What I’m Watching: NCIS: Los Angeles

NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 1, Episode 4 “Search and Destroy” (B+)

The heavy incorporation of Facebook into television episodes always seems strange to me because it makes me aware of just how widespread Facebook has become, and though I’m a user, the thought of people like Director Vance sitting around friending people just seems peculiar. The way that some individuals use it as a mad dash to see who can come up with the most Facebook friends also demonstrates the misunderstanding many adults who didn’t start using Facebook until after college have of what the site, in my opinion, should be. In any case, it’s used pretty well here, giving Kensi an opening to approach someone out of the blue and ask her about a request she might have received on Facebook. It also led to a pretty hilarious exchange with Sam where he revealed that the only social network he was on, in an undercover capacity, was Friendster, after which he asked Dominic if he knew what it was like to be slapped with a sandal (or something to that effect). The subtle back-and-forth between Hetty and G having to do with the exchange of soiled clothing was very amusing and also emphasizes a deeper bond between the two characters. Kensi’s rather violent response to seeing the security company tailing their suspects was pretty unexpected with her forcible inflation of their vehicle’s airbags and subsequent sarcastic offer to call for help. It’s all in the service of demonstrating that she’s a spunky character not to be messed with, though she has her moments too, like sauntering into the office in an outfit really not appropriate for work.