# NCIS: Los Angeles season 12

The twelfth season of NCIS: Los Angeles, an American police procedural drama television series, began airing on CBS on November 8, 2020, and ended on May 23, 2021. The season included 18 episodes. This is the final season to feature Linda Hunt, Barrett Foa, and Renée Felice Smith as series regulars.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Chris O'Donnell as Grisha "G." Callen, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) and Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the Team
* LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, NCIS Senior Field Agent, Second in Command
* Daniela Ruah as Kensi Blye, NCIS Special Agent
* Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks, NCIS Investigator (Previously LAPD/NCIS Liaison Officer)
* Barrett Foa as Eric Beale, NCIS Senior Technical Operator
* Renée Felice Smith as Nell Jones, NCIS Special Agent and Intelligence Analyst & Acting Operations Manager
* Medalion Rahimi as Fatima Namazi, NCIS Special Agent
* Caleb Castille as Devin Roundtree, NCIS Special Agent (Previously FBI Agent)
* Linda Hunt as Henrietta Lange, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) and Operations Manager

### Recurring

* Bar Paly as Anastasia "Anna" Kolcheck, former ATF Agent, Callen's girlfriend
* Vyto Ruginis as Arkady Kolcheck
* Ravil Isyanov as Anatoli Kirkin
* Gerald McRaney as Hollace Kilbride, Retired Navy Admiral
* Elizabeth Bogush as Joelle Taylor, CIA Agent
* Nicki Micheaux as Effie Carlson, Special Agent

### Guest Stars

* Marina Khan
* Mariela Garriga as Pietra Rey (episode 8)

