Murtaugh turns to Cole's former mentor, Tom Barnes, for help on a high-stakes cartel case. Meanwhile, Murtaugh and Trish meet Natalie and Maya for the first time, and tensions mount between Bailey and "The Gute", as the new partners begin to work together.

While Cole gets into the holiday spirit for his first Christmas with Maya, Murtaugh hopes he can convince RJ to come back home from Costa Rica for the holidays. At the precinct, Cole and Murtaugh are saddled with a complicated burglary and home invasion case. Meanwhile, Avery's holidays are a bit blue, and Bailey is still trying to figure out her new Partner.