# NCIS: Los Angeles season 3

The third season of NCIS: Los Angeles an American police procedural drama television series, originally aired on CBS from September 20, 2011 to May 15, 2012. The season was produced by Shane Brennan Productions and CBS Television Studios, with Shane Brennan as showrunner and executive producer. A total of 24 episodes were produced. A fictional crossover with Hawaii Five-0 occurred during the season in episode twenty-one.
The season introduces Miguel Ferrer as NCIS Assistant Director Owen Granger.
NCIS: Los Angeles ranked #7 with a total of 16.01 million viewers for the 2011–12 U.S. network television season.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Chris O'Donnell as G. Callen, NCIS Senior Special Agent (SSA) of the Office of Special Projects (O.S.P.) in Los Angeles
* Daniela Ruah as Kensi Blye, NCIS Junior Special Agent
* Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks, L.A.P.D. Detective/Liaison to NCIS
* Barrett Foa as Eric Beale, NCIS Technical Operator
* Renée Felice Smith as Nell Jones, NCIS Junior Field Agent and Intelligence Analyst
* Linda Hunt as Henrietta Lange, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent and Operations Manager
* LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, NCIS Senior Agent, Second in Command

### Recurring

* Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, NCIS Director stationed in Washington, D.C.
* Brian Avers as Mike Renko, NCIS Special Agent and former member of the O.S.P. and Callen's team
* Vyto Ruginis as Arkady Kolcheck
* Claire Forlani as Lauren Hunter, NCIS Senior Special Agent
* Peter Cambor as Nate Getz, NCIS Special Agent
* Ella Thomas as Jada Khaled
* Miguel Ferrer as Owen Granger, New NCIS Assistant Director
* Laura Harring as Julia Feldman

