# NCIS: New Orleans season 1

The first season of NCIS: New Orleans, an American police procedural drama television series, originally aired on CBS from September 23, 2014, through May 12, 2015. The season was produced by CBS Television Studios, with Gary Glasberg as showrunner and executive producer. The pilot was aired on March 25, 2014, to April 1, 2014, serves as the first of a two-part backdoor pilot during the eleventh season of NCIS and ordered to series in May 2014. On October 27, 2014, CBS picked up NCIS: New Orleans for a full season of 23 episodes.

## Plot

The first season of NCIS: New Orleans follows the work of Special Agent Dwayne Pride, who leads a New Orleans–based investigative team tasked with solving crimes involving the US Navy and Marine Corps. Pride and Chris LaSalle work alongside new-transfer Meredith Brody, as they face the loss of friends ("Musician Heal Thyself"), battle a suspected plague outbreak ("Carrier"), and investigate cases including a brig break ("Breaking Brig"), a murder at a sorority house ("The Recruits"), a kidnapping that brings the FBI to New Orleans ("It Happened Last Night"), a murder at a cemetery on Halloween ("Master of Horror"), a death at Mardi Gras ("Love Hurts"), a bomber targeting Pride and his family ("Baitfish"), a case that calls for NCIS to work alongside CGIS ("The Abyss"), and a sailor who asks for his own murder to be investigated ("The Walking Dead"), all while facing the death of loved ones ("How Much Pain Can You Take?").

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Scott Bakula as Dwayne Cassius Pride, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) assigned to the New Orleans Office
* Lucas Black as Christopher LaSalle, NCIS Senior Special Agent, second in command
* Zoe McLellan as Meredith Brody, NCIS Special Agent from the closed Chicago Field Office, recruited to the New Orleans office
* Rob Kerkovich as Sebastian Lund, Jefferson Parish Forensic Specialist for NCIS
* C. C. H. Pounder as Loretta Wade, Jefferson Parish Medical Examiner for NCIS

### Recurring

* Shalita Grant as Sonja Percy, ATF Special Agent
* Daryl Mitchell as Patton Plame, NCIS Computer Specialist
* Shanley Caswell as Laurel Pride, Dwayne Pride's daughter
* Callie Thorne as Sasha Broussard, former member of the New Orleans Broussard crime syndicate
* Steven Weber as Douglas Hamilton, Republican New Orleans city councilman of District C.
* John Livingston as Paul “Baitfish” Jenks, former member of the New Orleans Broussard crime syndicate and Confidential Informant for Dwayne Pride
* Gillian Alexy as Savannah Kelly, long time love interest of LaSalle
* Dylan Walsh as Jim Messier, Captain with New Orleans Police Department
* Clayne Crawford as Cade LaSalle, Christopher LaSalle's brother
* Dean Stockwell as Tom Hamilton, Douglas' father
* Christopher Meyer as Danny Malloy, Loretta's eldest foster son (C.J.'s brother)
* Dani Dare as C.J. Malloy, Loretta's youngest foster son (Danny's brother)
* Stacy Keach as Cassius Pride, Dwayne Pride's imprisoned father

### Guests

* Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) assigned to Washington's Navy Yard
* Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS Special Agent, second in command of MCRT
* Pauley Perrette as Abigail Sciuto, Forensic Specialist for NCIS in D.C.
* Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, NCIS Director stationed in D.C.
* David McCallum as Dr. Donald Mallard, Chief Medical Examiner for NCIS in Washington, D.C.
* Joe Spano as Tobias Fornell, FBI Senior Special Agent from D.C.
* Diane Neal as Abigail Borin, CGIS Special Agent in Charge
* Meredith Eaton as Carol Wilson, immunologist and friend of Abby Sciuto

