparing massive attacks. which team will win? will this fight last another beautiful, beautiful twenty minutes?

oh, we’re starting off with the op this time. probably means theres a lot of action early on

starting with these two seems appropriate (and a hell of a fight)

gods, fate’s two swords mode is badass. 

One thing that’s really great about this training fight in general is that everyone gets to go all out (with limiters), and since its in the future compared to strikers, we get to see some pretty rare moves all together at once

fucking brutal vivio, you kicked her in the head

shes so cute

annnnd headshot

and nanoha returns to its roots of fuckoff huge beam attacks

sein is suddenly very glad she wasn’t allowed to participate

thats also just a really good tactic, since its not like subaru would have survived it if she had shielded herself more. I’d wonder why more people didn’t try, but i don’t actually think anyone else was close enough to a team member. Also smart of subaru to shield vivio, rather than the other way around, since teana is a lot less prepared for her than she would be for her old partner

oh cool, vivio’s picked up roller skating from nove

and using her own magic to substitute for skates is a great idea, i wonder why more people don’t do that? maybe it burns through magic quickly?

and now for some fisticuffs

i mean, it did kinda have to come down to the two of them, and this season is focusing on martial arts rather than more magical fights, so this makes sense

and thats a KO

OH WAIT NO

damn einhart, you just do not give up

and using the moment your opponent’s convinced they’ve won is a decent way to land a hit on someone who specializes in counter attacks

and now we get to see glimpses of other battles!

nanoha and teana at close range is a hell of a situation, considering they both tend to ranged attacks. doesn’t look like tea can beat her old teacher yet.

that would have been a very punchy fight. presumably subaru wouldn’t use her destructo-hand cyborg ability in this match, but she’s still capable of a lot more firepower than einhart

gods fate’s broadsword is good

oh! new teams!

this one is split between frontline close range fighters and ranged attackers, which could be very strong but has some weak points

i guess what youd want is nanoha and teana hammering away at the opponents while vivio, einhart, and rio keep them stalled in the middle. hopefully the constant barrage will make the other team slip up, and will definitely limit their mobility, but if they can get fighters past the front line it’ll go poorly

and this team is entirely speed based, with four of the most mobile fighters. it might be best to use corona’s golem as a delaying tactic on the other teams front line, and send all the speedsters around the sides to try and take out the ranged fighters quickly

gods i want to see that fight

holy fuck

looks like subaru got to the ranged fighters, but she’ll have a rough time getting through that barrage

lutecia youre like two years older than they are

awwww

OH TIME FOR THE TOURNAMENT ARC

which might actually just be the whole plot, i think it was still running when i stopped the manga? and the anime definitely won’t get past it.

for some reason i don’t think any of these girls will be relevant

how has einhart not considered this before? it seems pretty well known and she’s the type to be really into fighting matches.

actually, on second thought einhart doesn’t seem to have thought much about the possibility of fighting as a sport since she’s so caught up in her inherited war memories. also, i can definitely believe she pays zero attention to current events and sports matches

nove rolled up the sleeves on her kimono bathrobe. because of course she did.

THANK YOU

NOW PLEASE MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS THAT

i really do like this idea of dealing with strength-induced angst and trauma via martial arts instead of more risky avenues. imagine what the world would be like if bruce wayne started mma instead of becoming a vigilante. 

nove is still tsundere about teaching

this is good! i did not expect nove to be such a major part of this show, and im glad theyre acknowledging that she has a life outside of coaching. its pretty rare for mentor figure to also get their own character arcs, and especially in nove’s case it makes a lot of sense. i mean it’s only been four years since she was a brainwashed combat cyborg working for a mad scientist turned terrorist, no wonder she still needs to figure out what she wants in life

i wonder how cost plays into this? if you need a device to compete, and better devices do make a substantial difference in fighting ability, it seems like the tournament should standardize gear to an extent, and provide for competitors who cant afford it

gods this is fucked up.

its not enough for einhart to continuously train, to get stronger and win against powerful opponents. she feels like she needs to fight on an actual battlefield.

and i can’t really say she’s wrong. there’s a lot of difference between being a skilled tournament fighter and handling actual combat, and the example she’s trying to surpass was one explicitly for actual warfare

but she doesn’t have to achieve that strength, and she shouldnt feel like she needs to

einhart is brooding too loudly for vivio to sleep

hey! it’s her! they don’t give an actual rank, just a generic officer title (im assuming. unless she was demoted a lot in the past four years), but presumably she’s risen even further. i fully expect hayate to end up running the tsab 

awww

makes sense to go to the leader of the wolkenritter and an ancient belkan magic expert for help with ancient belkan weapons i guess

it’s the intelligent devices! 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh?

