NCIS: LA: How Long Will It Be Before Kensi Wakes Up?

Nobody disobeys Hetty Lang (Linda Hunt) on NCIS: Los Angeles -- not even when they're in a coma.

On Sunday's episode, all it took was a direct order from Hetty for comatose Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) to show a few signs of life, repeatedly squeezing Hetty's hand while still remaining otherwise unresponsive. We all know Kensi's a fighter, but it remains to be seen whether her spirit will be more willing than her flesh to spring back into action when she finally (presumably) wakes up.

It's a good thing Hetty's remaining optimistic about Kensi's potential recovery, because Granger (Migurel Ferrer) certainly is taking a less hopeful stance, preparing himself to interview potential replacements for Kensi. But he might not need to look any further than the Special Projects Team. For the second episode in a row, Nell (Renee Felice Smith) steps up and demonstrates her chops in the field, teaming up with Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) to once again take down the baddie of the week.

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But Nell's also feeling emotionally conflicted about stepping in for Kensi, even after Granger points out that Nell is "honoring" Kensi, not replacing her. Also Eric (Barrett Foa) is not taking Nell's absence well, talking to the empty seat next to him Clint Eastwood-style and scrawling little reminders to himself that inadvertently come out looking like the initial, rough outline for Fifty Shades of Grey.

Which all begs the question: for how long is Kensi going to be out of commission? From the looks of the promo, it seems that next week's episode will still see her confined to the hospital bed, with some sort of crisis potentially looming.

What do you think, NCIS: LA fans? Have you been enjoying seeing the different team dynamics without Kensi in the picture, or is she truly -- as Eric believes -- irreplaceable?

NCIS: LA airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

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