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the_navy_yard2013-08-30 12:17 am
proseac) wrote in the_navy_yard2013-08-30 12:17 am
Challenge #6 - Tony's Tuesday Review
Tony’s Tuesday Review
Episode Title: Kill Ari (Part 1)
Caf-Pow rating: 4.5/5
Review:
In light of Ziva’s impending departure from NCIS, I thought it would be appropriate to do a review of the episode that marked her entrance onto the NCIS stage. And what an entrance it was!
The Ziva we first meet has a very ethnic, “Bedouin” look and feel to her. She is playful, like a cat, extremely sharp-witted and self-confident to the point of arrogance. She is also mysterious...a fact which immediately draws Tony’s attention and interest. He’s been caught off-guard, fantasizing about Kate in a Catholic school girl outfit, but his quick recovery from that embarrassment is classic DiNozzo. He claims to have been planning a game of charades with partner, and seems genuinely surprised when Ziva confirms that she’s familiar with it.
The sexual innuendo and romantic tension between them that was to last for eight seasons begins right here. Although the writers could not have had such brilliant foresight, the metaphor of charades perfectly describes the development of their relationship over time. The words every TIVA fan wanted to hear have never been spoken; instead, they have danced around each other, acting out their feelings and each trying to get the other to take the hint.
But Ziva doesn’t steal the show in this episode. Long before her arrival on the scene, we are drawn in by the fact that this is a very different NCIS episode from anything we’d seen up to that point.
The thing that is most striking is the atmosphere, both physical and emotional.
One doesn’t often notice overt symbolism being used on NCIS, but it’s very dramatic here, with the incessant rain storm that one presumes began in the early evening hours right after the shooting. The rain symbolizes the grief everyone is feeling, and the sense of foreboding that still hangs over everyone, since Ari is on the loose.
The mood in the bullpen and the way the team interacts with each other in the immediate aftermath of Kate’s death is nothing short of chilling. Where the bullpen normally is a hive of activity and noise, it’s eerily quiet, with just the hammering of rain and the rumble of thunder as a soundtrack. Gibbs is being uncharacteristically nice to Tony and Tim – a fact that DiNozzo finds greatly disturbing. “He’s not Gibbs if he’s nice.”
Tony, in an interesting role reversal, is NOT nice in this scene. He is grief-stricken, and that grief emerges as snark and piss directed squarely at Tim (for which Gibbs chastises him). You can see the conflicting emotions roaring through Tony here – part of him knows his behaviour is inappropriate, and he will later regret it, but the hurt is so strong here that he can’t yet get a grip on himself.
Next, we see Abby’s reaction, and she is predictably tearful and lost, until a vision of Kate brings back her focus. Then Tony arrives, and they too have an out-of-character confrontation. I have heard some people say that Michael Weatherly does a poor job in this scene, “just standing there” while Abby goes on her rant, but in actuality, his facial expressions display a masterful performance. Every word coming out of Abby’s mouth is like a bullet hitting Tony; watch, and you’ll see him blinking as if physically absorbing each volley. All he can do is let her go and wait for her to finish. Tony knows Abby better than anyone, other than Gibbs, and he knows that once she gets going, there’s no stopping her. He also knows that once she’s done, she’ll turn to him for support, which she does, of course.
And then comes the scene every Tabby fan adores...or every Gabby fan, depending on your perspective!
One of my favourite scenes occurs when Abby is pulling the slugs out of the trunk of the car, and McGee is staring at her butt. Of course, she knows he’s doing it, and calls him on it, but that doesn’t stop him from doing it again...until Gibbs notices! I love the bemused look on Gibbs’ face – we don’t see that look much anymore, and I sure miss it. The man’s lost his sense of humour. But I digress...
The other great part to this scene is when Tony “baits” Gibbs by telling him the Director wants to seem him in MTAC. Tim repeats his earlier statement that he likes the new, “nice” Gibbs, and is the recipient of the first ever double head-slap of the show, as Abby and Tony try to knock some sense into him. Makes me laugh every time!
So much happens in this episode, and now we come to the introduction of Jenny Shepard as the new NCIS Director. The most significant point for me in this scene is the absolutely tasteless comment made by Tom Morrow at the suggestion that Gibbs might be offered his position. “Much as I like you, Jethro, I would not shoot NCIS in the head.” In light of the method of Kate’s death, the insensitivity of this comment horrifies me. It seems so uncharacteristic for Morrow, who I otherwise always liked very much.
