NCIS LA’s Daniela Ruah opens up on revisiting tragic Deeks storyline

NCIS LA star Daniela Ruah has lifted the lid on the latest episode which saw Deek’s tr.a.gic upbringing resurface.CBS hit procedural drama NCIS Los Angeles returned to screens with the latest episode for season 14. As well as being on camera, Kensi Blye star Daniela Ruah stepped behind the camera as director and opened up about dom.estic vi.ol.ence.
The most recent episode titled Flesh and Bl.ood saw the agents take on a complicated case which explored dom.estic v.iolen.ce.
The team were called in to investigate after Clarice (played by Marnee Carpenter) was seen fleeing from the scene of her husband’s m**er.

After Kensi and her husband Investigator Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) took on the case, he was forced to revisit his childhood as he grew up in a home with dom.es.tic vi.ol.ence.

Actress Daniela Ruah opened up exploring Marty’s t.ra.gic storyline and shared what it was like directing the episode.

She revealed: “We dealt with the subject of do.me.stic vi.o.lence in this episode. Our [person of interest], who is an exceptional actress is a vi.c.tim of do.m.estic vi.o.le.nce.

“On the part of her husband who’s in the mil.itary, which is why we end up getting involved because he shows up d**d.

“That allows Deeks to connect with her through his own experience of do.m.estic vi.o.len.ce.”

She explained: “His father was ab.us.ive to him and his mother, which then brings in Pamela Reed (as Roberta), who is always a wonderful addition to our show.

“Between [Eric and Pamela], there’s this beautiful balance of telling a tr.agic story, but then they’re able to sort of transfer into having a sense of humour.

“We also bring up parenting [in a scene] between Mama Deeks and Kensi, and we see her influence on that,” Daniela told TV Line.

Deek’s first made an appearance in season one and has remained a fan favourite throughout the years.

As well as taking on tough investigations, his personal life and upbringing had previously been explored.
Viewers gained insight into his childhood during season seven when his mother was first introduced.

Fans learned he didn’t have a good relationship with his father Gordon John Brandel because he was ab.u.sive and an alc.o.holic
Deeks revealed, when he was 11 years old his father got dr.unk and pointed a sho.tg.un at him and his mother.

As a youngster, Deeks was able to grab another g.un and s.hot his dad in self-defence.
Although, everyone survived it was made clear the moment had more of a phycological impact on the investigator.

However, Deeks has had happier times since meeting and marrying Kensi.

Although the pair struggled to conceive, they were able to expand their family and adopt Rosa Reyes (Natalia Del Riego) during the season 13 finale.

Despite their initial plans to adopt a baby, they met Rosa on an investigation and when the teenager faced deportation, Deeks and Kensi agreed to legally adopt her.

NCIS LA continues Sundays on CBS