7.4/10675 votes#1 - Identity
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2009
Callen returns back to the NCIS Office of Special Projects to solve a kidnapping case.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Shane Brennan
7.1/10538 votes#2 - The Only Easy Day
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2009
A case involving the murder of a drug dealer turns personal for Special Agent Sam Hanna when he discovers his former Navy Seal comrades are involved.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: R. Scott Gemmill
7.3/10483 votes#3 - Predator
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2009
The team is assigned to track down a missing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) after it is compromised during a training exercise killing a marine before it disappears.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: N/A
7.5/10454 votes#4 - Search and Destroy
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2009
The NCIS team searches Los Angeles for the lead suspect of a murdered Iraqi businessman, a former Marine who had been hired by a private security firm to protect him.
Director: Steve Boyum
Writer: Gil Grant
7.5/10469 votes#5 - Killshot
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2009
When a United States citizen of North Korean descent is murdered, the secrets to classified software are thought to be lost until NCIS uncovers a suspect from Director Vance's past.
Director: David Barrett
Writer: Shane Brennan
7.5/10451 votes#6 - Keepin' It Real
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/2009
The NCIS team must find a motive when they discover the body of a marine who had been living a double life as a wealthy bachelor.
Director: Leslie Libman
Writer: N/A
7.9/10467 votes#7 - Pushback
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/2009
Following the murder of a Russian woman, the NCIS team uncovers evidence that answers who and why Callen was shot six months ago.
Director: Paris Barclay
Writer: Shane Brennan
7.9/10458 votes#8 - Ambush
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2009
While Hetty is attending a Senate hearing in D.C., the investigation of a murdered Marine Lance Corporal leads the NCIS team to stolen anti-tank missiles and a dangerous militia group.
Director: Rod Holcomb
Writer: N/A
8.1/10494 votes#9 - Random on Purpose
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/2009
Forensic scientist Abby Sciuto joins the Los Angeles NCIS team when a murder case resembles the pattern for a serial killer she has been tracking.
Director: Steven DePaul
Writer: Speed Weed
7.4/10431 votes#10 - Brimstone
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/2009
As the courtyard is being transformed with holiday decorations, the NCIS team races to solve the murder of a Marine by an exploding cell phone and to find the remaining men of his former EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) unit before another deadly explosion kills someone else.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: R. Scott Gemmill
7.3/10404 votes#11 - Breach
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/2010
The death of a Petty Officer leads the NCIS team to a teenager in Sam's life. Meanwhile, Hetty is concerned about the effect that the workload is having on the team.
Director: Perry Lang
Writer: Shane Brennan, R. Scott Gemmill
7.8/10432 votes#12 - Past Lives
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/2010
The murder of a recently released convict forces Callen to go undercover solo as an old alias, while Sam and the LA team track him from a distance.
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: N/A
8.0/10454 votes#13 - Missing
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2010
The team rushes to a crime scene after receiving an "agent needs assistance" page and learns that one of their own is in peril.
Director: David Barrett
Writer: Gil Grant
7.6/10412 votes#14 - LD50
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2010
A crime scene poses a national security risk when the LA team discovers the location was used to create a deadly toxin which is now missing.
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Writer: Speed Weed
7.8/10422 votes#15 - The Bank Job
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/9/2010
While opening a safety deposit box at a local bank, NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye is shot after three armed assailants enter and hold everyone in the building hostage.
Director: Terrence O'Hara
Writer: N/A
7.4/10398 votes#16 - Chinatown
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/2/2010
The death of a lieutenant commander appears to be suicide but the NCIS team uncovers evidence corresponding to murder. Also, Operational Psychologist Nate Getz joins Special Agent Kensi Blye in the field.
Director: Alan J. Levi
Writer: N/A
7.4/10407 votes#17 - Full Throttle
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/9/2010
After a sailor is killed during an underground street race, the NCIS team determines that his car had been sabotaged and contained confidential Navy equipment. Meanwhile, Callen is forced to take traffic school.
Director: David Barrett
Writer: N/A
7.4/10380 votes#18 - Blood Brothers
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/16/2010
The investigation of a drive-by shooting has the NCIS team searching Los Angeles for the dead marine's younger brother who may be the next target and the one with the answers.
Director: Karen Gaviola
Writer: N/A
7.9/10453 votes#19 - Hand-to-Hand
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/6/2010
When an undercover operation has the NCIS team investigating a MMA gym and its fighters, Sam Hanna is tasked with donning gloves and entering the cage for a one-on-one fight.
Director: Paris Barclay
Writer: N/A
7.8/10418 votes#20 - Fame
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/27/2010
NCIS investigates the murder of a Navy officer entangled in the world of Hollywood glitz and glamour as the team is joined at Hetty's request by LAPD liaison Marty Deeks.
Director: Dennis Smith
Writer: Speed Weed
8.1/10433 votes#21 - Found
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/4/2010
The NCIS team races to save one of their own when they receive video evidence of Special Agent Dominic Vail being held hostage months after he was kidnapped.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: R. Scott Gemmill
7.6/10382 votes#22 - Hunted
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/11/2010
The NCIS team is on the hunt for a terrorist who escaped Army custody during a secretive transfer in Los Angeles.
Director: Steven DePaul
Writer: N/A
7.9/10397 votes#23 - Burned
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/18/2010
After Callen's cover is blown and compromises the unit, the NCIS team races to find out who is behind the security breach.
Director: Steve Boyum
Writer: N/A
8.1/10413 votes#24 - Callen, G
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/25/2010
Callen races against a ruthless adversary to locate a woman who knows the whereabouts of a forgotten fortune earmarked to fund a new war in the Middle East - and also holds the tantalizing key to his unknown past.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Shane Brennan
The Best Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1
Every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1!
The exploits of the Los Angeles–based Office of Special Projects (OSP), an elite division of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that specializes in undercover assignments.
Genres:Action & AdventureDramaCrimeMystery
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Identity" is the best rated episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" season 1. It scored 7.4/10 based on 675 votes. Directed by James Whitmore Jr. and written by Shane Brennan, it aired on 9/22/2009. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Only Easy Day".