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 263 | 1 | "The Bear" | Dennis Smith | R. Scott Gemmill | November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08) | 1203 | 6.35 |
| When a Russian bomber goes missing while flying over U.S. soil, Callen and Sam must track it down in the desert and secure its weapons and intel before the Russians on board destroy the plane. Also, Nell returns to OSP following her mother's death after Hetty asks her to fill in while she is away. While there, Nell learns that FBI Agent Roundtree has officially joined the OSP team, and that Eric's technology work has resulted in him being away from OSP. ||||||||
| 264 | 2 | "War Crimes" | Yangzom Brauen | Jordana Lewis Jaffe | November 15, 2020 (2020-11-15) | 1202 | 6.10 |
| As the trial begins of Chief Petty Officer Thomas Argento, the SEAL whom Callen, Sam, and Roundtree arrested for war crimes last season, the NCIS team is called to help find the missing star witness. ||||||||
| 265 | 3 | "Angry Karen" | Dennis Smith | R. Scott Gemmill | November 22, 2020 (2020-11-22) | 1201 | 6.11 |
| When Nell sends Sam to meet an informant who plans to blow the whistle on a military secret, Hanna's life is endangered when the man tries to run him down and kill him. ||||||||
| 266 | 4 | "Cash Flow" | Yangzom Brauen | Kyle Harimoto | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 1204 | 4.56 |
| The body of a murdered navy reservist is found by thieves in the midst of a robbery, and NCIS must work with the burglars to find the killer. ||||||||
| 267 | 5 | "Raising the Dead" | Terrence O'Hara | Frank Military | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 1205 | 3.86 |
| In order to get critical intel on a matter of National Security, Kensi must come face to face with David Kessler (Frank Military), a sociopath who has been obsessed with her since she put him in jail years ago. Deeks is desperate to keep Kensi safe, but he must leave NCIS after his liaison position is abolished by LAPD amidst major department realignments. Ultimately, Kessler is released from prison via a Presidential Executive Order, leaving Kensi a major target. ||||||||
| 268 | 6 | "If the Fates Allow" | Dan Liu | Andrew Bartels | December 13, 2020 (2020-12-13) | 1206 | 6.04 |
| Before Christmas, Hetty assigns Callen the case of his former foster brother and his wife who, upon reentry into the U.S., are framed for smuggling drugs across the border in her oxygen tanks. Eric returns to OSP to assist with the case, though his increased eccentricity leaves his former coworkers amused. Meanwhile, as Deeks attempts to become an NCIS Agent in the wake of his liaison position being terminated, he is informed by Hetty of his acceptance to FLETC. ||||||||
| 269 | 7 | "Overdue" | Terrence O'Hara | Chad Mazero | January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03) | 1207 | 5.73 |
| The NCIS team's murder investigation of a man who sold military information leads to the abduction of a doctor whose cutting edge neurotechnology could be developed into advanced weaponry. Team members are interviewed by FLETC to see if Deeks would make a good NCIS agent. Callen tries to have an important talk with Arkady regarding his future with Anna. ||||||||
| 270 | 8 | "Love Kills" | Dan Liu | R. Scott Gemmill | January 10, 2021 (2021-01-10) | 1208 | 5.89 |
| When NCIS investigates the murder of a man about to reveal the source of a massive counterfeiting operation, an old acquaintance becomes their prime suspect and reveals the true reason for her return. Deeks struggles at FLETC during training to become an official NCIS agent. ||||||||
| 271 | 9 | "A Fait Accompli" | Eric A. Pot | Matt Klafter & Kyle Harimoto | January 17, 2021 (2021-01-17) | 1209 | 5.57 |
| While NCIS must track down an organized crime leader who is trying to buy stolen defense technology, Callen goes to Anna to ask the ultimate question, only to be met with a shocking revelation. Deeks is kicked out of NCIS training only to find Hetty has a life-changing surprise for him - he has been made an NCIS investigator. ||||||||
| 272 | 10 | "The Frogman's Daughter" | Tawnia McKiernan | Indira Gibson Wilson & Jordana Lewis Jaffee | February 14, 2021 (2021-02-14) | 1210 | 6.15 |
| When Sam's daughter Kam is abducted after leading citywide protests, the NCIS team rushes to prevent another family tragedy in Hanna's life from occurring. ||||||||
| 273 | 11 | "Russia, Russia, Russia" | Daniela Ruah | R. Scott Gemmill | February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21) | 1211 | 5.92 |
| When Callen goes to the National Counterterroism Center on the pretext of interrogating a Russian asset from the crashed plane case he investigated months earlier, the tables are turned and he is detained, accused of being a Russian agent. ||||||||
| 274 | 12 | "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | Tawnia McKiernan | Lee A. Carlisle | February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28) | 1212 | 5.83 |
| After Callen receives a cryptic message from Hetty, he tracks down the person trailing him, bringing him to a remote location teeming with Russians…and face to face with Anna. ||||||||
| 275 | 13 | "Red Rover, Red Rover" | Terrence O'Hara | Andrew Bartels | March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28) | 1213 | 5.57 |
| To rescue Joelle from further torture by the Russians, Callen and NCIS must offer up Anna as bait to Katya. Callen finally discovers who accused him of being a Russian spy. ||||||||
| 276 | 14 | "The Noble Maidens" | James Hanlon | Chad Mazero & R. Scott Gemmill | April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) | 1214 | 5.55 |
| After Anna is kidnapped, Callen and the team must race to save her before she is shipped back to Russia. Nell is offered an opportunity by Admiral Kilbride. Kirkin is killed in a gun shoot. ||||||||
| 277 | 15 | "Imposter Syndrome" | Eric A. Pot | Samantha Chasse | May 2, 2021 (2021-05-02) | 1215 | 5.61 |
| NCIS obtains a hard drive containing a realistic deep fake video of a deceased terrorist and must retrieve the dangerous technology behind it. However, when the team's communications are hijacked during their mission, they find that several of their own has become a victim of its potential. ||||||||
| 278 | 16 | "Signs of Change" | Dennis Smith | Indira Gibson Wilson & Jordana Lewis Jaffee | May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09) | 1216 | 5.60 |
| When military-grade technology is stolen, a deaf engineer who always wanted to serve her country, and the only member of her team to survive the theft, helps Kensi and NCIS track down the tech before it's taken out of the country. ||||||||
| 279 | 17 | "Through The Looking Glass" | Frank Military | Frank Military | May 16, 2021 (2021-05-16) | 1217 | 5.85 |
| When a Naval Intelligence Officer is tortured and murdered, NCIS must work with Joelle who informs them that other CIA operatives are being killed in the same way while Kensi receives a threatening postcard from David Kessler, the sociopath who is obsessed with her. ||||||||
| 280 | 18 | "A Tale of Two Igors" | John Peter Kousakis | Kyle Harimoto & R. Scott Gemmill | May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23) | 1218 | 6.18 |
| Deeks is kidnapped by an associate of Kirkin's in need of his help and NCIS investigates the shooting of a militarized dolphin equipped with a Russian microchip. Nell faces a crossroads when she is given two choices: officially return to NCIS or accept an offer from Eric to work with him at his tech company. Ultimately, she decides to work with Eric, saying an emotional goodbye to Hetty, who has returned to Los Angeles under mysterious circumstances. ||||||||

