Sunday, February 9, 2014

Nell in and on the Field

NCIS Production Team are very happy promoting Nell in the Field this Season 5. However, I am fairly surprised as to why they seem so happy unless they are covering up promoting Nell in the field to compensate Kensi in Action due to Actor Daniela Ruah's maternity leave leaving Deeks out of a partner. All that promotion in that sense makes sense.  But as a loyal viewer of NCIS Los Angeles and the writers of the show who always have been fair to these characters, especially Season 2 being the golden season of NCIS LA, I would like to remind every NCIS LA fan that Nell is NOT NEW to Field Action. She was first out in the field in 2x06-Stand off. Let me recount Nell's journey over NCIS LA Seasons. 


It's official, Nell can handle herself pretty well in the field:

Nell joined as Intelligence Analyst in 2x02-The Black Widow. Soon after Deeks joined NCIS LA team as LAPD Liaison officer in 1x19 Hand to Hand and Nate left as Operational Psychologist leaving Eric Beale quite alone in Ops room and there was no more Kensi to help him on the side with Intelligence datamining. Deeks became regular in 2x01-Human Traffic and Nell followed him in 2x02.

The writers have been careful then onwards to build these two new characters quite diligently adding all meat to their characters that made them match the muscle of established team of Callen, Sam, Kensi and Eric.  In every episode, then onwards Deeks and Nell had equal developement on individual terms. They both were equally challenging to their each of their partners and yet they bonded with them thus becoming a formidable team together. Not only with their partners, Deeks and Nell both impress Team lead Callen, Sam and are dearly loved by their mentor Hetty.  When one wants to see Callen appreciating both Nell and Deeks in one episode, I have to say, I get reminded of 2x06-Stand Off. Both in Bull Pen trying to outplay each other in tricking others or busting the same tricks and likewise both helping Callen get into the building unseen by media or anyone, out in the field, when entering the NCIS building that Tracy Keller had taken hostage in order to get Callen's attention. Commendable skill and grit in face of possible condescending watch of their older and experienced senior teammates. Likewise when one wants to see Hetty taking care of Deeks and Nell in a certain manner that little bit suggests her showing her support and care for the new comers in the team, we can watch 2x11-Disorder. Watching that makes one feel, how Hetty considers them as her own and how she is building a place for them in the team.

2x06-Stand Off - Nell in and on the Field.
When Callen sees her, he actually tells Sam, he feels as if she is running away from home. She looks such a kid to him that he talks like a father to her and asks her not to steal candy. But then she is not a kid to her partner Eric Beale in Ops or her Ops Manager Hetty Lange. Infact they are proud of her. 2x06-StandOff was Joseph C Wilson's story, directed by Dennis Smith and one of my personal best enjoyed episodes. Its action, interpersonal growth of characters and beautifully written and directed presentation of action and story. Since I am on the subject of Nell in Action, so I have to limit myself to Nell. What can best describe ...words or pictures. In this case, I believe Visual will make a better impression than my words. Watch it..:)


 Did you see the gun?







Did you see her confidant looks at Callen and Sam? She infact says..."I am good" when Callen says he can help her. Did you see her gun ?

I am never able to forget this episode and that is the reason why I am not surprised much that Season 5 is promoted as if Nell in Field is quite a new thing. Nell is regularly put in the field as and when she was required for results and to fill the gap of what the field agents cannot do. Yes, she also serves as back-up partner for Deeks when Kensi is missing. That Nell is a capable girl, is never doubted by Hetty or even Granger. Because as Hetty keeps using Nell for lot of high level Intel items, it is Granger in Season 3 who beings Nell back into action over the field. Granger sends Nell to go as an employee of an Intel company where Nell was actually selected for employment due to her high IQ score. [I have to watch this episode again to dig up exact name of the company where she goes in Undercover for my readers. I promise I am going to come back with that update sometime later]. That was in 3x12-The Watchers. Then further in that season, she was seen as Deeks partner in 3x17-Blye.K Part-2. Serious enough, that no one can even mock or see why she is being sent on the field. Infact Granger makes the senior Agents look silly at them even questioning the credibility of Nell being sent onto field. The writers this time in Season 3 were R Scott Gemmill and Dave Kalstein, the master backstoppers for NCIS LA stories. 

In Season 4, Nell was again seen in the field with her partner in Ops room, Eric Beale in 4x02-The Recruit. It was fun to watch these two together. But a more serious turn with Nell herself wanting to enjoy Action on the field is shown to us from 4x14-Kill House. Previously in all other episodes, Nell limits herself to what she is delegated to deliver on field and comes back to OPs room, feeling that she feels real only when in Ops room doing what she enjoys most. However, its 4x14-KillHouse where Nell explores by herself, if she really can be out there on the field. And if she has use her gun, what does it take for her to believe in her herself that she can do it. The team of four Agents, not only feel protective about her, but they also feel  proud of her courage and grit in doing the tackle that she is trained about. In 4x22-Raven and Swans, Nell is once again on the field helping the Agents deliver the executables for mission success. Like in Season 2, throughout Season 3 and 4, Nell is not shown as if she is filling a gap. She is actually shown as an NCIS Intelligence Analyst, who might soon accept an Agent Position if she is offered one. The writers were again Dave Kalstein and R Scott Gemmill.

