Few TV shows love a holiday episode more than NCIS: Los Angeles. Over 14 seasons, the series blended procedural stakes with breezy character humor, and nowhere is that formula sharper than in Season 5’s “Merry Evasion.” It aired in December 2013, but more than a decade later, it remains the most complete and emotionally satisfying Christmas installment the show ever pulled off — even when compared to the fan-favorite “Humbug,” which gave Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) one of their most iconic romantic beats.

But Merry Evasion is something different. It’s a Christmas episode that doesn’t rely on holiday fluff or romance to stick the landing. Instead, it delivers an unusually layered combination of case-of-the-week tension, character comedy, emotional distance between partners, unexpected pairings, and a finale that hits the exact bittersweet tone the show was built for. In other words, it’s peak NCIS: LA.

An ‘NCIS: LA’ Christmas Case With Real Stakes

Image via Monty Brinton / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

Unlike the slightly lighter structure of “Humbug,” “Merry Evasion” weaves its holiday setting into a surprisingly suspenseful plot. The episode follows the team as they investigate an attack on Senator Lockhart’s daughter, Lily (Michelle Trachtenberg​​​​​​). What initially looks like a random break-in quickly unravels into something broader, tying into Lockhart’s crackdown on Chinese military cyber operations.

Callen (Chris O’Donnell) and Sam (LL Cool J) are forced into a fast-paced protective-custody run as multiple attempts are made on Lily’s life, giving the episode an almost chase-film energy. They operate without backup, relying on tradecraft and improvisation—including one classic NCIS: LA moment involving Callen accessing one of his old CIA caches hidden in plain sight. It’s action-packed but emotionally grounded, with Lily’s complicated relationship with her father adding just enough character depth to avoid the crime-of-the-week rut.

While Sam and Callen shoulder the high-adrenaline sequences, the rest of the team juggles their own complications — including the absence that the episode leans on most.

“Merry Evasion” lands during Kensi’s Afghanistan arc, one of the most emotionally tense stretches in the show’s run. She and Deeks — fresh off their post-“Frozen Lake” awkwardness — are separated by continents. Their relationship is in limbo, and the holiday only intensifies it.

The episode uses their distance beautifully. Kensi, isolated in a war zone with Granger (Miguel Ferrer) and pulled deeper into the White Ghost storyline, is clearly homesick and worn down. Deeks, meanwhile, tries to stay upbeat but is noticeably adrift without her. Their early-episode loneliness sets up one of the sweetest tonal shifts of the season: Hetty’s (Linda Hunt) surprise “gift.”

Hetty — quietly the show’s secret holiday softy — sends Kensi a Christmas tin that turns out to be a secure phone line home. On the other end? Deeks. Their phone call is everything the episode needs it to be: Awkward, heartfelt, and overflowing with the kind of restrained affection that defined their slow-burn dynamic. We don’t hear the whole conversation, but what we do get lands harder than many of their in-person scenes. It’s the emotional centerpiece of the episode and a reminder of why their relationship captivated fans long before “Humbug” ever aired.

The Best Deeks/Nell Team-Up the Show Ever Gave Us

Imawge via Ron P. Jaffe / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

When one partner is gone, NCIS: LA thrives on unexpected pairings, and “Merry Evasion” proved that Marty Deeks and Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith) were secretly one of the show’s most charming temporary duos.

While Kensi is overseas, Hetty pairs Deeks with Nell — still training for more fieldwork — and their dynamic is pitch-perfect. Deeks takes on an almost mentor-like tone, mixing genuine guidance with classic Deeks humor (plus multiple on-the-nose Velma/Shaggy moments). Nell matches him beat-for-beat with her intelligence and quick problem-solving, even guiding him through urban tracking techniques that he once teased Kensi about studying for fun.

Their partnership adds levity without undermining the episode’s tension. It also subtly reinforces one of “Merry Evasion’s” core strengths: Every character gets a moment to shine without derailing the narrative. It’s ensemble writing at its most balanced.

Why ‘Merry Evasion’ Outshines ‘Humbug’ 12 Years Later

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There’s no denying that “Humbug” delivers one of the most cherished moments in the entire series — Kensi and Deeks finally admitting they’re “all in.” It’s a warm, deeply satisfying emotional payoff, which is why fans often point to it as the definitive holiday episode. But that’s also what limits it: The power of “Humbug” rests almost entirely on one long-awaited romantic reveal.

In comparison, “Merry Evasion” is simply a more robust episode from start to finish. It combines a genuinely suspenseful plotline with a strong supporting cast. It successfully captures the balance between suspense, humor, and emotional desire without leaning too heavily towards any one of these themes.

The tension feels real, the banter between characters is sparkly, and the Christmas motif flows through the entire episode without being overwhelming. There’s a tension-filled dynamic between Callen and Sam, Deeks and Nell make a cute partnership, Hetty is weaving her web of influence on the sidelines, Eric (Barrett Foa) loses his mind in Operations, Kensi has some quiet moments of missing home, all of which coexist together in a way that is unmistakably NCIS: LA – fast-paced, savvy, heartwarming and a little bit chaotic.

Most importantly, “Merry Evasion” captures what made the show work for so many years—the feeling of a found family forced to adapt when its members are scattered. The longing between Kensi and Deeks is understated but potent, and their brief, awkward, overwhelmed phone call ends the episode with an emotional resonance that lingers far longer than a tidy holiday bow ever could.