Twists, takedowns, and teary goodbyes — these finales delivered it all.
After 14 adrenaline-fueled seasons, NCIS: Los Angeles built a reputation for delivering jaw-dropping season finales. Whether it was deadly ambushes, shocking betrayals, or long-awaited character payoffs, the show knew how to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Here’s our ranking of the 10 most explosive season finales, based on impact, action, and how loudly fans screamed at their TVs.
🔟 Season 9 — “Ninguna Salida”
The team travels to Mexico to track down a cartel leader — only to be ambushed in a fiery explosion.
Why it stands out:
The season ends with the team’s SUV blown to pieces and all members left unconscious or worse. Talk about a cliffhanger.
9️⃣ Season 3 — “Sans Voir, Part II”
The team goes head-to-head with the cunning antagonist known as the Chameleon.
Why it stands out:
Callen kills the villain in cold blood — in public — leading to his arrest. A moral gray zone finale that shocked longtime fans.
8️⃣ Season 10 — “False Flag”
A Russian plot unfolds, and Anna Kolcheck is finally cleared.
Why it stands out:
This finale ends on a surprisingly feel-good note, but tension lingers as Hetty is once again nowhere to be found. Emotional closure? Kind of.
7️⃣ Season 6 — “Chernoff, K.”
The team heads to Moscow for a risky undercover mission.
Why it stands out:
Callen finds out more about his father (a Russian spy!) while faking his own death. Spy drama at its best.
6️⃣ Season 13 — “Come Together”
The wedding finally happens! Callen and Anna tie the knot in a surprise ceremony.
Why it stands out:
This finale balances emotion and payoff perfectly. Longtime fans were rewarded for their patience with heartfelt character moments and a hint at the endgame.
5️⃣ Season 4 — “Descent”
The team infiltrates a terrorist cell, only to find themselves outgunned and exposed.
Why it stands out:
The cliffhanger? Sam and Deeks being tortured. Raw, gritty, and impossible to forget.
4️⃣ Season 12 — “A Tale of Two Igors”
Deeks finally becomes a full-time NCIS agent, and Kensi faces a major threat.
Why it stands out:
Russian mobsters, marriage tension, and career changes. This finale packed a lot into one hour—and set up new stakes for Season 13.
3️⃣ Season 2 — “Familia”
Callen discovers more about his origins, and Hetty resigns (!?)
Why it stands out:
It was one of the first finales to truly rattle the show’s foundation. Hetty leaving? Callen’s real name? Minds blown.
2️⃣ Season 14 — “New Beginnings” Parts 1 & 2
The series finale delivers everything: closure, weddings, career shifts, and even a teaser for Hetty’s rescue.
Why it stands out:
While not action-heavy, it was emotionally explosive. Every main character got a satisfying send-off, and the show gave fans time to say goodbye properly.
🥇 1️⃣ Season 5 — “Deep Trouble”
The team discovers a narco-sub full of explosives and chemicals — and they’re trapped.
Why it takes the crown:
This was NCIS: LA at its finest: a deadly, high-stakes mission, zero backup, and a literal ticking clock. The team’s fate is left uncertain as the screen fades to black — the definition of a finale that demands you tune in next season.
🎬 Honorable Mentions
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Season 7 – “Talion”: Sam’s son is caught in a school attack. Emotional and personal.
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Season 11 – “Code of Conduct”: Sam and Callen go rogue in Afghanistan. Intense, but overshadowed by other seasons.
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Season 1 – “Callen, G”: Callen is gunned down in broad daylight? A bold start to a tradition of shocking finales.
📝 Final Thoughts
No one did suspense and emotion quite like NCIS: Los Angeles. From daring missions to personal sacrifices, its finales were often more explosive than the missions themselves.
Whether you tuned in for the action, the characters, or the cliffhangers — NCIS: LA knew how to go out with a bang.