oh

if these kids are being taught by a wolkenritter, theyre gonna be impressive

hayate knows her fighting show tropes

holy fuck

shes being taught by all the wolkenritter

this extremely cheerful child is possibly the best taught warrior on this planet

ok, lets see: i’m guessing yagami is more in regards to the wolkenritter, since hayate is very much not a strike arts fighter. sword draw sounds appropriately knight-y, and i’m always a fan of sword fights. weird that she uses midchildan magic, since non of her teachers do. and she’s a newbie, which makes her a completely unknown quantity

if these guys are fucking novices, what do the other competitors look like?!

oh, this is really good. einhart has been training herself for a long time, and pretty much everyone’s commented on how good her fundamentals are. there’s not much point in another two months of basic training on top of that. but she hasn’t really had worthy opponents, hence the whole street fighting misadventure, and so she needs more sparring.  

so we’re getting a rambunctious nun

gods, sein

hdgks;

i like her already

oooh, two swords. incredible speed sounds like exactly what it says on the tin. another midchildan fighter, despite being part of the belkan church. and she’s also new, but a bit older than miura

... theyre just a girl gang

i guess nanoha is going even heavier on the genre mixing than usual this season

holy hells she’s self taught

three times competing, fifth best in the city... she’s the most experienced fighter we’ve seen yet, but i think this year’s newbies might be better than average

the contrast of elegant lady with butler and tea, and the massive dumbbell and weight rack is excellent

well fuck

this just got even more tied into ancient history, which is mostly just going to be weird for vivio, but could be pretty bad for einhart

a tiiiiny bit

unlike einhart, who apparently got all of klaus’ blood

she’s pretty old for this competition, or at least the others we’ve seen. come to think of it, it takes a weirdly large range of competitors. since its the intermediate championship, presumably theres a younger bracket, and it might be better to extend that until twelveish rather than let ten year olds fight seventeen year olds

anyways, her thunder theme is very evident here. dahlgren magic, which is a new one, to have a family rather than planetary system. and shes very experienced, and has done really well previously

i like how everyone else is at home, or with friends or teachers, and then we’ve got this weirdo running through the desert in a dark hoodie with the hood up

oh hell, another new magic system. her style is really broad, her skill is nondescript, her device is unknown... not a lot to go on here OH WAIT SHES THE CHAMPION. 

THE INTERDIMENSIONAL CHAMPION

nove wasn’t kidding about this region being a tough bracket

and back to our protagonists, who now look so simple and reasonable. vivio is just a punch girl with mixed magic styles! so uncomplicated

corona does golems. that is literally all the information here

is rio the first modern belka practitioner we’ve see for the tournament? she’s got her own style, which honestly seems pretty common at this point, and then her maginificent FLAME-LIGHTNING TRANS, which sounds like it should be a band or something

lutecia’s style: magic

but don’t they all use magic. that doesnt matter. lutecia uses better magic.

also, idk how much use healing and summoning will be in presumably one-on-one tournament matches

and here we end, with our ancient fight nerd waiting for her device

gods this tournament’s going to be great

[mego42]

best of brio hitlist: 1x06

Alrighty here I am back on my bullshit with 1x06 aka A View from the Top. The top of what you may ask? I really can’t remember, s1 has basically all blurred together into a sea of excellent eyeliner and Rio in a hoodie. Guys, did you know at one point Mick had a jacket that fit? I nearly fell off of my couch. What do you think happened to it? 

Let me open this with a serious question: who in the writers room was traumatized by a doctor bc this show has a consistently unkind view of people with medical degrees 

Like obvs yes the lady doc in s3 was lying for justice and puppies and to save Rio from making rash decisions in a fit of dramatics (lol good luck lady that is a fruitless endeavor) or whatever but still, yikes

Anyway lmao @ Beth being like your budget is $1 do what you can to save my trash husband from his trash cancer

Where did that energy go it was so great

Petition for the Hills to do one musical number every other episode 

I’d say every episode but you know they’re just gonna take it from Rio’s screen time 

Such a sartorial mixed bag this scene, on the one hand you have Beth’s hat (awful, work awfully, in total competition with the scarf, not a good look) but on the other you have Annie’s jacket (adorable, I want to bury my face in her hood and never come out)

I CANNOT BELIEVE WE GOT HOODIE RIO 3 EPS IN A ROW

AND NOW WITH A BEANIE??????

I say it again, s1 is god tier

HI MICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not realize that Rio licking his lips is in reaction to Beth talking about how much money the girls have been turning around for him

He is so horny for money

They were made for each other tbh

Shout out to Ruby’s hysterically unsurprised face when Beth swerves and asks for more money instead of quitting that is the face of someone who has been on this ride for Way Too Long

Ruby: in hindsight we should’ve never let Beth talk I see that now

GO BIG OR GO HOME RIGHT what a nerd I love her

Ruby: I am actually going to commit murder here and now

“Brought that mama van with you?” Why is this so hot I don’t understand nothing about it should be sexual least of all minivans

The way Beth straightens up and gives that perky little I did good!!!!!! nod is so fucking cute I want to punch myself in the face

YOU CANT JUST SERVE A BITCH A MINI MUFFIN AND ASK HER TO JOIN YOU IN A LIFE OF CRIME

A CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!

