It's not often that the green-eyed monster pays a visit to the NCIS team. Yet there it was in all its glory, arriving just in time to celebrate Delilah and Tim's reunion.
It was actually front and center, almost from the get-go. And it was more entertaining than the case of the week.
To be sure, NCIS Season 12 Episode 18 provided an interesting (albeit weak) case, with the one-man terror group breaking into military houses, just so he could, uh, brush his teeth and try on clothing and whatnot.
It was amusing to see Gibbs and Vance get so worked up about it. You have to imagine that if the guy ever managed to upload his terrible horror home movies, the troll gods of the net would have torn him a new one with their viciously mocking commentary.
It would have been fun to watch.
But then again – maybe if he added an ominous soundtrack to his movies, he could have frightened someone.
The one positive aspect of the case was that it was different. In fact, the variety of cases over NCIS Season 12 has been consistent and welcome.
The truly compelling part of the episode was the delightful rancor between McGee and Delilah. The back and forth arguments between them seemed all too real, as well as true to life and therefore believable.
The icing on the cake was Tony's and Bishop's involvement, what with all of their phenomenally bad advice. It's hard to believe that either of them were actually in successfully committed relationships. I mean, does Tony or Bishop practice the art of the flirt, deliberately – just to get some practice? Or was that advice just for their amusement and McGee's naive acceptance?
Whatever their motivation, I couldn't help laughing at it all.
Speaking of humor, there was a lot of it, wasn't there? Vance mockingly pretending to call Gibbs back in MTAC was a thing of beauty.
Then there was this:
Tony: Tim. How many times have you tried to contact Delilah in the last twelve hours? McGee: Texts? Couple. All right, a dozen. But I only called six times. Tony: What? McGee: And left messages. Tony: Honey. McGee: I know. Tony: I know you know but you're scaring her. That's not good. Women want the illusion of being chased. They don't want to actually be chased.
Plus there's the advice itself. I always cringe whenever any guy says he's got the low-down on what women want. If that isn't just asking for trouble I don't know what is.
Maybe he's right. I don't know. I'll never put money down on it though.
Funny thing: I thought McGee and Delilah were far more advanced in their relationship than their mental game of footsies implied. Is he really still trying to "get the girl" here? I was sure he already had her, and that they were maturing together.
I guess not.
And what's with her response to his question about her moving half way around the world: why did you let me?
Wow. Here he thought he was empowering her, and she wanted to him to somehow stop her from going? Maybe what she meant was that he should have at least objected or something.
It's great that they finally made up though. And that she's staying on American soil.
Final thoughts:
It was hard to tell whether that walking hormone Special Agent Rafi Ali was traitorous or just not able to do his job. Turns out he was dangerously incompetent. Kudos to Scott Speiser for playing the guy so well – a man we couldn't help to hate.
Ducky's observation about our use of the net was spot on. We see it all the time – people geo-tagging their Facebook posts to show that wherever they are, they're not at home. It really is like putting up a sign saying "come on inside my house and help yourself – we won't be home for hours!"
Speaking of Facebook, it was clear that this was the social media vehicle they were all talking about. Though the Facebook name (and its likeness) never made an appearance, I'm hard-pressed to know of any other social media outlet that uses the same term as the title of this episode "Status Update."
When Gibbs was interrogating Bleeker's brother Scott, McGee interrupted him to say that he might know what the symbol means. If he only guessed that he might know, why did he interrupt at all? Why not go and find out and then contact Gibbs? For that matter, why didn't Gibbs call him out on it? I'd have read him the riot act for such nonsense.
There were two great team-ups in this episode. The first was Gibbs and Vance as they banded together against Ali. The second was Tony and Bishop, as they gently poked McGee. Nice to see that chemistry.
Gibbs' rule #9 made an appearance: don't go anywhere without a knife.
What did you think? Was Tony's advice to McGee completely correct? Partially correct? What would you have told McGee to do? What are your thoughts on the case of the week? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Remember: you can always catch up on the episode when you watch NCIS online.
