Musician Heal Thyself is the season premiere episode of NCIS: New Orleans and also the first episode of the entire NCIS: New Orleans series.
This episode also marks the debut appearances of scientist Sebastian Lund, politician Douglas Hamilton and informant Ross P.
Synopsis
The NCIS: New Orleans team investigate when a severed leg is discovered at a harbor with things becoming personal for Pride when it's revealed that the leg belongs to a recently murdered Navy Petty Officer Second Class who he also mentored, sending the team on a race to find the killer before they strike again and as Dr. Donald Mallard offers both Pride and Wade some insight, Brody, having joined the New Orleans team on a permanent basis attempts to adjust to life in the Big Easy and also find an apartment to live in.
Plot
At a harbor area in New Orleans, three men: Jesse, Dale and an unnamed man are working on unloading on crates of shrimp as a woman, Amy looks on at them from a distance despite Jesse telling Dale Amy is trouble.
However, a man, Macey arrives, pissed and knocks Dale over but the incident abruptly ends when it's revealed that there's a leg hidden amongst the crates of shrimp.
With the NOPD alerted and the crime scene ultimately being sealed off, NCIS agents Dwayne Pride, Christopher LaSalle and Meredith Brody arrive to investigate while Jefferson Parish coroner, Loretta Wade already at the scene, examining the leg as Brody reveals that in addition to adjusting to living in New Orleans, she's also searching for a place to stay.
As the team begin processing the scene, LaSalle taking photographs, Loretta tells them that the victim is African-American and that based on the level of decomp, the leg's been in the water for at least a week.
Once all the theories including a mutant starfish and gator attack have been dispelled with, Pride tells LaSalle to take Brody, introduce her to the Coast Guard and have them help find the rest of the body with LaSalle and Brody.
At NCIS HQ, Pride gets a surprise visit from Navy Captain Peter Lee who informs him that the kid Pride mentored: Petty Officer Second Class Calvin Parks is unauthorized absent and Parks's C.O. hasn't heard from him for a few days with Lee stating he was hoping Parks was with Pride.
Lee believes Parks found a young woman and is spending time with her although if found, Parks will be facing disciplinary action with Lee telling Pride to call him if he hears from Parks, something Pride agrees with as Lee tells Pride it's good to see him.
Once Lee has gone, Pride contacts the Jefferson Parish morgue and asks Loretta and her assistant, Sebastian Lund for help as Pride believes he knows who the leg belongs to with Pride stating he'll send them a name and photo before the conference call ends.
At a jazz club, Papa Parks is playing and upon ending the performance, tells his band to take a quick five as he heads back stage to talk to Pride with Pride revealing that something bad might have happened to Parks's son, Calvin that leaves Papa shaken and he tells Pride he loves two things: Calvin, his son and jazz with Papa stating he's gonna hold on tight to one and pray he hasn't lost the other.
Returning to the stage, Papa resumes playing once more although it's clear that he's been left shaken by the news but despite this, he continues playing, his band joining in.
Backstage, Pride receives a text message from Loretta confirming the body has been hold and that the ID is Calvin Parks, Papa's son which has Pride dismayed.
Pride in the bar.
The next morning, at NCIS: New Orleans HQ, as LaSalle and Brody arrive in for work, Pride is in the kitchen, cooking while also revealing that he's been sleeping upstairs with Brody even finding his toothbrush.
Pride reveals it's eggs creole, andouille sausage and remoulade sauce, causing LaSalle to mutter "Nice".
As they prepare to eat, Pride wanting an update on the case, LaSalle tells Pride that last night he and Brody went down and searched Parks's rack.
Brody picks up, stating there was nothing out of the ordinary but they picked up a personal laptop which Pride suspects is password-protected.
LaSalle reveals they sent out the laptop to get a work-around and they thought they would canvass Parks's day-to-day contacts.
Brody informs Pride Parks was assigned to the pier-side Fleet Logistics Centre with LaSalle telling Pride Calvin worked the wharfs, loading inventory, food and equipment.
Pride tells LaSalle and Brody to take the wharf while he goes to see Loretta about Forensics.
Major Events
- Sebastian Lund, a forensic scientist who works at the Jefferson Parish morgue, Douglas Hamilton, a politician and Ross P., an informant for NCIS Special Agent Christopher LaSalle are introduced for the first time.
Trivia
- David McCallum (NCIS Medical Examiner Donald Mallard) is credited as a Special Guest Star.
Cast
Series Regulars
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Cassius Pride | Scott Bakula | NCIS Special Agent and the leader of the NCIS: New Orleans team. |
| Christopher LaSalle | Lucas Black | NCIS Special Agent and the second-in-command of the NCIS: New Orleans team. |
| Meredith Brody | Zoe McLellan | NCIS Special Agent and also the newest member of the NCIS: New Orleans team. |
| Sebastian Lund | Rob Kerkovich | Scientist at the Jefferson Parish Morgue and also Loretta Wade's assistant. |
| Loretta Wade | C. C. H. Pounder | Jefferson Parish Coroner. |
Guest Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Mallard | David McCallum | Medical Examiner at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. |
| Douglas Hamilton | Steven Weber | A politician and rival of Pride's. |
| Ross P. | Martin Bats Bradford | NCIS Special Agent Christopher LaSalle's informant. |
| Papa Parks | James McDaniel | Navy Petty Officer Second Class Calvin Parks's father. |
| Hunter Franz | Matt Bushell | Dock worker. |
| Peter Lee | Robert Diago DoQui | Captain in the United States Navy and Petty Officer Second Class Calvin Parks's commanding officer. |
| Tattoo Guy | Frank Duffy | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Tattoo Patron | Michael D. Anglin | Uncredited role. |
| Mace (Musician Heal Thyself) | Isaiah LaBorde | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Jesse (Musician Heal Thyself) | Tyler Kunkle | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Dale | Henry Frost | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Swag | Stephen Sutton | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Naomi | Ariadne Joseph | A woman who appears in the episode. |
| Local News Reporter 1 | Tania Dall | A news reporter who appears in the episode. |
| Local News Reporter 2 | Paul Kevin Murphy | A news reporter who appears in the episode. |
| Second Line Dancer | Kenneth Kynt Bryan | |
| Chuckle Head | Nick Melson | |
| Nurse (Musician Heal Thyself) | Paula Pete | |
| Politician | Jerome Andries | Uncredited role. |
| SWAT Officer | Scott Chauvin | Uncredited role. |
| French Quarter Resident | Divine Prince Ty Emmecca | Uncredited role. |
| Harold Werner | Britton Frost | Uncredited role. |
| Shrimper | Juan Gaspard | Uncredited role. |
| Jazz Club Patron 1 | Carlos Ramónne Graham | Uncredited role. |
| Jazz Club Patron 2 | Will Stone | Uncredited role. |
| NOPD Police Officer | Wendi Merritt | Uncredited role. |
| Jefferson Parish Officer | Mike R. Moreau | Uncredited role. |
| Homicide Detective | William Schaff | AKA "Cop". Uncredited role. |
| NOPD Officer (Musician Heal Thyself) | Charles Barber | Uncredited role. |
| Club Patron | Samantha Warren | Uncredited role. |