NCIS: New Orleans is the second spin-off of popular series NCIS, after NCIS: Los Angeles. It follows the NCIS team in the “Big Easy”, led by the laidback Dwayne Pride (Scott Bakula). The cast has switched around some since the series’ premiere in 2014, but each new character introduction has seemed fitting thus far, giving us new characters to love, and more storylines to become invested in.
NCIS: New Orleans has had some interesting and frankly, riveting storylines in its past, which has certainly contributed to the show now being on its sixth season. That said, here are the 10 best episodes, ranked according to IMDb.
See You Soon (7.9)
In the Season 5 premiere, Pride is fighting for his life in the ICU. The show took an interesting liberty and includes bits and pieces of Pride dreaming, having to make a decision between life and death. Meanwhile, his team resolves to track down his shooter. It isn’t short on intensity or action (Gregorio is knocked out by an oxygen tank), and it’s certainly full of heart.
The team is family and this episode outlines that. Just as Pride is about to say goodbye, he hears his daughter’s voice, as she has finally managed to arrive from New York. Hearing her voice is what changes his mind at the last moment and brings him back. Where would the team be without their noble leader?
My Brother’s Keeper (8.0)
A case of a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a Navy recruiter calls for extensive investigating in this episode. The team is busy looking in every nook and cranny for an explanation as to why she was run over, and the villain is the real father of the two boys the recruiter had been a foster mother to.
The case was gripping and tragic, but the two boys find a home with none other than Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder). Not to mention Chris faces some family drama when he tries to help his troubled older brother, which was a strong secondary storyline.
Identity Crisis (8.1)
This episode finds the spotlight put on Sebastian (Rob Kerkovich) when an old friend reaches out to him for help. Her business partner has been killed and she’s been placed in mortal danger. Not to mention the FBI believes Adrian (Kristen Hager) is a hacker they’ve been tracking for years, so not only is Sebastian helping her run from the bad guys, but the good guys as well.
Sebastian and Adrian don’t have many chances to reminisce their high school days, but it allowed audiences to get to know Sebastian a little better in those brief moments.
How Much Pain Can You Take? (8.2)
Pride’s nemesis, Baitfish, murders someone close to Pride to send a message. Well, message sent, and Pride’s officially on the hunt for blood. Baitfish toys with him, pushing Pride to his limits, which affects his team by extension. Pride and Baitfish had a memorable confrontation in which they questioned one another on how much pain they could take, with Pride ending on a threatening note that he’d never give up going after Baitfish.
This episode makes things personal, especially for Pride, and it leads up to one Hell of a season finale, which was meaningful considering the show was still in its first season.
Means To An End (8.2)
This season 2 episode starts off with a twist as Pride’s daughter Laurel (Shanley Caswell) is attacked on campus while out running. She bravely fights off her attacker, who dies. Afterward, Pride discovers that someone has been surveilling him, and places Laurel into protective custody.
While Pride and the team search for answers, Laurel struggles with the idea of killing her attacker, even if it was in self-defense, until Loretta assures her otherwise after conducting an autopsy. Pride is clearly protective of his family–you come after them, you should expect no mercy.
The Third Man (8.3)
In this episode, Pride connects with the victim to see past the man’s PTSD and understand that he had nothing to do with the death of his Navy master diver friend. The poor guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
However, that death unlocked an even bigger problem–a threat to the city of New Orleans. Teaming up with Homeland Security was an interesting but necessary partnership that would have lasting effects. Knowing how much Pride loves his city, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to save it, and that’s what he and his team do over the next few episodes.
Convicted (8.3)
Losing Chris LaSalle (Lucas Black) hit fans hard. No one was ready to see the fan-favorite go. Naturally, this episode, which was about seeking justice for Chris, is highly ranked. The man who killed him is not only a drug dealer but also the leader of a cult.
Fans wouldn’t have been satisfied with Chris’s killer going free, just as much as Pride and the rest of the team wouldn’t be. This was about finding a means to an end to ensure the killer paid for what he’d done by taking away a beloved member of the team.
Desperate Navy Wives (8.3)
Gregorio goes undercover as a Navy wife looking to join a social group. Many of the wives are wary, but she strikes up a friendship with one of the wives, who has an ex-boyfriend on the FBI Most Wanted List (hence the reason for the undercover stint).
Gregorio keeps an eye on her and the rest of the girls, going beyond her comfort zone to infiltrate the group and ultimately save the girls once they involuntarily become involved in the ex-boyfriend’s criminal activities. The episode was intriguing, given Gregorio’s performance and the case itself.
Crab Mentality (8.4)
Hannah Khoury was a mystery for the longest time after her arrival. While Pride took another job, she became the new leader of the team. It was a little icy for a bit as she adjusted to the team and vice versa, but she found her way.
However, in this episode, we get to know another side of her and watch as she is suddenly faced with blackmail. Obviously the team rallies around her in support, as she’s become one of their own.
Sleeping With The Enemy (8.4)
Meredith Brody was one of the original cast members on NCIS: New Orleans, but she only stuck around for two seasons. She came with a past (who doesn’t?), but she called New Orleans home and the team family. However, as questions begin to be raised about her boyfriend, she goes undercover to investigate him.
It’s certainly no easy feat and it left a mark, which resulted in her character’s departure and an investigation that took NCIS a while to recover from beginning in Season 3.
