NCIS: Los Angeles: Catherine Bell Sets Up Mac’s Return for Finale About a Navy SEAL Accused of War Crimes
For a second straight spring, JAG alum Catherine Bell will play a role in the NCIS: Los Angeles season finale, as Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie hands Hetty’s team one of their most politically delicate assignments yet.
In the high-octane CBS drama’s ersatz finale — which airs an hour later than usual this Sunday, at 10/9c — Sam, Callen and prospect/FBI Special Agent Devin Rountree (played by LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell and guest star Caleb Castille) travel to Afghanistan after Mac discloses that two Navy SEALs have alleged their chief murdered an unarmed prisoner.
TVLine spoke with Bell about Mac’s latest visit for this ripped-from-the-headlines war crimes case.
TVLINE | Look at you, closing out NCIS: LA for a second straight season.
I love it! I was so excited. And it’s the first time I’ve been back in the uniform in 15 years or so.
TVLINE | Yes, I saw your Instagram, and you looked quite excited.
I really was. The first time I guest-starred on the show, I thought I’d be in uniform, but as excited as I was to be back on, I was like, “Awww, I’m not wearing the uniform?” But [showrunner] Scott [Gemmill] assured me it would happen, because Mac is still a Marine; she was just working State Department kind of stuff [in last year’s finale/the Season 11 premiere].
TVLINE | What makes this next appearance different for Mac?
Mac is back in uniform, as an NCIS special officer, to take on a very big case that the Navy is very interested in, involving a SEAL who may be having murder charges brought against him. It’s about a “SEAL gone rogue,” which is not good.
TVLINE | It’s very ripped-from-the-headlines.
It is, for sure. And we refer to that [Eddie Gallagher] case. Scott purposely said we’re not unpacking that case, because this is a different situation, but this situation is definitely bad news. So the guys go over [to Afghanistan] to check it out and it gets a little intense for all of us.
TVLINE | Given the serious charges at hand and the honor among SEALs, I imagine the case proves to be quite the political minefield.
Exactly. It’s definitely something that as a Marine, Mac is like, “Dude, what are you doing?” Mac is hoping it’s not true, but it does not look good as we start investigating.
TVLINE | Is Mac’s role to make sure the agents don’t cross any lines while investigating, that I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed?
Yep, pretty much; that’s what these JAG lawyers are there to do. She knows the law really well, and consults with all the top political guys, because it is a minefield. She lets these guys know what they can and can’t do, until she at one point loses contact with them, which is of course very scary.
TVLINE | Though this NCIS: LA case is, as you said, its own thing, had you as a person followed the real-life Eddie Gallagher story?
For sure, for sure. This also reminded me of some episodes we had done [on JAG] back in the day. There are so many fantastic Marines and Navy guys, and 99.9 percent of them are of the utmost integrity and honor. But every once in a while, as with any area on planet Earth, you find somebody who has his own agenda.
TVLINE | Though this wasn’t planned to be the season finale (due to the pandemic shutdown, NCIS: LA came up two episodes short), does it end on any kind of cliffhanger?
Oh yeah, and it is intense. It’s quite an action-packed episode, and it makes for a fantastic finale.
TVLINE | On a decidedly lighter note, turning to Hallmark’s Good Witch: Tell me about that fan base, because that show seems to get renewed pretty regularly, never with any real drama.
Gosh, it’s unbelievable. Good Witch started as a one-off Halloween Hallmark movie. I was on a break from I think it was Army Wives, we shot it in Toronto, and that was that. It did great, people loved it. And then we did another one, and then another one…. Literally, every year I’d have a hiatus from the show I was working on, and every year we did another movie. We did seven movies that way! And when Army Wives ended, Hallmark was like, “Hey, why don’t we do this as a series?” And now we’re at Season 6.
TVLINE | What’s the big hook for Season 6 (premiering Sunday, May 3)?
I am so excited for Season 6. We have a new character, Joy, played by Kat Barrell, who’s a fantastic actress. And I will say there’s a little more magic this season, a little more mystery…. It’s not “darker” — because it’s Good Witch, you’ll always feel good about yourself and the world after you watch an episode — but there’s definitely more magical things going on.
TVLINE | It sounds like Season 6 is rolling around at a pretty opportune time here in the world. A nice, light, fantastical diversion.
Exactly, exactly. I’m so glad we finished filming back in December, so we had this ready to go. It’s nice to have some of that right now.
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If Hetty won’t be back for next season I think Mac should replace her. However, if Nell and Eric leave and they bring on new agents not sure I would still watch.
I doubt Nell leaves since the only reason her character left this season was because Renee Felice Smith was given the opportunity by NCIS: LA producers to take time off so she could write a pilot for a new TV series. On Instagram, she said she intends to be back for next season. I doubt Foa leaves but I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes time off as well to pursue other projects.
