NCIS - TV Fanatic

Is Love in the Air at NCIS?

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:14:32 EST

Always a humorous fellow, NCIS star Michael Weatherly spoke at the Paley Television Festival event earlier this month about - what else - his character Tony and Ziva (Cote de Pablo).

In addition to renaming that pairing (it's "Zony" not "Tiva," according to Michael), but the affable actor also dropped some knowledge - three key rules for any successful TV program.

The good news? He's hilarious. The bad news, at least if you want more than the status quo from Tiva/Zony? You're probably not going to be fully satisfied with them anytime soon.

Check out Michael Weatherly's interview below:

Michael Weatherly Interview

Follow the jump for more from the NCIS cast, including what Cote de Pablo and Sean Murray have to say about certain plot lines and romances, such as McGee and Abby (gulp) ...

Cote de Pablo Interview

Sean Murray Interview

NCIS Spoilers: Non-Gibbs and/or Tiva Edition!

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:17:51 EST

Looking for scoop on NCIS that doesn't involve Gibbs' life-changing decision at the end of this season or the ever-ambiguous non-romance that is Tiva? You're in luck today!

According to executive producer Shane Brennan (via EW), “Abby will face the biggest dilemma of her professional life” in the coming weeks. The gist of this new quandary?

“She must decide whether to withhold or reveal a secret that could destroy the NCIS team,” Brennan teases. Sounds pretty serious. Any theories on what that could mean?

As for the show's ultimate bromance, Sean Murray (McGee) promises that “We are going to explore McGee and Tony’s relationship a little bit more in an upcoming episode.”

“They have a very older brother-younger brother type [of] relationship. They protect and tease each other and show off in front of each other. But there is a pecking order."

"Right now, Tony is on top of it. But he may be challenged by something McGee says or does.” Interesting ... Probie stepping up and challenging his de facto older brother?

NCIS Round Table: "Double Identity"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:25:45 EST

NCIS provided us with two mysteries last night: Why the dead Marine changed his identity and who murdered him, and why Ducky departed from his signature neck wear.

Check out our NCIS review for our critic's take on "Double Identity." Below, three staff members delve deeper into Tuesday's episode in our weekly Round Table Q&A ...

1. How would you rate last night's episode overall?

The Barnacle: 4.5 out of 5. There was certainly enough going on, as well as great moments in the office from beginning to end. I'm glad my desk isn't near Tony's, though.

L.J. Gibbs: 4.5 out of 5. This one had an old-school feel, melding a complex case with personal angst among the characters that unfolded in perfectly nuanced fashion.

M.L. House: 5 out of 5. Vintage NCIS.

2. Were you able to guess the ending of the murder plot?

M.L. House: The P.I.'s involvement made perfect sense ... you've gotta be pretty shady yourself to track down shady characters. The fact that Maine's first wife was having an affair with his former compatriot was a crazy twist, though.

L.J. Gibbs: I did not, although in retrospect, clues were planted throughout as they often are. I suppose the guilty party didn't come as a huge surprise, but the extent to which the characters, along with their respective back stories, were tied together was impressive.

The Barnacle: No. Great misdirection with Tony trying to convince us (and his co-workers) that the wife did it. The wife always did it in Tony's mind. Sometimes he's even right!

3. What's cuter: A smitten Ducky, or Abby and her seeing-eye puppy?

L.J. Gibbs: Since Nina Foch, who previously played Ducky’s mom, passed away in 2008, you knew this was coming at some point, and I loved how it was handled. Very heartwarming and strikingly realistic, with so many emotions manifesting themselves at once.

M.L. House: Tie, because Abby and Ducky's scene at the grave site was my favorite. You could tell he missed her terribly, but was excited to turn the page. Very real life moment.

The Barnacle: Team Mortimer all the way.

4. Did you enjoy a week off from Tiva and/or Gibbs-Hart developments?

L.J. Gibbs: Definitely. The subtleties that make NCIS so good were back this week, and made for one of the better episodes of the season without what sometimes are distractions.

M.L. House: Much as I've enjoyed watching aforementioned relationships unfold, it was nice to see some quality McGee-Ziva, Gibbs-Ducky and Abby-Ducky interactions this week.

The Barnacle: Gibbs-Hart I can take or leave, but I love me some Tiva.

What did you think of the episode? Share your comments with us!

