Rebecca wants to blow a shoffar one day!
Well, yesterday was the day we'd all been waiting for! It was both the Season 10 premiere of NCIS, and the beginning of Yom Kippur! Evening services began one hour after the premiere did, so I was able to watch about the first forty minutes of it live before I had to run. The episode was very solid, and I can't describe how excited I was finally sitting down to watch it after waiting for so long. And I can't describe how powerful and moving it felt, right after, to see the Torah scrolls removed from the ark (our temple has two, which, together with Rabbi Z, represented a beit din) and hear the words of the Kol Nidre and the blast of the shoffar.
I did make a sincere effort to fast today, but I got very dizzy and faint in the afternoon, so I caved and ate a PB&J. Our congregational break-the-fast dinner after concluding services was SO delicious, and I ate till I thought I would burst! Strange how quickly you can go from feeling starved to stuffed.
And now, my notes on the Season 10 premiere. I usually don't like Glasberg's episodes, but this one pleasantly surprised me. It was a great way to kick off the new season!
Notes for episode 10x01 Extreme Prejudice (Season 10 Premiere)
Featuring Tobias Fornell, last seen in The Devil's Trinagle; Eli David, last seen in Enemies Domestic; and SecNav Jarvis, The Tell.
Writer: Gary Glasberg (Till Death Do Us Part).
+ The recap summarizing the finale arc was a good refresher, but I'm still rolling my eyes that none of the team could evacuate the building before the bomb went off. Is it safe to assume that Stratton has been blown to bits?
+ I damn neared teared up at Palmer acting so calm and collected at Ducky's bedside in the hospital. You know inside, he was probably freaking the hell out (who wouldn't be in that situation?) but he put on a strong front for Ducky. EW at Ducky's bare chest, though. NB: When Ducky woke up and the doctor asked if he knew where he was, he answered, "Purgatory." With that oxygen mask over his face, I had to listen to it a few times to understand what he was saying.
+ And we've got a NEW OPENING! I screamed out loud! I especially loved that Brian Dietzen has been added -- finally! -- and the shot of Abby in her ringmaster costume from Up in Smoke.
- The scene of Gibbs standing in the wreckage, staring at Abby, who was apparently both unharmed and getting medical attention, felt kinda stupid. Exactly why is checking up on her? He was with her when the bomb went off, so he knew she was safe. I know she's his favorite, but why wasn't he looking for the rest of his kids?! They could've been blown to bits, for all he knew! But in his defense, he probably assumed that they could at least evacuate a building in time.
+/- The scene of Tony and Ziva in the elevator felt very Tiva, but I didn't hate it. Ziva on Tony's shoulders was kinda cute and made me chuckle. But Ziva getting a phone call from her dad -- ugh! We haven't heard from Eli since Enemies Domestic back in Seasn 8, when the writers tried to stick a big band-aid on his and Ziva's relationship. He's never shown much concern for her, so why is he starting to now? I wouldn't mind the writers bringing him back if I thought they could do it well, but somehow, I doubt that.
- Gibbs finding McGee almost A-okay in the bullpen was THE most disappointing part of this premiere for me. McGee gets so little screentime, and since he was in the bullpen when the bomb went off, most fans figured that he would have the worst injuries and finally get some drama or hurt/comfort. Alas, our hopes were dashed! His injuries were literally "nothing a band-aid couldn't fix," and he got way less screentime than the other team members! Ugh! Poor McGee may never get his turn to shine.
+ Back in the hospital with Palmer and Ducky -- thank goodness he has a shirt on now. Their scene together was so touching and well-done. I aww'ed out loud at Ducky wanting to go back to DC to help, Palmer quietly insisting that he couldn't, and Ducky realizing that he was right and telling Palmer to go to DC without him. Damn, I love that Duck!
+ NB: The SCIF in the director's office was compromised (we saw it back in Pyramid). Also, the order from the President to treat Dearing with "extreme prejudice." In military operations, this is used a euphemism for an order to assassinate.