Enter Ziva and the game of charades.
Upon Jenny and Gibbs’ return, it emerges that Ziva and Jenny know each other well. Tony & Gibbs compare notes, in a neat recap of the introduction of the two new female characters on the show. Ziva is introducted to Gibbs, and immediately has him sized up (quite accurately – she’s got good instincts). I note the stains on Gibbs’ jacket from the rain in this scene, but not in some of the earlier ones...a rare continuity gaffe.
I’d love to know how accurate Cote’s pronunciation is of the Hebrew she speaks in her conversation with Ari; regardless, it’s very believable. She has a gift for foreign tongues.
The head-slaps come fast and furious in the next couple of scenes! First, Tim gets one from Abby for daydreaming about Kate. Then Tony gets another one from Gibbs for commenting that Ziva’s not his type (a comment that could have been used to great effect through the years, if the writers had foreseen what was to happen between these two characters).
Abby’s analysis of the rifling patters on the various possible weapons leads Gibbs to the conclusion that Ari used a Bravo 51 sniper rifle – nicknamed a ‘Kate’. Gibbs doesn’t believe in coincidences.
The exciting cliffhanger begins next, as Gerald is accosted in his car by Ari, and forced to lure Ducky out to the park for an ‘exchange’. Ducky will do anything for a friend, so of course he ignores Gibbs’ earlier directive that no-one should leave the building, and slips out almost unnoticed. By the time Gibbs does realize he’s in the elevator with Jenny, he’s too late to catch him.
I actually find this part a bit unbelievable, but I suspose one must suspend disbelief from time to time. Ducky doesn’t walk terribly quickly, and Gibbs is very spry, so I’m sure if he ran down the staircase he’d be able to catch up to the good doctor long before he made it out to his vintage Morgan in the parking lot.
The last scene, with Ducky in the cross-hairs, is neatly reminiscent of the Season 10 cliff-hanger, with Gibbs sighting Fornell in his own cross-hairs. Lots of symmetry; one wonders how much of it was actually planned?
Sig Tag:
Episode Title: Kill Ari (Part 1)
Caf-Pow rating: 4.5/5
Review:
In light of Ziva’s impending departure from NCIS, I thought it would be appropriate to do a review of the episode that marked her entrance onto the NCIS stage. And what an entrance it was!
The Ziva we first meet has a very ethnic, “Bedouin” look and feel to her. She is playful, like a cat, extremely sharp-witted and self-confident to the point of arrogance. She is also mysterious...a fact which immediately draws Tony’s attention and interest. He’s been caught off-guard, fantasizing about Kate in a Catholic school girl outfit, but his quick recovery from that embarrassment is classic DiNozzo. He claims to have been planning a game of charades with partner, and seems genuinely surprised when Ziva confirms that she’s familiar with it.
The sexual innuendo and romantic tension between them that was to last for eight seasons begins right here. Although the writers could not have had such brilliant foresight, the metaphor of charades perfectly describes the development of their relationship over time. The words every TIVA fan wanted to hear have never been spoken; instead, they have danced around each other, acting out their feelings and each trying to get the other to take the hint.
But Ziva doesn’t steal the show in this episode. Long before her arrival on the scene, we are drawn in by the fact that this is a very different NCIS episode from anything we’d seen up to that point.
The thing that is most striking is the atmosphere, both physical and emotional.
One doesn’t often notice overt symbolism being used on NCIS, but it’s very dramatic here, with the incessant rain storm that one presumes began in the early evening hours right after the shooting. The rain symbolizes the grief everyone is feeling, and the sense of foreboding that still hangs over everyone, since Ari is on the loose.
The mood in the bullpen and the way the team interacts with each other in the immediate aftermath of Kate’s death is nothing short of chilling. Where the bullpen normally is a hive of activity and noise, it’s eerily quiet, with just the hammering of rain and the rumble of thunder as a soundtrack. Gibbs is being uncharacteristically nice to Tony and Tim – a fact that DiNozzo finds greatly disturbing. “He’s not Gibbs if he’s nice.”
