S18.E08: True Believer

[thewhiteowl]

When Sloane’s name is discovered in Afghanistan at the site of an abandoned bus with a dead driver, Gibbs accompanies her on a trip to find a group of girls who were kidnapped from the bus. McGee, Bishop and Torres track down a hacker who emailed compromising information to the Taliban.

[NYGirl]

Ugh I've always hated when they go to Afghanistan...they've been doing it like every season.

Whoaaaaaa!  That ending!  I don't think we've ever seen Gibbs actually kiss someone...I'm in shock.

Bye Jack.

Edited March 3, 2021 by NYGirl

[Grizzly]

Um Jack, what about that daughter who had felt abandoned by you and has finally let you into her life? Any consideration for her?

The whole who's a good hacker left me cold. But Jimmy has some observational skills. Love him.

[DavidWeis1]

Better than I was thinking/hoping. Thank God they didn’t kill her. Too late to say, but Maria Bello managed to give this show some gravitas. She is earthy, down to earth, and can throw punch. Plus she’s older, which adds to her gravitas. I have no real problem with McGee, Torres and Bishop but they come across a bit juvenile. The whole 2nd story was a real distraction because it was so childish especially when compared to the main plot. Kudos to Maria. I think this may be the last season with Harmon/Gibbs.

[stonehaven]

Jimmy was the only thing that kept my interest...until the kiss...wow..

Although I thought Jack had more chemistry with Vance than with Gibbs.

This episode dragged...really...really...dragged....

If MH decides to leave, then it would be perfect as I really want to quit this show....or at least give me a spinoff with Young Ducky/Young Gibbs..

[mommalib]

She could have at least had a goodbye with Vance, she was connected to him more than anybody.

[Xeliou66]

I don’t really have a lot of feelings about Jack leaving - she never made much of an impression on me. I had a feeling she would be staying in Afghanistan though from the time the episode started. 

I was suspicious of the guy helping Gibbs and Jack and wasn’t surprised at all he turned out to be the mastermind. 

Overall I prefer more traditional case of the week episodes than terrorist/hacker plots and there was a lot of tech speak, but this wasn’t a bad episode, it kept my interest. 

Loved Palmer undercover and seeing his observational skills. No reference to the death of Palmer’s wife this week after it being revealed out of the blue last week, I wonder when/if they will reference that again. 

I never saw any romantic chemistry between Jack and Gibbs so I didn’t really care that they kissed at the end, I agree that Jack had more chemistry with Vance. 

[Linderhill]

I see that McGee completely forgot about that time he and Abby had the same issue with a non secured laptop shutting down the agency network in a case a number of years ago. (stopped by Gibbs unplugging the computer)  When working on a confiscated computer, never have it hooked up to the agency network, there are better ways of doing this.

I don't care much either about Jack leaving and I'd kind of been wondering why she was still around.  

[MissLucas]

That poor goldfish, left without goodbye in the care of Torres.

Okay send-off to a character that never quite worked - not Bello's fault, the writing just wasn't there. Team was off, first McGee forgetting basic security protocols then Bishop had to be schooled by Palmer in basic observation skills (yay for Palmer!).

[eel21788]

24 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

That poor goldfish, left without goodbye in the care of Torres.

Is it mandatory for all NCIS agents to have goldfish as pets? Gibbs, DiNozzo, Sloane and now Torres (one might also assume that McGee and Delilah inherited Ziva and Kate when they got DiNozzo's apartment as well) unless Torres decides to go the assisted suicide route (aka flush him) because he thinks that is more humane than prozac or therapy for a depressed goldfish. 

Edited March 3, 2021 by eel21788

[enoughcats]

12 hours ago, Linderhill said:

I see that McGee completely forgot about that time he and Abby had the same issue with a non secured laptop shutting down the agency network in a case a number of years ago. (stopped by Gibbs unplugging the computer) 

Make the same mistake twice?  Writers should have their computers hacked.  I f' hate the sloppy writing and plot development.

What woman in her right/write mind goes back to where she was tortured? There are lots of other places that need good people and where she doesn't stand out like a sore thumb, with a target on her back, is subject to night terrors set off by almost anything?

1 hour ago, eel21788 said:

depressed goldfish. 

Lots of people have goldfish ponds where the fish keep mosquitoes away.  NOT koi ponds, but old fashioned gold fish ponds.

[HurricaneVal]

Awww...  Palmer saves the day!  Again.

Buh-bye Sloane.  I won't miss 'ya.  But maybe Gibbs will!

 

[mythoughtis]

1 hour ago, enoughcats said:

What woman in her right/write mind goes back to where she was tortured? There are lots of other places that need good people and where she doesn't stand out like a sore thumb, with a target on her back, is subject to night terrors set off by almost anything?

That was my thought about it.  She came to NCIS broken and she barely made it thru the  last trip back to the war zone 

Edited March 3, 2021 by mythoughtis

[Katy M]

I was dreading this episdoe, but it wasn't as bad as I'd been expecting.  I don't know if Afghanistan is the right place who seems about 3 steps away from a psychotic episode/break, but it's her life, I guess.