+ Tony and Ziva making fun of their coworkers, then Ziva asking, "What if one of those men is dead?" was a good moment. So was Abby bursting through the rescue workers when they finally opened the elevator. I aww'ed out loud at how genuinely relieved and happy she, Tony, and Ziva all were to see each other.
+ "You never dress up for me anymore." Don't you just love Gibbs and Fornell? They keep getting slashier!
+ Aww, Gibbs called Jackson to let him know he was okay, and Fornell asked about it. That was a nice touch. And Fornell is "proceeding" -- just stay out of his way!
+/- Dearing getting picked up by a strange lady on the street (who turned out to be an FBI agent undercover). I had bad feelings about this from the beginning. I didn't see another explosion coming, but I knew it was still too early in the episode for them to catch Dearing. For its brevity, it played out pretty dramatically.
+ Ooh, Ziva's outfit in the scene outside the exploded hotel! Thank you, wardrobe department! Tony looked good in those sunglasses, too.
- Geez, the director's office was repaired awfully fast! Already the clocks and photos are back on the wall and the potted plants are in the corners; this was before the time-jump, and it already looks like the bomb never even happened. How ridiculous.
- Gibbs being so sure that arresting Dearing's ex-wife would provoke a reaction out of him. I know Gibbs has all but superpowers on this show, but this made me roll my eyes. And Vance whining and blaming himself because Dearing planted the bomb in his car -- ugh! It was bad enough when he acted so pissy over Dearing kidnapping him in Till Death Do Us Part.
- Ziva goes down to Abby's lab trying to cheer her up, but Abby just acts all pissy and whiny. Geez, she gets on my nerves sometimes.
+ Tony asking Gibbs if he'd talked to Ryan since the explosion. I didn't see this coming at all, and it made me sit up a little straighter. I think this could go in two directions: bringing back Ryan (ugh!) or laying a foundation for Tiva (I'll save my opinion for if/when that happens).
- I did see it coming that the remains in the car weren't actually Dearing's, and when Rebecca can see it coming, you know it had to be very obvious. The freeze-frame on Gibbs's face was meant to make us suspicious, and it was still too early in the episode for them to have caught Dearing.
+ Palmer referring to Ducky as his best friend while he was talking to the body in autopsy. Aww.
+/- Palmer acting so bumbling and nervous in autopsy. The writers almost always play Palmer for laughs like this, and I usually do get a laugh out of it, but I also hope he matures somewhat this season.
+/- It was nice to hear another mention of McGee's grandma, whom we met back in Penelope's Papers. But it also felt kinda weird that both she and Palmer pushed McGee to get in touch with his dad. I'm kinda split about this. McGee is such an underutilized character and he's SO overdue for a centric storyline. But... do the writers have to give him daddy issues? Almost everybody on this show has daddy issues!
- I was kinda disappointed when Gibbs cut off Ducky just when he was about to expound on what happened to John Wilkes Booth's body. I was curious!
+ So Dearing exhumed his brother's body to fake his own death? Ew. Didn't you love the scene of Gibbs breaking this news to his team? I lol'ed at Ziva's bwuh? expression, Tony's "A grave robbery -- sweet!" and Fornell's "Are you freaking kidding me?"
+ So Dearing's sister-in-law was in on it, to some extent. This was a good twist, and I loved Gibbs going all bad-ass on her in interrogation.
+ NB: The freeze-frame on Gibbs slamming the door to Dearing's escape hatch was the last thing I saw before I had to leave for services.
- Vance showing up in Gibbs's basement was certainly odd. He's never been down there before, and I totally expected it to be one of the Gibblets descending those stairs.
+ I loved how concerned the Three Musketeers were for their father-figure going to face Dearing alone, and I especially loved his parting exchange. Gibbs: "What's a four-letter word for surviving a terrorist attack?" Me: "PTSD?" Tony: "Luck." Gibbs: "Look out for each other."
