S22.E01: Empty Nest

[chitowngirl]

NCIS searches for a missing undercover agent in the midst of an active hostage situation.

[chitowngirl]

I wish we could just get a Case of the Week without the endless story arcs….

[Grizzly]

Have to wonder who vets these people with top jobs.

[laredhead]

I was glad to see Seamus Deaver.  Used to love his character on Castle.

[jennifer6973]

He's been on here before. Back in season 3 or 4.  Played a bartender at speed dating event that Ziva went undercover for.

Edited October 15 by jennifer6973

[Packerbrewerbadger]

Glad Knight is back, I like her with Jimmy!  Gary Cole continues to be the best!!

[agathapenny]

So let me get this straight, McGee didn't want all the extra responsibility and work that came with being team leader, but suddenly he wants to pole vault over that position straight to assistant director? Huh? Make it make sense. A throwaway line about more regular hours doesn't cut it. 

And so the team comes back together. I'm fine with the cliche since they moved through it with one efficient episode, though it looks like they're going to make Jimmy and Jess horribly awkward. Don't know why they had to go the whole breakup route in the first place with Jimmy being a jerk. I thought up until then they'd done a really nice job with their relationship, unlike the endless Ziva/Tony, Nick/Bishop arcs that I found merely frustrating and poorly written.

I've really liked all the spinoffs (some more than the original at various times in their runs) though I've been less sold on Sydney (I find the way the lead woman's face barely moves horribly distracting) but I have zero desire to watch Origins. I came to like the Gibbs character less and less over the years and have no desire to watch an entire show centred around his stoic, tragic backstory. I thought when Gibbs finally left and they brought in Jessica and Parker the show got a new lease on life (sorry, not sorry Gibbs fans).

So is the new boss really a villain? I guess we'll find out. They certainly made him a jerk in his very first scene, so there is that.

Edited October 15 by agathapenny

[Skooma]

Tried this for the first time in 2 years while waiting for NCIS Origins.

So there is still the Mary Poppins boss handing out spoonfuls of sugar (donuts)?  Two years later and they are still doing that silly bit?  Couldn't find anything else to do with the new boss this whole time?

And still doing the corrupt/mole official doing bad guy things in high places story arc that will last way too long. 

And Tim has become so boring.  I miss the Elf Lord and novelist who did interesting stuff.  You don't have to give things like that up as you get older.  In fact there are millions of older people playing video games albeit probably not writing fiction at the same time.  But the writers turned him into Mr Boredom.  Sad.

[MissLucas]

Have to hand it to them, I did not see the lawyer (was that Esther from Nobody Wants This?) being in on the whole villain operation. Her scenes with Knight were a nicely played sleight of hand by the writers.

I'm glad the team is back together and I hope Jimmy and Knight will patch things up quickly.

Evil mint-chomping guy better not take up the whole season - that could get  boring pretty fast.

[Poohpoohpooh]

5 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

Have to hand it to them, I did not see the lawyer (was that Esther from Nobody Wants This?) being in on the whole villain operation. Her scenes with Knight were a nicely played sleight of hand by the writers.

I'm glad the team is back together and I hope Jimmy and Knight will patch things up quickly.

Evil mint-chomping guy better not take up the whole season - that could get  boring pretty fast.

I guessed the lawyer as sus, as there were few characters.

The writer of this ep overcomplicated the slickness a little.

My question: was it real, or were Parker and Knight putting an act for the priest when Parker wanted to let priest walk?

Seemed like Parker really "didn't trust Knight", but when did they have time (after Knight locked the door) to agree that the "pizza" code in text meant the warrant files?

[Raja]

26 minutes ago, MissLucas said:

Have to hand it to them, I did not see the lawyer (was that Esther from Nobody Wants This?) being in on the whole villain operation. Her scenes with Knight were a nicely played sleight of hand by the writers.

I'm only a few episodes a year guy on this show and didn't know about any split up of the team going in. As soon as Agent Knight was shown holding the hostage I knew  the lawyer was the target of a police scam.

[Sake614]

20 hours ago, agathapenny said:

McGee didn't want all the extra responsibility and work that came with being team leader, but suddenly he wants to pole vault over that position straight to assistant director?

I suspect it was more about the lack of danger involved in being deputy director. Being team leader still meant field work and I’m sure Delilah would appreciate knowing her husband is safe. Also, wasn’t it last season that Tim filled in for Vance for a short time? That might have also contributed to his desire for administrative work. Not to mention the pay hike…but yeh it would have been nice to hear some of that too.

[proserpina65]

That was not great.  I hate the conspiracy type episodes and the season-long story arcs.  They're so unrealistic and cliched.  I knew from the beginning that the priest was El Padre (seriously dude, get a better nickname) and that the attorney was the one working with the cartel.

On 10/15/2024 at 12:23 AM, agathapenny said:

So let me get this straight, McGee didn't want all the extra responsibility and work that came with being team leader, but suddenly he wants to pole vault over that position straight to assistant director?

I can see it.  A desk job would be easier than being a field agent since he has a young family.

I do wonder if the other guy got the job specifically because someone higher up suspects him of being the leak.

On 10/15/2024 at 12:23 AM, agathapenny said:

but I have zero desire to watch Origins. I came to like the Gibbs character less and less over the years and have no desire to watch an entire show centred around his stoic, tragic backstory. I thought when Gibbs finally left and they brought in Jessica and Parker the show got a new lease on life

Me, too.

