NCIS Review & Picspam 9x01 and 9x02
Hey, hey, hey, guess what… It's all done. So of course, I'll lost the connection now.
With so much lateness, I don't know where to start, and how to go…First episode and second will go together, seeing how there weren't a lot of Tony/McGee in the first one.
So come on in, follow Tony behind the cut
9x01 The Nature of the Beast.
Looks like the vest saved your life.
You could say I'm well-invested. Invest we trust. Go vest, young man.
I'll go get my sixth cup of coffee for the evening.
Lightweight.
Ruin all my hard work and I'll kill you.
Copy that.
Rachel is back, yeah!! And if Gibbs called her, he must trust her. I loved her reaction when Stratton came in the room. She sees Tony frowning, trying to remember something Stratton is obviously reminding him, and she calls Gibbs.
I know a fun gaming lounge. 3-D PS2 on a 60-inch plasma. Or not.
McGee was not very present, usual with GG's scripts. In the same time, that was a Tony and a Tony & Gibbs episode, so everybody else's presence was light. And yet, the team feeling was there. It's a good sign.
Why do I bother having a door?
You know how they kept saying 'don't miss the first/last five minutes!' these past seasons? This time, it was deserved. I was thinking Stratton had nothing to do, and no, he's just one the future bad guy. I hope this arc will be better done that P2P.
See, that looks like a woman to me.
No, it doesn't. It looks like a hairy pirate with a moustache.
You mean Tony's assignment is to kill Johnny Depp?
I like Johnny Depp.
I am so relieved than EJ is not dead (well…) or the mole. It would have been pure cliché and fan service to a bad kind of fans, the bashers. I want to say I'm glad GG didn't give them a good reason to hate her and wish her dead beyond the threat to their ship she represented but I know some of them will find something to prove she kick puppies in her free time.
(Me, stumbling on some nasty Tiva shippers rage? Not at all. Damn, I never thought some of them could be worse than the Ziva bashers.)
Director Vance told me to expect some push-back from you, but you're being borderline disrespectful.
That a compliment, sir?
About Tiva, I think GG gave a little wink regarding his promise to go back to the root of the show, to the DB's style. When Ziva says a lot happened lately and that they needed a little time, Tony asked if she meant him and her, and she says it's not what she meant. I think it was GG saying Tiva won't disappear, but will go back to the background with the same spotlight than the other relationships. Text for none, subtext for all, like they say.
Mr. Palmer, what do you suppose the SECNAV is saying to them?
Well, if I were him, I'd be asking how to get blood out of a $200 white dress shirt. See, it's all about oxygenating the stain. My mother used to use club soda, but my uncle preferred Perrier with a dash of... Um, the incision-- they're probably talking about the incision.
Using again the secret friend with Ziva, I don't know if it's a bad idea or a joke. It's a repeat of Rivkin and Ray, and it must be deliberate, at this point. Maybe an injoke from GG after hearing the complaints about the double repetition of the mole story and Tony's secret mission. I'll have to pay attention to his interviews, see if he's the trolling type (After reading the Ray spoiler? Yes. Yes he is :D). From her reaction when she thought McGee was talking of a wedding, I'm guessing she wants to talk about Ray's box to her friend.
The episode was a bit slow, but Michael Weatherly was perfect, I loved the famous last five minutes, and there's an air around this episode which promise good things for the season.
Now, let's talk McNozzo :D
First, McGee using Tony's lessons in taking messages. For Tony.
Then, their only scene:
Tony, you've been off the grid for weeks.
You miss me, McWorry-wart?
Look at this little smile on Tony's face!
I was busy doing my job.
Well, we were concerned.
We? I see.
Waiting to hear if EJ's on the photo, Tony looks at him before answering to Ziva:
9x02 Restless
Uh-oh, did I miss someone's birthday?
No, this is for Tony.
Huh, what's the occasion?
Well, it has not been the best of weeks for him, so I thought he could use some cheering up.