### Special Guests Stars

* Scott Caan as Danny "Danno" Williams
* Daniel Dae Kim as Chin Ho Kelly

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 49 | 1 | "Lange, H." | Tony Wharmby | Shane Brennan | September 20, 2011 (2011-09-20) | 301 | 16.71 |
| The Special Projects team travels to Romania to search for Hetty, while delving into the history of the Comescu crime family, and their connection to Callen. Hetty confronts Alexa, matriarch of the Comescu family, and it is revealed that Callen's grandfather was an OSS agent who killed several members of the family; the Comescus retaliated, killing his mother, but leaving Callen and his sister alive. Meanwhile, Eric and Nell discover that Lauren Hunter, the Office of Special Projects Operations Manager, is a member of the Comescus. It is ultimately revealed that Hunter assumed the identity of Ilena Vadim - a member of the family who distanced herself from them - to infiltrate the Comescu family; the other members of the team are unaware of her exact allegiance until she kills Alexa and retrieves a laptop from the Comescu beach house. The episode ends in a cliffhanger with the other characters realizing that Hetty has been shot by Alexa. She then collapses to the ground, her fate unknown. Guest starring: Cristine Rose, Craig Robert Young ||||||||
| 50 | 2 | "Cyber Threat" | Dennis Smith | R. Scott Gemmill | September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27) | 302 | 16.26 |
| The NCIS team has to join forces with the NSA to find the creator and controller of a software program linked to a cyber attack against the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, Callen continues searching for more information about his past. The episode ends with Callen confronting Hetty about her knowledge of his past and family. Guest starring: Heidi Marnhout, Bridget Regan, Anne Son, Nathan Gamble, Jordan Belfi ||||||||
| 51 | 3 | "Backstopped" | Terrence O'Hara | Dave Kalstein & Shane Brennan | October 4, 2011 (2011-10-04) | 303 | 14.78 |
| Operations Manager Hunter rotates the investigative partnerships during an investigation into the death of a Marine who died during an explosion. Guest starring: Andrew Elvis Miller, Ethan Wilde ||||||||
| 52 | 4 | "Deadline" | Kate Woods | Gil Grant | October 11, 2011 (2011-10-11) | 304 | 15.40 |
| As Hetty returns to work the team investigates a death tied to the Libyan resistance movement. Guest starring: Piter Marek, Tony Amendola, Tyler Francavilla, Sheetal Sheth, Jeannette Sousa, Jay Harik, Jeff Denton, Sam Golzari ||||||||
| 53 | 5 | "Sacrifice" | John Peter Kousakis | Joseph C. Wilson | October 18, 2011 (2011-10-18) | 305 | 15.35 |
| The LAPD calls upon the NCIS team when a raid links a Mexican drug cartel to a wanted terrorist affiliated with al-Qaeda where it is discovered that the terrorist plans to sell a captured MQ-9 Reaper to the cartel. Meanwhile, Sam's most prized possession is stolen. Guest starring: America Olivo, Danny Nucci, Brant Cotton, Doug Rao ||||||||
| 54 | 6 | "Lone Wolf" | James Whitmore Jr. | Christina M. Kim | October 25, 2011 (2011-10-25) | 306 | 15.89 |
| After a former Navy intelligence officer is murdered, Hetty contacts a former co-worker when the NCIS team uncovers a threat to a pipeline in Afghanistan. The victim was killed to prevent disclosure of the attack. Guest starring: Scott Paulin, Robin Thomas, Craig McLachlan, Meredith Scott Lynn, Charles Parnell, Ursula Taherian ||||||||
| 55 | 7 | "Honor" | Tony Wharmby | Jordana Lewis Jaffe & R. Scott Gemmill | November 1, 2011 (2011-11-01) | 307 | 15.52 |
| When a Marine that was dishonorably discharged is accused of murder and claims he was framed, it is up to NCIS to figure out the truth. Guest starring: Yuji Okumoto, Drew Fuller, Ron Yuan, Jerry Kernion ||||||||
| 56 | 8 | "Greed" | Jan Eliasberg | Frank Military | November 8, 2011 (2011-11-08) | 308 | 15.66 |
| When a Navy ID is found on a dead body tied to a hazardous material smuggling case, NCIS is granted permission to investigate in Mexico and asked to help locate the missing materials. The episode ends with Sam heading off to Sudan to work alongside a CIA task force. Guest starring: Sherman Augustus, Joe Nunez, Julia Whelan, Reynaldo Gallegos, Hemky Madera ||||||||
| 57 | 9 | "Betrayal" | Karen Gaviola | Frank Military | November 15, 2011 (2011-11-15) | 309 | 15.15 |
| After Sam's undercover mission in Sudan turns deadly with a body presumably matching that of Sam's description, Callen heads off to Sudan to discover the truth and to track down Sam before it's too late. Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, the NCIS team searches for clues in regards to the case but things go wrong when Sam's cover is blown, forcing Callen and Sam into a fight for their lives. Guest starring: Douglas Weston, Ella Thomas, Anslem Richardson, Jack Stehlin, Tongayi Chirisa, Kelly Smith ||||||||