Cut to Ruby serving a bitch a mini muffin, I really do love this show

HI TYLER!!!!!!!!!

Okay now there’s like, a preteen girl Boland child??!!! Where are these children coming from?????? Where do they go????????

I’m going to say something potentially controversial: I’m deeply unmoved by and largely uninterested in the whole thing with Annie and Boomer’s racist grandma 

Tyler: you can just call corporate right???? It’s not like this is a poorly thought through farce of a pyramid scheme with holes big enough to drive a bus through right?????????

It has been driving me bonkers since the first time I watched this ep trying to figure out who Christine Hendricks looks like in the brunette wig someone please put me out of my misery and tell me

Hey!!! Did you know I fucking hate Dean??????? 

I have mixed feelings on the sit down/that’s exactly what happened thing like on the one hand I love watching Beth effortlessly play Dean, but on the other the knowledge that the breathy baby doll voice she uses does it for him makes my skin crawl

I violently do not like when the Hills have conflict so I am electing to ignore it entirely

I missed everything that happened during the Boomer scene(s) because I was looking at Schitt’s Creek gifsets and I stand by my choices

I find the girls sitting on the swings weirdly endearing and I also really adore the framing of that shot

Seriously do not understand why they did away with everyone dragging Dean it was such a great feature

‘CUZ YOU DELIVERED

GOD!!!!! I LOVE!!!!!!! THE SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!

Rio: (✿◕ ﺮ ◕)

Beth: (◠‿◠✿)

Mick, Ruby and Annie: right???? in front?????? of our salad????????

My ultimate gg kink is, to no one’s surprise least of all my own, Beth surprising and impressing Rio and Rio instantly getting a boner over it

I would like to formally request they bring back this dynamic in some way shape or form specifically as a present to me bc I deserve it

In Beth and Ruby’s defense, the flip my game speech makes minimal sense, there were several poorly supported leaps

Shout out to Annie’s blazer and side boob, it is my all time fav Annie look

hey look my icon

Stan smelling the cash and goofing around with Ruby: 😍

Knowing Ruby’s still lying and it’s all gonna fall apart: 😥

I don’t think I properly realized until right now, as I’m nearly blinded by my tears of mirth over Dean saying “he’s never going to mess with you again, not on my watch” how much I love the dress Beth is wearing

This has been a very fashionable ep for the Marks sisters, Beth’s hat aside

The it was a choice speech would slap so much harder if Beth finished it off by stabbing Dean in the eye with a pair of scissors instead of dumping a bunch of money all over him

Takeaway from this episode: honestly it’s no wonder Beth is so bad at being a crime lord she had a horrible teacher that speech was truly insensible 

[mego42]

Best of Brio Hitlist: 1x04

Alright, so I am making my way through the Brio hitlist and due to a combination of @sothischickshe​’s encouragement and my own inability to have a thought about a tv show without sharing it with the internet, I’ve decided to foist my reactions upon you as I go. Cool? Cool. 

Onward under the read more!

I will be super honest I do not remember what happens this ep it’s been a minute (somewhere between 2 months and 84 years, time has lost all meaning)

Oh right!!! Eddie!!!!

I’m sorry this is after the pearls and the kitchen bourbon showdown????? How did that not make the hitlist??????? 

Fine, whatever

The main point of this rewatch is for the Beth and Rio content but sidebar shoutout to the the way Ruby hands that entitled little milkshake drinking pissant his entire ass in front of his friends and then later in front of his karen of a mother

Before there was jumpsuit!Annie we had heavy eyeliner and flannel!Annie aka they have been dressing her like a bisexual the entire time which makes her lack of a girlfriend that much more erroneous 

“He’s not my bff I don’t even know that guys name” 

I legitimately forgot that they learned Rio’s name from Eddie’s call history which makes it entirely possible that is not actually even his name, amazing

HOODIEEEEEEE RIOOOOOOOOOOOO

“who’s at fault is not important” classic beth

S3 may have become a drag but here’s a plus I haven’t properly appreciated: with the exception of one ep, no Boomer

Question for the class: is Turner supposed to be bi/pan/queer (vs gay) or did the writers forget he talked about being into girls in s1

G O D the s1 soundtrack slapped

I ship tf out of Annie and Gregg and none of you can stop me I SAID WHAT I SAID

I’M ONE SORRY BITCH!!!! A CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!! 