NCIS Review: "Double Identity"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:12:48 EST

Whether it's with their slowly unraveling mysteries or character development, NCIS understands subtlety better than just about any show. "Double Identity" was a prime example.

When a former Marine goes off the grid and assumes a new life, it's up to Gibbs and the team to find out why. Our episode recap has the plot details. Now, here's TVF's review ...

Lt. John Maine, or Christian Wells as he was later known, is found shot in a National Park. He survives long enough for us to meet his two wives, Leah Maine and Rachel Wells.

It turns out Maine vanished in Afghanistan back in 2004, only to resurface in the U.S. under a different name and with a substantial, eight-figure fortune no one could account for.

Maine/Wells dies before Gibbs can do his thing, but our man does learn that back in '04, the mysterious Marine vanished during a three-person undercover mission gone haywire.

McGee (Sean Murray) and DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) get their man.

He somehow skipped the country with five oil drums full of unmarked U.S. dollars - how he did that is a major stretch, but no matter - after the Marines took out an Afghan drug lord.

That still doesn't explain who killed him. Might it have been the wife (of the other wife, as DiNozzo naturally suspects), or one of his fellow Marines who Maine/Wells double-crossed?

Try neither.

One of his compatriots did try to track him down, but it was a P.I. who took matters into his own hands and tried to shake Maine down. A shootout followed, and you know the rest.

What was neat about this was watching the agents approach the case in their own way. DiNozzo was out to prove the wife (wives?) did it, which he always seems to think is the case.

McGee, meanwhile, did what McGee does and followed the electronic trail. Ziva put her hard core investigative skills to work, going undercover herself and one-upping the P.I.

As for Abby and Ducky?

Dr. Mallard's attire and attitude left Abby puzzled, which we loved because the men in the office barely noticed his transition to regular neckties or generally happier demeanor.

Abbs was all over it, though, speculating about Ducky's whereabouts and noticing something amiss, even if it's in a good way. Maybe it's her nose for forensics. Or female intuition.

Finally, Gibbs tracks him down in the morgue and gets him to open up about it. His mother passed away at age 98, and he already had the funeral. He's grieving by being relieved.

Maybe acting extra chipper helps mask the pain. Maybe his mother's passing was so inevitable, her suffering is finally over and a weight lifted off his shoulders. Maybe some of each.

Regardless, it was brilliantly done, with hints dropped all season long leading up to this, and his heart-to-heart with Gibbs in the morgue (and Abby at the grave) were both touching.

Terrific performance by David McCallum, who portrayed this difficult and complex subject very believably. We just hope we get to meet Sophie, the Realtor Duck's now smitten with.

Another solid NCIS installment all around. Some have commented that they aren't feeling this season, but it consistently delivers with its cases and characters virtually every week.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

While we enjoy Tiva speculation as much as anyone, and are intrigued by Gibbs' relationship with Hart unfolding, it was nice to have a respite from each this week.
Mark Harmon always kills, but two scenes in particular caught our attention: Walking into the interrogation room in complete silence, and lying waiting for Ducky.
Here's hoping for more Mortimer cameos ...

NCIS Preview: "Double Identity"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:36:12 EST

Tonight on NCIS, Gibbs, DiNozzo, McGee and the rest of the team investigate the shooting of a Marine and uncovers more to his life than anyone would have ever imagined.

Judging by the title, it seems safe to say he was living a duplicitous, secret life of some kind. The only question is what he (and/or his alter ego) was up to before he died.

Here's CBS' promo of "Double Identity" ...

Double Identity Promo

We'll review NCIS after the episode airs, as well as discuss the key events in our Round Table format. Click to enlarge some promotional photos from tonight's episode ...

NCIS Interview: Mark Harmon on Gibbs' Future

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:04:15 EST

NCIS executive producer Shane Brennan’s tease that Mark Harmon's Gibbs will be forced to make a “life-changing decision” this May has fans wondering what that entails.

Theories are in no short supply, but one of the more alarming is that Gibbs' actions, which “will impact every member of the team,” mean Harmon may be leaving the show.

Is there any legitimacy to that? The actor himself weighed in to EW.

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know for sure,” Mark Harmon said. “That may not stop them from getting rid of me, but I’m having a blast. That hasn’t changed since day one."

"I have no plans to leave. I have a contract with significant more time on it. That may not stop the producers from getting rid of me, but I have no plans to take myself out.”