Yeah, I noticed. I actually got him something, too. It's not much, but hopefully it'll take his mind off things. I just can't stand all the moping.
I have not been moping. Been a little dejected, apathetic perhaps.
That's actually the definition of the word moping.
Is it really? Well, let's just see what the dictionary app has to say. Oh, you're right.
When GG promise close team, he gives us close team :D
And Original Recipe Probie. Very sweet, very nice.
Aww, look at this small happy smile!
Two more tickets to female mud wrestling. How old do you guys think I am?
Physically or mentally?
Because growing up doesn't mean stopping having fun. With four tickets, he can invite the team.
Careful, Jimmy. You don't want to steal Ducky's shtick. The last time you did this, you end up moping the morgue.
I like McGee mocking the lack of maturity of Tony's 'happy' memory lane because of Tim's attitude during the episode. I'll explain when we'll get there.
And Tony starts to think… What prompt it? The past weeks, or Tim pointing the small hypocrisy?
Next time why don't you just shoot the driver?
Next time I will.
Abby, not so subtly avoiding dirty work with the garbage. Appreciate it while you can, Abby, I saw Safe Harbor.
Wait, aren't you going to stay and help?
Ah, that is so sweet of you to ask, but my job is to process the evidence, not to find it. I would never want to take that away from you.
*snort* The kids running to escape the work and stay with the screen and Gibbs. Don't look so proud, Tony.
Found the cell phone.
I'll alert ZNN.
Pretty glasses, Gibbs.
So, based on the photo, Pauley Perrette is immortal, right? She was created on the same model than Keanu Reeves?
Gibbs laughs, imagining the prom's massacre.
Are we there yet?
The more you ask, the longer it's gonna take.
Oh, really, so there's some magical connection between my mouth and distance?
No, but there is between your mouth and annoyance.
No. I pulled a dead, bloated corpse out of a hot tub last year, okay? This is your turn.
I'll give you $200.
Deal. Though I would've taken $50.
How can you find if it's the first take or not: look Tim's knee. Unless he had to get on his knees earlier, for some reason… Awesome move from Tony and his trousers too.
Really? Well, let's just consider the other $150 nerd restitution, huh?
Excuse me?
You must have been teased pretty badly in high school, huh?
Uh, actually, no, I wasn't.
If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay.
Feeling guilty about something?
No. I mean, not guilty, just... ...reflective. I strung this kid up by his underwear when I was in boarding school.
Right. Yes, Stinky John.
Yeah. Strung him up by his tighty whities off the flagpole 20 feet in the air. Remarkably not cool of me.
No, it wasn't.
Who does something like that? I'm a big fan of practical jokes. 'Cause they're funny, but nobody gets hurt. I mean, you could really hurt a kid doing that. And he was just a kid. Think about it... a kid.
Yep. And so were you. But at least you finally figured it out.
Well, someone is on a bit of denial. At first, I thought it was some retcon, but the rest of the episode shows McGee was lying to himself, or doing what Tony supposed, closing the subject to not talk about it.
And that's the first moment I was talking about earlier. He glances at Tony having his moment of questioning, watching where he goes with it. And when Tony said he was wrong with the prank, he could have said "yeah, you sucked at this time. And you didn't really change. Should we talk about this one time you pretend-push me over the rail with a plot to my groin?". (Season 5, About Face, before Jimmy gets shot at.)
He didn't try to lie to make him feel better and acknowledge the steps forward Tony did. (This phrase makes probably more sense in French than in English.)
Look at you. All resourceful.
Look at you, doing this little jump. And maybe having something gnawing at his brain when he said the perfect kid wasn't so perfect.
In fact, you know, he and I have something in common. We were both elected homecoming king.
Yes, on what merits did you get elected?
It was a charter school. There were only 12 kids in my class, so...
Still, your fellow students chose you above the others.
Unless, of course...
The other 11 were girls. Oh, look! Agent Gibbs.
