NCIS 9x13 "A Desperate Man"
My two main thoughts about this episode:
-I really liked the case. It felt not trivial and it was well done throughout the episode. It kept me guessing.
-I was really surprised to see an episode that focused so heavily on DiNozzo and Ziva. I think I ultimately liked it, but I kept feeling like the balance was off the whole episode.
Random thoughts from (mostly) the second half of the episode:
I love that Tony kept Ray's plans to propose secret. Total bro code.
Ziva and Jimmy Palmer double wedding? Best idea/scene ever. I laughed so hard.
Abby got used more in this episode than usual this season. Yay! Can we work on getting some McGee action now? Poor guy. With the revelation that he hasn't had sex in 10 months (the fuck? seriously?) and how little screen time he gets, it's clear that the character is stuck, and the writers need to figure out what the character wants.
Ray actually being the murderer? I would have never seen that coming in a million years. I guess that explains why they've been making him look steadily slimier each time he's showed up. Still, I don't know if I buy that Ziva's judgment would be that poor to begin with.
I loved Gibbs trying to comfort Ziva. I also loved the expression of happiness and pride on his face when Tony told him to get ready to play father of the bride. Aw.
I liked how when Tony and Ziva were talking by her desk, Tony getting Ziva's phone to turn on distracted them--paralleling last week's episode.
I'm not sure how I felt about the last scene and the anvils dropped by the Detective Burress. If that was supposed to be a Tony/Ziva relationship-anvil then I hated it, but if it was supposed to be a friendship anvil then I kind of liked it. I really liked the throwback ending shot. Down to Ziva's hair style, that mirrors scenes from earlier seasons and I really liked it.
I found a little illustration:
(Season 5: tonyandzivauk.tumblr.com)
(Season 9: fuzzy, off-center screenshot by me)
Well played, whoever directed this ep.
Oh wait and I have more thoughts:
This was a very good episode. My confirmation of this is that when I woke up having a nightmare about my place being infested with spiders while I'm away, my first thought was, "Wow, NCIS was good yesterday!" and I dropped back to sleep happy.
More moments I liked in the episode and observations:
-How Ducky cues Jimmy to take Gibbs through Mrs. Burress's injuries in autopsy in such a knowledgeable, professional way, and Gibs respects his explanations. I really like the way they've handled Jimmy's professional development.
-Tony and Ziva's talk on the roof overlooking the crime scene reminded me of "Masquerade" (7x15?) when Tony tried to get her to tell him about Somalia. I was surprised by Ziva's tearfulness during her recounting of the story. I've never thought Of her as one to be bothered by embarrassment or disappointment to that extent.
-I was rather pleased at how Ziva handled Ray proposing in public, telling him off and hustling him away. Although she gave him the opening to do it, that was still a dick move.
-I guess we know for sure now that Ziva doesn't have anyone close to her other than the NCIS team. It's a bit creepy though to have your boyfriend calling your coworkers and boss to try to get in touch with you.
Further edit: It turns out I shouldn't have bothered writing that last bit because jelenamichel wrote a fantastic review that says it better than I did.
-I really liked the case. It felt not trivial and it was well done throughout the episode. It kept me guessing.
-I was really surprised to see an episode that focused so heavily on DiNozzo and Ziva. I think I ultimately liked it, but I kept feeling like the balance was off the whole episode.
Random thoughts from (mostly) the second half of the episode:
I love that Tony kept Ray's plans to propose secret. Total bro code.
Ziva and Jimmy Palmer double wedding? Best idea/scene ever. I laughed so hard.
Abby got used more in this episode than usual this season. Yay! Can we work on getting some McGee action now? Poor guy. With the revelation that he hasn't had sex in 10 months (the fuck? seriously?) and how little screen time he gets, it's clear that the character is stuck, and the writers need to figure out what the character wants.
Ray actually being the murderer? I would have never seen that coming in a million years. I guess that explains why they've been making him look steadily slimier each time he's showed up. Still, I don't know if I buy that Ziva's judgment would be that poor to begin with.
I loved Gibbs trying to comfort Ziva. I also loved the expression of happiness and pride on his face when Tony told him to get ready to play father of the bride. Aw.
I liked how when Tony and Ziva were talking by her desk, Tony getting Ziva's phone to turn on distracted them--paralleling last week's episode.
I'm not sure how I felt about the last scene and the anvils dropped by the Detective Burress. If that was supposed to be a Tony/Ziva relationship-anvil then I hated it, but if it was supposed to be a friendship anvil then I kind of liked it. I really liked the throwback ending shot. Down to Ziva's hair style, that mirrors scenes from earlier seasons and I really liked it.
I found a little illustration:
(Season 5: tonyandzivauk.tumblr.com)
(Season 9: fuzzy, off-center screenshot by me)
Well played, whoever directed this ep.
Oh wait and I have more thoughts:
This was a very good episode. My confirmation of this is that when I woke up having a nightmare about my place being infested with spiders while I'm away, my first thought was, "Wow, NCIS was good yesterday!" and I dropped back to sleep happy.
More moments I liked in the episode and observations:
-How Ducky cues Jimmy to take Gibbs through Mrs. Burress's injuries in autopsy in such a knowledgeable, professional way, and Gibs respects his explanations. I really like the way they've handled Jimmy's professional development.
-Tony and Ziva's talk on the roof overlooking the crime scene reminded me of "Masquerade" (7x15?) when Tony tried to get her to tell him about Somalia. I was surprised by Ziva's tearfulness during her recounting of the story. I've never thought Of her as one to be bothered by embarrassment or disappointment to that extent.
-I was rather pleased at how Ziva handled Ray proposing in public, telling him off and hustling him away. Although she gave him the opening to do it, that was still a dick move.
-I guess we know for sure now that Ziva doesn't have anyone close to her other than the NCIS team. It's a bit creepy though to have your boyfriend calling your coworkers and boss to try to get in touch with you.
Further edit: It turns out I shouldn't have bothered writing that last bit because jelenamichel wrote a fantastic review that says it better than I did.