Dwayne Pride, NCIS Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Region, didn't look a whole lot different than Dwayne Pride, boss of NCIS: New Orleans.

Pride started his new, less demanding job on NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 3.

He still acted pretty much like convalescing Pride on NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 2. 

Is anyone shocked? I mean, Pride be Pride.

Pride tried. He put on a suit and everything. 

I honestly think he did try to convince himself that his promotion was just what he needed, a new, less stressful challenge.

Challenge? Yes. Less stressful? Hardly.

Related: NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 2 Review: Inside Out

Pride just isn't cut out for a bureaucrat's life, shuffling papers and never actually following anything through to the end.

It was fun to watch Pride try to pick up on the rhythm of life in the SAC office. He got there on time, which was actually late, and he never did catch up.

Reggie Lee made the most out of the unforgiving role of ASAC Steven Thompson, an officious prig who is the latest in a long line of people trying to save Pride from himself. 

He's doomed to fail as well. Hell, Loretta has been trying for years.

Getting shot has only caused him to step back for a time, gaining time to heal. But while his new position may be less physically demanding than chasing down a suspect, sitting through meeting after meeting will prove mentally exhausting for Pride.

It took, what, 20 minutes for Pride to immerse himself in his former team's current case. 

He used his SAC's privilege to take steps he couldn't before and stayed with the case through its conclusion. That's very unSAC-like.

He was also already ignoring protocol, as Thompson reminded him, and that's what got him in trouble in the first place.

Related: Watch NCIS: New Orleans Online: Season 5 Episode 2

Each time he goes out on a limb and succeeds, that buys him a little more time in the SAC chair.

So what's the over-under until he returns to his old job? A month?

Hannah seems to get that she's just keeping Pride's seat warm until he gets kicked back downstairs. 

As long as Pride doesn't stay away, there's no way she will make the team her own.

Still, there are worse fates than an extended New Orleans vacation.

Besides, if she genuinely wants to stay, there is room for her as Pride's second-in-command.

I think Christopher will be too busy with his troubled family business should that leadership change come to pass. 

So far, he's handled the situation well, but he seems to be taking a wait-and-see position.

Hannah did come in really handy at a diplomats' conference with her language skills and ability to read people. 

Gregorio played it cool with her Russian and her FBI background. Sebastian with his Klingon, not so much.

Related: Former NCIS: New Orleans Boss Fired

As much as this was a Pride episode, it served as a Sebastian spotlight as well.

Whenever Sebastian is an episode's focus, there's a woman involved as well, whether that be his mother or his high-school crush.

This time it was a British spy, Delahoy, Carmen Delahoy.

She had the quirky turned up to 11, which naturally appealed to Sebastian. How much was real, how much was to draw him in, who can say? 

But there was something of an attraction there. And he did ultimately upstage her.

It was enjoyable to watch how protective Gregorio was of Sebastian, treating him almost like her nerdy little brother. 

I liked how he cracked back her when she complained he was being manipulated, reminding her of Eva.

Watching the development between these two newbie field agents trying to find their place in an established squad has been interesting. It wasn't hard.

 She's the sarcastic one, he's the goofy one.

Now Hannah finds herself in a similar situation. Actually, her job is harder, replacing the beloved Pride while trying to earn the team's respect. So far, so good.

Related: Get CBS All Access via Amazon Channels for Hit Shows, Exclusive Originals & Live TV!

Like other team members, Sebastian is dealing with Pride's brush with mortality in his own way. 

He is forcing himself to grow up, what with the suits and buying a house. 

He's got to find a happy medium, but he's in no way there yet. Maybe Gregorio could live with him since I doubt she can swing that pricey apartment on her own.

It will be interesting to see how Loretta handles not having Pride around if it should ever come to that. 

I doubt it will.

Hopefully, the powers that be will run with this new setup for a while since it's a new way to attack case as well. 

But I doubt anyone thinks this is permanent.

To see how Pride become an administrator, watch NCIS: New Orleans online.

How did you like Carmen, and would you like to see her return? 

What's going on with Sebastian? How is Hannah fitting in? 

Comment below.

Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.