Our NCIS review broke down "Canary," this week's episode of TV's #1 show, in detail.
Now, TV Fanatic staff members Steve Marsi, Douglas Wolfe and Eric Hochberger have assembled for our weekly Round Table Q&A discussion of various events and topics from this installment.
Join in as we analyze the somehwat unconventional nature of the episode and more!
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1. Describe this episode in one word (or two, or three, or four).
Steve: Fun change of pace.
Doug: Refreshingly different.
Eric: Predictable and yet not.
2. Favorite quotes or scenes from "Canary"?
Steve: Tony and Khan talking music. Was it just me or was Khan almost likable at times? That's not an endorsement of terrorism, obviously, but I felt he was well cast as a bad guy who at least had depth. I also enjoyed his explanation for why he does what he does ... not what you might expect from someone involved with such sinister people and activities.
Doug: I enjoyed the very first scene. This time the story didn't begin with a dead body. But most importantly Gibbs was playing the part of a street person, and Ziva was playing the part of a true ditz. Both were playing against character, and it was fun to watch.
Eric: Abby saying that she enjoys McGee's musk. And then actually using the term "McAbby."
3. What was your biggest problem, if any, with the episode?
Steve: Only that we basically knew the outcome from the moment it started and that made it hard to sense any imminent danger, even if watching the team act out the elaborate ruse was a lot of fun.
Doug: Logically Gibbs could have taken Khan down the minute he walked past him in the opening scene. Didn't seem realistic that they waited until Ziva was in his clutches before they dropped character. Also, the I.P. address had the same feel as the fake 555-1212 phone number so many shows use. The 192.168 B-class address is often used in WiFi networks, which likely won't matter to most, but anyone in I.T. would likely groan at that.
Eric: LOL @ Doug, you're giving me a run for my nerd/programmer money with that one.
4. Did you like the unusual nature of this week?
Steve: We don't see the team in the opening minutes period, let alone apprehending a guilty suspect who played a vital role in the episode. It was neat, though I wish we'd gotten a look at MC at the end.
Doug: I loved it. I really enjoyed the fact that Khan wasn't a pushover and that he really appeared as smart as he thought he was. Nothing worse than an egomaniac who brags with legitimacy - as I'm sure Tony will sometimes attest.
Eric: I don't think it would work every week, but how can you argue with Tony dumpster diving and Gibbs in that ridiculous hat. He's more versatile than you think for an old school agent. The Gitmo plan's tie-in to Deputy Director Craig's tenuous grasp of his own power made for an interesting twist too.
5. Who was the NCIS team MVP of the week?
Steve: Tony and Ziva for selling the final stages of the fake Guantanamo uprising. Khan held out a really long time, and if he'd called the bluff at that point, it would've been curtains.
Doug: I'll give this one to McGee who walked Khan through the logic which destroyed his lies. That was brilliant.
Eric: Total team effort all around, but I have to give a special shout out to Kevin for portraying the terrorist supposedly out for revenge against Khan ... well played sir.
6. Were you surprised at the outcome?
Steve: As I said earlier, I think we all expected the "Canary" to sing at some point and knew the team was playing him ... but the fact that they staged the entire stunt at Andrews AFB was pretty great.
Doug: Having watched Director Craig agonize about committing all the way in order to get the info from Khan, only to finally give his assent after talking with Abby, I totally bought that the plane went to Gitmo. All of the prison stuff seemed contrived - more so when Tony was "shot" - so it wasn't surprising that the act stopped once Khan blurted out the I.P. address. I was surprised when Gibbs came around the corner and we saw that the whole trip was a ruse.
Eric: Not really, but that didn't make it any less entertaining.
7. When, and how, will Deputy Director Craig clash with Gibbs/Vance?
Steve: I can't quite buy the idea that Craig is SO unsure of himself. Obviously there are those who follow protocol and those who bend the rules, but he's in way over his head ... for now. In his mind he may be trying to rise to the occasion. The fact that he admitted he wasn't prepared for the job "yet" was telling.
Doug: They might clash when push comes to shove and a hard decision has to be made about what to do with ex-Mossad Deputy Director Bodnar, once they figure out where he is and what he's up to. Gibbs is no stranger to crossing the line or at least coming close to it, but that's where Craig practically runs the other direction. The death of Vance's wife has opened up the same dark wine that Gibbs drank when he went on his vengeance mission. Vance won't be cleared for duty yet, but will want Craig to act - I can see sparks flying then.
Eric: I'm looking forward to that inevitable showdown as the two couldn't be more different, but I'm still a little confused a to the hierarchy. Hasn't Granger been billed as Assistant Director on NCIS: Los Angeles, and didn't he make a comment implying he was looking to move up the ladder? I'd love to see Gibbs and Vance tangle with Miguel Ferrer's character as well, but I don't know if it's in the cards.
What's your take on these issues of the week on NCIS? Discuss below!