It’s depressing how much I can’t even enjoy Beth and Dean being estranged bc I know how little it’s ultimately going to matter 

and lo! A wild Rio appears!!

please @ god @ Santa bring back Rio dragging Dean

🎶I see it I want it 🎶 #rioisbeyonce

I miss when Beth cared about things and got mad about stuff and wasn’t just generally numb and shut down and tired

The bullet holes in the van and the stickers Beth puts over them remains on of my all time favorite minor visual gags the show’s ever done

SO WHICH ONE OF YALL BITCHES LIKE TO PULL PANTS DOWN

Crying hours that Eddie didn’t get to stick around tbh he was gr9

HOOOOOODIIIIIIEEEEE RIIIIOOOOOOO X2!!!!!!!!!!

god do y’all remember when the show used to do multiple meaningful Rio scenes per episode

and multiple hoodies???????? truly I am blessed

OH YOU GUYS DIDNT HIT ME UP TO DO BRUNCH

RIO NOT KNOWING WHAT TO MAKE OF ANNIE

ILL NEVER SMUGGLE ANYTHING UP MY BUTT (Annie’s like I mean....how much will you pay me)

BETH CALLING RIO A BITCH

RIO BEING LOWKEY INTO IT

THAT LIP!!!!!!!!

I fcking love that gd scene so much

shockingly low amount of stupidity this episode (obvs I am not including Dean in this statement) Beth and Rio clearly haven’t been in each other’s orbit long enough

Biggest takeaway: for real though the s1 soundtrack S L A P P E D

Second biggest take away: half of s3′s problems would be solved if Beth and Rio could take naps and get some of this energy back

Third biggest takeaway: s1 was so FUN I can’t believe I only watched this show for the first time what? 2 months ago? and I’ve already forgotten how fun it used to be

march 2020 was a fcking trip y’all

awww now I have a sad

what do you guys think Mick’s doing? shopping for tiny jackets? dreaming of hot tubs? can’t believe there was a time he wasn’t really a thing

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season Eight Rewatch:    "Belly of the Beast" The basics:  While the team returns to the US with their high value target, a helicopter crash leaves Kensi in critical condition.  Duggan and company are closing in on Hetty and the team. Written by:   R. Scott Gemmill who wrote or co-wrote  “The Only Easy Day”, “Brimstone”, “Breach”, “LD50”, “Found”, “Borderline”, “Absolution”, “Archangel”, “Tin Soldiers”, “Impostors”, “Cyberthreat”, “Honor”, “The Watchers” and both sides of the NCIS Los: Angeles/Hawaii Five-0 “Touch of Death” episodes, “Recruit”, “Free Ride”, “Wanted”, “Ravens and The Swans”, “Impact”, “War Cries”, both ends of the “Deep Trouble” season five finale/season six premiere, “Inelegant Heart”, “Praesidium”, “Traitor”, “Active Measures”, “Blame It On Rio”, “Internal Affairs”, “Matryoshka” part one, “Talion” and "High Value Target".  

Directed by:  Tawnia McKiernan, who directed “Exchange Rate” in season seven. Guest stars of note: Jackson Hurst as Under Secretary of Defense Corbin Duggan, Lisa Maley as Shu Chen, Sammy Sheik as Amhed Han Asakeem, Gretchen Palmer as Heather, Grinnell Morris as Navy Doctor Smith, Monib Abhat as Insurgent and Stephen Hailo as Masked Gunman. Our heroes:  Fight to save Kensi. What important things did we learn about: Callen:  Searching for Asakeem alone. Sam:  Not leaving anyone behind. Kensi:   Badly injured. Deeks:  Willing to stay with Kensi to the end. Eric:   Launches a missile from a drone to save the team. Nell:   Faux Duggan to get a drone. Granger:  #1 Badass. Hetty:  In custody. What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Willing to stop this chopper if Kensi and Deeks don't stop squabbling. Sam:   Entertained by Kensi and Deeks squabbling. Kensi:   Princess NightToots. Deeks:  Non-smelly feet, smelly everything else. Eric:  World's worst liar. Nell:   Possibly made Chen sick. Granger: A self-described romantic. Hetty:  Little Miss Sunshine, per Duggan Who's down with OTP:   Kensi and Deeks are playful in the field and in the helicopter.  Once Kensi is injured, Deeks is all about rescuing her and is willing to stay with her if Callen and Sam have to leave to get help.  Once she's off to the hospital, he can barely contain his rage over her injuries.

Nell seems to know a lot about Eric's time at Disneyworld and his trouble with the Small World ride.  Duggan believes that Granger has feelings for Hetty. Who's down with BrOTP:  The best BrOTP is actually the field agents in the helicopter where everyone is in great spirits and temporarily enjoying their success.  The team is never better when they're rescuing Kensi.

Any Hanna family mentions:  None.