Tony, in an interesting role reversal, is NOT nice in this scene. He is grief-stricken, and that grief emerges as snark and piss directed squarely at Tim (for which Gibbs chastises him). You can see the conflicting emotions roaring through Tony here – part of him knows his behaviour is inappropriate, and he will later regret it, but the hurt is so strong here that he can’t yet get a grip on himself.
Next, we see Abby’s reaction, and she is predictably tearful and lost, until a vision of Kate brings back her focus. Then Tony arrives, and they too have an out-of-character confrontation. I have heard some people say that Michael Weatherly does a poor job in this scene, “just standing there” while Abby goes on her rant, but in actuality, his facial expressions display a masterful performance. Every word coming out of Abby’s mouth is like a bullet hitting Tony; watch, and you’ll see him blinking as if physically absorbing each volley. All he can do is let her go and wait for her to finish. Tony knows Abby better than anyone, other than Gibbs, and he knows that once she gets going, there’s no stopping her. He also knows that once she’s done, she’ll turn to him for support, which she does, of course.
And then comes the scene every Tabby fan adores...or every Gabby fan, depending on your perspective!
One of my favourite scenes occurs when Abby is pulling the slugs out of the trunk of the car, and McGee is staring at her butt. Of course, she knows he’s doing it, and calls him on it, but that doesn’t stop him from doing it again...until Gibbs notices! I love the bemused look on Gibbs’ face – we don’t see that look much anymore, and I sure miss it. The man’s lost his sense of humour. But I digress...
The other great part to this scene is when Tony “baits” Gibbs by telling him the Director wants to seem him in MTAC. Tim repeats his earlier statement that he likes the new, “nice” Gibbs, and is the recipient of the first ever double head-slap of the show, as Abby and Tony try to knock some sense into him. Makes me laugh every time!
So much happens in this episode, and now we come to the introduction of Jenny Shepard as the new NCIS Director. The most significant point for me in this scene is the absolutely tasteless comment made by Tom Morrow at the suggestion that Gibbs might be offered his position. “Much as I like you, Jethro, I would not shoot NCIS in the head.” In light of the method of Kate’s death, the insensitivity of this comment horrifies me. It seems so uncharacteristic for Morrow, who I otherwise always liked very much.
Enter Ziva and the game of charades.
Upon Jenny and Gibbs’ return, it emerges that Ziva and Jenny know each other well. Tony & Gibbs compare notes, in a neat recap of the introduction of the two new female characters on the show. Ziva is introducted to Gibbs, and immediately has him sized up (quite accurately – she’s got good instincts). I note the stains on Gibbs’ jacket from the rain in this scene, but not in some of the earlier ones...a rare continuity gaffe.
I’d love to know how accurate Cote’s pronunciation is of the Hebrew she speaks in her conversation with Ari; regardless, it’s very believable. She has a gift for foreign tongues.
The head-slaps come fast and furious in the next couple of scenes! First, Tim gets one from Abby for daydreaming about Kate. Then Tony gets another one from Gibbs for commenting that Ziva’s not his type (a comment that could have been used to great effect through the years, if the writers had foreseen what was to happen between these two characters).
Abby’s analysis of the rifling patters on the various possible weapons leads Gibbs to the conclusion that Ari used a Bravo 51 sniper rifle – nicknamed a ‘Kate’. Gibbs doesn’t believe in coincidences.
The exciting cliffhanger begins next, as Gerald is accosted in his car by Ari, and forced to lure Ducky out to the park for an ‘exchange’. Ducky will do anything for a friend, so of course he ignores Gibbs’ earlier directive that no-one should leave the building, and slips out almost unnoticed. By the time Gibbs does realize he’s in the elevator with Jenny, he’s too late to catch him.
I actually find this part a bit unbelievable, but I suspose one must suspend disbelief from time to time. Ducky doesn’t walk terribly quickly, and Gibbs is very spry, so I’m sure if he ran down the staircase he’d be able to catch up to the good doctor long before he made it out to his vintage Morgan in the parking lot.
The last scene, with Ducky in the cross-hairs, is neatly reminiscent of the Season 10 cliff-hanger, with Gibbs sighting Fornell in his own cross-hairs. Lots of symmetry; one wonders how much of it was actually planned?
Sig Tag:
