"Sweet Sixteen" felt like the NCIS season finale--confusing to the point of distraction. I kept trying to figure out what the deal with the taped interviews and the blackmail was, and it didn't make sense to me even though it was a pretty big part in the first half. Once Jimmy was on Cal's side, wouldn't that be the end of it? And pretty much, it was--and just an opportunity for Cal to get beaten.
There are hints dropped at every turn, small parts of the whole, and almost no explanation for them until the end. As it turns out, the hints come together in a convoluted scheme to wipe all evidence about Jimmy Doyle's family's murder. The ending comes up way too abruptly when the pieces finally fit and it's all very convenient how Lightman can just cut through everything right to the conclusion.
The best part of the episode was the flashbacks between Cal and Foster when they first met in 2003. We see Cal's inner struggle to deal with the consequences of his decision and Foster trying to help him while holding him back. In the end, we learn that Foster intentionally led Cal away from his theory, so his family wouldn't be hurt.
Loker and Torres get kicked off to the side as Cal and Foster take over, which is fine, except that Loker is almost killed in the beginning of the episode and doesn't have any resolution.
Score: 8.5/10