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Musician Heal Thyself" | Michael Zinberg | Jeffrey Lieber | September 23, 2014 (2014-09-23) | NO101 | 17.22 |
| The New Orleans team investigate the discovery of a severed leg found at a marina with the leg later revealed to have belonged to a recently murdered Navy Petty Officer Second Class who Pride mentored, prompting the team to investigate the crime. Brody, having joined the NCIS: New Orleans team on a permanent basis (in the NCIS season eleven episode, "Crescent City") is trying to get acquainted with New Orleans. NCIS Medical Examiner, Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard later offers both Wade and Pride some insight into the case. ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Carrier" | James Whitmore Jr. | Gary Glasberg | September 30, 2014 (2014-09-30) | NO103 | 16.57 |
| When a Navy lieutenant on liberty dies in downtown New Orleans after being hit by a taxi, the team investigate what happened, but things soon take a turn when the autopsy reveals that the victim died of the bubonic plague and that the death is connected to a potential bioterrorist attack on a Navy ship, the U.S.S. Geronimo. As the team begin rounding up those assigned to the ship, they receive assistance from NCIS Director Leon Vance with CDC officer Carol Wilson and NCIS Special Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo both arriving in New Orleans to help with the case. ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Breaking Brig" | Tony Wharmby | Laurie Arent | October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07) | NO104 | 15.41 |
| When a bus crashes into a ditch resulting in three prisoners who were en route to the Naval Brig in Charleston escaping and the deaths of two security guards and a prisoner, the team soon discovers that one of them is a wanted criminal who poses a threat to national security. NCIS Director Leon Vance and Pride's friend, fellow NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs both assist in the search with the investigation. ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Recruits" | Oz Scott | Sam Humphrey | October 14, 2014 (2014-10-14) | NO105 | 16.14 |
| After a Navy SEAL is found shot dead in a sorority house, the team must determine if the motive pertained to one of his classified missions or foul play, only to discover an illegal prostitution ring is operating in the college on behalf of the local Russian mafia branch. Meanwhile, Pride's daughter, Laurel, pays the NCIS office a visit. ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "It Happened Last Night" | Arvin Brown | Jack Bernstein | October 21, 2014 (2014-10-21) | NO102 | 16.13 |
| When a chief warrant officer who specialized in counterintelligence is found dead from waterboarding, the team discover that the victim's wife has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. FBI agent Tobias Fornell arrives in New Orleans to assist Pride and the team with the case. ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Master of Horror" | Terrence O'Hara | Scott D. Shapiro | October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28) | NO106 | 16.09 |
| As New Orleans prepares to celebrate Halloween, a Naval Staff Judge Advocate is found in a cemetery murdered "vampire-style" with the team discovering that an unlikely suspect is responsible and that a woman's life is hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, Brody and LaSalle compare costumes. ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Watch Over Me" | James Hayman | David Appelbaum | November 11, 2014 (2014-11-11) | NO107 | 14.99 |
| A Navy officer with the highest-level top secret clearance is murdered after being assigned as a tech liaison with a private developer, with the team also discovering his assistant dead in the bath at his house. Meanwhile, Pride transforms the carport into an auto shop when he works on the first car he gave his wife. ||||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Love Hurts" | Michael Pressman | Jack Bernstein | November 18, 2014 (2014-11-18) | NO108 | 16.86 |
| A petty officer is found dead in a Mardi Gras float storage facility with an engagement ring and proposal plan in hand. The investigation takes a mysterious turn when the team are unable to locate his supposed long-term girlfriend, but things change when it's revealed that a murderous Colombian assassin is in the city and plan on killing a group of Navy and Marine personnel who hope to stop the flow of drugs into South America. ||||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Chasing Ghosts" | James Whitmore Jr. | Jonathan I. Kidd & Sonya Winton | November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25) | NO109 | 14.47 |
| The team investigates a 40-year-old cold case about a murder of a chief petty officer which hits close to home for Dr. Wade. However, an exhumation of the body reveals some unexpected evidence that may change everything. Meanwhile, Sebastian gets into the Thanksgiving mood and Laurel brings home her boyfriend. ||||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Stolen Valor" | Dennis Smith | Laurie Arent | December 16, 2014 (2014-12-16) | NO110 | 14.14 |
| A former SEAL who hunts military impostors is found dead at a museum, and the team's investigation leads them to find the jacket of a Marine who was presumed killed in Afghanistan. When the investigation reveals that the Marine may still be alive, both Pride and LaSalle travel to Afghanistan in an attempt to bring him home. Meanwhile, Brody wonders about LaSalle's issues with Christmas. ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Baitfish" | Leslie Libman | Teleplay by : Jeffrey Lieber Story by : Jeffrey Lieber & Jeremiah Tash | January 6, 2015 (2015-01-06) | NO111 | 17.73 |