[Ceindreadh]

21 hours ago, Poohpoohpooh said:

I guessed the lawyer as sus, as there were few characters.

The writer of this ep overcomplicated the slickness a little.

My question: was it real, or were Parker and Knight putting an act for the priest when Parker wanted to let priest walk?

Seemed like Parker really "didn't trust Knight", but when did they have time (after Knight locked the door) to agree that the "pizza" code in text meant the warrant files?

I don't think that Parker and Knight were putting on an act for the priest.  It seemed to me like it was only when Knight saw the rubber band that it all fell into place.   Of course, that's assuming that she was telling the truth about how it played out, she could have been an unreliable narrator and just made up that bit for the lawyer.

That said, there was plenty of time between Knight locking the door and the lawyer getting there for Parker and Knight to have talked through the situation.  Parker wouldn't have had any reason to get the warrants if he hadn't been given a heads up.

 

[preeya]

On 10/14/2024 at 9:23 PM, agathapenny said:

I have zero desire to watch Origins. I came to like the Gibbs character less and less over the years and have no desire to watch an entire show centred around his stoic, tragic backstory.

I took a chance and watched Episode 01. It was underwhelming and drawn out and seemed like it would never end. I'm out.

[eel2178]

On 10/14/2024 at 11:01 PM, Skooma said:

And still doing the corrupt/mole official doing bad guy things in high places story arc that will last way too long. 

. . . and has been done before.

[RobertDeSneero]

I think that the usual bit is for a sneering new guy to be brought in as a source of conflict, but who eventually turns out to be a good guy at heart and comes through in a key moment.  That they suspect he could be a mole is usually a sign that he isn't.

[Johannah]

On 10/16/2024 at 7:55 PM, preeya said:

I took a chance and watched Episode 01. It was underwhelming and drawn out and seemed like it would never end. I'm out.

I rarely don't watch a show because someone else doesn't like it.  Opinions are different.  I was still going to watch it, but once I saw that it was two hours, I remembered what you said and decided not to watch.  I was on the fence and you pushed me off.  Thanks!

On 10/18/2024 at 5:55 AM, RobertDeSneero said:

I think that the usual bit is for a sneering new guy to be brought in as a source of conflict, but who eventually turns out to be a good guy at heart and comes through in a key moment.  That they suspect he could be a mole is usually a sign that he isn't.

I hope you are right!  I agree with the poster above that doesn't like conspiracy episodes, especially those that last multiple episodes, and you know it's going to last all season unless you are right, and maybe even then.

I thought this was going to be one of those 'agent goes rogue, but all is forgiven' deals, so I'm glad it was all a show to trap the lawyer.  At least, that's the way I saw it, so if I'm wrong, don't correct me.

 

[Skooma]

On 10/16/2024 at 7:55 PM, preeya said:

I took a chance and watched Episode 01. It was underwhelming and drawn out and seemed like it would never end. I'm out.

OT: NCIS Origins was much better the 2nd episode. 

I agree the first was really bad but the second was pretty good.  The bad premiere written episode could hurt them since I am sure there were more than you that felt that way.

They should have come in with a good action "hook" to start the show out with but they used a dark-lit, drawn out Debbie Downer non-hook episode instead.

But the second episode was day to the premiere's night.  More like a typical NCIS episode as Gibbs discovers the power of the Emergency Stop button in elevators.

[rr2911]

There's a few things I don't like about the show.

1.  When say, Torres, Knight, McGee and Parker are talking about a case and the question is asked," I wonder why Mrs. Smith didn't tell us about her son", and then here comes Kasie off screen answering the question.  This happens every episode!  I used Katie as an example mainly because I don't like her, but this happens with all the characters!  Very annoying!

2.  Agent Knight telling Katie whose finger prints she was processing when it was suppose to be classified.  Why is an agent telling a lab tech classified info?

3.  I'm not a fan of Jimmy/Knight's relationship.  I think the show would run smoother without this love plot.  Tony and Ziva was special because it was teased upon us and didn't get in the way.  I think the show is tryied to capture that lightning in a bottle with Torres/Bishop and now with Jimmy/Knight.

 

To the showrunners:

Can you please replace Kasie?

Please?

[Ceindreadh]

12 hours ago, rr2911 said:

3.  I'm not a fan of Jimmy/Knight's relationship.  I think the show would run smoother without this love plot.  Tony and Ziva was special because it was teased upon us and didn't get in the way.  I think the show is tryied to capture that lightning in a bottle with Torres/Bishop and now with Jimmy/Knight.

 

 

The difference between the Jimmy/Jess and Tony/Ziva 'relationships' is that Jimmy and Jess actually seem to like and respect each other and have done so from the beginning. 

[rr2911]

11 hours ago, Ceindreadh said:

The difference between the Jimmy/Jess and Tony/Ziva 'relationships' is that Jimmy and Jess actually seem to like and respect each other and have done so from the beginning. 

Hmm.  Well to me, Tony and Ziva did like each other but I think at the time they thought broadcasting their feelings would compromise the unit and team.  That's what I believe.  I know they're going with Jimmy/Knight thing but I'm hoping they have a snag in their relationship.