When it comes to NCIS: Los Angeles, danger doesn’t discriminate — and this week, it’s Special Agent Kensi Blye’s turn to face her most perilous mission yet. In an exclusive conversation with Parade.com, Daniela Ruah opens up about the high-stakes episode, the emotional toll it takes on Kensi, and how it tests her relationship with fiancé and partner Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen).
A Mission That Could Cost Everything
“This is a big episode for Kensi,” Ruah reveals. “She’s sent to a nuclear missile launch facility after a hostile takeover — and she’s the only one who can stop it. The suspect is someone she dated a decade ago. The FBI hopes she can reach him before it’s too late.”
When Kensi arrives, she realizes just how personal — and dangerous — the situation has become. “He’s rerouting nuclear missiles. This isn’t about one or two warheads. We’re talking fifty. The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Ruah explains.
The rest of the NCIS: LA team is still back in Los Angeles, piecing the puzzle together from afar. Deeks, meanwhile, is spiraling. “He’s out of his mind with worry,” Ruah says. “Kensi isn’t supposed to tell anyone where she’s going, but she does — because she doesn’t want to leave him hanging.”
A Goodbye Call That Breaks Hearts
In one of the episode’s most gut-wrenching scenes, Kensi makes what could be her final call to Deeks. “It’s a goodbye call,” Ruah admits. “She truly believes she might not come back alive.”
The emotional depth of that moment came from genuine connection between the actors. “When Eric filmed his side of the call, I was actually at home cooking pancakes for my kids — but I could hear him, and I responded in real time,” she shares. “We both wanted it to feel authentic. Eric is such an intelligent actor; he brings so much honesty to those moments.”
The Fallout — and the Future
Fans need not panic — Kensi isn’t going anywhere just yet. But that doesn’t mean the experience won’t leave scars. “At the end, there’s a beautiful scene between Kensi and Deeks,” Ruah teases. “You’d expect him to say, ‘I’m so glad you’re alive,’ but instead, he’s angry — because she risked everything again. It’s real, it’s raw, and it shows how much they’ve both endured.”
The near-death experience forces the couple to re-evaluate their lives. “They’ve talked before about marriage and having kids,” Ruah says. “But when your job means one of you might not come home, that changes everything. Kensi knows this life is who she is — but Deeks wonders how long they can keep living like this.”
Life Behind the Action
After more than 200 episodes, NCIS: Los Angeles remains one of CBS’s most consistent performers — even after multiple time-slot changes. “Our fans are incredibly loyal,” Ruah says. “Every move we’ve made, they’ve followed us. The writing is stronger than ever, and the cast feels like family.”
That family has grown with the addition of Nia Long as Assistant Director Shay Mosley. “She’s not replacing Hetty, but she’s shaking things up,” Ruah says with a smile. “Mosley plays by the book, while our team does… well, the opposite. It creates great tension — and great television.”
Inside the Stunts
Of course, NCIS: LA wouldn’t be NCIS: LA without its jaw-dropping action. “Sometimes they ask if I’m okay with doing something a little scary,” Ruah laughs. “Once they told me I’d have to crawl through an 18-inch pipe. They even tested it with a cardboard cutout to make sure I’d fit!”
Filming that sequence required her to shimmy through a 15-yard tunnel with a camera crew — and a safety rope tied to her foot, just in case. “It’s intense,” she says, “but our stunt and construction teams are amazing. The more realistic the setup, the easier it is to act the fear and determination.”
The Bond That Can’t Be Broken
Whether it’s crawling through confined spaces or surviving emotional minefields, Ruah says the secret to Kensi and Deeks’ enduring popularity is simple: shared pain and deep love. “They’ve both been through hell and back,” she reflects. “When someone has carried you through your worst moments — and you’ve done the same for them — that creates an unbreakable bond.”
And while danger is part of their world, Ruah hopes fans take away something bigger. “Love isn’t easy, especially in their line of work,” she says. “But that’s what makes it worth fighting for.”
