The episode centers on , a former Romanian communist leader and suspected war criminal. The OSP (Office of Special Projects) team discovers he has been living in Los Angeles under a false identity for 20 years.

: In a notable scene, Deeks poses as a flight attendant to help the team confront a CIA agent involved in protecting Zevlos.

Review: NCISLA “Iron Curtain Rising” (S5E11) - wikiDeeks

: Despite being ordered off the case by the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav) due to sensitive CIA assets, the team continues the investigation in secret.