The WORST episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles

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

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
Breach
star
7.27
1601 votes

#1 - 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
Blood Brothers
star
7.29
1693 votes

#2 - 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
Full Throttle
star
7.33
1721 votes

#3 - 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
A Farewell to Arms
star
7.33
296 votes

#4 - A Farewell to Arms

Season 14 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/26/2023

When a mystery woman attacks the founder of an AI company, the NCIS team must identify the woman before the next major global conflict ensues. Also, Kilbride’s ex-wife, Elizabeth, comes to visit and asks him to think about reconnecting with their son.

Directors: John P. Kousakis
Writer: Chad Mazero
Watch Now:Apple TV
Identity
star
7.33
2256 votes

#5 - 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
Past Lives
star
7.36
1537 votes

#6 - 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
Forest for the Trees
star
7.36
930 votes

#7 - Forest for the Trees

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/9/2015

Callen and Sam are kidnapped when they follow an anonymous tip about a missing NSA agent. When the team discovers they are nowhere to be found, they realize it could have been a trap set by terrorists.

Directors: Diana Valentine
Writer: Gil Grant
Watch Now:Apple TV
Killshot
star
7.36
1684 votes

#8 - 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
Keepin' It Real
star
7.37
1507 votes

#9 - 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
Skin Deep
star
7.37
1732 votes

#10 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pushback
star
7.38
1653 votes

#11 - 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
Fukushu
star
7.39
397 votes

#12 - Fukushu

Season 13 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/2021

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.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Shame
star
7.40
301 votes

#13 - Shame

Season 14 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/5/2023

When a petty officer is found dead with an apparent suicide note, the NCIS team must investigate the mystery surrounding his death. Also, Callen and Anna begin wedding planning and Sam has a heart to heart with his daughter.

Directors: Daniela Ruah
Watch Now:Apple TV
Raven & the Swans
star
7.42
1616 votes

#14 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Perception
star
7.43
360 votes

#15 - Perception

Season 13 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/10/2022

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.

Directors: Benny Boom
Watch Now:Apple TV
Under the Influence
star
7.43
359 votes

#16 - Under the Influence

Season 13 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/27/2022

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.

Directors: John P. Kousakis
Watch Now:Apple TV
Red (2)
star
7.43
1549 votes

#17 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Chosen One
star
7.43
1474 votes

#18 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Resurrection
star
7.45
1587 votes

#19 - 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
Watch Now:Apple TV
Hard for the Money
star
7.47
328 votes

#20 - Hard for the Money

Season 13 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/1/2022

NCIS investigates the murder of a woman employed in the Navy’s missile defense program and its connection to stolen Navy missile technology. Also, a strict social worker stresses out Deeks, and Sam debates selling his boat.

Directors: Rick Tunell
Watch Now:Apple TV
Chinatown
star
7.47
1906 votes

#21 - 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
LD50
star
7.47
1708 votes

#22 - 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
Black Wind
star
7.48
875 votes

#23 - Black Wind

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2015

Callen and Sam go undercover as food truck owners in Mexico to find the source of an anthrax poisoning before it’s used to create a bioweapon.

Directors: Dennis Smith
Writer: Joe Sachs
Watch Now:Apple TV
Unspoken
star
7.48
927 votes

#24 - Unspoken

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2015

The NCIS team searches for Sam’s former partner, Ruiz, who disappears during an undercover operation to buy a deadly explosive.

Directors: Diana Valentine
Watch Now:Apple TV
Hunted
star
7.49
1902 votes

#25 - 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