That settles that, but still leaves the question of what crisis will befall his character at season’s end and how it ties into Rena Sofer’s lawyer/lover character, M. Allison Hart.

What will the ramifications of Gibbs' big decision be?

“Whatever [fans are] thinking, they’re wrong,” Harmon says.

“It is never the obvious [thing] on this show. As always, these writers make you think something but it is almost never what you think will happen. I think that it's good to keep people guessing, especially after seven years."

“I think it is time to see these people away from their job and with their girlfriends or family. It is time to let out some of those nuggets. We’ve earned them. Fans come for the procedure but we have earned the right to break off another piece of the puzzle.”

Getting back to the big May season finale mystery, Harmon hints that although Sofer’s character plays a part, however “she is not alone. Others will play a part, [too].”

As for what brings another attractive Gibbs adversary, D.C. madam Holly Snow (Dina Meyer), back to NCIS? “Gibbs will use her in an investigation,” explains Harmon.

“She is an interesting ally, an odd ally, an uncomfortable ally in some ways. But the writers like what Dina did before. A madam character is really pretty fascinating.”

Any NCIS season finale theories? What's in store for Gibbs? Are you satisfied with how the season has been shaping up so far? Comment away.

NCIS Stars Dodge Tiva Questions, Tease Relationship

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:09:25 EST

Some NCIS fans are getting tired of Tiva. Others can't get enough. Regardless, the lingering issues and unanswered questions surrounding Tony and Ziva keep piling up.

Will this season offer any resolution?

As far as what happened between them in Paris earlier this year, Michael Weatherly (Tony) thinks he has the answer ... or lack thereof. Confused yet? Is that the point?

“The truth of what happened is probably something that can be discovered inside the episode itself,” Weatherly tells EW, semi-cryptically. “If you really listen to what they say, I think that it's pretty clear what happened: Nothing.”

Boo.

For her part, Cote de Pablo (Ziva) thinks some questions should stay unanswered:

“If you solve something completely, especially on a TV show like this, it is no longer that fun. It is a complex relationship, and there is so much more to explore.”

That's a fair point.

As for whether they'll ever become more than co-workers, Weatherly opines: “I'm very happy with where things are right now, but you never know what will develop. The writers may one day think they’ve cracked the chemistry riddle."

"They may come to think they can make us a full-on couple without killing the chemistry and tension that make people watch. But making the audience get their cake and eat it too is not outside of [exec producer] Shane Brennan’s wheelhouse.”

Tell us what you think: NCIS' Tony and Ziva should ...

NCIS Round Table: "Mother's Day"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:03:21 EST

Last night's NCIS was a bit more emotional than usual, and showed us a side of Gibbs we rarely see. Whether that's a good thing or not is being hotly debated by fans.

Check out our "Mother's Day" review for our critic's take on the episode. Below, our staff members delve deeper into Tuesday's NCIS in our weekly Round Table Q&A ...

1. How would you rate last night's episode overall?

The Barnacle: Not quite up to par, but still good. Gibbs and the mother-in-law had some terse moments, but clearly both cared for Shannon. Love Palmer and Ducky too.

L.J. Gibbs: Personally I thought it was excellent. Not any more so than usual, but the same sharp writing and dialogue. Plus, more Gibbs back story is never a bad thing.

M.L. House: I wasn't a huge fan. There were definite high points, but the show can do better than this. The mystery was fairly bland and Gibbs' actions questionable.

2. Did Gibbs do the right thing letting Joann off the hook?

M.L. House: No. Despite what he says about what Shannon would've wanted, Gibbs let her get away with murder basically. More incredibly, Vance looked the other way too!

L.J. Gibbs: Yes. Loyalty means a lot to Gibbs, and despite what Joann did, throwing her in jail would accomplish little. Besides, maybe he is aware of things that we're not.

The Barnacle: An ethical gray area if ever there were one. Obviously Vance should have taken him off the case, but did you really feel like a "killer" got away? I doubt it.

3. Gibbs and Hart ... great chemistry or like watching paint dry?

L.J. Gibbs: I enjoy both characters, but I don't know if I see a future for them. Well, beyond her stonewalling him every time he needs to get a confession from a witness.

M.L. House: Their scenes are great when the legal sparring is at a fever pitch. Romantically, I don't see it yet. Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised in the coming weeks.