Jimmy is so happy of the distraction! And want to join the game.
Don't you have a pipette to clean?
Always. Pipettes can never be too clean. Jimmy's rule number one.
Ouch. Poor Timmy. I like that Ziva reacted by moving him away. She usually protects by attacking someone or stopping someone from being violent, it's nice to see her protect a friend like that. It makes sense that it's with him, she always had a different relationship with him, calmer, more peaceful. No need to win points against each other like they both do with Tony or the guest stars.
McGee made several new friends.
Couple kids piled on at the crime scene. Felt like I was back in high school again.
I thought you said you weren't teased in high school.
I wasn't.
Okay. I - I'm gonna leave it at that, because I'm your friend. And if you don't want to talk about it, then-then that's great, and I can respect that.
Look at Tim's face in this second to last cap, we're getting to the second moment I was talking about. For now, he's all "hmm, interesting reaction, very mature. Where's the catch?"
But I need a favor.
That's more like it.
I'm trying to track somebody down. I'm having a little bit of trouble.
Who?
John.
You wouldn't, by any chance, be talking about Stinky John?
I would. His last name is Smith. You know how many John Smiths there are? It's like a million of them.
Why on earth would you try to find the man that you strung up by his underwear? To do it again?
Well, I just thought I might want to say hi. Right? Maybe, uh, buy him a beer. Maybe apologize. I mean, maybe just sorry. Eh, that's weak. I don't know, but something like that.
That Tony wants to apologize please him. He's watching Tony trying to explaining himself, he sees that Tony is serious, and he likes that. I think Tony just won a lot of points with him at this moment.
All right, Tony. I'd be happy to help.
Thank you.
I love how fast Abby said attack to finish Gibbs' phrase. Smudge…? Attack!
And the 'bitch please' award goes to…
But do I have to do all the heavy lifting?
Yes, lift.
Hill wouldn't say where, and Curtis couldn't go to the police.
So he tried to grab Lindsey as leverage.
Nice assist.
They really care.
Yeah, I know. Five iron tipped me off.
Nathan, what are you doing?
I just came to see if you were okay.
Yeah, and I was gonna swat a fly off the end of your nose.
Nathan, you could get hurt.
I know. And so could you. And that's why I'm here.
So am I.
Right. And I appreciate the assistance, Agent Gibbs.
The boyfriend is hilarious. The scene was a reminder of the second season, when they protect the mom, and the boyfriend sneaked in and Tony and Kate listened through the door.
So…it was the night when Tony called, and it's the day when they arrive. Did Tony get McGee on the way, or was he in the building when Tony called?
Lol at Gibbs jumping on the car.
Help!!
My vest is trying to eat me!!!
I thought for sure he was going over the edge.
Well, lucky for me, he didn't. You dug that hole. Would've been my turn to go through his pockets.
You were right, Gibbs. Her coffee was too good.
Caught by her coffee :D Love Ziva's look.
Wow, they look alike.
I've been telling that story for a long time, and...I don't when I...flip-flopped it. But I guess...I don't know, maybe I was trying to protect myself, or make things...
Easier.
Easier. McGee is never gonna let me hear the end of this.
You don't have to tell him, DiNozzo.
I know... but I should.
Awwwww. Poor Tony. What else did he change without realising it?
I don't think everything was fake. It'd fall into the retcon place big time. I think something happened at this time, one thing which makes his friends turn on him.
It's the first time in 8 years that his jock days bother him by itself and regarding McGee. They were in the box Geek/Jock and he didn't care at best, continued the teasing at worst. He started working on it without remembering the truth, by himself and I really wonder what the trigger was.
And now, he has a common point with McGee. I think he wanted to tell him to share that, to equilibrate the things between them, and because he's watching McGee starting to do the same thing than him, rewrite the past to protect himself, to build something more fitting for the new him and to go with his 200$ shoes.
I don't know where they going with this new attention on the Tony/McGee, but I love it.
2 down, 5 8 to go!
With so much lateness, I don't know where to start, and how to go…First episode and second will go together, seeing how there weren't a lot of Tony/McGee in the first one.
So come on in, follow Tony behind the cut
9x01 The Nature of the Beast.
Looks like the vest saved your life.
You could say I'm well-invested. Invest we trust. Go vest, young man.
I'll go get my sixth cup of coffee for the evening.
Lightweight.
Ruin all my hard work and I'll kill you.
Copy that.
Rachel is back, yeah!! And if Gibbs called her, he must trust her. I loved her reaction when Stratton came in the room. She sees Tony frowning, trying to remember something Stratton is obviously reminding him, and she calls Gibbs.
I know a fun gaming lounge. 3-D PS2 on a 60-inch plasma. Or not.
McGee was not very present, usual with GG's scripts. In the same time, that was a Tony and a Tony & Gibbs episode, so everybody else's presence was light. And yet, the team feeling was there. It's a good sign.
Why do I bother having a door?
You know how they kept saying 'don't miss the first/last five minutes!' these past seasons? This time, it was deserved. I was thinking Stratton had nothing to do, and no, he's just one the future bad guy. I hope this arc will be better done that P2P.
See, that looks like a woman to me.
No, it doesn't. It looks like a hairy pirate with a moustache.
You mean Tony's assignment is to kill Johnny Depp?
I like Johnny Depp.
I am so relieved than EJ is not dead (well…) or the mole. It would have been pure cliché and fan service to a bad kind of fans, the bashers. I want to say I'm glad GG didn't give them a good reason to hate her and wish her dead beyond the threat to their ship she represented but I know some of them will find something to prove she kick puppies in her free time.
(Me, stumbling on some nasty Tiva shippers rage? Not at all. Damn, I never thought some of them could be worse than the Ziva bashers.)
Director Vance told me to expect some push-back from you, but you're being borderline disrespectful.
That a compliment, sir?
About Tiva, I think GG gave a little wink regarding his promise to go back to the root of the show, to the DB's style. When Ziva says a lot happened lately and that they needed a little time, Tony asked if she meant him and her, and she says it's not what she meant. I think it was GG saying Tiva won't disappear, but will go back to the background with the same spotlight than the other relationships. Text for none, subtext for all, like they say.
Mr. Palmer, what do you suppose the SECNAV is saying to them?
Well, if I were him, I'd be asking how to get blood out of a $200 white dress shirt. See, it's all about oxygenating the stain. My mother used to use club soda, but my uncle preferred Perrier with a dash of... Um, the incision-- they're probably talking about the incision.
Using again the secret friend with Ziva, I don't know if it's a bad idea or a joke. It's a repeat of Rivkin and Ray, and it must be deliberate, at this point. Maybe an injoke from GG after hearing the complaints about the double repetition of the mole story and Tony's secret mission. I'll have to pay attention to his interviews, see if he's the trolling type (After reading the Ray spoiler? Yes. Yes he is :D). From her reaction when she thought McGee was talking of a wedding, I'm guessing she wants to talk about Ray's box to her friend.
The episode was a bit slow, but Michael Weatherly was perfect, I loved the famous last five minutes, and there's an air around this episode which promise good things for the season.
Now, let's talk McNozzo :D
First, McGee using Tony's lessons in taking messages. For Tony.
Then, their only scene:
Tony, you've been off the grid for weeks.
You miss me, McWorry-wart?
Look at this little smile on Tony's face!
I was busy doing my job.
Well, we were concerned.
We? I see.
Waiting to hear if EJ's on the photo, Tony looks at him before answering to Ziva:
9x02 Restless
Uh-oh, did I miss someone's birthday?
No, this is for Tony.
Huh, what's the occasion?
Well, it has not been the best of weeks for him, so I thought he could use some cheering up.
