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'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11 Episode 20: Deeks helps Eric get over Nell and fans think 'poor Beale is stuck'

Deeks is convinced Eric is heartbroken beyond repair and his gimmicks to help Eric get over Nell has fans in splits

Spoilers for Season 17 Episode 20 'Knock Down'

After a week, 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11 is finally back. And with the coronavirus lockdown, this season was expected to have been cut short with the latest Episode 20 being the last one. Luckily that's not the case as the show is very much returning next week, but the CBS procedural is surely not taking chances, made clear by the many romances going on. There's Kensi Blye teaming up with Fatima Namazi, and the usual Sam Hanna-Grisha Callen duo out there chasing the bad guys.

But the one pair that has fans in splits is Marty Deeks teaming up with Eric Beale to focus and work the intel, only amplifying Nell Jones's absence further. But Deeks is convinced Eric is heartbroken beyond repair and his gimmicks to help Eric get over Nell has fans in splits, sympathizing with 'poor Eric' and how 'he's stuck' with Deeks' unrelenting help.

The episode, titled 'Knock Down', sees the NCIS team "assist the DOJ in the investigation of an arsonist who targets an FBI safe house that's protecting a political activist seeking asylum while Eric deals with the aftermath of Nell leaving the team." As Sam and Callen set off to hunt down the arsonist, Kensi and Fatima team up with an FBI agent to dig deep into possible moles within their system. That leaves Deeks with Eric and it is a wild ride from start to finish. Deeks gets his big toe injured, but is convinced Eric is hurting and keeps talking about all the things Deeks can offer to help Eric miss Nell a little less.

From his expert insights on 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' to offering hugs out of nowhere because he's sure Eric can't concentrate on anything apart from Nell, Deeks is relentless. Every time the case twists and turns and Eric is left a little frustrated, Deeks is convinced it's because he misses Nell and this catches fans' attention because "Deeks needs to be occupied or poor Eric will lose his mind," as one fan posted on Twitter.

Another fan empathized with Eric as well, writing: "Poor Beale is stuck with Deeks, lord help him." A third fan, however, remarked: "Looks like Deeks is hurting more than Eric though." But while some fans thanked how "When Deeks is bored, that is when he entertains us," others believe that character - albeit hilarious - is pointless. "Seriously Deeks is getting dumber and dumber. He needs to go. Like three seasons ago," complained fan, butter majority ruled how "Deeks and Eric are super funny together."

The episode, however, ended with Eric acknowledging how Deeks actually helped him realize how proud and happy he is for Nell, something that has inspired him to go out there and explore other career options. But trust Deeks to be able to convince him that what he's doing with the NCIS is making a difference so looks like we're not losing another one to the great beyond soon.

'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11 airs on Sundays at 9 pm only on CBS.