Not every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles can be a slam dunk—and Season 11, Episode 20, titled “Knock Down,” is proof that even fan-favorite franchises can stumble. Penned by Jordana Lewis Jaffe and directed by Tony Wharmby, the hour leans into quirky humor and emotional beats but delivers mixed results—particularly when it comes to character consistency and tonal balance.
Bright Spot: Deeks and Eric Steal the Show
Let’s start with the good news: fans of Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) and Eric Beale (Barrett Foa) were treated to more of their charming and often chaotic friendship. The duo’s screen time was lighthearted, full of oddball energy, and—despite a few slapstick moments—genuinely endearing.
Seeing Deeks awkwardly avoid Eric early on, only to reappear later in full friend-support mode, brought a sense of grounded sweetness. While the humor veered into the silly, it was nice to see Eric depicted as more centered and less cartoonish, dealing with Nell’s absence in his own quiet way. Their connection continues to be a winning element for the series.
Still, one moment struck a false note—Deeks acting surprised that Eric might want to move on from NCIS, despite Deeks himself repeatedly voicing similar thoughts over the years. It felt like the show was conveniently ignoring character history in favor of a quick gag.
Callen Deserved Better: Sam’s Humor Falls Flat
The episode’s attempt at office banter took a turn for the uncomfortable in the bullpen scene featuring Callen (Chris O’Donnell) and Sam (LL Cool J). Callen, noticeably buoyant after a staycation with Anna, was met with relentless teasing from Sam—humor that never pivoted back to support or empathy.
For a partnership built on mutual respect and deep camaraderie, this moment felt off. Sam’s cold shoulder came across as uncharacteristically dismissive, particularly as Callen was clearly eager to share something meaningful. Given the episode ends with Sam heading off on a date, the angle of jealousy doesn’t quite hold. It was a rare misstep in a dynamic that usually shines.
Kensi and Fatima: A Friendship or a Warning Sign?
A sparring session between Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Fatima (Medalion Rahimi) yielded one of the episode’s more baffling conversations. Kensi jokingly implied that her life with Deeks is “slow and steady monogamous… lifers,” drawing confusion from fans who’ve seen her fight hard for that very stability.
Was this a sign of burnout? Restlessness? Or just a clunky attempt at humor at Deeks’ expense? Either way, it came off as oddly dismissive of her own relationship and felt like a tonal misstep, especially for a character who has been navigating the question of motherhood with sincere emotional stakes.
Add to that a rather caricatured take on Agent Rush—the overwhelmed new mom whose lack of focus served more as comic relief than character depth—and the episode missed a real opportunity to have a meaningful discussion about motherhood in high-risk jobs. Kensi’s attempts to draw a connection were there, but undermined by the writing.
Boatshed Logic and Banterless Blues
Elsewhere, things continued to feel off-kilter. The security at the boatshed was laughably lax, with people coming and going freely during a supposedly high-alert situation. Agent Roundtree’s brush with disaster got hand-waved with barely a blink, and the loss of a federal agent seemed to disappear from the plot entirely.
And while Kensi and Fatima shared plenty of screen time, their scenes lacked the snappy chemistry fans are used to from Kensi and Deeks. Fatima’s cool-headed professionalism is a strength—but her limited emotional range made for a tough contrast in a show that thrives on banter and heartfelt team dynamics.
Final Thoughts: A Swing and a Miss, But Not Without Heart
“Knock Down” had its moments: Deeks and Eric offered real warmth, and the fire chief character was a welcome breath of fresh air. But much of the humor came at the expense of core characters, and the emotional beats felt more like missed opportunities than memorable milestones.
For a show that often blends action, emotion, and humor seamlessly, this episode felt like it was trying a little too hard—and forgetting some of what makes NCIS: LA tick.
RATING: ★★☆☆☆
Best Scene: Deeks showing up for Eric in classic “bro-support” fashion.
Biggest Miss: Sam’s out-of-character brush-off of Callen’s vulnerable moment.
Let’s hope the next installment gets the tone back on track—and brings Deeks and Kensi back in sync, where they belong.