+/- The scene of Gibbs finally killing Dearing was a little over-the-top, but for the most part, it felt refreshing and satisfying to see Gibbs's gunny side re-emerge. I just think there didn't need to be quite so many parallels between Gibbs and Dearing, like how they both listen to audiotapes of their dead kids. But I did LOVE the final scene of Gibbs coming back to DC and seeing his kids hanging out outside the Navy Yard.
Cheers to Season 10!
I did make a sincere effort to fast today, but I got very dizzy and faint in the afternoon, so I caved and ate a PB&J. Our congregational break-the-fast dinner after concluding services was SO delicious, and I ate till I thought I would burst! Strange how quickly you can go from feeling starved to stuffed.
And now, my notes on the Season 10 premiere. I usually don't like Glasberg's episodes, but this one pleasantly surprised me. It was a great way to kick off the new season!
Notes for episode 10x01 Extreme Prejudice (Season 10 Premiere)
Featuring Tobias Fornell, last seen in The Devil's Trinagle; Eli David, last seen in Enemies Domestic; and SecNav Jarvis, The Tell.
Writer: Gary Glasberg (Till Death Do Us Part).
+ The recap summarizing the finale arc was a good refresher, but I'm still rolling my eyes that none of the team could evacuate the building before the bomb went off. Is it safe to assume that Stratton has been blown to bits?
+ I damn neared teared up at Palmer acting so calm and collected at Ducky's bedside in the hospital. You know inside, he was probably freaking the hell out (who wouldn't be in that situation?) but he put on a strong front for Ducky. EW at Ducky's bare chest, though. NB: When Ducky woke up and the doctor asked if he knew where he was, he answered, "Purgatory." With that oxygen mask over his face, I had to listen to it a few times to understand what he was saying.
+ And we've got a NEW OPENING! I screamed out loud! I especially loved that Brian Dietzen has been added -- finally! -- and the shot of Abby in her ringmaster costume from Up in Smoke.
- The scene of Gibbs standing in the wreckage, staring at Abby, who was apparently both unharmed and getting medical attention, felt kinda stupid. Exactly why is checking up on her? He was with her when the bomb went off, so he knew she was safe. I know she's his favorite, but why wasn't he looking for the rest of his kids?! They could've been blown to bits, for all he knew! But in his defense, he probably assumed that they could at least evacuate a building in time.
+/- The scene of Tony and Ziva in the elevator felt very Tiva, but I didn't hate it. Ziva on Tony's shoulders was kinda cute and made me chuckle. But Ziva getting a phone call from her dad -- ugh! We haven't heard from Eli since Enemies Domestic back in Seasn 8, when the writers tried to stick a big band-aid on his and Ziva's relationship. He's never shown much concern for her, so why is he starting to now? I wouldn't mind the writers bringing him back if I thought they could do it well, but somehow, I doubt that.
- Gibbs finding McGee almost A-okay in the bullpen was THE most disappointing part of this premiere for me. McGee gets so little screentime, and since he was in the bullpen when the bomb went off, most fans figured that he would have the worst injuries and finally get some drama or hurt/comfort. Alas, our hopes were dashed! His injuries were literally "nothing a band-aid couldn't fix," and he got way less screentime than the other team members! Ugh! Poor McGee may never get his turn to shine.
+ Back in the hospital with Palmer and Ducky -- thank goodness he has a shirt on now. Their scene together was so touching and well-done. I aww'ed out loud at Ducky wanting to go back to DC to help, Palmer quietly insisting that he couldn't, and Ducky realizing that he was right and telling Palmer to go to DC without him. Damn, I love that Duck!
+ NB: The SCIF in the director's office was compromised (we saw it back in Pyramid). Also, the order from the President to treat Dearing with "extreme prejudice." In military operations, this is used a euphemism for an order to assassinate.
+ Tony and Ziva making fun of their coworkers, then Ziva asking, "What if one of those men is dead?" was a good moment. So was Abby bursting through the rescue workers when they finally opened the elevator. I aww'ed out loud at how genuinely relieved and happy she, Tony, and Ziva all were to see each other.
