When NCIS: Los Angeles fans tuned in on March 17, 2019, they weren’t just watching another case-of-the-week episode — they were witnessing history. After nine seasons of banter, danger, heartbreak, and undeniable chemistry, Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) and Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) finally said “I do.” The wedding wasn’t just a TV moment — it was the culmination of one of television’s most beloved slow-burn romances.
For Olsen, the day marked something far bigger than a script milestone. “A kid can dream, you know what I mean?” he laughed, recalling the TV Guide Magazine cover that immortalized Densi’s big day. “To be able to build this relationship over nine seasons and have it get to this place — and have it be this well received — is exciting.”
But the road to the altar was anything but easy. From bomb scares and kidnappings to emotional breakdowns and moral crossroads, Kensi and Deeks had survived nearly everything except a quiet life. And even their wedding day, as Olsen teases, didn’t go off without a few surprises.
A Love Story Forged in Fire
When NCIS: Los Angeles first introduced Deeks in Season 1, few could have predicted the magnetic pull between the laid-back LAPD liaison and the fiercely driven NCIS agent. Yet, over time, their shared wit, loyalty, and vulnerability transformed professional partnership into something deeper — something real.
“I think what makes it special is that it all happened organically,” Olsen explained. “With procedural shows, you have space to slow down the relationships, make them feel authentic. That’s what love looks like — it’s messy, it’s patient, it’s earned.”
Fans will never forget the moments that defined their story: Kensi trapped in a room with a bomb, Deeks comforting her after trauma, their heartbreaking breakup and cathartic reunion in Mexico. As Olsen remembers, those moments were far more than scripted scenes — they were emotional milestones that mirrored the complexities of real love.
“That breakup scene was one of my favorite moments,” he said. “It wasn’t about one being right and the other being wrong. It was about two people who love each other but can’t make the circumstances work. And then, later, they find that love wins anyway.”
Behind the Scenes of the Big Day
When filming began for “Till Death Do Us Part,” the entire NCIS: LA family knew it would be a landmark moment. The production combined everything the series did best — action, humor, drama, and heart. Showrunner Scott Gemmill, whom Olsen calls “a master of tone,” crafted an episode that balanced emotional honesty with high-stakes excitement.
“There’s this moment where Deeks kind of freaks out,” Olsen shared. “He has this sudden realization that he’s ‘conned’ Kensi into loving him — and wonders if there’s someone better for her. It’s such a human reaction — that self-doubt before you do something life-changing.”
And of course, no NCIS: LA event would be complete without a little chaos. “Things go sideways,” Olsen teased. “Someone from Deeks’ past shows up — the last person he’d want to see on his wedding day. It’s funny, it’s unexpected, and it’s so us.”
Even the smallest details carried emotional weight. Fans finally discovered the long-teased secret of The Box — a storyline that Olsen calls “a masterful payoff.” “When you see what’s in the box, and when Kensi put it there in their relationship — it’s game-changing. It almost redefines the last six seasons.”
Honoring What Came Before
Though the wedding brought joy, it also carried bittersweet undertones. The absence of beloved characters like Owen Granger (Miguel Ferrer) and Hetty Lange (Linda Hunt) was deeply felt by both cast and fans. Olsen, who often credits Hunt as a guiding force on set, admitted, “The only people missing Linda more than the fans is me. Nothing would make me happier than her coming back — and I sound pretty happy, right?”
Yet even in their absence, their presence lingered — a testament to the show’s legacy of family, resilience, and shared purpose.
The Best Version of What NCIS: LA Does
For Olsen, the wedding episode represents the pinnacle of what NCIS: Los Angeles was always meant to be. “It’s the best version of what we do,” he said. “It’s action, drama, comedy, and heartfelt moments that are earned. We get all of that — and then a beautiful surprise.”
As Deeks and Kensi finally sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by friends and the memories of fallen comrades, it wasn’t just a celebration of two characters — it was a celebration of endurance, of love tested and proven true.
And in that moment, NCIS: LA wasn’t about agents or cases or undercover missions. It was about the beating heart beneath the badge — the kind of love story that takes ten years to tell, and a lifetime to forget.
