Will Linda Hunt eventually exit the show?

'NCIS: L.A.': "Callen" Does Not Want "Hetty" To Leave

"Hetty" celebrated her comeback to NCIS: L.A. during the finale of season ten. But now, it looks like not only she, but the entire team is getting ready for Linda Hunt's departure. Will she soon be leaving the show?

It looks like the NCIS: L.A. team is planning a future without "Hetty" (Linda Hunt, 74). In the fall finale, the team was actively thinking about how it can manage in the future without its operations manager. They are making plans for a future without the popular character that is "Hetty".

NCIS: L.A.: Will "Hetty" leave the series?

In episode 11 ("Answers") of season 11, "Hetty" is a big topic because the team is considering how things could continue without her. When "Kensi" (Daniela Ruah, 36) asks the others if they think "Hetty" is retiring, they don't see it as something that will happen in the foreseeable future.

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However, "Kensi" points out that "Hetty" comes into work late, leaves early and works more and more from home. But "Callen" (Chris O'Donnell, 49) doesn't want to hear it: "She's strong, she wants to be here, she's not going anywhere," he stresses.

Could this really be happening?

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But what will happen when "Hetty" actually leaves the team? Will someone replace her? "Sam" (LL Cool J, 51) thinks "Callen" should take her place. But he's not exactly enthusiastic about the idea:

"I have been with Hetty since I was a kid," he explains. "A lot of me is her. If I were to take her job, it would be the culmination of all of her teachings, all of her lessons." But if there is no other way, he would consider it - for the good of the team.

NCIS: L.A.: "Sam" has a plan for the future

"Sam" is out of contention because he's already found another job for himself: He wants to teach young prospective agents. "Our team is good, better than good, but it's not the best it's ever been," says Sam.

His plan: "Callen" takes the lead as soon as "Hetty" retires and he ("Sam") finds one or maybe even two young agents to train. "We teach them the way we do things, and we turn this office into the best it's ever been," replied "Callen" convinced by "Sam's" plan.

It feels like "Hetty" just got back to NCIS: L.A., after she made her comeback at the end of season ten. Is she now planning her exit?

That's (hopefully) still a long way off, so we still have plenty of time to say goodbye to "Hetty". It remains to be seen if everything will really go just as "Sam" and "Callen" are planning.