It’s one of crime TV’s most familiar moments: an agent spots a suspect from across the street, loudly announces “Federal agents!” and immediately triggers a foot chase. After 14 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles, even the cast admits the trope is… questionable.
Daniela Ruah finally addressed the long-running gag after directing a season 14 episode featuring yet another shout-and-run scenario. Asked why agents don’t simply sneak up on suspects, Ruah burst out laughing. “Logically, of course you wouldn’t announce yourself,” she admitted. “You’d creep up on them. Obviously.”
But television logic plays by different rules. Ruah explained that the shouted warning helps establish geography, heightens tension, and — most importantly — sets up the adrenaline-fueled chase scenes fans love. Even as a director, she confessed she still falls for the temptation of a great wide shot.
