Ep 22. Help Wanted

As the penultimate episode of season two, "Help Wanted" starts with the team taking on a new case when two Army privates are found dead on a boat, with their bodies burnt beyond recognition. The NCIS team starts their investigation by ruling out suicide and checking their connections to a possible underground fight club. With the help of City Councilman Douglas Hamilton, they find out that the privates were tasked with transporting $2 million of stolen cash. The team follows the money and discovers a connection to a Mexican drug cartel led by the notorious Zepeda family.

Meanwhile, Agent Dwayne Pride is busy preparing for his upcoming wedding to his girlfriend, Linda. As part of the wedding arrangements, Pride and his team are in charge of transporting the wedding cake from the bakery to the venue. However, the task doesn't go as smoothly as planned, leading to a chaotic and humorous situation.

As the investigation progresses, the team realizes that they have a leak within their own department, as someone has been tipping off the cartel about their moves. The urgency of catching the traitor increases as the team connects the cartel to the mysterious murder of Detective LaSalle's brother Cade. With the cartel hot on their trails and a team member's life in danger, the NCIS team must race against time to solve the case and bring those responsible to justice.

Throughout the episode, we catch glimpses of the personal lives of the NCIS team. Agent Tammy Gregorio is still dealing with the aftermath of her estranged husband's return, Special Agent Christopher Lasalle reflects on the loss of his brother, and Forensic Scientist Sebastian Lund tries to win the affection of an attractive FBI agent. These subplots add a layer of depth to the characters and show their vulnerabilities, making the audience invest in them on a personal level.

As the episode draws to a close, the stakes get higher as the traitor is finally revealed, leading to a high-speed chase and a dramatic showdown between the NCIS team and the cartel. The episode ends with the team successfully thwarting the cartel's plan, and Pride triumphantly slicing the wedding cake during his reception. However, the episode hints at future troubles, as the Zepeda cartel leader is still on the loose and vows revenge against the NCIS team.

Overall, "Help Wanted" is a thrilling episode that intertwines action, comedy, drama, and personal stories. The episode showcases the strengths of the New Orleans setting, with its unique blend of southern charm and grit. The audience is left anticipating the finale and wondering what lies ahead for the team and the city they serve.