Rebecca drowns her sorrows in NCIS episodes!
I'm kinda late on posting my review for this week's new NCIS, but I at least I have a good excuse. I didn't get to see whole episode properly when it aired because Sable needed to be walked at the most inconvenient moment, and people from temple kept calling to express their condolences about Grandma. I'm not very good at accepting such things, but I need to get better at that. Her funeral is tomorrow! NCIS, distract me!
Notes on episodes 9x12 Housekeeping
(Featuring EJ Barrett and Casey Stratton, both last seen in Nature of the Beast, and SecNav Jarvis, last seen in Engaged: Part 2)
Writer: Scott Williams (Thirst)
- That opening scene with the two boys complaining about "this puny little town." Sara turned to me and asked, "Maybe they're in Stickville?" It took me forever to realize she meant Stillwater.
- Ziva called Tony "my dear!" Hey, that's Ducky's trademark term of endearment, Ziva!
- "Maybe it's finally time we both took some action." I did not like this line's Tiva implications. Thank goodness Gibbs interrupted Ziva before she could go on. Maybe Gibbs doesn't ship them either, overheard her, and thought, "Uh-oh, Ziva's saying something that could be construed as Tiva! Better put a stop to this!"
+ The look on the neighbor's face when Tony and Ziva suggested that Barnsway's wife might've killed him was so funny. They really seemed amused by it, too.
- The whole team sure ganged up on Tony when he mentioned Naples. Hmph.
+ The clerk at the hotel was so funny, especially "But we do keep the sheets clean." Lol!
- The build-up to EJ's big reveal was just ridiculous. Most people already knew from the promo who it was! And for living on the lam for +4 months, EJ certainly has well-styled hair. But that flannel jacket -- ugh!
- Tony and EJ yelling at each other in the conference room was a little over-the-top for me. It seemed like the writers were trying too hard to stick a fork in their relationship. I don't blame Abby for wanting to get away from them.
+/- Ziva's line about her and McGee not wanting to see Tony get hurt was so touching. Gibbs's "I'll be the judge of that" line was mean, but in a standard grumpy Gibbs way.
- EJ falling asleep at the safe house was very telling. Tony pours his heart out, and she falls asleep -- a luxury that Tony doesn't have because he has to stay awake and keep watch, all because of a situation that she caused in the first place! It reminded me of when she ate Tony's croissant (without even asking) back in Dead Reflection.
- "I assumed we'd be meeting in Director Vance's office." Yeah, where was Vance in this episode? It was really strange to see Gibbs working directly with Jarvis and leaving Vance out of the loop. Hmm.
+ I loved the cute little shushing sound Ziva made when Tony pointed his gun at her.
- I found the whole storyline with Latham, Stratton, and Phantom 8 so boring, confused, and poorly-thought-out (just like it was when we last saw it in Nature of the Beast). Seriously, writers, this arc isn't intense or interesting at all. It's just made me miss the stand-alone episodes.
- Geez, that gunfight was just ridiculous! Four people firing, and not one of them could hit their target? I'd say it was even worse than the gunfight in Newborn King last month, but at least this one wasn't set to "Silent Night." Ugh.
- Gibbs rubbing it in Stratton's face that he hadn't killed Tony -- was that really necessary?
- Tony: "Take care of yourself." EJ: "Always do." I thought her answer was also very telling. This line, combined with her eating Tony's croissant, leaving him for dead, falling asleep on him, and more, highlight how she does nothing but take, take, take in their relationship. I don't ship Tiva, but if Tony had told Ziva to take care, I'm certain she would've answered with, "You take care, too."
- Stratton mentioning Mexico was weird and out-of-place. How did he even know about it? And for heaven's sake, writers, that storyline has run its course! Stop bringing it up!
+/- EJ telling Tony that Ziva "appreciates" and "cares" about him and the almost-outright Tiva scene at the end were very surprising. Even Ziva didn't seem to know how to take it. Then, of course, she got the phone call from Ray -- or as he's better known, "Tiva delaying tactic since the beginning of Season 8." Geez, writers. I didn't dislike Ray before, but now I'm really dreading his return in A Desperate Man next week. Ugh.
NB: Housekeeping is the first NCIS episode of 2012.