When you think of Christmas television, your mind probably drifts to cozy fireplaces, snow-dusted small towns, and slow-burn romances wrapped in twinkling lights. You don’t expect car chases, tactical vests, or explosions under a Los Angeles sunset. But that’s exactly what makes NCIS: Los Angeles the most unexpectedly perfect holiday series on television.
For more than a decade, the CBS procedural has turned the most dangerous time of the year into its warmest, blending high-stakes missions with holiday miracles, and turning its team of elite agents into one of TV’s most beloved found families. Forget the Hallmark movies — no one does Christmas like NCIS: LA.
🎄 A Holiday Tradition with a Side of Danger
Sure, there are hostages, car bombs, and shadowy villains — but when the holidays hit NCIS: LA, something magical happens. The bullets may still fly, but it’s the emotions that land hardest.
In the Season 12 gem “If the Fates Allow,” Callen (Chris O’Donnell) faces one of his most personal cases yet when his foster brother and his wife are caught in the crossfire. But beneath the adrenaline lies something deeper: redemption, forgiveness, and the quiet act of love that defines Christmas. Even the takedown feels poetic — no elaborate gunfight, just a single, human moment when family conquers violence.
That’s the secret formula of NCIS: LA’s Christmas storytelling: the case may set the stage, but it’s the characters who take center spotlight.
❤️ Densi: The Christmas Miracle Fans Will Never Forget
Ask any fan what their favorite NCIS: LA Christmas memory is, and the answer comes fast — Season 6’s “Humbug.”
It’s the episode that changed everything. Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) — after seasons of longing glances and emotional near-misses — finally went “all in.” Their ice rink kiss became an instant classic, the kind of scene that melted even the iciest of viewers.
It wasn’t just romantic; it was cathartic. For years, NCIS: LA had teased their connection. Then, under Christmas lights, in a rare moment of peace, they took the leap. Fans called it the best gift the series ever gave them — a love story wrapped in combat boots and mistletoe.
And since then, NCIS: LA has made “Densi Christmas” a tradition. Every holiday season, we check in on their evolving life — from stolen kisses to dream homes to a literal Christmas miracle when Hetty (Linda Hunt) helped Deeks finally enter the academy.
It’s proof that even in a world of secret missions and gunfire, love still wins.
🕯 The Family You Fight Beside
If NCIS: Los Angeles has one defining theme, it’s family — the kind you build, not just the one you’re born into. And nowhere is that more evident than during its Christmas episodes.
Every December, the show peels back the armor to remind us that beneath the tactical jargon and classified missions, these agents are a family first. They argue, tease, and protect each other — but when the year ends, they gather like any other family would: with laughter, warmth, and bad eggnog.
In Season 7’s “Cancel Christmas,” Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) opens his home to Kensi and Deeks — and even their mothers — proving that holidays in the NCIS: LA universe are about connection, not perfection.
And who could forget Season 8’s “Tidings We Bring,” when Kensi, recovering from near-paralysis, fears she’s being replaced? In a dream sequence equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, she imagines a catfight over cookies and eggnog. The reality? Pure love. No one could ever replace her.
That’s the beauty of the NCIS: LA family: even in their darkest hours, they choose compassion.
🎁 Home for the Holidays — in Their Own Way
While many crime dramas avoid showing their characters’ personal lives, NCIS: LA gives us glimpses of family dinners, heartfelt reunions, and stolen moments of peace.
Sam’s family — his kids and beloved wife Michelle (Aunjanue Ellis) — often takes the spotlight, grounding him in something real beyond the mission. Callen reconnecting with his foster brother in “If the Fates Allow” showed a side of him fans rarely see: the orphan who finally found home.
Even the quieter relationships shine. Eric (Barrett Foa) and Nell (Renée Felice Smith) once spent the holidays with her family before they were even a couple. Callen planned a virtual Christmas with Anna. Sam cooked dinner for Katherine. These details turn NCIS: LA’s crime procedural world into something profoundly human.
🎬 The Real Gift of NCIS: Los Angeles
Every December, when the final episode before hiatus airs, NCIS: LA fans know what to expect: laughter through tears, adrenaline wrapped in heart, and a reminder that heroism isn’t just found in battle — it’s found in love, sacrifice, and togetherness.
For 40-some minutes, explosions fade into the background, and the screen glows with something softer. Whether it’s Deeks and Kensi stealing a kiss, Sam cooking for his family, or the team gathered under twinkling lights at the OPS Center, NCIS: Los Angeles captures the soul of Christmas in a way few shows ever have.
Because sometimes, the best gift isn’t wrapped in paper — it’s wrapped in loyalty, laughter, and a chosen family that will fight for you until the very end.
🎄 NCIS: Los Angeles may be an action drama, but its heart beats in harmony with the holidays. Explosions, yes — but also empathy. Tactical missions, yes — but also mistletoe. And through it all, a reminder that even in the line of fire, Christmas spirit still burns bright in the City of Angels.
