The BEST episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 4

Every episode of NCIS: Los Angeles season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 4!

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: 8/11/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Descent (1)
star
7.97
1507 votes

#1 - Descent (1)

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/14/2013

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.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Amazon
Endgame
star
7.76
1752 votes

#2 - Endgame

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2012

Following Callen's public shooting of the Chameleon, all is not well with the NCIS: LA team, as Callen is placed on suspension and Hetty adjusts to retired life.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Watch Now:Amazon
Recruit
star
7.72
1749 votes

#3 - Recruit

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2012

A drone strike on a bomb-making compound in Afghanistan reveals the body of a recently retired Marine, leaving the NCIS: LA team to investigate why the Marine returned to Afghanistan and whether or not he betrayed the country he fought for.

The Gold Standard
star
7.71
1529 votes

#4 - The Gold Standard

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/2012

The NCIS: Los Angeles team investigates the strange and brazen heist executed by gunmen in costumes that could directly impact the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, as Deeks testifies on a case, Granger insists on partnering up with a very reluctant Kensi.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Kill House
star
7.66
1338 votes

#5 - Kill House

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/2013

Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks go undercover as an elite tactical force in order to investigate an ambush tied to a cartel kingpin with terrorist connections.

Directors: Larry Teng
The Fifth Man
star
7.66
1687 votes

#6 - The Fifth Man

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2012

The NCIS: LA team investigate a compromised intel operation after four people connected to the classified project are killed at a diner explosion. As Deeks and Kensi are on the trail of those involved, they learn that a wayward teenage girl might be related and Kensi can’t help but be empathetic to her situation.

Directors: John P. Kousakis
Paper Soldiers
star
7.64
1495 votes

#7 - Paper Soldiers

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/2013

A distraught widow is suspicious of the circumstances surrounding her Marine husband’s last battle and Sam and Callen help to determine if there has been a cover-up. Meanwhile, Hetty summons Operational Psychologist Nate Getz to be her “pawn” and the rest of the NCIS: LA sense another evaluation on the horizon.

Directors: Terrence O'Hara
Free Ride
star
7.59
1615 votes

#8 - Free Ride

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/18/2012

Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks spend Christmas aboard an aircraft carrier investigating the death of a fellow NCIS special agent. Meanwhile, Nell and Eric make the most of the holidays back at headquarters and Hetty takes a trip.

Directors: Jonathan Frakes
Out of the Past (1)
star
7.59
1894 votes

#9 - Out of the Past (1)

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2012

When a CIA agent who worked with Sam Hanna over eight years ago seeks his help and is soon found dead of an apparent suicide, Hanna and Callen suspect foul play and a bigger conspiracy. Meanwhile, Deeks finds his inner "dog whisperer" with Kensi as the two go undercover and enter a dog show with a prized poodle.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Wanted
star
7.59
1556 votes

#10 - Wanted

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/5/2013

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.

Directors: Chris O'Donnell
Lohkay
star
7.58
1460 votes

#11 - Lohkay

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/26/2013

Callen is concerned that Sam might be too invested after he takes on a missing persons case for an Afghani elder who helped him years ago when he was wounded on a mission.

Directors: Diana Valentine
Purity
star
7.58
1591 votes

#12 - Purity

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/9/2013

When cyanide in a communal water jug lethally poisons a lieutenant and leaves a Navy pilot in serious condition, the NCIS: LA team investigates whether this is an isolated incident or an early test for large-scale water contamination.

Directors: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Joe Sachs
Collateral
star
7.57
1625 votes

#13 - Collateral

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/27/2012

The NCIS: LA team questions the motive behind the murder of a retired CIA agent turned millionaire and in the process also questions what Hetty knows about the case.

Directors: Kate Woods
Drive
star
7.57
1564 votes

#14 - Drive

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/2013

A former defendant of Deeks is targeted for discovering information that could dismantle a lucrative car shipping operation with links to a global terrorist ring. Meanwhile, the NCIS: LA team tackles the large-scale stolen car operation from the inside when Kensi goes undercover in an auto body shop.

Directors: Steven DePaul
Writer: Joe Sachs
Parley
star
7.55
1521 votes

#15 - Parley

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/7/2013

Deeks goes undercover to obtain information about an infamous arms dealer looking to get back in the business, but the woman he befriends leads the operation in a dangerous directon. Meanwhile, Kensi confronts new emotions as she runs surveillance on Deeks and his female source.

Directors: John P. Kousakis
Dead Body Politic
star
7.55
1713 votes

#16 - Dead Body Politic

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2012

The NCIS: LA team investigates the tragic death of a U.S. senatorial candidate’s staffer who is run over crossing the street. The high-profile case becomes a matter of national security as the agents must determine whether it is an isolated tragic incident or a politically connected plot that might put others in danger.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
History
star
7.54
1428 votes

#17 - History

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/19/2013

An NCIS: LA investigation leads the team to question a lone survivor of a former terrorist organization, while Kensi and Deeks follow the trail into the woods

Rude Awakenings (2)
star
7.52
1811 votes

#18 - Rude Awakenings (2)

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2012

The team continues their investigation into the death of a CIA agent, that leads to a dangerous ring of Russian super agents. In a race against time, Hanna risks having a secret exposed.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Red (1)
star
7.49
1587 votes

#19 - Red (1)

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/19/2013

Callen and Sam fly to Idaho and join forces with NCIS: Red, a mobile team of agents who live together and investigate crimes in various locations, when a murder weapon found there matches one used in a national security case in Los Angeles.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Resurrection
star
7.45
1585 votes

#20 - Resurrection

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/23/2013

A body is stolen after a special task force successfully takes down an infamous cartel boss, leaving the NCIS: LA team to investigate the leak and track down the missing body.

Directors: Eric A. Pot
The Chosen One
star
7.43
1471 votes

#21 - The Chosen One

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/29/2013

Callen goes undercover to infiltrate a network of Chechen terrorists who are recruiting foreign fighters to join their cause and planning their next attack in the U.S.

Directors: Paul A. Kaufman
Red (2)
star
7.43
1546 votes

#22 - Red (2)

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/26/2013

While the LA team chases leads digitally and locally, the Red team travels in their mobile trucks, nicknamed 'Laverne and Shirley', in a race to track down a cunning terrorist before he disappears.

Directors: Tony Wharmby
Raven & the Swans
star
7.43
1613 votes

#23 - Raven & the Swans

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/30/2013

Callen questions Hetty’s motivations when a bizarre case involving a mysterious woman is revealed to be an undercover agent from her past.

Directors: Robert Florio
Skin Deep
star
7.37
1729 votes

#24 - Skin Deep

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/20/2012

The NCIS: LA team heads to the beach to question the possible link between a surfer, an Internet video and a dead Naval tech scientist. Meanwhile, as Callen and Hanna investigate the victim’s intelligence connections, Deeks and Kensi go undercover to catch their suspects and some waves.

Directors: Paul A. Kaufman
Writer: Gil Grant