NCIS Reviews

[kristen999]

I actually wrote out thinky thoughts/ reviews for NCIS which I enjoyed with a few caveats and my mixed reaction to NCIS L.A.




At first I wasn’t blown away by the flashback way of telling the episode, typically that style tends to ruin any tension, not create it. However, as time went by as did the months, it flowed a little better.

I enjoyed all the scenes between Tony and McGee, we don’t have enough of them bantering in the show as I’d like and seeing them do the replacement interviews and having dinner! Was very cool.

I id enjoy Tony’s sense of humor while describing all the vital members of his team, threading the theme to that last pivotal scene where you knew Gibbs had not be mentioned. Speaking of Gibbs, did anyone else notice how he and Tony tended to mirror each other throughout the episode and how the boss man seemed to be waiting on the rest of his team to catch up to him in his worry over Ziva?

Again I wasn’t a fan of the ‘fanfic’ type plot device at the start of the show with Tony captured by the big bad guy, however, as the eppy went on, I liked the interplay between the two. That final scene of sniper!Gibbs taking the kill shot I thought was the coolest moment, up until Gibbs in full sniper cameo waited out in the hall, that moment was made of win!

And I adored the end scene, the battered team returning to the office clapping, a show of support instigated by all people Vance.

I hope they don’t sweep what happened to Ziva under the rug...it doesn’t appear that’ll happen which is good. She was captured and assumedly tortured for three months, don’t care about your training, that’s a tough recovery, however I do hope there is resolution between her and Tony as I prefer them as friends vs. distrustful of each other.


NCIS L.A


I was very hyped for this show and I know about preconceived notions of spin offs, how much to keep from the original and how much new stuff to introduce.

I love the chemistry between Sam and Callen, I think that is one of the biggest reasons I was attracted to the show. That being said I think TPTB had a real mess on their hands.

If L.A is all about Callen and Sam being the “Splinter Cell’ type agents, guys who do special ops and undercover operations with a support team and secret government office-- if that is the case, then should they be investigating “normal crimes”?

If they are a normal NCIS team, then why do they have spy gadgets and a secret office? And where was the science?

Pick one and stick with it and I’ll be fine. If this is supposed to be the more action based show, I’ll go with it, but you need to give me a reason for it. And I’ll love it.

It took me a while before I realized Callen was the head honcho. Speaking of, I’m all for the angsty character with mysterious past, but they might be pushing this aspect of Callen a bit much so early. He doesn’t stay in once place, was an orphan, doesn’t know his real first name….okay cool...give it to me a little at a time and I’ll eat it up with a spoon.

I’m withholding my verdict. I was entertained and I like the psychologist from the support team, but got very little from anyone else.

I also hope they make Hetty a little more three dimensional over time as I adore Linda Hunt.

I want to like L.A…there a good amount going for it…but it needs to decide what type of show it is supposed to be and I’ll give it time to find its place.

Comments

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean about the "what are they?" aspect of the show. I'd actually wondered how on earth TPTB could get a second murder/investigation show out of what is really a fairly limited premise (I was amazed that they could come up with seven seasons' worth of unique and unpredictable plots for NCIS) but apparently they're doing it by expanding outside the purely military purview of the original show. Which, well, okay ... but you're right that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense -- they seem more like an ordinary investigative team for any law-enforcement organization. Hopefully future episodes will clarify things a bit (assuming that the writers have any idea).