NCIS: Los Angeles (TV Series) Pushback (2009) User Reviews

Enter Boris Badenov

[lfreepartner · 9/10 · 15 February 2021]

NCIS:LA flounders sometimes, especially pre-Deeks, but the addition of Arkady Kolchek as portrayed by Vyto Ruginis elevates the previously hesitant performances of some of the cast who hadn't yet "found" their characters.

This episode kept me interested in the show which seemed doomed, to me, at the time. Fortunately some casting changes and real chemistry happened.

My favorite Arkady moment occurs near the end of NCIS:LA: The One That Got Away when Rogers has Arkady on ice at the boat shed and Arkady's tender drunk reflections of his daughter are inter-cut with her imminent (slo-mo) demise. Vyto dials back the "Badenov" aspect of his character and shows why he is in the Lithuanian-American Hall of Fame, as well as why he deserves an Emmy and possibly credit for saving this show. (Deeks too)

Anytime Vyto is in the credits it's good TV (on any show)

Callen's backstory developed: very sad

[akicork · 6/10 · 12 August 2019]

So sad - Callen finds that, because of his automatic self-defensive behaviour, he had turned away a genuine approach from the little foster-sister he had lost and who is now dead. I think I knock off several points because of the character's seemingly complete lack of reaction to what most of us (I think) would regard as a deeply tragic incident, needing a clear storyline followup with Callen dealing with his guilt for the outcome and the final loss of his little sister. I'll take another point off for the goof I have flagged elsewhere - Callen's inability to pronounce Arkady's name correctly despite being fluent in Russian and having known him in Moscow.