Fashion review:   Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks are all wearing desert camo garb for most of the episode though Kensi wears a black burqa in the teaser.  Eric is in a dark red tee with a multi-stripped short sleeve shirt over it.  He is also wearing a dark blue hoodie.  Nell is in a blue dress with white flowers and red sweater.  Hetty is in a dark blue and black plaid suit.  Granger is in his standard dark blue suit with a white dress shirt with blue stripes.     Music:  "The Stone" by Josh Ritter is playing in the bar where Granger meets Heather. Any notable cut scene:  None on the DVD set but I think there are more.  See the head canon section.   Quote:  Deeks:  "I hope he was worth it."

Runner up:  Granger:  "Where are we?" Nell:  "Well, Kensi had a run-in with an insurgent, but everything's cool.” Granger:  "Insurgents and cool don't really go together." Nell:  "She handled it.” Granger:  "Yeah? She kill him?" Nell:  "She didn't say.” Granger:  "That means she killed him."

Anything else:  In the center of a small Syrian village, a woman wearing a burka walks through the crowd.  A pick-up truck pulls up with armed men.  They are looking for someone.  A man follows the woman into an alleyway, yelling at her in Arabic.  She beats the hell of out him and steals his phone.  The woman is Kensi.

Back in Ops, Granger asks Eric and Nell, who are alone, where is Duggan's lapdog.  Eric says Chen is under the weather.  Eric looks sheepish, Nell beams with pride.  Granger is pleased.  Nell is concerned that Duggan, who is not happy the field agents are in Syria, will be even unhappier if he finds the three of them in Ops.   Granger thinks they're all getting fired so if this is their last operation together, they better make it count.

Granger is told about Kensi's interaction with the insurgent in Syria.  Eric and Nell lie to Granger – who calls them on it – about the team's location.  Granger calls Eric the world's worst liar which Eric takes as a compliment.  Nell confirms that the two don't really know where the team is but she believes they are in Beit Jinn in south Syria looks for Ahmed Han Asakeem.  Granger is furious – going to Beit Jinn alone is "beyond stupid."  Eric has to tell Granger the team turned off their comms – Nell thinks so that Granger or NCIS won't stop them.  

In the Syrian desert.  Kensi is in a sniper's nest with spotter Deeks.  Callen and Sam are on a hill near a small home.  Asakeem pulls up in a vehicle with several of his men.  They enter the home.  Callen and Sam want Kensi and Deeks to leave if the mission goes south.  "Not a chance,” Kensi says.  Deeks jokes about a there being a little chance but they're all in this together.   Sam makes a move on the house.

Using a satellite, Granger and Eric are looking at satellite imagery on the big screen.  Eric isn't sure if they're looking at goats or sheep.  Probably goats but could be sheep.  Nell, who is at her work station, isn't even sure what they're looking for.  Eric thinks this is a good thing – if they can't find the team, neither can Asakeem.  Nell's computer beeps – Duggan is making his way up the stairs to Ops.  Granger orders Eric and Nell to "wipe it" and suddenly, all imagery of Syria is replaced by LA traffic and security cam footage.  

Duggan enters Ops and demands to know why Eric, Nell and Granger are still there.  Granger tells Duggan they're doing final clean-up before they hand things over – standard procedure.  Duggan wants to know if it is standard procedure to have four agents in Syria.  Granger reminds the Under Secretary that NCIS has agents active in 40-countries around the world, "somebody should have told you that."  Duggan tells Granger to save the snark for the kids – "you don't impress me."  "That really hurts my feelings" – Miguel Ferrer will be so missed.  After Granger responds with boxers and not wanting to share when Duggan demanded his briefs – earning a chuckle from Eric and Nell – Duggan wants to speak to Granger alone.  Granger tells Eric and Nell to keep looking for the team before going to see Duggan.

Outside the little house in Syria – and Eric was right, there are goats in a pen near the house – Asakeem is drinking a bottle of water and looking around.  Sam comes up from behind him and calls "Asakeem."  When Asakeem turns around, Sam punches him once, knocking him out.  Callen drags Asakeem away.  One problem – Asakeem dropped his water bottle and neither Callen or Sam saw that.

Focusing on a pitcher of water on Hetty's desk, Duggan is seen doing paperwork behind it.  Granger walks up and when Duggan tells him to sit, Granger remains standing.  Duggan is skeptical of Granger – "do you really think you're going to survive this?"  Granger isn't sure what "this" is.  Duggan goes off on how this is the end for Cold War warriors like Hetty and Granger – all their "daring do".  Granger does not like the term Cold War – it wasn’t a cold war to those involved.  

Duggan lectures Granger about the new world.  How Granger use to be a badass but he lets Hetty – "Little Miss Sunshine" – run things the way she sees fit.  Duggan thinks Granger has feelings for Hetty.   "What can I say, I'm a romantic," Granger replies.   Duggan continues his lecture – he can do more with a drone run operated by his iPhone than Granger can do with 50 agents.  "Welcome to the future.” Duggan says.  "You know my gun still works when it's wet," Granger tells Duggan as he dumps the Duggan's iPhone into the pitcher of water.  

