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The Best Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5

Every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5!

Binge this in 17h 17m•Peaking at 8.4/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 1 - Ascension
    8.3/10(472 votes)

    #1 - Ascension

    S5:E1

    While Sam and Deeks recover from traumatic torture that will have a lasting impact on their personal and professional relationships, lives are still in jeopardy as the NCIS: LA team searches for stolen nuclear weapons.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 2 - Impact
    8.1/10(395 votes)

    #2 - Impact

    S5:E2

    In an effort to help Sam and Deeks return to work, Hetty calls upon Operational Psychologist Nate Getz to help them cope with their traumatic experience. Meanwhile, the rest of the NCIS: LA team investigates the murder of a former Navy Admiral and a controversial journalist aboard a private jet.

    Director:Jonathan Frakes
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 3 - Omni
    7.8/10(357 votes)

    #3 - Omni

    S5:E3

    The NCIS: LA team must find who compromised a classified vaccine project from a bio tech company. Meanwhile, Deeks struggles with his emotions upon returning to the field.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 4 - Reznikov, N.
    8.0/10(391 votes)

    #4 - Reznikov, N.

    S5:E4

    The NCIS: LA team finds themselves in danger while investigating a kidnapping case of a man claiming to be Callen’s father.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 5 - Unwritten Rule
    7.9/10(356 votes)

    #5 - Unwritten Rule

    S5:E5

    Analyst Nell Jones joins the NCIS: LA team in the field when a former Navy officer’s girlfriend is kidnapped in exchange for Navy intelligence. Meanwhile, Deeks unknowingly breaks one of Hetty’s rules.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 6 - Big Brother
    7.7/10(361 votes)

    #6 - Big Brother

    S5:E6

    When a 15-year-old hacker compromises missions, Callen goes under cover at a prestigious high school.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 7 - The Livelong Day
    7.8/10(360 votes)

    #7 - The Livelong Day

    S5:E7

    The team must alert Homeland Security when they uncover a threat to a Los Angeles-based train during a murder investigation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 8 - Fallout
    7.6/10(341 votes)

    #8 - Fallout

    S5:E8

    The team must locate and retrieve a stolen antiterrorism device before the city is attacked; Hetty is haunted by her past.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 9 - Recovery
    8.0/10(389 votes)

    #9 - Recovery

    S5:E9

    Kensi goes undercover as a nutritionist and Deeks poses as a new patient at a rehab center to investigate the death of a Navy officer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 10 - The Frozen Lake
    8.2/10(452 votes)

    #10 - The Frozen Lake

    S5:E10

    Callen and Sam enlist the help of a Gurkha, an elite Nepali soldier specializing in knife fighting, to retrieve a missing thumb drive. Meanwhile, Kensi and Deeks struggle to find a balance in their partnership.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 11 - Iron Curtain Rising
    7.7/10(352 votes)

    #11 - Iron Curtain Rising

    S5:E11

    When a former Romanian Communist leader and suspected war criminal is discovered to be living in Los Angeles under a false identity, the NCIS: LA team must locate him before he disappears again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 12 - Merry Evasion
    8.2/10(394 votes)

    #12 - Merry Evasion

    S5:E12

    A senator’s daughter is the victim of a home invasion. The team investigate to determine if it was a random crime or a targeted attack due to her father’s crackdown on international cyber warfare. Meanwhile, Kensi’s holiday spirit changes after she receives a surprise Christmas gift.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 13 - Allegiance
    8.4/10(416 votes)

    #13 - Allegiance

    S5:E13

    While in Afghanistan, Kensi and Granger join the team on a joint case when a federal agent in Los Angeles tied to Hawala, an ancient system of money transfer, is murdered.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 14 - War Cries
    7.8/10(334 votes)

    #14 - War Cries

    S5:E14

    The investigation into the murder of two private military contractors ends up putting a member of the team in grave danger; Sam arranges a blind date for Callen.

    Director:James Hanlon
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 15 - Tuhon
    8.0/10(365 votes)

    #15 - Tuhon

    S5:E15

    Callen and Sam search for a murder suspect -- a retired assassin (Danny Trejo) they encountered on their first case together.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 16 - Fish Out of Water
    7.9/10(351 votes)

    #16 - Fish Out of Water

    S5:E16

    Following an explosion at a fish market, the NCIS: LA team partners with an undercover DEA agent to determine if the incident is an act of terrorism or a botched drug smuggling deal. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Granger and Kensi investigate a helicopter crash that could be tied to their ongoing search for the infamous white ghost.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 17 - Between the Lines
    7.8/10(324 votes)

    #17 - Between the Lines

    S5:E17

    When a gang identifies and executes an undercover agent, the team must locate a mole before other agents are put in danger.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Joseph C. Wilson

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  18. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 18 - Zero Days
    7.9/10(326 votes)

    #18 - Zero Days

    S5:E18

    Eric witnesses his friend, a computer systems expert, being attacked by people who want information that could redirect a missile; Kensi runs into a familiar face in Afghanistan.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Andrew Bartels

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  19. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 19 - Spoils of War
    8.4/10(410 votes)

    #19 - Spoils of War

    S5:E19

    After learning that Special Agent Kensi Blye disappeared and the Taliban may be he holding her captive, Hetty sends the NCIS: LA team to Afghanistan on a rescue mission.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 20 - Windfall
    7.7/10(326 votes)

    #20 - Windfall

    S5:E20

    Nell joins Deeks in the field on a case involving a former Marine who is being tracked by al-Qaida after embezzling money from Iraq.

    Director:Eric A. Pot
    Writer:Gil Grant

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  21. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 21 - Three Hearts
    7.9/10(366 votes)

    #21 - Three Hearts

    S5:E21

    The team takes an undercover agent who is suspected of working for the smuggler he is supposed to be investigating into custody; Kensi and Deeks discuss their relationship.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 22 - One More Chance
    7.8/10(326 votes)

    #22 - One More Chance

    S5:E22

    Sam is convinced that the theft of software for a new unmanned aerial vehicle is connected with the disappearance of the lead engineer's 10-year-old daughter, a girl Sam once provided protection detail for in Saudi Arabia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 23 - Exposure
    7.5/10(327 votes)

    #23 - Exposure

    S5:E23

    When a news reporter announces the group responsible for the deadly explosion at a military-sponsored charity event, the team must investigate her claims and search for the attacker.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 24 - Deep Trouble (1)
    8.2/10(395 votes)

    #24 - Deep Trouble (1)

    S5:E24

    When the NCIS: Los Angeles team and DEA uncover the cartel's plans to slyly transport billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. using a submarine, Callen and Sam must quickly locate the missing vessel. Meanwhile, Hetty is called to Washington in the aftermath of the controversial mission in Afghanistan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Ascension" is the best rated episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" season 5. It scored 8.3/10 based on 472 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/24/2013. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Impact".