Just DiNozzo
The lovely dawnydiesel transcribed a TV Guide article about next week's NCIS episode, "Bait". This isn't really spoilerish, since I don't know anything about the plot of the episode, other than what's been published in TV Guide and elsewhere. But it gives me an opportunity to talk about a subject that is dear to me.
In "Bait", Gibbs gets taken hostage and Tony is left to lead the team and figure out how to rescue him and the other hostages.
The TV Guide article talks about how this is a "new" DiNozzo and that viewers will see a side of Tony that hasn't been seen before.
Bullshit.
That Tony has always been there. That's the real Tony. That's who lives under the frat boy and the sex machine and the street cop. He's always had what it takes to lead and to do whatever job needs doing. That's the Tony in our fanfiction. That's the Tony in my "DiNozzo" icon. He works very hard to keep his competence hidden. He spent enough of his life trying to live up to peoples' expectations. Now, he chooses to limit how much he shows people in terms of his competence, his compassion, and his intellect. He doesn't need to impress anyone, except Gibbs. Gibbs gets to see the real Tony -- and I'm not talking in terms of slash here -- Gibbs knows exactly how capable Tony is and that's why he pushes him the way he does.
Occasionally, you'll see Gibbs and DiNozzo exchange these looks where Tony is stripped of all pretense and there's almost an audible 'click' of connection and understanding between them. That's the real DiNozzo right there.
In Gibbs, Tony has found a mentor, a hero, and a friend. Gibbs sees Tony as a kōhai, a gifted apprentice whose talent will, one day, match or surpass his own. He knows he can rely on DiNozzo to get the job done. And he sees the way Tony's unique abilities -- like the way he can see patterns and make connections when working on a case -- complement his own more 'boots on the ground' approach to problem-solving. Gibbs also sees echoes of himself in Tony -- and sees how the choices they've both made have marked each of them in different ways.
They are a team. They support each other and have each other's back.
Abby talked about how Tony becomes all "Gibbs-like" when Gibbs isn't around. It's not just hero-worship and emulation. DiNozzo has what it takes to lead. He always has. This is not new. And Gibbs knows it.
I wish I had the time and energy right now to do a really detailed character analysis of DiNozzo and his relationship with Gibbs, complete with episode references. But I don't. Right now, I am just stoked beyond belief that they're going to highlight "my" Tony on Tuesday.
M.
In "Bait", Gibbs gets taken hostage and Tony is left to lead the team and figure out how to rescue him and the other hostages.
The TV Guide article talks about how this is a "new" DiNozzo and that viewers will see a side of Tony that hasn't been seen before.
Bullshit.
That Tony has always been there. That's the real Tony. That's who lives under the frat boy and the sex machine and the street cop. He's always had what it takes to lead and to do whatever job needs doing. That's the Tony in our fanfiction. That's the Tony in my "DiNozzo" icon. He works very hard to keep his competence hidden. He spent enough of his life trying to live up to peoples' expectations. Now, he chooses to limit how much he shows people in terms of his competence, his compassion, and his intellect. He doesn't need to impress anyone, except Gibbs. Gibbs gets to see the real Tony -- and I'm not talking in terms of slash here -- Gibbs knows exactly how capable Tony is and that's why he pushes him the way he does.
Occasionally, you'll see Gibbs and DiNozzo exchange these looks where Tony is stripped of all pretense and there's almost an audible 'click' of connection and understanding between them. That's the real DiNozzo right there.
In Gibbs, Tony has found a mentor, a hero, and a friend. Gibbs sees Tony as a kōhai, a gifted apprentice whose talent will, one day, match or surpass his own. He knows he can rely on DiNozzo to get the job done. And he sees the way Tony's unique abilities -- like the way he can see patterns and make connections when working on a case -- complement his own more 'boots on the ground' approach to problem-solving. Gibbs also sees echoes of himself in Tony -- and sees how the choices they've both made have marked each of them in different ways.
They are a team. They support each other and have each other's back.
Abby talked about how Tony becomes all "Gibbs-like" when Gibbs isn't around. It's not just hero-worship and emulation. DiNozzo has what it takes to lead. He always has. This is not new. And Gibbs knows it.
I wish I had the time and energy right now to do a really detailed character analysis of DiNozzo and his relationship with Gibbs, complete with episode references. But I don't. Right now, I am just stoked beyond belief that they're going to highlight "my" Tony on Tuesday.
M.