“Shocking Twist: Original NCIS: Los Angeles Star’s Emotional Reaction to Missing the Series Finale – You Won’t Believe What They Had to Say!”
Barrett Foa, the original star of NCIS: Los Angeles, has shared his reaction to missing the series finale, expressing his interest in returning. NCIS: Los Angeles, a spinoff that debuted in 2009, follows agents from the Office of Special Projects, a division of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) specializing in undercover assignments. Despite its long run, the series concluded with its 14th season, which was announced in January. Foa portrayed Eric Beale for most of the show, a unique technical operator whose relationship with Nell Jones, played by Renée Felice Smith, became a central storyline.
When the series finale of NCIS: Los Angeles aired on May 21, fans may have been surprised by Eric’s absence. In a statement provided to TVLine, Foa shared his disappointment about not being able to reprise his role, emphasizing that playing Eric Beale one last time would have been a dream. He expressed gratitude that the character received a mention in the finale, acknowledging CBS for providing fans with a proper series conclusion. Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill also addressed Foa’s absence, citing availability constraints and budget limitations as reasons for not including all desired characters in the finale.
Foa’s character, Eric Beale, last appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles during the season 12 finale in 2021. In that episode, Eric left the team to develop his venture, Kaleidoscope. He achieved financial success and expressed his desire for Nell to join him in Tokyo to lead an international headquarters. However, Nell’s decision was difficult as it required her to decline Hetty’s job offer. The two characters embarked on their next adventure together.
While Eric couldn’t return for the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale, his character was still mentioned. In the episode “New Beginnings Part Two,” Nell shared that Eric was in Singapore participating in a TED Talk. Although the reasons behind Foa’s absence from the finale are unclear, it’s reassuring that the character remained an integral part of the series’ conclusion.
Despite Eric’s absence in the finale, the conclusion of NCIS: Los Angeles provided an emotional farewell for the successful show. The question remains of what Eric’s character would have been up to if circumstances had allowed for his return. Given that the original NCIS series continues, there may be future opportunities for Foa to reprise his role beyond NCIS: Los Angeles.