Yeah, I noticed. I actually got him something, too. It's not much, but hopefully it'll take his mind off things. I just can't stand all the moping.
I have not been moping. Been a little dejected, apathetic perhaps.
That's actually the definition of the word moping.
Is it really? Well, let's just see what the dictionary app has to say. Oh, you're right.
When GG promise close team, he gives us close team :D
And Original Recipe Probie. Very sweet, very nice.
Aww, look at this small happy smile!
Two more tickets to female mud wrestling. How old do you guys think I am?
Physically or mentally?
Because growing up doesn't mean stopping having fun. With four tickets, he can invite the team.
Careful, Jimmy. You don't want to steal Ducky's shtick. The last time you did this, you end up moping the morgue.
I like McGee mocking the lack of maturity of Tony's 'happy' memory lane because of Tim's attitude during the episode. I'll explain when we'll get there.
And Tony starts to think… What prompt it? The past weeks, or Tim pointing the small hypocrisy?
Next time why don't you just shoot the driver?
Next time I will.
Abby, not so subtly avoiding dirty work with the garbage. Appreciate it while you can, Abby, I saw Safe Harbor.
Wait, aren't you going to stay and help?
Ah, that is so sweet of you to ask, but my job is to process the evidence, not to find it. I would never want to take that away from you.
*snort* The kids running to escape the work and stay with the screen and Gibbs. Don't look so proud, Tony.
Found the cell phone.
I'll alert ZNN.
Pretty glasses, Gibbs.
So, based on the photo, Pauley Perrette is immortal, right? She was created on the same model than Keanu Reeves?
Gibbs laughs, imagining the prom's massacre.
Are we there yet?
The more you ask, the longer it's gonna take.
Oh, really, so there's some magical connection between my mouth and distance?
No, but there is between your mouth and annoyance.
No. I pulled a dead, bloated corpse out of a hot tub last year, okay? This is your turn.
I'll give you $200.
Deal. Though I would've taken $50.
How can you find if it's the first take or not: look Tim's knee. Unless he had to get on his knees earlier, for some reason… Awesome move from Tony and his trousers too.
Really? Well, let's just consider the other $150 nerd restitution, huh?
Excuse me?
You must have been teased pretty badly in high school, huh?
Uh, actually, no, I wasn't.
If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay.
Feeling guilty about something?
No. I mean, not guilty, just... ...reflective. I strung this kid up by his underwear when I was in boarding school.
Right. Yes, Stinky John.
Yeah. Strung him up by his tighty whities off the flagpole 20 feet in the air. Remarkably not cool of me.
No, it wasn't.
Who does something like that? I'm a big fan of practical jokes. 'Cause they're funny, but nobody gets hurt. I mean, you could really hurt a kid doing that. And he was just a kid. Think about it... a kid.
Yep. And so were you. But at least you finally figured it out.
Well, someone is on a bit of denial. At first, I thought it was some retcon, but the rest of the episode shows McGee was lying to himself, or doing what Tony supposed, closing the subject to not talk about it.
And that's the first moment I was talking about earlier. He glances at Tony having his moment of questioning, watching where he goes with it. And when Tony said he was wrong with the prank, he could have said "yeah, you sucked at this time. And you didn't really change. Should we talk about this one time you pretend-push me over the rail with a plot to my groin?". (Season 5, About Face, before Jimmy gets shot at.)
He didn't try to lie to make him feel better and acknowledge the steps forward Tony did. (This phrase makes probably more sense in French than in English.)
Look at you. All resourceful.
Look at you, doing this little jump. And maybe having something gnawing at his brain when he said the perfect kid wasn't so perfect.
In fact, you know, he and I have something in common. We were both elected homecoming king.
Yes, on what merits did you get elected?
It was a charter school. There were only 12 kids in my class, so...
Still, your fellow students chose you above the others.
Unless, of course...
The other 11 were girls. Oh, look! Agent Gibbs.
Jimmy is so happy of the distraction! And want to join the game.
