Ep 16. Empathy

After a year of searching for a missing Navy SEAL, NCIS is finally able to locate him, only to find out that he has been tortured for weeks. The team is shocked by the severity of his injuries. But things take a turn when they discover that the SEAL wasn't the only victim of a brutal attacker. The investigation leads them to a notorious arms dealer, who has recently arrived in the city.

As the team investigates, they begin to suspect that the arms dealer is not acting alone. They notice a pattern in the attacks and start to believe that there is a vigilante on the loose. They soon discover that the vigilante is actually a paramedic, who has been targeting those who he believes have committed crimes but have evaded justice.

The team is conflicted about how to handle the situation. On one hand, the paramedic's actions have led to the capture of multiple criminals. On the other hand, his methods are illegal and put innocent people in danger. The team must decide whether to arrest the paramedic or work with him to track down the arms dealer.

As they investigate further, the team uncovers disturbing connections between the arms dealer and a local politician. They soon realize that the arms dealer has been supplying weapons to the politician's private security force, which has been responsible for brutal attacks on peaceful protesters.

In the end, the team is able to apprehend both the arms dealer and the politician's security team. The paramedic is brought in for questioning, and the team ultimately decides to work with him in the future, as long as he agrees to follow the law.

Meanwhile, Pride juggles personal and professional matters as he tries to help his friend Rita, who is going through a difficult time. Pride's efforts to help Rita ultimately lead him to uncover some troubling information about her past.

Overall, "Empathy" is a tense and emotional episode that tackles themes of vigilante justice, corruption, and the lengths people will go to seek justice. The writers do an excellent job of maintaining the tension throughout the episode, while also giving the characters time to breathe and explore their emotions. As always, the performances are top-notch, particularly from Scott Bakula as Pride and CCH Pounder as Loretta. The episode is a must-watch for fans of the show and crime drama enthusiasts alike.