Eric signals awkwardly to Granger, who thinks Eric is either on drugs or should be.  Eric has great news – the team has been found and they have Asakeem.  In Ops, Nell is talking to Callen – they're on a helicopter and on their way to the USS Carl Vincent.  Eric and Nell share a high five.  Granger, not so much.  

On the helicopter, Deeks takes off his shoes – offending Sam.  Deeks claims his feet do not smell and Kensi agrees.  They are the only part of Deeks that does not smell.   Deeks thinks Kensi has no room to complain as Princess Night Toots who tries to pass the blame to Monty.  Kensi is appalled, Sam is amused and Callen jokes he is willing to pull the chopper over if Kensi and Deeks won't behave.  Callen believes they are setting a bad example for their prisoner.  

Asakeem thinks the team is smug.  Deeks disagrees – he is sarcastic, Kensi is goofy, Callen is aloof and Sam is much bigger than Deeks so he's not going to go there but Asakeem is out of the terror business and that's a good thing.  Asakeem explains that he is just a drop of water in the " ocean of change" but Sam only sees dirt when he looks at Asakeem.

A terrorist on the ground fires a rocket propelled grenade into the helicopter.  After it is hit, the helicopter starts to fall to the ground.  Sam yells that they've been hit and should brace for impact.  

The helicopter is in multiple pieces on the ground when Sam comes to.  The front part of the helicopter, where Callen, Sam and Asakeem were sitting, is mostly intact.  The three men are bruised and battered but not badly injured.  Sam comes to first.  He wakes Callen before checking on Asakeem.  Callen starts yelling for Kensi and Deeks.  When Deeks yells "over here," Callen goes to check on the flight crew while Sam finds Deeks.

Deeks is putting out a fire in the back of the helicopter.  Kensi, however, is trapped under what remains for the helicopter's tail section.  Deeks and Sam try to pull Kensi out but she's stuck.  She's conscious and claims to be ok, "just stuck."  Sam and Deeks start looking for something to use as a lever to get the helicopter off Kensi when Sam notices Deeks is walking around in his socks.  He lost his shoes in the crash.  Deeks seems a bit out of it and Sam asks if he is OK.  Deeks says is he but he's point to his head.  He's disoriented.  Sam wants Deeks to stay with Kensi, he'll find something to use as a lever.

Callen walks back to Sam.  The pilots are dead.  Callen is concerned that the person who fired at the helicopter will be looking for them.  Sam thinks anyone looking for the team will be slowed down by the terrain but not for long.  They have to get Kensi free, find some boots for Deeks and get to safety.  

In the armory, Hetty is packing up her personal weapons.  Duggan arrives and offers to have all of Hetty's things boxed up and sent to her.  Hetty doesn't pay attention.  Dugga thinks she should open a museum with her secret decoder rings and lipstick radios – very exciting.  Hetty, still not reacting.  Duggan understands that this must be hard for Hetty who spent her life in a trench coat fighting spies with microdots, the real culprits waltzed right past Hetty and into NCIS's OSP.  Duggan condescendingly says Hetty has earned her rest after serving her country well.  As she leaves, he cuts himself on a pen that has a secret knife in it.  Because you can't just work against the team, you have to be both a jerk and a dope.

Hetty looks at her office one last time (for now).  Eric and Nell come down from Ops.  Nell apologizes to Hetty as does Eric.  Hetty thinks it is not right and the two younger people agree.  Eric wants to help so Hetty passes him the box with her belongings.  They're off to "someplace safe" – Hetty has a bad feeling.  Eric says they're probably having breakfast on the Carl Vincent.  Hetty is going with her gut – call Gibbs on the mothership – and if she's wrong she'll buy Eric and Nell dinner, though Eric wanted a car.

Callen, Sam and Deeks all push the helicopter – Callen using one of the helicopter blades as a lever, Deeks pushing the fuselage near Kensi's left while Sam is standing on another helicopter blade turned lever on Kensi's right.  She can't move.  Deeks positions himself to pull Kensi out but she's stuck.  And now something is pinching her leg.  She wants to try again.  When they start pulling her, Kensi screams in pain and the men all stop.  She immediately apologizes but Callen says it's OK, they'll figure something out.   Callen and Sam look for a shovel to dig Kensi out while she keeps apologizing.  Deeks, who seems better, tells her it is going to be fine.

Working in the boat shed on their Windows Surface and Microsoft branded laptop, Eric is a bit bothered by high tide around the boat shed.  Nell is really bothered when she gets word that the team's helicopter was shot down in Syria.  Hetty sips her tea.