The Barnacle: Rena Sofer is great, and I love the way neither of them seem to fully understand what their "relationship" consists of either. Ambiguity can be sexy, too!

NCIS Review: "Mother's Day"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:22:40 EST

For Leroy Jethro Gibbs, "Mother's Day" came early last night, although it was really former mothers-in-law day. Gena Rowlands guest starred as the mother of his deceased wife.

As a witness in a murder investigation, her relations with Gibbs were frosty but genuine, adversarial yet forthright. Our episode recap has the plot details. Now, TVF's review ...

The murder of a Navy Captain, James Norton, reveals that Joann Fielding, mother of Gibbs' late wife Shannon, was his fiancée. She hadn't seen Gibbs since Shannon's funeral.

Shannon and their daughter Kelly were murdered by a Mexican drug cartel, which we later discover Norton was linked to. That's fishy enough, and Joann's story is also flimsy.

Abby and Ducky discover conclude, given the bullet trajectory and blood spatter patterns, that a random robber couldn't have killed Norton, as Joann claims. It was likely her.

Gibbs (Mark Harmon) was one step ahead of Joann (Gena Rowlands).

Gibbs learns Joann hired a P.I. to help track down anyone related or associated with the cartel and Norton’s name came up. She decided to get close to him and seek revenge.

When NCIS tracks the murder weapon to a Lt. Shankton, who ran “fishing charters” in Mexico along with Norton, it becomes clear that she stole his weapon and framed him.

She incriminated Shankton as well as the P.I. she knew the cartel would sniff out and eliminate, thus absolving herself of any link to the killing. The old bird was pretty cagey.

Gibbs was one step ahead of her, though, and while that's not surprising, the way he handled it was: enlisting M. Allison Hart (Rena Sofer) to represent his ex-mother-in-law.

Unwilling to take her down, Gibbs clued Hart in to Joann's impending charges. This was a great twist, with Hart again a thorn in Gibbs' side, only this time, he asked for it!

Later, Gibbs gets Joann to confess and arrests her, only to have Hart inform them that her statement is inadmissible it was coerced and she had not been properly Mirandized.

Thus, Gibbs' arrest of Joann was thwarted. She walked. Just like he drew it up.

No words were exchanged to that end, but he knew, Vance knew and Joann likely knew as well. Their intense glances said as much, and Gibbs' burning of the file confirmed it.

While it took some time for the mystery to unfold, without the action and the lightning-fast pacing the show is known for, this emotional episode was still brilliantly done.

Gibbs' flashbacks, particularly in the bathroom when he asked Tony to leave, showed us just how much he longed for Shannon and Kelly, and indirectly how Joanna did too.

Her admission fit perfectly into the web weaved by the writers. Joanna came clean, as did Gibbs with his own confession. Inner turmoil over the girls' death was jointly felt.

Questionable as it was for Gibbs to protect Joann and let her off the hook for murder, he justified it by saying Shannon would have wanted it. That was good enough for us.

It was a neat way of exploring Gibbs' past through a compelling story in 2010, and his teaming up with Hart (however unspoken their partnership) was a fun new wrinkle.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

The exchanges leading up to Palmer's date with the cute embalmer were very amusing. Anytime Ducky dispenses dating advice, plenty of laughs will follow.
Great casting with Gena Rowlands and Leann Hunley as her younger self.
The Norfolk detective flirting with Ziva seemed to rattle Tony a little, no?
Where do you think the relationship between Gibbs and Hart is headed?

NCIS Preview: "Mother's Day"

steve@iscribelimited.com (L.J. Gibbs) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:14:50 EST

NCIS returns tonight with an all-new episode, "Mother's Day." The actual holiday may not be for a few months, but it comes early for Leroy Jethro Gibbs this evening.

Our favorite special agent and man of few words must revisit a horrible chapter in his life when his ex-mother-in-law plays a role in the latest murder investigation.

Gibbs, of course, has three former mothers-in-law. This is the mother of his deceased ex-wife, played by Gena Rowlands and then by Leann Hunley in flashbacks.

Check out CBS' preview for the episode below:

Mother's Day Promo

We've also posted episode stills from tonight, and you can follow jump for a sneak preview from "Mother's Day," in which something really stinks. Literally, in the lab.

Ducky tries to find out who or what is responsible ...

Mother's Day Sneak Peek