| 58 | 10 | "The Debt" | Steven DePaul | Dave Kalstein | November 22, 2011 (2011-11-22) | 310 | 14.09 |
| When Deeks shoots an unarmed man during a joint NCIS/LAPD operation, LAPD blames NCIS for ruining the operation and breaks ties with NCIS, forcing Hetty to eliminate Deeks's liaison position. However, the shooting was a ruse enabling Deeks to return to LAPD so that a mole in LAPD could be identified. With the mole eventually identified, Deeks returns to his work with NCIS. Guest starring: Patrick St. Esprit, Cyrus Farmer, Mary Page Keller, Jamie Elle Mann, Michael Weston ||||||||
| 59 | 11 | "Higher Power" | Kevin Bray | Joe Sachs | December 13, 2011 (2011-12-13) | 311 | 16.40 |
| During the middle of the holidays and the distractions they cause, the team is tasked with finding the thieves who stole an experimental electronic device with enough power to destroy half of Los Angeles. Guest starring: Troy Evans, Arlen Escarpeta, Jackson Davis, Ramon De Ocampo, Barbara Keegan, Rachel Grate, Ian Nelson, Leland Orser ||||||||
| 60 | 12 | "The Watchers" | Tony Wharmby | R. Scott Gemmill | January 3, 2012 (2012-01-03) | 312 | 17.08 |
| When a researcher with the Department of Defense is found dead, Nell must put her high IQ to the test when she goes undercover as his replacement. Meanwhile, Hetty's ability to lead the team is questioned by the new NCIS Assistant Director, Owen Granger. Guest starring: Erik Palladino, Katherine Sigismund, Sean McGowan ||||||||
| 61 | 13 | "Exit Strategy" | Dennis Smith | Gregory Weidman | January 10, 2012 (2012-01-10) | 313 | 16.60 |
| The team must find the person behind an ambush on a vehicle carrying Jada Khaled to save her and their case; Sam must face Jada for the first time since Sudan. The humanitarian agent from their previous mission was revealed to have been forced to ambush Jada Khaled after members of a French company who possessed ties with the Sudanese dictator kidnapped his family and threatened to kill them if he didn't kill her. Guest starring: Douglas Weston, Lothaire Bluteau, Ella Thomas, Anslem Richardson, Sterling Macer Jr., Michelle Van Der Water, Bruno Oliver ||||||||
| 62 | 14 | "Partners" | Eric Laneuville | Gil Grant & Dave Kalstein | February 7, 2012 (2012-02-07) | 314 | 16.27 |
| The team investigates a hijacking when a package from a state department van goes missing. Meanwhile, Callen and Sam celebrate five years as partners. Guest starring: Currie Graham, Alana de la Garza, Basil Wallace, Gabriel Salvador ||||||||
| 63 | 15 | "Crimeleon" | Terrence O'Hara | Frank Military | February 14, 2012 (2012-02-14) | 315 | 16.15 |
| The team investigates the murder of two businessmen and later finds out that a spy/agent named Chameleon who can take on any personality or facade he likes is responsible for the killings. When the Interpol Agent the team was working with is murdered, Granger takes over the case, forcing the team to report to him while still resenting his involvement. But despite their best efforts, Chameleon manages to evade them but not before calling Callen from an unknown location and then telling the NCIS Special Agent that he's going to kill him. Later, under pressure from both Hetty and Callen, Granger finally tells them the reason for him coming to Los Angeles: he's here to catch a killer and the camera then shows him looking over at Kensi, suggesting it might have something to do with her. Guest starring: Eric Etebari, Tony Armatrading, Thomas Tofel, Paul J. Cassell, John Hartmann, Mackenzie Maury, Adam Huss, Peter Stormare, Christopher Lambert ||||||||
| 64 | 16 | "Blye, K." | Jonathan Frakes | Joseph C. Wilson | February 21, 2012 (2012-02-21) | 316 | 15.47 |
| Kensi is taken into custody by Assistant Director Granger when various Marines from her deceased father's unit end up dead in various car accidents. Granger reveals Donald Blye's unit was actually a Black Ops Hit Team and that everyone in the unit has been killed, with the only common link between them being Kensi. However as Callen and the team investigate to try and clear their friend's name, they uncover Granger's ties to the unit and begin to suspect that he is the true killer. The episode ends in a cliffhanger with Kensi being shot by an unknown sniper and it is not yet known if she is alive, having been injured by the bullet, or dead. Guest starring: Gregg Henry, Billy Smith, Samantha Smith ||||||||
| 65 | 17 | "Blye, K., Part 2" | Terrence O'Hara | Dave Kalstein | February 28, 2012 (2012-02-28) | 317 | 15.85 |