In a previous episode, Hetty suggested Callen take over for Hetty and he talked about it with Sam. So it looks as if they could go that way.
I think Callen should persuade Hetty that Nell could run the team, just not in the same way as Hetty. She doesn’t have to be so dark and mysterious to get things done. It worked pretty well when Hetty was gone for a while.
Not a Nell or Eric fan…too inmature for the positions they hold especially Erick…yea I know Deeks does it too but that is part of his undercover fasad. Now Nell taking Hetty’s place can’t see it. Though she doesn’t show it everyone knows Hetty has a dark side and is not afraid to use it. Now on the other Nell hand isn’t old enough to have accumulated intricacies such as Hetty has nor does she have the intestinal fortitude to go through with them , nail shot and killed her first person and disappeared for 2 or 3 days. show should stay as it is except maybe replacing Eric and Nell with others who sing to be more suitable for that group, both behavior and appearance wise
It’s probably not a popular opinion, but I think Kensi could replace Hetty. If I am remembering correctly, Granger once told Kensi that he saw her moving up and having a bigger role. It might be a good compromise for her and Deeks- she’s still working to keep the world safe, but she wouldn’t be in the field getting shot at on a regular basis.
The Mac is Back!
Why don’t they just bring JAG back? Wouldn’t they be filming JAG and The Good Witch in the same area and so it wouldn’t be that big of a deal? Plus, can you imagine the crossover episodes! Just imagine how the inhabitants of Middleton whose biggest headache has so far been what kind of cupcakes to eat would deal with an influx of terrorists taking up residence in Grey House!
lol…ya that would be great. They’ve revived all these old shows, unfortunately it’s with a new cast. I think the only one really doing anything from JAG is her, I’d love to see the show come back with all of them. They’ve pretty much st it up with LA and the response from fans has been huge….so lets hope
For some reason, my earlier comment disappeared after posting it. Well, isn’t it time with all these reboots on tv to bring back JAG? Since the show would probably shoot in the same area as The Good Witch, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal for her to appear on both of them. Plus, imagine the possibilities of crossover events! For example, a terrorist cell on the run from NCIS decides to get away from it all with a weekend at Grey House in Middleton!
Yasss! I hope they consider Mac to replace Hetty. Freakin LOVE Linda Hunt but w her situation still……she’s been MIA again so I won’t be surprised if she(Hetty) finally decides to retire. But I’m more worried about Nell. I don’t want to see any of the originals to leave! Eric as well.
JAG was before my time but weren’t they legal aid or something? How can a ‘Navy Lawyer’ have sway in the world of covert ops like NCISLA does?
NCIS:LA isn’t always covert ops, and JAG isn’t legal aid, its prosecution and defense for crimes committed by naval personnel. A rogue SEAL definitely comes under their responsibility. It sounds like the NCIS team will be doing more like the mothership and investigating the possible crime. (Think of Law (NCIS:LA) & Order (JAG).)
NCIS investigated the Eddie Gallagher case, and JAG is involved as well. Sunday’s episode is very eerie, if you have been following that story.
I will stop watching the show as I don’t care for Bell’s poor acting skills. Too bad I truly liked the show, will watch if and when she’s gone.
Flashback…wasn’t it the April 22nd episode from Season 8 of JAG that set the stage for the original NCIS spinoff? Maybe Leroy Jethro Gibbs should make an appearance too.?.?.
Disappointed that sarah Mackenzie hasn’t made full colonel after all this time.
Either Mac or Harm takes over for Hetty and the other is posted in San Diego or other base nearby so they could drop in and guest once in a while.
Ellie Bishop from the mothership NCIS was receiving special training from the secretive Odette whose job is training select agents in specialized skills. That training would be wasted if Ellie remains an investigator.
That training would be useful in the OSP division of the NCIS umbrella. And Hetty and Odette could have a training history as a backstory.
Personally, I feel that now that “Abby” has found her way back on weekly TV (on the same network), & “Deeks” even cowrote an episode (the plot of which I may never understand), they need to let “Los Angeles” & “New Orleans” survive maybe without the mother-show led by Harmon (surname says it all), & certainly without any characters from Grandma “JAG”.
I like Kensy with long hair better and I think she lost too much weight.
So glad Catherine bell has returned I hope they use her and David more! She’s one of the best actresses on television and her character Mac is my all time favorite! Well done Ncisla!!! Let’s hope cbs gets smart and gives us our jag reboot and soon!!!!
Love all NCIS shows Love all Catherine Bells does so happy Good Witch back. Which more Good Witch was on n more re reruns of Castle, Razzoli n Isles Bones. Also Hallmark is wonder. Thank you all. 👍👍👍
I’m glad that Good Witch is getting back to its magical roots. I liked the air of mystery the earlier shows had. Good to see her back on NCIS LA too!
Yuk. Slandering Navy SEALs? The producers and the network should be ashamed. I call it: “Can’t watch TV.”