| While attending the Navy-Marine Relief Gala, a deadly explosion happens, putting Laurel Pride's boyfriend in the hospital. The team learns that Pride was the intended target and the assassination attempt could be related to one of his old cases. ||||||||
| 12 | 12 | "The Abyss" | Terrence O'Hara | Sam Humphrey | January 13, 2015 (2015-01-13) | NO112 | 16.39 |
| The NCIS team partner with the Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent Abigail Borin to probe a double homicide aboard a research boat when an admiral's daughter becomes the prime suspect in the case. Meanwhile, LaSalle tracks down his estranged brother. ||||||||
| 13 | 13 | "The Walking Dead" | Edward Ornelas | David Appelbaum | February 3, 2015 (2015-02-03) | NO113 | 16.52 |
| A Navy lieutenant commander and a friend of Pride seeks his help to solve his impending murder after he learns he has been poisoned with a lethal dose of radiation. CGIS agent Abigail Borin pairs up with the team again. ||||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Careful What You Wish For" | James Hayman | Scott D. Shapiro | February 10, 2015 (2015-02-10) | NO114 | 16.19 |
| A fellow NCIS agent is shot dead while on security detail for a high-ranking Navy admiral. The team's investigation leads them to discover that the agent was the target due to a secret he knew about a sick child's biological father. Meanwhile, Brody's past is brought up by the security detail leader. ||||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Le Carnaval de la Mort" | Tony Wharmby | Jonathan I. Kidd & Sonya Winton | February 17, 2015 (2015-02-17) | NO115 | 14.70 |
| The stabbing death of a Mardi Gras partygoer leads the team to uncover a gang's plans for a major robbery at the height of the festival. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Pride and Laurel when he learns that she has been secretly visiting Pride's father in prison. ||||||||
| 16 | 16 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Oz Scott | Teleplay by : Christopher Ambrose Story by : Christopher Ambrose & Jonathan I. Kidd & Sonya Winton | February 24, 2015 (2015-02-24) | NO116 | 13.71 |
| When a Navy recruiter is killed in a hit-and-run, the team's investigation leads them to her two foster children and their recently returned father. Meanwhile, LaSalle gets concerned that Cade hasn't been showing much progress in his treatment. ||||||||
| 17 | 17 | "More Now" | Bethany Rooney | Christopher Silber | March 10, 2015 (2015-03-10) | NO117 | 12.61 |
| Both LaSalle and Brody grow concerned with Pride's obsession with catching Baitfish, who is killing off many of his old associates and building a new empire. ||||||||
| 18 | 18 | "The List" | Michael Zinberg | Laurie Arent | March 24, 2015 (2015-03-24) | NO118 | 14.42 |
| After a Naval officer is found dead in a strip club, the team discovers that his death matches the MO of two unsolved murders, leading them to a mural with the names of unprosecuted killers. The list suggests that a vigilante may be at work. Meanwhile, Brody's ex-fiancé pays her a surprise visit. ||||||||
| 19 | 19 | "The Insider" | James Whitmore Jr. | David Appelbaum & Scott D. Shapiro | April 7, 2015 (2015-04-07) | NO119 | 14.33 |
| In the morgue, Wade, Danny, and Sebastian are held hostage by a criminal who wants a secret that is inside a dead body, forcing Pride and the rest of the team into a desperate race against time to resolve the situation before an FBI team take charge. ||||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" | Elodie Keene | Jonathan I. Kidd & Sonya Winton | April 14, 2015 (2015-04-14) | NO120 | 14.40 |
| A Navy commander's adopted baby daughter is kidnapped when he leaves her in the car while taking groceries inside, prompting the NCIS team to launch a search for the missing baby. CGIS agent Abigail Borin returns to help them with the case. ||||||||
| 21 | 21 | "You'll Do" | Alrick Riley | Sam Humphrey | April 28, 2015 (2015-04-28) | NO121 | 14.55 |
| When Cade's girlfriend is discovered murdered in the back of his car, Cade is charged with her murder. NCIS joins in for LaSalle's sake, but he's ordered to stay off the case. However, an old enemy returns with a message for Pride with the episode ending with Baitfish aiming a gun at LaSalle's girlfriend. ||||||||
| 22 | 22 | "How Much Pain Can You Take?" | Terrence O'Hara | Christopher Ambrose & Christopher Silber | May 5, 2015 (2015-05-05) | NO122 | 13.35 |
| In the aftermath of Savannah's murder and with the crime scene later being attacked resulting in the deaths of two officers and four more injured (as well as Brody who suffers a cut to her right arm), the team go into overdrive as all of New Orleans’ law enforcement searches for Baitfish. LaSalle seeks revenge for Savannah's death at Baitfish's hand. However, things get complicated when it's revealed Sasha and Baitfish have turned on each other and both are trying to get rid of the other. ||||||||
| 23 | 23 | "My City" | James Hayman | Teleplay by : Jeffrey Lieber Story by : Jeffrey Lieber & Zach Strauss | May 12, 2015 (2015-05-12) | NO123 | 13.61 |
| Following a murder at the port in which a Navy officer dies after having his throat slit, Pride and the team investigate and discover that a dangerous West African terrorist has secretly infiltrated the city and is plotting an attack that could leave the entire population gravely ill with radiation poisoning. ||||||||

