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Warning: Post contains major spoilers

“NCIS: New Orleans” season 6 episode 6 “Matthew 5:9” might be the most shocking episode yet of the CBS hit series. Picking up from where “Spies & Lies” left off, Special Agents Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) and Chris LaSalle (Lucas Black) continue searching for Cade LaSalle’s killer. During the investigation into Cade’s death, Pride and LaSalle uncovered a synthetic opioid. While Pat Dolan confessed to murdering Cade, he’s released since he had an alibi. Nevertheless, Dolan insists that he slaughtered Cade. As Pride explains that Dolan couldn’t have killed Cade based on evidence from the coroner’s report, Chris bursts into the interrogation room yelling “Why are you confessing to a murder you didn’t commit?” It’s clear that Dolan is covering for someone. “[Dolan’s] more afraid of the person he’s covering for than he is of a potential life sentence.” Indeed, shortly after being let free, Dolan drives onto a bridge, gets out of his car, and jumps into the murky waters below.

While Pride calls Agent Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) from the New Orleans office to join the investigation in Alabama, LaSalle searches Dolan’s apartment. But he’s interrupted when Sue-Anne Hughes shows up claiming to be Dolan’s girlfriend. Sue-Anne recalls meeting up with Pat at a hunting cabin in the middle of nowhere. From her recollection, LaSalle deduces that it was the spot of Cade’s murder. As such, Chris asks Sue-Anne to take him to the cabin. Although Pride urges LaSalle to wait for backup, Chris argues that the killer has been one step ahead throughout the entire investigation. Arriving at the cabin, LaSalle heads inside where unseen assailant shoots both Chris and Sue-Anne.

LaSalle is airlifted to New Orleans where he’s treated for multiple gunshot wounds. Chris emerges from surgery and seems fine. But while Jefferson Parish medical examiner Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder) sits with LaSalle, he groggily mumbles. Hey there. I missed you.” Smiling through her crying, Loretta replies “We missed you too.” However, LaSalle follows up with “Let’s go fishing, Cade.” Code Blue, and LaSalle’s gone.

The team reacts to LaSalle’s death in various ways. Sebastian insists upon getting back to the crime scene. “We’ve got half a dozen law enforcement agencies scouring the area for suspects, three different CSU teams tearing that cabin apart,” Special Agent Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito) reassures. “None of them are me,” Lund responds. Sagely, Gregorio points out “Well you’re not really you right now, baby.” Investigative Computer Specialist Patton “Triple P” Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) comforts Pride at the hospital, recounting when King was shot. “It was more than a scare. But you pulled through. So will LaSalle.”

Loretta performs the autopsy and discovers DNA under his fingernails which leads to a major break in the case. “Chris may have just handed us his killer,” Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan) explains. “Our boy’s working his own murder case from beyond the grave,” Patton chimes in. The DNA turns up a match in Edward Barrett.

Observations:

When LaSalle was pronounced dead, I was shocked. “NCIS: New Orleans” never shies away from killing off characters. In the memorable episode “How Much Pain can You Take,” LaSalle’s then-girlfriend Savannah was murdered. “NCIS: New Orleans” also saw Cassius Pride (Stacy Keach) gunned down. Plus, former NCIS Agents Meredith “Merri” Brody (Zoe McLellan) and Sonja Percy (Shalita Grant) left the series, albeit not in bodybags. But Chris LaSalle’s death on “NCIS: New Orleans” S06E06 “Matthew 5:9” comes as a major twist.

Throughout the episode, there are several flashbacks of LaSalle: helping Sebastian with NCIS REACT training, inviting Loretta to church, helping Khoury get acquainted to New Orleans, congratulating Pride on his promotion to Special Agent in Charge (SAC). The team reacts in various ways, from blaming themselves to getting back in the field, hellbent on solving LaSalle’s murder. Oddly, though Barrett has been like a ghost. “No driver’s license, no current address, no tax returns,” Khoury reveals. Despite this, the NCIS NOLA team tracks Barrett and Sue-Ann to a diner where the pair are arrested. It seems a bit too easy. During the arrest, Barrett reassures Sue-Ann, “This isn’t how this ends.” While it seems that it’s indeed over for Barrett and Sue-Ann, I wouldn’t be surprised either or both return as villains in a future episode. Catching the killer comes across as deceptively easy in this case, particularly with the highly-touted conspiracy elements swirling around the opioid ring. Nevertheless, the uneventful arrest subverts the epic showdown trope, once again bucking the typical “NCIS” formula.

Although LaSalle’s death is a complete gut-wrenching surprise, it’s a ballsy choice that proves “NCIS: New Orleans” isn’t afraid to make bold story arc choices. Still, with Chris LaSalle dead and Sebastian possibly leaving NCIS New Orleans to join the NCIS REACT team, it’s unclear where the series is headed. As “NCIS: New Orleans” episode “Matthew 5:9” comes to a close, a flashback shows Pride and LaSalle in a conversation which arguably speaks mostly to fans. “You becoming the new SAC is a big deal,” Chris tells Pride. “Guess I just don’t really like the thought of things changing,” Pride admits. LaSalle offers, “Well, nothing stays the same forever. If it did, wouldn’t really be living.” While this may be true, LaSalle’s death is, as Chris would say, no bueno. Though it may not be a choice I’m happy with, it’s an unconventional plot that I didn’t predict. Chances are, this will only serve to increase Pride’s continued PTSD. I’m curious where the show goes from here.