## Production
### Development and filming

On May 6, 2020, CBS renewed the series for a twelfth season, which premiered on November 8, 2020. Production for the twelfth season began on September 23, 2020 with full safety protocols in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Casting

Caleb Castille was promoted to series regular after recurring in season eleven.

## Reception
### Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of NCIS: Los Angeles season 12 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "The Bear" | November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08) | 0.8 | 6.35 | 0.4 | 2.32 | 1.2 | 8.67 |
| 2 | "War Crimes" | November 15, 2020 (2020-11-15) | 0.6 | 6.10 | 0.2 | 1.80 | 0.8 | 7.91 |
| 3 | "Angry Karen" | November 22, 2020 (2020-11-22) | 0.6 | 6.11 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | "Cash Flow" | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 0.5 | 4.56 | 0.25 | 1.97 | 0.74 | 6.53 |
| 5 | "Raising the Dead" | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 0.4 | 3.86 | 0.3 | 2.30 | 0.7 | 6.16 |
| 6 | "If the Fates Allow" | December 13, 2020 (2020-12-13) | 0.6 | 6.04 | 0.9 | 3.17 | — | — |
| 7 | "Overdue" | January 3, 2021 (2021-01-03) | 0.6 | 5.73 | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | "Love Kills" | January 10, 2021 (2021-01-10) | 0.7 | 5.89 | 0.3 | 2.05 | 1.0 | 7.94 |
| 9 | "A Fait Accompli" | January 17, 2021 (2021-01-17) | 0.6 | 5.57 | 0.3 | 2.10 | 0.9 | 7.67 |
| 10 | "The Frogman's Daughter" | February 14, 2021 (2021-02-14) | 0.7 | 6.15 | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | "Russia, Russia, Russia" | February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21) | 0.6 | 5.92 | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | February 28, 2021 (2021-02-28) | 0.5 | 5.83 | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | "Red Rover, Red Rover" | March 28, 2021 (2021-03-28) | 0.6 | 5.57 | 0.9 | — | — | — |
| 14 | "The Noble Maidens" | April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) | 0.5 | 5.55 | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | "Imposter Syndrome" | May 2, 2021 (2021-05-02) | 0.6 | 5.61 | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | "Signs of Change" | May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09) | 0.6 | 5.60 | 0.3 | 2.02 | 0.9 | 7.62 |
| 17 | "Through The Looking Glass" | May 16, 2021 (2021-05-16) | 0.6 | 5.85 | 0.3 | 1.81 | 0.9 | 7.66 |
| 18 | "A Tale of Two Igors" | May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23) | 0.6 | 6.18 | 0.2 | 1.86 | 0.9 | 8.03 |

## Home media

NCIS: Los Angeles: The Twelfth Season :
| Set details | Set details | Special features | Special features | Special features | Special features |
| 5 discs 18 episodes Subtitled, NTSC | 5 discs 18 episodes Subtitled, NTSC | | | | |
| DVD release dates ||||||
| Region 1 | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Region 4 |
| August 24, 2021 | August 24, 2021 | | | N/A | N/A |