‘NCIS: LA’ Is Finally Starting to Explain Eric's Absence

Photo credit: Monty Brinton
Photo credit: Monty Brinton

From Country Living

  • Barrett Foa is taking a leave of absence from NCIS: Los Angeles.

  • Here's how the show is explaining why his character, Eric, is missing.


NCIS: Los Angeles’ newest season has a lot of things we love: Newlyweds Deeks and Kensi, a JAG reunion between Mac and Harm, and Hetty’s full-time return, to name a few. But there’s one person who's noticeably missing from the cast, and it's hard to ignore.

Barrett Foa, who plays Eric Beale on the CBS show, announced earlier this year that he was taking a leave of absence from NCIS: LA. He won’t be present for the first five episodes of season 11, as he’s performing in a production of Angels in America this fall.

Photo credit: Monty Brinton
Photo credit: Monty Brinton

But since he is coming back eventually, the crime drama obviously had to come up with an excuse as to why he was gone in the first place. In true NCIS: LA fashion, it’s not simple.

The series is starting to build up what feels like a pretty dramatic storyline for Eric. At the end of season 10, he and Nell (Renee Felice Smith) jetted off to San Francisco. However Nell is now back, while Eric is still out on a mysterious job in the Bay Area. According to TV Guide, Nell claimed she’s barely heard from him and is only receiving “cryptic” messages he’s leaving on a cosplay site.

Photo credit: Michael Yarish
Photo credit: Michael Yarish

This all seems a little fishy, and considering it was already revealed that “the situation will take a dangerous turn,” we’re skeptical of this mysterious gig. Is he even in San Francisco? Why isn’t he seeing Nell when she’s in town to visit her mom? And what’s with the weird cosplay site?!

We’re glad to have some explanation of his whereabouts, but it doesn’t sound like he’s going to remain safe. Which only means a major NCIS: LA rescue mission is probably just around the corner.

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