I think the worst thing was knowing that nobody was going to look for these little girls if the name sloane hadn't been written on the bus window

[Callietwo]

I left the tv about 20 minutes in.. husband said "I'll pause it for you" .. nope, not necessary.  As soon as I saw Sloane written on the window, I knew I was out... her character has been a drag from day one and any episode that centers on her is a bore.  Glad she's gone. 

(And I've always liked the actress so it's not really on her but she could not breathe life into that character AT ALL.)   And I honestly loathe any of the episodes that are based outside of their local office area and expertise.  

[MorbidPet]

I for one will miss Jack and having Maria Bello regularly on my screen again. She's such a great actress I love her in even cheesy b-rolls. I started watching NCIS when she was brought on and I've enjoyed it. Until next time NCIS. Hope you keep doing good for cast, crew and fans of the show. 

[ForReal]

22 hours ago, Callietwo said:

I left the tv about 20 minutes in.. husband said "I'll pause it for you" .. nope, not necessary.  As soon as I saw Sloane written on the window, I knew I was out... her character has been a drag from day one and any episode that centers on her is a bore.  Glad she's gone. 

(And I've always liked the actress so it's not really on her but she could not breathe life into that character AT ALL.)   And I honestly loathe any of the episodes that are based outside of their local office area and expertise.  

I totally agree. Having her go all mopey and depressed the past few episodes was a weird way for her to go out. I couldn't see her on a beach in Costa Rica, but staying in a war-torn country didn't feel right, either. And a hug from Gibbs would have been better, in my book.

[immortalfrieza]

On 3/2/2021 at 9:20 PM, Xeliou66 said:

I don’t really have a lot of feelings about Jack leaving - she never made much of an impression on me.

Same here. Jack wasn't really significant to anything unless an episode centered around her and wasn't funny, badass, or charming, most of the time she was just... there. It seemed like Jack was just slotted in so we could have a character that could give psychology babble about suspects now that Ducky barely appears on the show anymore.

Quote

Loved Palmer undercover and seeing his observational skills.

I couldn't help but be confused by that whole scene. Palmer, the chief medical examiner and a guy who is nearly out of his mind from nervousness notices all this stuff about this woman and Mcgee, Torres, and Bishop, actual field agents with years of experience (one of which is also a father) don't? Plot contrivance at it's finest. In fact, wasn't the whole point of even having Palmer there that he wasn't one of the ones getting hack shamed by the internet group and then the rest of them show up and hang around like 10 feet away from him (with barely any disguises) anyway?

Edited March 5, 2021 by immortalfrieza

[Ebau]

On 3/3/2021 at 6:07 AM, eel21788 said:

unless Torres decides to go the assisted suicide route (aka flush him) because he thinks that is more humane than prozac or therapy for a depressed goldfish. 

That's a great line! I love the "assisted suicide/flush him" comparison. I may have to steal that. Cheers!

A far as Sloane "retiring" to Afghanistan, it would not surprise me if she, too, were eventually "escorted" into the sweet bye-and-bye via an IED, shot by insurgents, what have you. NCIS loves to kill off its female characters off-screen (Jenny, Ziva, Breena, Mrs. Ducky's Mom, etc...). Agent Lee, however, went out with style when she told Gibbs to shoot her (and the bad guy). Now that's what I call Girl Balls. Ditto for Cassie Yates, even though nobody liked her.

[transitfan]

On 3/16/2021 at 10:43 AM, Ebau said:

That's a great line! I love the "assisted suicide/flush him" comparison. I may have to steal that. Cheers!

A far as Sloane "retiring" to Afghanistan, it would not surprise me if she, too, were eventually "escorted" into the sweet bye-and-bye via an IED, shot by insurgents, what have you. NCIS loves to kill off its female characters off-screen (Jenny, Ziva, Breena, Mrs. Ducky's Mom, etc...). Agent Lee, however, went out with style when she told Gibbs to shoot her (and the bad guy). Now that's what I call Girl Balls. Ditto for Cassie Yates, even though nobody liked her.

In fairness, the actress playing Ducky's mother died, so they really had no choice.  Same with Jackson Gibbs (Ralph Waite)

[Linderhill]

On 3/17/2021 at 11:15 AM, transitfan said:

Ditto for Cassie Yates, even though nobody liked her.

I don't think Cassie Yates was killed, was she?  the show has been on a long time and I don't remember the last time they mentioned her.  I didn't mind her, I liked her better than I liked Ziva and Jenny.

[Ebau]

12 hours ago, Linderhill said:

I don't think Cassie Yates was killed, was she?  the show has been on a long time and I don't remember the last time they mentioned her.  I didn't mind her, I liked her better than I liked Ziva and Jenny.

I think I meant Paula Cassidy, the one who threw herself on the bomb. Sorry 'bout that. 

[Linderhill]

1 hour ago, Ebau said:

I think I meant Paula Cassidy, the one who threw herself on the bomb. Sorry 'bout that. 

no problem, it was Paula that did that after her team was killed.