| Kensi is injured, but survives the shot from the sniper and goes rogue. Callen & co discover that Granger fled the scene, and they must find him and get answers whilst Kensi continues the chase for the killer responsible for her father's death as she resolves to solve the case once and for all. Guest starring: Spencer Garrett, Jes Macallan ||||||||
| 66 | 18 | "The Dragon and the Fairy" | Tony Wharmby | Joe Sachs | March 20, 2012 (2012-03-20) | 318 | 16.17 |
| The team investigates a shooting outside the Vietnamese Consulate just before an international conference at the venue that the Secretary of the Navy is scheduled to attend. But they soon find evidence suggesting that an illegal sweatshop might be a cover for a human trafficking ring or terrorists. Guest starring: Dan Lauria, Lydia Look, Sumalee Montano, François Chau, Christopher Khai, VyVy Nguyen, James Chen ||||||||
| 67 | 19 | "Vengeance" | James Whitmore Jr. | Frank Military | March 27, 2012 (2012-03-27) | 319 | 14.75 |
| A Navy Intel Officer is found dead, and all evidence points to a team of Navy SEALs who are about to depart for a hostage rescue mission. Sam is chosen to interrogate the group which may compromise the mission. Guest starring: Chris Butler, Gino Anthony Pesi, Dustin Seavey, Brian Patrick Wade, Kate Lacey, Blake Cooper Griffin, Eltony Williams, Tabitha Morella ||||||||
| 68 | 20 | "Patriot Acts" | Dennis Smith | Jordana Lewis Jaffe | April 10, 2012 (2012-04-10) | 320 | 12.86 |
| When a former Marine is suspected of creating a chemical bomb found in a vehicle, Nate Getz returns to Los Angeles and the team must work together with the FBI to track down and stop a domestic terrorist. Guest starring: David Furr, Richard Blake, Eric Jungmann, Brea Grant, Michael Hyatt, Pierrino Mascarino, Craig Gellis, Zach Lewis, Anna Wood, Christel Khalil ||||||||
| 69 | 21 | "Touch of Death" | Tony Wharmby | Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters & R. Scott Gemmill | May 1, 2012 (2012-05-01) | 321 | 15.21 |
| Detectives Danny Williams (Scott Caan) and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) of the Hawaii Five-0 task force arrive in Los Angeles to help Callen, Sam and the Office of Special Projects find and stop Jarrod Prodeman (Rob Benedict), a disgraced doctor carrying several vials of smallpox, capable of wiping out half the world's population. They eventually find and capture Prodeman, who reveals he has already sold the vials to a Doctor Rachel Holden, who is nowhere to be found. Research soon finds that Holden, who believes that the Earth's population has grown too huge in the last thousand years, is planning on unleashing the smallpox to cut the population in half so that the Earth itself could recover. Guest starring: Rob Benedict, Laura Regan, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Helen Eigenberg, Celia Finkelstein This episode concludes a crossover event that begins on Hawaii Five-0 season 2 episode 21. ||||||||
| 70 | 22 | "Neighborhood Watch" | Robert Florio | Christina M. Kim | May 8, 2012 (2012-05-08) | 322 | 14.56 |
| Deeks and Kensi go undercover as a married couple to catch a Russian sleeper agent in the neighborhood. Through many suspects and an unexpected twist for Deeks and Kensi, they eventually capture the agent. Also, Kensi and Deeks share a kiss to protect their cover. Guest starring: Alaina Huffman, Brianne Davis, Scott Elrod, J.P. Manoux, George Gerdes, D.C. Douglas ||||||||
| 71 | 23 | "Sans Voir (Part I)" | John Peter Kousakis | Gil Grant | May 15, 2012 (2012-05-15) | 323 | 15.19 |
| The Chameleon lures Callen and the rest of the team into a deadly mind-game with things becoming even more personal for the team when both Agents Mike Renko and Lauren Hunter are killed. Guest starring: Christopher Lambert, Lauren Sweetser, Sarayu Rao, Eyal Podell, Brent Briscoe, Scott MacDonald, William Gregory Lee, Dustin Ingram, Scott MacArthur, Cooper Thornton, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste ||||||||
| 72 | 24 | "Sans Voir (Part II)" | Terrence O'Hara | Shane Brennan | May 15, 2012 (2012-05-15) | 324 | 15.19 |
| The Chameleon's mind games continue and things heat up when the team discovers an innocent man's life is at stake. The episode ends with Callen being arrested by the LAPD after killing the Chameleon in revenge for Renko and Hunter's deaths. At the same time, Hetty is seen leaving a resignation letter for Owen Granger on her desk, suggesting that she fully intends to leave OSP for good due to the incident. Guest starring: Christopher Lambert, Eyal Podell, Cooper Thornton, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste ||||||||

