Honestly, if you ask any die-hard fan about NCIS Los Angeles season 9, you’re going to get a very specific look. It’s that half-grimace, half-shrug. This was the year everything changed. The year the family vibe of the OSP (Office of Special Projects) felt like it was being put through a woodchipper.
It wasn't just another season.
We lost Miguel Ferrer. His character, Owen Granger, was the gruff soul of the show, and his passing in real life meant the series had to pivot fast. Enter Shay Mosley. Played by Nia Long, Mosley was the polar opposite of Hetty Lange. While Hetty is the mysterious, tea-drinking puppet master we all love, Mosley was the rule-following, bureaucratic hammer. Except, you know, when it came to her own secrets.
The New Dynamic That Split the Fandom
Most people remember NCIS Los Angeles season 9 for the friction. It was thick. You could feel it through the screen.
Shay Mosley didn’t just walk in; she detonated. She basically told the team to fall in line or get out. For a crew that’s used to operating on gut feelings and "borrowed" cars, this was a total system shock. She considered Sam and Callen cocky and undisciplined. She wasn't entirely wrong, but hearing it from an outsider felt like an insult to the fans.
Then there was Harley Hidoko.
Played by Andrea Bordeaux, Hidoko was Mosley’s right hand. At first, everyone (myself included) was skeptical. We didn't want a "spy" for the new boss in the mix. But surprisingly, Hidoko became one of the best parts of the season. She had this quiet competence. She eventually earned the team's respect by showing she actually had their backs, even if it meant side-stepping Mosley.
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Why the Vietnam Arc Actually Worked
Early in the season, Hetty vanishes.
She heads to Vietnam on a personal mission to save an old colleague, Harris Keane. It felt like the show was trying to find a way to keep Linda Hunt involved while she dealt with her own real-world health recovery. Some people thought the Vietnam storyline dragged. I disagree.
It gave us a look into the "old guard." Seeing Hetty out of her comfort zone, being interrogated and held captive, reminded us that she’s a legend for a reason. When the team finally goes to rescue her in "Goodbye, Vietnam," it’s one of those classic OSP moments where the banter is high and the stakes are higher. It also bridged the gap between the new leadership and the old.
That Messy Densi Drama
If you’re here for the romance, NCIS Los Angeles season 9 was a total rollercoaster for Kensi and Deeks.
They’re engaged. They’re happy. Then, boom. Real life hits. Deeks starts questioning the job. He wants a life where they aren't getting shot at every Tuesday. Kensi, ever the soldier, can't imagine doing anything else.
It led to some of the most gut-wrenching scenes in the series. In the finale, "A Line in the Sand," they basically call off the wedding. It wasn't some dramatic soap opera twist; it felt like a real conversation two people in high-stress jobs would actually have. They were fundamentally at odds about their future. It hurt to watch.
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The Mexico Mission: A Controversial Ending
The season 9 finale is where things get truly wild.
Mosley goes rogue. All that talk about rules and protocol? Tossed out the window because her son, Derrick, is in Mexico with his international arms dealer father, Spencer Williams. She basically blackmails and coerces the team into an unsanctioned mission across the border.
It was a suicide mission. Plain and simple.
The team heads down there with almost no support. They're outgunned. They're in a country where they have no jurisdiction. And then the ending happens. That SUV hit by a rocket launcher?
Absolute insanity.
We’re left with Sam, Callen, Kensi, and Deeks unconscious in a burning vehicle. Hidoko is missing (and, as we later find out, the news isn't good). It was a cliffhanger that left fans fuming for months. Many felt Mosley’s character was irredeemable after this. She risked the lives of the best agents in the agency for a personal custody battle.
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Technical Highlights and Guest Stars
Despite the heavy drama, the season didn't skimp on the action.
- Episode 200: A massive milestone. We saw the return of several familiar faces.
- The Silo: A terrifying episode involving nuclear launch codes that felt way too real.
- The Monster: An incredibly creepy episode featuring "Frankenstein" corpses that felt more like a horror movie than a procedural.
We also got great recurring turns from Vyto Ruginis as Arkady Kolcheck and Bar Paly as Anna. Their presence always adds that bit of chaotic energy that balances out the procedural grind.
What to Do Next if You're Rewatching
If you’re diving back into NCIS Los Angeles season 9, don't just binge it for the action.
Watch the subtext between Mosley and Hetty. There’s a lot of "passing the torch" energy that doesn't quite work, and seeing where it fumbles is actually quite interesting from a writing perspective. Pay attention to Sam Hanna's arc too. He’s still grieving Michelle, living in that trailer on the beach. LL Cool J’s performance is understated and really grounds the season's more "out there" moments.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Timeline: Rewatch the "Vietnam" arc (Episodes 13 and 14) back-to-back. It plays like a mini-movie and flows much better than it did during the weekly broadcast.
- Analyze the Finale: Look at the "Line in the Sand" and "Ninguna Salida" episodes as a character study on leadership failure. It makes season 10's fallout much more impactful.
- Appreciate Hidoko: Since her time on the show was short, pay attention to her tactical contributions in the mid-season. She was a top-tier agent.
This season proved that the show could survive major cast changes, even if it was a bumpy ride. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely memorable.
Pro Tip for Collectors: If you're looking for the physical media, the Season 9 DVD set includes some decent deleted scenes that explain a bit more of the tension between Mosley and Deeks that didn't make the final broadcast cut. It’s worth a look if you want the full picture of why their relationship disintegrated so fast.