According to Deadline, CBS has just decided to split the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale into two parts, expanding the epic conclusion of the beloved spin-off show to two different episodes. The first part of the finale will air at 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, the date which was previously set to feature the series’ final episode; the second part will premiere at 9 p.m on Sunday, May 21, exclusively on CBS.
CBS will purportedly air A Salute to NCIS: Los Angeles, an Entertainment Tonight special, which features iconic moments from the show’s fourteen year run. The hour-long tribute will be hosted by Entertainment Tonight‘s Kevin Frazier (The Insider, SportsCenter) with various cast members from the series giving exclusive interviews, sharing favorite memories, and behind-the-scenes moments.
As written by Deadline, the first part of the the dual-episode finale is entitled, “New Beginnings, Part 1,” and follows the cherished NCIS: Los Angeles team as they search for a missing ATF agent, who appears to be intertwined with an incident involving stolen military-grade weapons. At the same time, Callen, played by Chris O’Donnell (Scent of a Woman, Batman Forever), and Anna, played by Bar Paly (Against the Clock, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), as they plan for their upcoming wedding.
Also, Roundtree, played by Caleb Castille, (In the Vault, Tell Me a Story) struggles to help his sister interview for medical school and Sam, played by LL Cool J (Lip Sync Battle, Deep Blue Sea), continues to encourage his father to take part in a risky new drug trial to help combat his illness. The story of the ATF case and the missing military weapons will then continue in “New Beginnings, Part 2,” the final episode of the series.
When asked for his opinions on the series’ conclusion, showrunner and executive producer R. Scott Gemmill (Jag, ER) stated, “Wrapping up a series is always bittersweet. We were blessed to have 14 seasons together, so bringing it to a satisfying end was extremely challenging after so many years. Fortunately, CBS was gracious enough to give us an extra episode in order to send off our characters in a way befitting their stories that hopefully the fans find both satisfying and hopeful.”
Both episodes of the NCIS: Los Angeles Series finale will also be made available for streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+.