## Production
### Development

In September 2013, NCIS: New Orleans will be introduced with a two-part backdoor pilot during the eleventh season of NCIS. The episode title "Crescent City (Part I)" and "Crescent City (Part II)", written by Gary Glasberg, which aired on March 25, 2014, to April 1, 2014, a second spin off from NCIS and set filmed located in New Orleans. NCIS: New Orleans was ordered to series on May 9, 2014. On October 27, 2014, CBS picked up NCIS: New Orleans for a full season of 23 episodes.

### Casting

In February 2014, the pilot was cast with Scott Bakula, CCH Pounder, and Zoe McLellan as Dwayne Pride, Loretta Wade, and Meredith Brody, Lucas Black as Christopher LaSalle, and Rob Kerkovich as Sebastian Lund a forensic scientist.

## Broadcast

Season one of NCIS: New Orleans premiered on CBS in the United States on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, with the season twelfth premiere of NCIS as its lead-in.

## Reception
### Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of NCIS: New Orleans season 1 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Musician Heal Thyself" | September 23, 2014 | 2.5/7 | 17.22 | 1.0 | 3.71 | 3.5 | 20.93 |
| 2 | "Carrier" | September 30, 2014 | 2.3/7 | 16.57 | — | 3.22 | — | 19.79 |
| 3 | "Breaking Brig" | October 7, 2014 | 2.3/7 | 15.41 | — | 3.09 | — | 18.50 |
| 4 | "The Recruits" | October 14, 2014 | 2.2/6 | 16.14 | — | 3.06 | — | 19.20 |
| 5 | "It Happened Last Night" | October 21, 2014 | 2.4/7 | 16.13 | 0.9 | 3.27 | 3.3 | 19.40 |
| 6 | "Master of Horror" | October 28, 2014 | 2.3/7 | 16.09 | — | 3.17 | — | 19.26 |
| 7 | "Watch Over Me" | November 11, 2014 | 2.0/6 | 14.99 | — | 3.42 | — | 18.41 |
| 8 | "Love Hurts" | November 18, 2014 | 2.3/6 | 16.86 | — | 3.01 | — | 19.87 |
| 9 | "Chasing Ghosts" | November 25, 2014 | 2.3/7 | 14.47 | 0.8 | 3.21 | 3.1 | 17.68 |
| 10 | "Stolen Valor" | December 16, 2014 | 1.9/5 | 14.14 | 0.8 | 3.14 | 2.7 | 17.28 |
| 11 | "Baitfish" | January 6, 2015 | 2.5/7 | 17.73 | 0.9 | 3.13 | 3.4 | 20.86 |
| 12 | "The Abyss" | January 13, 2015 | 2.3/7 | 16.39 | — | 3.06 | — | 19.45 |
| 13 | "The Walking Dead" | February 3, 2015 | 2.2/7 | 16.52 | — | 3.15 | — | 19.67 |
| 14 | "Careful What You Wish For" | February 10, 2015 | 2.3/7 | 16.19 | — | 3.42 | — | 19.61 |
| 15 | "Le Carnivale de la Mort" | February 17, 2015 | 2.0/6 | 14.70 | — | 3.24 | — | 17.94 |
| 16 | "My Brother's Keeper" | February 24, 2015 | 1.9/6 | 13.71 | — | 3.14 | — | 16.85 |
| 17 | "More Now" | March 10, 2015 | 1.6/5 | 12.61 | 0.8 | 2.96 | 2.4 | 15.57 |
| 18 | "The List" | March 24, 2015 | 1.8/6 | 14.42 | — | 3.14 | — | 17.56 |
| 19 | "The Insider" | April 7, 2015 | 1.7/5 | 14.33 | — | 2.96 | — | 17.29 |
| 20 | "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" | April 14, 2015 | 1.8/6 | 14.40 | 0.8 | 2.79 | 2.6 | 17.19 |
| 21 | "You'll Do" | April 28, 2015 | 1.9/6 | 14.55 | — | 2.88 | — | 17.43 |
| 22 | "How Much Pain Can You Take" | May 5, 2015 | 1.6/5 | 13.35 | — | 3.00 | — | 16.35 |
| 23 | "My City" | May 12, 2015 | 1.7/5 | 13.61 | — | 2.99 | — | 16.60 |

### Critical reception

NCIS: New Orleans has received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the first season of the show a rating of 60%, based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 5.50/10. The site's consensus reads, "With a solid cast in a beautiful locale, NCIS: New Orleans makes extending this well-worn franchise look like the Big Easy." Metacritic gives the show a score of 55 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
In late September 2014, The Wrap's journalist Jason Hughes reviewed the pilot episode of the series, praising the music, the use of the city of New Orleans, and CBS' decision to cast Scott Bakula as "one of the most likable leading men in television, so they're set there." David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave a mixed but critical review of the pilot episode, saying there is a "Crescent City flavor here. But in the larger picture, not much on this menu is unfamiliar." Liz Shannon Miller and Ben Travers of Indiewire said that NCIS is like "the obelisk in 2001: A Space Odyssey, it's an awe-inspiring, inescapable presence in the broadcast line-up. NCIS on CBS: It is here. It has always been here. It forever will be."