Callen, Sam and Deeks are digging around Kensi when the helicopter starts to shift.  Callen and Sam are able to hold it long enough for Deeks to stuff some cargo under the helicopter, making things stable.  Kensi, however, has lost consciousness.  She's cold and according to Sam, has no radial pulse.  Her blood pressure is dropping and they need to free her, now.

At a bar, Granger is having a cocktail.  A beautiful woman sitting next to Granger asks "how old was he?"  She thinks his dog died and he's sad.  "This is my happy face,” Granger says.  The woman introduces herself as Heather.  She's interested in Granger but he's not a social butterfly – "more of a moth."  Granger gets a call, he leaves Heather.  "For  your lady?" she asks.  "If you only knew."

Granger arrives at the boat shed.  Hetty and Nell are at the table, Eric is vomiting in the bathroom.  When he's out of the bathroom, Eric tells Granger that it isn't safe right now to send a rescue team.  They're ready to go but the rescuers could be shot down as the helicopter was.  Nell could ping Callen's cellphone and get a location for a drone but Hetty is out of favors to call in, as is Granger.  Eric thinks Duggan could help them – but not in an official way.  If Eric can get to Ops, he could be online as Duggan.  Granger says they're all locked out of Ops but Eric and Nell have a way back in.

Asakeem's men are making their way to the helicopter crash site.

Sam is putting a make-shift neck brace on Kensi with Deeks's help.  Callen is on the phone with the Carl Vincent trying to get help.  The rescue helicopter came under fire – they will try to come back.  Callen and Sam are looking for some rope – maybe they can pull the helicopter off Kensi.  Deeks promises an unconscious Kensi he is going to get her home.

Eric and Nell push their way into the burn room through one of Hetty's secret stairwells.  

Callen finds a life raft among the helicopter debris.  They're in business.

Eric can't get into Ops – the area is a lockdown room and stays lock even if the building is compromised.  Nell suggests setting a small fire – Ops would open if the fire alarms went off.  Eric would rewire the room so they could get in and out while Nell warns the fire department in advance that they are running some fire alarm tests.  

With cords wrapped around the helicopter, Callen and Sam pull from the side away from Kensi.  Deeks puts the life raft under the helicopter and pulls the tab so it will deploy.  Once the life raft starts to inflate, Deeks is able to pull Kensi free.  Deeks sees a lot of blood on Kensi's right leg.  Sam calls it an open fracture with an arterial injury.  He orders Deeks to find the helicopter's medical kit.  While Deeks is looking for the kit, Sam warns Callen about a possible spinal injury if Kensi has to be moved.  With Asakeem’s men coming, they may not have a choice.

Hetty burns some shredded paper with the damper closed in the burn room oven.  Smoke fills the burn room and the fire alarms go.  Eric and Granger are able to get into Ops and while locked out of the computer system, Eric finds a backdoor is able to shut the fire alarm down.  They're safe in Ops as long as Duggan and his people aren't around.

Sam is able to control the bleeding but Kensi is in desperate shape.  Deeks thinks Callen and Sam should go for help, he'll stay with Kensi.  Callen is not leaving.  Deeks tells them if they stay, they're all going to die.  He's not leaving Kensi so he's OK with dying.  Sam, as always, is not having any of Deeks's negative talk.  If Kensi doesn’t have surgery in six hours, she'll lose her right leg.  They're all in this together.  And if they don't get help, they'll give the bad guys "one hell of a fight,” to the end.

Speaking of bad guys, Callen and Sam remember that they forgot Asakeem.  Asakeem is gone.  Callen is willing to chase after Asakeem.  Kensi is better off with Sam and Deeks.  Sam starts to fashion a stretcher – he and Deeks are going to take Kensi to a hill two miles away.  They'll wait for Callen to apprehend Asakeem and meet with him there.

In Ops, it is 3:20AM (thank you pause button).  Nell has a request, as Duggan, into DoD to send a drone to Callen's location.  Granger is getting impatient.  He leaves Ops frustrated.

Callen is making good time looking for Asakeem while Sam and Deeks carry Kensi away from the helicopter crash site.

Granger tells Hetty what's going on but she's barely listening.  Wallowing in self-pity, she claims that she detests Duggan but she was in charge when the mole entered the office (wait a few episodes Hetty, your involvement is far more than just being in charge).  Granger reminds Hetty she has four people missing and the only thing that matters is find them.  "There is plenty time for martyrdom Hetty.”  But Hetty is once again done – she has nothing to give him.  Granger wasn't asking for himself – he was asking for Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks.

Eric has satellite photos for the crash site.  The team isn't there.  Nell hopes they all walked away.  

Asakeem sets a trap for Callen which he almost falls for.  Instead, the two men fight and it is a big fight.  When they struggle for Callen's weapon, it fires – alerting Asakeem's men to their location.  Sam and Deeks hear the gunfire as well.  Sam thinks Callen would only shoot Asakeem if he had to.  

