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The Worst Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles

Every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles!

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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 Worst Episode
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    NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 15 - Perception
    4.0/10(3 votes)

    #1 - Perception

    S13:E15

    Rountree and his younger sister are pulled over by police and treated harshly in a clear case of racial profiling. Also, NCIS investigates the death of a Navy photographer who was assigned to document the building of a new weapons station.

    Director:Benny Boom
    Writer:Faythallegra Claude

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  2. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 9 - Under the Influence
    4.3/10(3 votes)

    #2 - Under the Influence

    S13:E9

    The NCIS team helps a U.S. ambassador search for her missing daughter, Gia, a popular social media influencer. Also, Agent Aliyah De León returns to support the team with the case.

    Director:John Peter Kousakis
    Writer:Anastasia Kousakis

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  3. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 8 Episode 17 - Queen Pin
    4.4/10(5 votes)

    #3 - Queen Pin

    S8:E17

    Sam resumes an old alias to bring down a major criminal kingpin; Callen and Anna's romantic night is interrupted when they are tasked with escorting a high-value prisoner to Los Angeles for questioning.

    Director:Eric Laneuville
    Writer:Joseph C. Wilson

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  4. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 4 Episode 17 - Wanted
    4.8/10(6 votes)

    #4 - Wanted

    S4:E17

    Sam fears for his family’s safety when his wife is called to resume a former CIA cover after a case suggests ties to the infamous Sidorov and his stolen nuke.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 3 Episode 22 - Neighborhood Watch
    5.0/10(6 votes)

    #5 - Neighborhood Watch

    S3:E22

    Kensi and Deeks are sent undercover as married couple Melissa and Justin when evidence points to a Russian sleeper cell in a suburban neighborhood.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 12 - Murmuration
    5.0/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Murmuration

    S13:E12

    The NCIS team investigates an unidentified aircraft that flies into U.S. airspace and crashes into a Navy plane. Also, Deeks and Kensi begin to prepare for their foster inspection.

    Director:James Hanlon
    Writer:Samantha Chasse

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  7. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 2 Episode 9 - Absolution (1)
    5.1/10(7 votes)

    #7 - Absolution (1)

    S2:E9

    When a murdered antiques dealer's book of top-secret information goes missing, Hetty sends the NCIS team on a mission to find it.

    Director:Steven DePaul
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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  8. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 4 Episode 24 - Descent
    5.3/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Descent

    S4:E24

    A nuclear explosion in the Pacific reignites the search for stolen nuclear weapons and prompts Hetty to shuffle the NCIS: LA partnerships, sending Callen and Kensi overseas and leaving Sam and Deeks teamed up state side.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5 Episode 21 - Three Hearts
    5.4/10(8 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 6 Episode 11 - Humbug
    5.5/10(8 votes)

    #10 - Humbug

    S6:E11

    The team take a look at a burglary at a cyber-security company, and Callen has to steer clear after Hetty reveals that his girlfriend, Joelle, is one of the main witnesses.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 8 Episode 13 - Hot Water (1)
    5.5/10(4 votes)

    #11 - Hot Water (1)

    S8:E13

    The mole has once again compromised the NCIS team as planted evidence results in the arrests of Callen, Sam, Granger and Deeks, on the day Under Secretary Duggan (Jackson Hurst) returns for Hetty’s resignation.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Anastasia Kousakis

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  12. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 2 - Fukushu
    5.5/10(4 votes)

    #12 - Fukushu

    S13:E2

    NCIS takes the case personally when an LAPD officer’s father, a beloved elderly Japanese American veteran, is the victim of a vicious hate crime.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Kyle Harimoto

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  13. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 13 - Bonafides
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #13 - Bonafides

    S13:E13

    When DOJ Agent Lance Hamilton's partner is killed, Sam dons his previous undercover persona of "Switch" to find the culprit. Also, Kensi, Deeks, Rountree and Kilbride work to catch an aerospace engineer who stole classified Navy schematics.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Kyle Harimoto

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  14. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Episode 1 - Game of Drones
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Game of Drones

    S14:E1

    The NCIS team searches for a suspect and their motive following the bombing of a large facility where military combat drones are assembled. Also, Callen and Kilbride get troubling news about a body found in Syria.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 2 Episode 22 - Plan B
    5.6/10(8 votes)

    #15 - Plan B

    S2:E22

    Deeks resumes an old alias he is not fond of in order to protect his best friend and chief informant from a criminal group that wants him dead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 8 Episode 8 - Parallel Resistors
    5.6/10(5 votes)

    #16 - Parallel Resistors

    S8:E8

    The team's investigation into the electrocution of a college student working on a classified Navy project leads them to his inquisitive daughter, who may be the key to accessing his work.

    Director:Eric Laneuville
    Writers:Joe Sachs, Shane Brennan

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  17. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 3 Episode 12 - The Watchers
    5.7/10(6 votes)

    #17 - The Watchers

    S3:E12

    A new Assistant Director is assigned to oversee LA operations for NCIS, the team begins to wonder what his intentions really are.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Episode 6 - Sundown
    5.7/10(3 votes)

    #18 - Sundown

    S13:E6

    Sam negotiates and Rountree goes undercover, when a man takes a busload of hostages and threatens to blow it up unless his daughter’s war crimes are posthumously cleared.

    Director:Suzanne Misako Saltz
    Writer:Lee A. Carlisle

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  19. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 6 Episode 21 - Beacon
    5.8/10(8 votes)

    #19 - Beacon

    S6:E21

    Callen and Sam are shocked when an old acquaintance, who they thought was the recent victim of a murder, appears and asks for their help. As the team investigates, they uncover a possible breach of America's economic sanctions against Russia.Source: CBS

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 11 Episode 2 - Decoy
    5.8/10(4 votes)

    #20 - Decoy

    S11:E2

    Faced with multiple cases worldwide, the NCIS team splits up, with Callen and Sam working with Mossad Agent Eliana Sapir in Tel Aviv, and Kensi partnering with DOJ Agent Lance Hamilton in Los Angeles.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Kyle Harimoto

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  21. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1 Episode 16 - Chinatown
    5.9/10(10 votes)

    #21 - Chinatown

    S1:E16

    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:Unknown

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  22. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 2 Episode 5 - Little Angels
    5.9/10(7 votes)

    #22 - Little Angels

    S2:E5

    The team races against time to save a Naval Commander's daughter after seeing a video of her being buried alive.

    Director:Steven DePaul
    Writer:Frank Military

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  23. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 8 Episode 4 - Black Market
    5.9/10(7 votes)

    #23 - Black Market

    S8:E4

    After a Homeland Security agent is poisoned by a notorious Triad assassin, NCIS uncovers a warehouse of counterfeit purses and a money trail to stolen government funds. Also, Nell joins the team in the field.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 6 Episode 10 - Reign Fall
    6.0/10(5 votes)

    #24 - Reign Fall

    S6:E10

    The team become involved in an investigation into the murders of Marines whose sons are at military academics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. NCIS: Los Angeles Season 6 Episode 16 - Expiration Date
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Expiration Date

    S6:E16

    After Sam is shot by a spy contracted by the CIA the team need the help of a Nepali soldier.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Perception" is the worst rated episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles". It scored 4/10 based on 3 votes. Directed by Benny Boom and written by Faythallegra Claude, it aired on 4/10/2022. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Under the Influence".