+ "You never dress up for me anymore." Don't you just love Gibbs and Fornell? They keep getting slashier!
+ Aww, Gibbs called Jackson to let him know he was okay, and Fornell asked about it. That was a nice touch. And Fornell is "proceeding" -- just stay out of his way!
+/- Dearing getting picked up by a strange lady on the street (who turned out to be an FBI agent undercover). I had bad feelings about this from the beginning. I didn't see another explosion coming, but I knew it was still too early in the episode for them to catch Dearing. For its brevity, it played out pretty dramatically.
+ Ooh, Ziva's outfit in the scene outside the exploded hotel! Thank you, wardrobe department! Tony looked good in those sunglasses, too.
- Geez, the director's office was repaired awfully fast! Already the clocks and photos are back on the wall and the potted plants are in the corners; this was before the time-jump, and it already looks like the bomb never even happened. How ridiculous.
- Gibbs being so sure that arresting Dearing's ex-wife would provoke a reaction out of him. I know Gibbs has all but superpowers on this show, but this made me roll my eyes. And Vance whining and blaming himself because Dearing planted the bomb in his car -- ugh! It was bad enough when he acted so pissy over Dearing kidnapping him in Till Death Do Us Part.
- Ziva goes down to Abby's lab trying to cheer her up, but Abby just acts all pissy and whiny. Geez, she gets on my nerves sometimes.
+ Tony asking Gibbs if he'd talked to Ryan since the explosion. I didn't see this coming at all, and it made me sit up a little straighter. I think this could go in two directions: bringing back Ryan (ugh!) or laying a foundation for Tiva (I'll save my opinion for if/when that happens).
- I did see it coming that the remains in the car weren't actually Dearing's, and when Rebecca can see it coming, you know it had to be very obvious. The freeze-frame on Gibbs's face was meant to make us suspicious, and it was still too early in the episode for them to have caught Dearing.
+ Palmer referring to Ducky as his best friend while he was talking to the body in autopsy. Aww.
+/- Palmer acting so bumbling and nervous in autopsy. The writers almost always play Palmer for laughs like this, and I usually do get a laugh out of it, but I also hope he matures somewhat this season.
+/- It was nice to hear another mention of McGee's grandma, whom we met back in Penelope's Papers. But it also felt kinda weird that both she and Palmer pushed McGee to get in touch with his dad. I'm kinda split about this. McGee is such an underutilized character and he's SO overdue for a centric storyline. But... do the writers have to give him daddy issues? Almost everybody on this show has daddy issues!
- I was kinda disappointed when Gibbs cut off Ducky just when he was about to expound on what happened to John Wilkes Booth's body. I was curious!
+ So Dearing exhumed his brother's body to fake his own death? Ew. Didn't you love the scene of Gibbs breaking this news to his team? I lol'ed at Ziva's bwuh? expression, Tony's "A grave robbery -- sweet!" and Fornell's "Are you freaking kidding me?"
+ So Dearing's sister-in-law was in on it, to some extent. This was a good twist, and I loved Gibbs going all bad-ass on her in interrogation.
+ NB: The freeze-frame on Gibbs slamming the door to Dearing's escape hatch was the last thing I saw before I had to leave for services.
- Vance showing up in Gibbs's basement was certainly odd. He's never been down there before, and I totally expected it to be one of the Gibblets descending those stairs.
+ I loved how concerned the Three Musketeers were for their father-figure going to face Dearing alone, and I especially loved his parting exchange. Gibbs: "What's a four-letter word for surviving a terrorist attack?" Me: "PTSD?" Tony: "Luck." Gibbs: "Look out for each other."
+/- The scene of Gibbs finally killing Dearing was a little over-the-top, but for the most part, it felt refreshing and satisfying to see Gibbs's gunny side re-emerge. I just think there didn't need to be quite so many parallels between Gibbs and Dearing, like how they both listen to audiotapes of their dead kids. But I did LOVE the final scene of Gibbs coming back to DC and seeing his kids hanging out outside the Navy Yard.
Cheers to Season 10!