## Production
### Development

NCIS: Los Angeles was renewed for a third season on May 17, 2011.

### Crossover

The season featured a crossover with Hawaii Five-0. The event took place in the form of a two-part crossover. Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J appeared as G. Callen and Sam Hanna in the twenty-first episode of the Hawaii Five-0 second season titled "Pa Make Loa" ("Touch of Death") on April 30, 2012. In the second part, Scott Caan and Daniel Dae Kim appeared in the third season episode "Touch of Death" which aired on May 1, 2012.

## Broadcast

Season three of NCIS: Los Angeles premiered on September 20, 2011.

## Reception
### Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of NCIS: Los Angeles season 3 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Lange, H." | September 20, 2011 | 3.6/9 | 16.71 | — | 2.38 | — | 19.09 |
| 2 | "Cyber Threat" | September 27, 2011 | 3.6/9 | 16.26 | 1.0 | 2.72 | 4.6 | 18.98 |
| 3 | "Backstopped" | October 4, 2011 | 3.4/9 | 14.78 | 1.0 | 2.61 | 4.4 | 17.39 |
| 4 | "Deadline" | October 11, 2011 | 3.3/8 | 15.40 | 0.9 | 2.69 | 4.2 | 18.09 |
| 5 | "Sacrifice" | October 18, 2011 | 3.4/8 | 15.35 | 0.9 | 2.40 | 4.3 | 17.75 |
| 6 | "Lone Wolf" | October 25, 2011 | 3.7/9 | 15.89 | 0.9 | 2.59 | 4.6 | 18.48 |
| 7 | "Honor" | November 1, 2011 | 3.4/9 | 15.52 | 1.0 | 2.63 | 4.4 | 18.15 |
| 8 | "Greed" | November 8, 2011 | 3.4/8 | 15.66 | 0.9 | 2.60 | 4.3 | 18.26 |
| 9 | "Betrayal" | November 15, 2011 | 3.4/8 | 15.15 | — | 2.59 | — | 17.74 |
| 10 | "The Debt" | November 22, 2011 | 3.0/8 | 14.09 | 0.9 | 2.63 | 3.9 | 16.72 |
| 11 | "Higher Power" | December 13, 2011 | 3.0/8 | 16.40 | 1.1 | 2.82 | 4.1 | 19.22 |
| 12 | "The Watchers" | January 3, 2012 | 3.5/8 | 17.08 | 1.0 | 2.70 | 4.5 | 19.81 |
| 13 | "Exit Strategy" | January 10, 2012 | 3.3/8 | 16.60 | 1.0 | 2.76 | 4.3 | 19.36 |
| 14 | "Partners" | February 7, 2012 | 3.1/8 | 16.27 | — | 3.02 | — | 19.29 |
| 15 | "Crimeleon" | February 14, 2012 | 3.2/8 | 16.15 | 1.0 | 2.66 | 4.2 | 18.81 |
| 16 | "Blye, K." | February 21, 2012 | 2.7/7 | 15.47 | 0.9 | 2.50 | 3.6 | 17.97 |
| 17 | "Blye, K., Part 2" | February 28, 2012 | 3.1/8 | 15.85 | 0.8 | 2.36 | 3.9 | 18.21 |
| 18 | "The Dragon and the Fairy" | March 20, 2012 | 2.8/8 | 16.17 | 1.0 | 2.70 | 3.8 | 18.87 |
| 19 | "Vengeance" | March 27, 2012 | 3.0/8 | 14.75 | 0.8 | 2.37 | 3.8 | 17.12 |
| 20 | "Patriot Acts" | April 10, 2012 | 2.4/6 | 12.86 | 1.0 | 2.81 | 3.4 | 15.67 |
| 21 | "Touch of Death" | May 1, 2012 | 3.0/8 | 15.21 | 1.2 | 3.31 | 4.2 | 18.52 |
| 22 | "Neighborhood Watch" | May 8, 2012 | 3.0/8 | 14.56 | — | 2.71 | — | 17.27 |
| 23 | "Sans Voir (Part I)" | May 15, 2012 | 3.0/8 | 15.19 | 1.1 | 3.03 | 4.1 | 18.22 |
| 24 | "Sans Voir (Part II)" | May 15, 2012 | 3.0/8 | 15.19 | 1.1 | 3.03 | 4.1 | 18.22 |

## Home video release

NCIS: Los Angeles: The Third Season :
| Set details | Set details | Special features | Special features | Special features | Special features |
| Discs: 6 Episodes: 24 Runtime: 1,029 minutes | Discs: 6 Episodes: 24 Runtime: 1,029 minutes | Deleted scenes: "Lange, H.", "Betrayal", "The Debt," and "Blye, K. Part 2" Raise the Roof Dishing... with Barrett and Renee Aligning the Stars Carmageddon Commentary by Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen on "Neighborhood Watch" Investigating Season 3 Surf and Turf "Pa Make Loa" | Deleted scenes: "Lange, H.", "Betrayal", "The Debt," and "Blye, K. Part 2" Raise the Roof Dishing... with Barrett and Renee Aligning the Stars Carmageddon Commentary by Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen on "Neighborhood Watch" Investigating Season 3 Surf and Turf "Pa Make Loa" | Deleted scenes: "Lange, H.", "Betrayal", "The Debt," and "Blye, K. Part 2" Raise the Roof Dishing... with Barrett and Renee Aligning the Stars Carmageddon Commentary by Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen on "Neighborhood Watch" Investigating Season 3 Surf and Turf "Pa Make Loa" | Deleted scenes: "Lange, H.", "Betrayal", "The Debt," and "Blye, K. Part 2" Raise the Roof Dishing... with Barrett and Renee Aligning the Stars Carmageddon Commentary by Daniela Ruah and Eric Christian Olsen on "Neighborhood Watch" Investigating Season 3 Surf and Turf "Pa Make Loa" |
| DVD release dates ||||||
| Region 1 | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Region 4 |
| August 21, 2012 | August 21, 2012 | August 27, 2012 | August 27, 2012 | August 1, 2012 | August 1, 2012 |