Eric has images of Callen walking with Asakeem but can't find the others.  Nell sees a blip on another part of the screen – it is Sam and Deeks carrying an injured Kensi.  More worrisome, Asakeem's men are making their way toward Callen, Asakeem, Sam, Kensi and Deeks.  Nell's computer beeps – they have drone approval.  Nell races to find Granger.

As Callen marches Asakeem to the rendezvous point with the others, Asakeem's men attack.  Using Asakeem as a shield – well done Callen – he gets the two of them away from the attackers.  They are able to make their way to Sam and Deeks, who are laying down protective cover.

In Ops, Eric has access to the drone.  An Osprey helicopter is also making its way to the team but it is still a way out.  The drone is armed with missiles.  Eric tells Granger he doesn't have the authority to fire them.  Granger tells him that Duggan does.  Nell argues against a drone strike in Syria using Duggan's name but Granger cuts her off.  If they don't fire the missiles, the team will be killed.  Eric is upset – he's never killed anyone before.  The three discuss ways not kill anyone while keeping the team alive but it isn't going to work.  They compromise and set off a missile in the area between the team and Asakeem's men but Granger promises to send Asakeem's men to hell if they don't retreat.    

The missile explodes between to the two warring camps.  Sam is thrilled – they're getting air support.  Callen is worried about Kensi.  He tells Sam and Deeks to get Kensi as far away from the shooting as possible.  The next drone strike will be close and she’s helpless.  Sam and Deeks run into the mountain with Kensi.  Callen warns Asakeem that they're all going to die of he doesn't tell his men to stand down.  Asakeem yells support to his men.  Callen knocks him down.

Back in Ops, Granger orders Eric to kill Asakeem's men.  Reluctantly, he does.  It is the only way to save the team.  

In the aftermath of the explosion, Sam and Deeks can't see Callen, who eventually joins them on the mountain with Asakeem in custody.  The Osprey helicopter arrives.

In his hotel room, Duggan gets a call on his new phone.  A superior at the DoD talks to Duggan about an airstrike – Duggan is confused.

Deeks follows Kensi into the OR on the Carl Vincent before being pulled away by the doctors, Callen and Sam.  Kensi is in surgery and the men wait.

Eric is closing down Ops and destroying all evidence of what he's done with Nell and Granger.  Nell can't find Hetty.  The three of the just close Ops as Duggan arrives with Chen and another associate.  They rush to Ops and can't get in.  Duggan has to use his access card.  Once in Ops, everything looks normal.  

Nell, Eric and Granger left through the burn room secret stairs and are in an alley area near the office.  Nell's phone chimes.  Hetty sent a message  - "1D4D52C4".  Eric thinks it might be coordinates, Nell is wondering if it is a file or case number.  Granger recognizes it as a chess move – "Queens Gambit" – where you sacrifice a pawn to gain an advantage.

Hetty is in her office when Duggan and company leave Ops.  Duggan sends his people to find "the others" but Hetty said she did it all on her own.  Hetty is hold an envelope.  Duggan says a resignation will not save her.  Hetty says it is a confession – she's the mole.  Hetty is willing to cut a deal – she'll take the fall, go to Washington and surrender to the Secretary of Defense and Duggan will be the hero.  Duggan orders Hetty to be handcuffed and Chen goes along with it.

Outside the operating room, the surgeon has some good news about Kensi – the bleeding has been controlled, her artery had been repaired, there is a rod in her leg holding things together and she's got good blood flow.  She's off to Landstuhl for more tests to see if there is any more damage.  They are keeping her cold to preserve brain function while she's in a coma.  

Deeks wants to fly with her but there is no room in the helicopter.  Deeks is confused again when Sam says Kensi will be gone before he arrives – not gone gone, Callen explains, gone as in back in the US.  Kensi will arrive home before the three of them.  

Asakeem walks passed them with guards.  Deeks says ominously, "I hope he was worth it."

Microsoft gets their usual shout out.

What head canon can be formed from here:  Kensi's injury, Deeks's anger.

Two scenes that seemed to be missing something.  The bottle of water outside of the little house where Asakeem was staying.  Nothing other than the fade to Duggan's silly pitcher of water came from that.  Is that how Asakeem's men knew he was missing?  Was there a cut scene?

The other scene was Deeks being really disoriented after the crash – not knowing he was just wearing his socks and then suddenly being his old self.  Was something missing there?  He was equally clueless when Sam used in the words "gone" about Kensi.  Sam is the last person to give up hope but Deeks again seemed off his game.  I get the world was coming down around him but he's far too good at what he does to be this in and out.

Also not thrilled how Hetty pouted to Granger.  So out of character for the Duchess of Deception – especially around Granger, who probably knows her as well as anyone.  She may have been down but Hetty is never out.

Episode number: Episode two of season eight, 170 overall.