photo: cbs

Original Air Date: May 1, 2012

Maria – Sr. Reviewer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

Last week our NCIS Agents uncovered a terrorist plot, which used the wiring of certain ships against them, turning them into conductors rather than insulators. Knowing this weakness makes it easier to blow up the ships.

Our NCIS team is still looking for just who is exploiting this weakness, since their last suspect Brian Johnson was blown up before they got a chance to question him. However, perhaps the explosion on the USS Brewer will give them the leads they need.

When Gibbs heads down to autopsy to get Ducky’s findings on Johnson’s body, he stumbles in on Ducky drafting up a new copy of his will. That usually doesn’t bode well in television, which is why I am so relieved that David McCallum has renewed his contract. I love Ducky. I love Palmer too, but he’s not in this episode. That’s sad, but the guy does have a wedding to prepare for so it’s understandable.

Abby has been a busy girl. Johnson’s documents were shredded using a super shredder, but still she’s able to separate the documents and identify one with Korean symbols. Johnson’s mailman does not recall delivering any letters from Korea, but he does recall ones from Switzerland.

Ziva has had to cancel her weekend plans: Pilates with her landlady. However, Tony is the only one not to know of her plans so he makes it his mission to find out. I’m all for character continuity, but really Tony, there are better things to focus on.

Poor McGee. He was sent over to the USS Brewer, but it’s not until the ship has finally docked that he’s functional enough to start a proper investigation. Tobey Abbott, a civilian mechanic, was caught in the same room the fire started in. He didn’t count on flammable liquids in the room causing an explosion which used up all the oxygen before the fire burned to the floor below where it would have initiated an explosion that could have sunk the whole ship! A letter is found in Abbot’s room, from Switzerland with Korean characters.

Ducky finally has access to the two killed onboard the USS Brewster. First Lieutenant Eric Ramsey wasn’t killed by the fire but from blunt force trauma to the head as a result of the blast. Ducky is so saddened by Ramey’s death and the loss that Ramsey’s family suffered, that it eventually spurs his decision to leave most of his net worth to charity, the Marine Core Scholarship Foundation, specifically. Bless Ducky, that’s so sweet!

Although this episode doesn’t have Director Vance or Autopsy Gremlin Jimmy Palmer in it, it does introduce NCIS Analyst Emma Park as well as bring back Gibbs’ protégé from season 1 episode 6: NCIS Special Agent Stan Burley. Burley is in Naples, Italy in advance of the Benjamin Franklin, a nuclear aircraft carrier, which will arrive tomorrow. It happens to be on the list of marked vessels. Burley’s search of a warehouse uncovered traces of thermite. Ziva and Tony fly out to join him in further investigation.

Aww. I will never tire of Abby and McGee sleeping over at work, especially in the same room. No wonder poor NCIS Analyst Emma Park couldn’t find any chatter coming from North Korea, the letters were just using the symbols as a cypher. The message is in English, with instruction on where and when to initiate the arson attacks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t give any leads as to who sent it.

Back in Naples, Tony and Ziva pose as crewmen. Tony is a little jealous that Ziva is given a position which outranks him, but quickly becomes professional as the arsonist comes into sight. Unfortunately, Burley is injured but the other guy came off much worse. Unable to run, confined to bed, the arsonist has no choice but to give up his employer: Harper Dearing.

After some eliminating and investigating, Harper Dearing turns out to be a CEO of a technology empire, but he fell off the grid about a year ago! NCIS has a lot of work to do if they are going to locate him and get to the bottom of this terrorist threat. Gibbs rallies the troops; the bullpen is full of his team, even Abby and Ducky are up on the floor. Gibbs gives an impassioned speech before sticking Harper Dearing’s photo over the top of Bin Laden’s on the Most Wanted wall!

This is serious business, but I do love the touches of humanity NCIS still brings to the job. Yes, I found Tony’s fascination with Ziva’s weekend plans a little childish but true to character. I loved the fact that we got to see Burley again, and he’s still a good NCIS Agent, like you’d suspect of Gibbs’ protégé. Possibly my most favorite moment of this episode though, was the interaction between Gibbs and Ducky.

Gibbs and Ducky’s friendship is a wonder to behold this episode. It’s really heartwarming to see Ducky trust Gibbs with the details of his Will. It’s also reassuring to know that Gibbs still has things to learn, even if it is just the art to making a decent cup of tea. For me, in an episode which has to tackle terrorism with a professional manner, Ducky provides the heart and I love him for it.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you miss Vance and Palmer? What do you think when NCIS introduces new team members or brings back old guest stars? How do you think this terrorism arch is evolving? Please, let me know your TwoCents by leaving a comment, I’d love to hear your opinions.