Don't you have a pipette to clean?
Always. Pipettes can never be too clean. Jimmy's rule number one.
Ouch. Poor Timmy. I like that Ziva reacted by moving him away. She usually protects by attacking someone or stopping someone from being violent, it's nice to see her protect a friend like that. It makes sense that it's with him, she always had a different relationship with him, calmer, more peaceful. No need to win points against each other like they both do with Tony or the guest stars.
McGee made several new friends.
Couple kids piled on at the crime scene. Felt like I was back in high school again.
I thought you said you weren't teased in high school.
I wasn't.
Okay. I - I'm gonna leave it at that, because I'm your friend. And if you don't want to talk about it, then-then that's great, and I can respect that.
Look at Tim's face in this second to last cap, we're getting to the second moment I was talking about. For now, he's all "hmm, interesting reaction, very mature. Where's the catch?"
But I need a favor.
That's more like it.
I'm trying to track somebody down. I'm having a little bit of trouble.
Who?
John.
You wouldn't, by any chance, be talking about Stinky John?
I would. His last name is Smith. You know how many John Smiths there are? It's like a million of them.
Why on earth would you try to find the man that you strung up by his underwear? To do it again?
Well, I just thought I might want to say hi. Right? Maybe, uh, buy him a beer. Maybe apologize. I mean, maybe just sorry. Eh, that's weak. I don't know, but something like that.
That Tony wants to apologize please him. He's watching Tony trying to explaining himself, he sees that Tony is serious, and he likes that. I think Tony just won a lot of points with him at this moment.
All right, Tony. I'd be happy to help.
Thank you.
I love how fast Abby said attack to finish Gibbs' phrase. Smudge…? Attack!
And the 'bitch please' award goes to…
But do I have to do all the heavy lifting?
Yes, lift.
Hill wouldn't say where, and Curtis couldn't go to the police.
So he tried to grab Lindsey as leverage.
Nice assist.
They really care.
Yeah, I know. Five iron tipped me off.
Nathan, what are you doing?
I just came to see if you were okay.
Yeah, and I was gonna swat a fly off the end of your nose.
Nathan, you could get hurt.
I know. And so could you. And that's why I'm here.
So am I.
Right. And I appreciate the assistance, Agent Gibbs.
The boyfriend is hilarious. The scene was a reminder of the second season, when they protect the mom, and the boyfriend sneaked in and Tony and Kate listened through the door.
So…it was the night when Tony called, and it's the day when they arrive. Did Tony get McGee on the way, or was he in the building when Tony called?
Lol at Gibbs jumping on the car.
Help!!
My vest is trying to eat me!!!
I thought for sure he was going over the edge.
Well, lucky for me, he didn't. You dug that hole. Would've been my turn to go through his pockets.
You were right, Gibbs. Her coffee was too good.
Caught by her coffee :D Love Ziva's look.
Wow, they look alike.
I've been telling that story for a long time, and...I don't when I...flip-flopped it. But I guess...I don't know, maybe I was trying to protect myself, or make things...
Easier.
Easier. McGee is never gonna let me hear the end of this.
You don't have to tell him, DiNozzo.
I know... but I should.
Awwwww. Poor Tony. What else did he change without realising it?
I don't think everything was fake. It'd fall into the retcon place big time. I think something happened at this time, one thing which makes his friends turn on him.
It's the first time in 8 years that his jock days bother him by itself and regarding McGee. They were in the box Geek/Jock and he didn't care at best, continued the teasing at worst. He started working on it without remembering the truth, by himself and I really wonder what the trigger was.
And now, he has a common point with McGee. I think he wanted to tell him to share that, to equilibrate the things between them, and because he's watching McGee starting to do the same thing than him, rewrite the past to protect himself, to build something more fitting for the new him and to go with his 200$ shoes.
I don't know where they going with this new attention on the Tony/McGee, but I love it.
2 down, 5 8 to go!