They started out as the tough-as-nails detective and her annoying shadow. Seven seasons later they are one of the happiest married couples on TV. Equal measures sexy, sweet and funny, it's hard to imagine that these two won’t be together, always.
Monroe and Rosalee may be two completely different species (he's a wolf-like Blutbad, she's a foxy Fuchsbau), but their love for each other is undeniable. Brought together by tragic circumstances, they defied cultural expectations by falling in love, and they eventually wed. Despite hostility to their relationship by those who consider an inter-racial marriage like theirs to be scandalous, or practically heretical, Monroe and Rosalee remain deeply devoted to each other.
Before Howard met Bernadette, he was immature, still lived with his mom, and was honestly pretty creepy. Since they've been together, he's grown up significantly and the two of them have become one of the cutest and funniest couples on TV. The adorable song he wrote for her for the anniversary of their first date still gets me choked up every time I hear it.Â
Those on the outside may look at Gloria as the trophy wife but she and Jay are so much more. She keeps him young. He gives her the love and security she never had. Together they've found a happy marriage and a very modern family with lots of laughs.
Jackson and April have an amazing love story. Who didn't burst into tears when Jackson objected at April's wedding and swooped in to win her heart? The two have been through their share of challenges, and the recent loss of their child is one of the most tragic things we've seen on the show. Hopefully, that tragedy won't drive a wedge between them.
What makes Diane and Kurt so spectacular is that they are polar opposites in so many ways, but they know better than to let those differences define them. Instead, they allow their differences to enhance their relationship and they grow as a result. They're one of my favorite couples on TV.
These two may seem an odd match on paper, and it's true that Marge probably deserves better than the dimwitted Homer, but they've loved and supported one another through thick and thin for twenty-six seasons. Their love has survived unsupportive family members, affair opportunities, and more idiotic mistakes (on Homer's part) than anyone could count. It wouldn't be hard to argue that they're one of the greatest TV couples of all time.
He's a college professor. She's a former CIA agent turned Secretary of State. Despite demanding careers and raising three challenging teenagers, Elizabeth and Henry still manage to make one another a priority.
They're love has survived through multiple realities, time shifts and evil villains. They've even proved that True Love's kiss can break a curse. Whether they go by David and Mary Margaret or Prince Charming and Snow White, these two embody the true meaning of happily ever after.
Phil's the goofball. Claire's the control freak. Together they find just the right balance and make the perfect team. Add in three kids and a large extended family and you'll find that even after the all these years, they're still happy to have each other.
We were beginning to wonder about Bishop’s mysterious husband who was no where to be found on screen during her first season on NCIS. But once he appeared there was no doubt about how happy these two seem to be. From couples yoga to nights out with her colleagues, they've definitely made their marriage a top priority.
Booth and Brennan had a rough beginning but starting a family and getting married has made them happier than we’ve seen either of the separately in years.
Danny and Linda probably have one of the most realistic marriages on TV. They stress over money and the kids and not spending enough time with one another. Yet, beneath it all the love is still there, they just have to make the time for it some days.
They were already a great couple and great parents to daughter Lilly before they ever got married. So we were thrilled to see Cam and Mitch finally tie the knot and make it official last season. Their acceptance of one another’s quirks makes their marriage even stronger.
In the beginning their relationship was strictly professional. She was on the case of serial killer Red John. He was the consultant whose wife and daughter Red John had brutally murdered. It hardly seemed like the start of a great romance. Yet after years of working together, love found a way and eventually led to marriage. We have little doubt that Patrick and Teresa (and baby on the way) have found their happily ever after.
John and Kathryn are arguably one of the happiest couples on TV. Finding out their daughter was switched at birth, being a support system for their kids and career changes -- they've always managed to make it work thanks to open communication and mutual respect for one another.
She's an artist with a famous musician father. He's the scientist and conspiracy theorist who grew up rich. Now they're a happily married couple with a son who go to work together at the Jeffersonian in order to put murderers behind bars.
