The BEST episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 1

Every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 1!

NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high stakes world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security, specifically Naval and Marine assets and personnel.

Last Updated: 11/22/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Callen, G
star
8.02
1922 votes

#1 - 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.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Found
star
7.99
2117 votes

#2 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Random On Purpose
star
7.87
1792 votes

#3 - 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.

Directors: Steven DePaul
Writer: Speed Weed
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Missing
star
7.67
1773 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: David Barrett
Watch Now:Apple TV
Hand-to-Hand
star
7.65
2039 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Writer: Matt Pyken
Watch Now:Apple TV
Fame
star
7.57
1914 votes

#6 - 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.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Writer: Speed Weed
Watch Now:Apple TV
Burned
star
7.57
1927 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Steve Boyum
Watch Now:Apple TV
Brimstone
star
7.53
1635 votes

#8 - 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 unit before another deadly explosion kills someone else.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Apple TV
Ambush
star
7.52
1780 votes

#9 - 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.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Watch Now:Apple TV
Search and Destroy
star
7.52
1757 votes

#10 - 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.

Directors: Steve Boyum
Writer: Gil Grant
Watch Now:Apple TV
Predator
star
7.51
1869 votes

#11 - 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.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Bank Job
star
7.50
1735 votes

#12 - 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.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Only Easy Day
star
7.49
1852 votes

#13 - 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.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Apple TV
Hunted
star
7.49
1902 votes

#14 - 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.

Directors: Steven DePaul
Writer: Corey Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
LD50
star
7.47
1708 votes

#15 - 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.

Directors: Jonathan Frakes
Watch Now:Apple TV
Chinatown
star
7.47
1906 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.

Directors: Alan J. Levi
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pushback
star
7.38
1653 votes

#17 - 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.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Watch Now:Apple TV
Keepin' It Real
star
7.37
1507 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Writer: Matt Pyken
Watch Now:Apple TV
Killshot
star
7.36
1684 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: David Barrett
Watch Now:Apple TV
Past Lives
star
7.36
1537 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Watch Now:Apple TV
Identity
star
7.33
2256 votes

#21 - Identity

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2009

Callen returns back to the NCIS Office of Special Projects to solve a kidnapping case.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Full Throttle
star
7.33
1721 votes

#22 - 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.

Directors: David Barrett
Watch Now:Apple TV
Blood Brothers
star
7.29
1693 votes

#23 - 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.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Writer: Tim Clemente
Watch Now:Apple TV
Breach
star
7.27
1601 votes

#24 - 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.

Directors: Perry Lang
Watch Now:Apple TV