Nell: "What if I want to be an Agent" in 4x14-Kill House
Nell: "I want to be an Agent"...but not like this...filling or taking another's place - in 5x20-WindFall

Season 5 starts with showing us Nell in Action in 5x05-The Unwritten Rule, again written by Joseph C Wilson, this time though its not so much about Intel Geeky skill as much as gun-drawing skill. The development being Eric supporting Nell to be on field as she gets closer to achieve her dream of being actually one day becoming a full time Agent. With Kensi gone to Afghanistan, the team has no problem using Nell. Nell herself cannot stop feeling getting more and more challenging herself and confident about herself. The episodes that we see her field supporting the team are 5x10-The Iron Curtain Rising, 5x12-Merry Evasion, 5x13-Allegiance, 5x14-War Cries, 5x18-ZeroDays, 5x20-WindFall....well the season has not ended, but we have all writers giving their attention to Nell. They are Jordana Lewis Jaffe, Kyle Harimoto, Frank Military, Andrew Bartels and Gil Grant along with regular backstoppers Joseph C Wilson, R Scott Gemmill and Dave Kalstein who have Nell in the field with an Agenda on their mind. 

Nell gets to be the boss in 5x19-Spoils of War. Gemmill keeps promoting her as the Ninja like Hetty in 5x14-War Cries. Dangerous and Cute. Nell gets to be the Agent in undercover for the team to get information out of an asset in 5x18-ZeroDays. Nell- as field agent, and also as needed in Ops, is shown as "She knows everything like Hetty". Nell, the Little Ninja - Nell lives up to her Ninja name. She tackles a psycho all alone in 5x14-War Cries. She is not afraid to use her knife on the man when she is disarmed of her gun. [Dave Kalstein taught actor Renee Smith for this action scene. There was a lot of hype for this action scene. Read the twitter messages in 5x14-War Cries Production Tweets from the Cast and Crew]. The entire team is proud of her. Callen, Sam, Deeks, Granger, Eric and Hetty. Nell looked cute when she was looking at Hetty and Hetty hugs her with all affection. Nell was cute when she asked Callen to confirm if she got him[Robert Brown]. Nell was also cute in Deeks sweater that looked big on her. And just like that big sweater on her, Deeks keeps mentoring her on the field through 5x12-Merry Evasion to 5x20-Windfall. Sheis a brave girl for everyone, good girl for Hetty and Big Stones Jones, Tiny Pixie, Nellosaurus for Deeks. And she gets back to Eric, Neric and with Kensi.

In 5x20-Windfall kind of brings a maturity into Nell's character, who is enthusiastic to be out on the field, making her a competitive person ready to challenge an able Agent like Kensi to buckle up her spirits and give Nell, her fair share of appreciation that she deserves. She seems to give a choice to Kensi to choose between Field or Ops Room, because Nell can beat her at both places. And its not just that, Nell by being a friend to Deeks, shows her empathy for him not being able to work with his partner after a long wait. That empathetic gesture earns Deeks respect for her. Its not just about her being intelligent, its also about her being considerate friend. Further, she appreciates Deeks mentoring of her on the field. She listens to him and responds to him teaching by practicing it on the field. It makes her a well-deserving candidate to be an Agent. Does that undermine Nell's passionate interest towards Intel gathering through data-mining? No. Nell likes working with Eric in Ops as well. Eric, her Ops partner, though supporting her to be on the field, misses Nell in Ops.

Look at this tweet from NCISLA_CBS
 Apr 3:  Kensi is back! So why is Nell in the field with Deeks?
 Apr 9:  Is Deeks a good mentor in the field for Nell? Maybe it should be the other way around...
Gil Grant; by making Nell join Deeks, successfully wedges into Neeks(Nell and Deeks friendship cum partnership) and Nelsi (Nell and Kensi’s friendship), making Nell feel on the edge with both Deeks while on field and Kensi when in Ops Room. She is uneasy at being the third wheel for Deeks and helpless about taking Kensi’s place. She feels she usurped Kensi’s place, but all of it just adds to the fact that Densi realize that they have to be at their best, delivering their best, not compromising the mission in any manner, otherwise there are promising agents like Nell waiting to do their jobs more successfully than them, and it would be just their loss to be losing to her. This whole thing has a desirable effect on Kensi, who does seem eager to be on the field than being complacent due to her personal trauma faced in Afghanistan at losing the mission’s focus by getting caught and captured and also losing her Ex-Fiance. Job first followed by other feelings is the motto of the episode and it seems to nurse Kensi back to what we know her as.  



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Twitter News
5x20-Windfall
Is Deeks a good mentor in the field for Nell? Maybe it should be the other way around...

Kensi is back! So why is Nell in the field with Deeks? first look photos:

514-War Cries
Loved fight scene in this weeks AWESOME, My buddy Dylan Bruno, good bad guy.
It's official, Nell can handle herself pretty well in the field:
 Retweeted by 
What are Nell and Eric up to now? Tonight at 9/8c on .
 Retweeted by 
with John Perrings a Nor Cal Sayoc instructor helping out on what will be a very intense fight scene.


Nell, do not go into the boatshed!


513 -Allegiance


512-Merry Evasion
Woah, Nellie. “: 5x12 "Merry Evasion" - Promo Still w/




511-Iron Curtain Rising
Nell gets in on the action on next week’s all new . First Look Photos:


She's out of Ops! Happy Friday! Ep#511



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