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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Apr 5 2011, 4:23 PM EDT (current) | MargyW | 356 words added, 6 words deleted |
| Apr 5 2011, 4:10 PM EDT | MargyW |
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Banner Courtesy of CatherineYetive
HeadlineOUT OF THE FRYING PAN
Date5th April 2011
[StoryI here]know a number of people have said they consider this to be the best episode of season 8 so far, but I found "Out of the Frying Pan" to be something of a disappointment.
Gibbs and Tony doing good cop/bad cop was interesting. Especially as we don't often see Tony playing bad cop.
However, I found the episode to be unbalanced. Interrogations are an interesting and integral part of NCIS, but when they make up the majority of the storyline, the balance is lost. Too much emphasis on the interrogation of Nick Peyton and not enough of anything else to balance it out. The episode was lopsided and I'm afraid that it didn't really hold my interest.
Vance held my interest. It isn't often you see the director of NCIS wielding an axe in the interrogation room. When he's standing there, holding the axe, asking Nick if he ever lied to his dad, I found myself thinking about George Washington and cherry trees. Rocky Carroll turned on a fantastic performance as Leon begins to spiral out of control.
Ducky reciting nursery rhymes was just plain creepy and vaguely out of character. Yes, Ducky would probably recite the rhymes, but then he would normally explain what each rhyme was about. Nothing. There was no context to the rhymes. Context is everything to Ducky. We just got a very unsettling scene which made me wonder if Dr Mallard has mislaid his marbles!
The sight of Tim snooping around E.J.'s desk was decidedly odd as well. Since when did Tim start getting in touch with his inner Tony?
"Out of the Frying Pan" did have some very good lines.
Tony: McFraud, did your landlord's kid steal your credit card again?
Gibbs: Stand down, Skippy.
Gibbs: Loverboy. Interrogation. Now.
Tony: I feel bad for any guy who dates your daughter.'
Vance: Me too.
Gibbs: Ahhh, stay out of her drawers, McGee.
Tony: I just made it up. You're not the only liar in this room.
Gibbs: You're bringing down a kid, Leon, not a tree.
LAST UPDATE ON --/--/2010--:--:--6th PMApril 2011, 6.22AM AEST
SUBMITTED BY MargyW
KILL SCREEN
22nd March 2011
This would have to be one of my favorite Steven Binder written scripts, snuggled right up there next to "Murder 2.0". When a pick pocket is found with a purse containing the teeth and finger tips of a Marine, the team swings into action.
One of the best parts of the episode is Tony in big brother mode towards McGee. He sees McGee is attracted to Maxine, but is scared because of past bad experiences. When his big brotherly advice doesn't work, Tony takes matters into his own hands, setting up a date for Tim with Maxine. I get the feeling that this episode is something of a turning point in the relationship between the men.
Ducky and Jimmy's discussion on killing zombies was hysterical. I don't think we have ever seen poor Ducky look so worried and confused before.
The scenes as Gibbs wove his way through the maze to the mainframe were wonderful. On the map in MTAC it looked a bit like Pac-Man. But the Gibbs point of view shots were pure Doom. Gibbs emptying his gun into the computer was hilarious, and lead nicely into the final scene where back at the office Gibbs own computer won't work and he seems about to take similar action.
Suspenseful, heart warming and humorous, "Kill Screen" is pure gold.
Steven also gave us some very good lines.
Tony: I hope you didn't break his computer. He doesn't really like that thing when it does work.
McGee: Can I have sarcastic Tony back please?
Tony: He's not here right now. You've got wise, insightful Tony instead.
McGee: Next time you might want to dump the evidence before you stop for a bite.
McGee: Boss, I think you just tripped his security system.
Gibbs: Well untrip it.
Gibbs: Hey, McGee, you missed one.
Gibbs: I hate computers.
Gibbs: Game over.
Gibbs: McGee! I hate this thing, McGee.
McGee: Don't shoot!
LAST UPDATE ON 23rd March 2011, 6.34AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW
A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR...
8th March 2011
Written by Gary Glasberg, this is a rock solid episode on NCIS. Unusual in that the crime the team is investigating is actually the subplot to a degree. The main story line is the team's mandatory psych evaluation conducted by Dr Rachel Cranston - who turns out to be the sister of Kate Todd!
The alarm bells began to ring that Rachel Cranston was not what she seemed when Gibbs casually accepted her presence and told the team to co-operate with her! He seemed gently amused by the whole thing. I am surprised that no-one on the team picked up on Gibbs' attitude. But then again, they were all too scared of talking to Dr Cranston. The episode played on our primal fear of exposing ourselves to others.
The flash back scenes were brilliantly handled. I am pleased that they no longer seem to use the dreadful fuzziness that used to categorize a flash back. I found those hard to watch without developing a headache.
I found the scene between Vance and Gibbs in his office intriguing. The discussion reminded me of the one in "Dog Tags" where Jenny was talking about the dog, but was actually talking about herself. This conversation had much the same feel to it. As if it was being conducted on several levels.
The best scenes were two that ran together. From Gibbs commenting that Rachel reminded him of her sister, through to the closure for Rachel in his basement. Handled well. I found myself forming the opinion that possibly the entire thing was actually Gibbs' idea. To give Rachel, whom he had obviously been in contact with, closure and to help his team restore cohesiveness. If this is true, then Gibbs has a long reach. In the early scenes Rachel mentions she's been sent in by SecNav to evaluate the team. We know that Gibbs and Davenport have a history, this may be more proof of it.
As befits a great episode, there are some great lines.
Tony: Ever hear of a trifecta?
Ziva: I don't want to hear about your threesomes.
Vance: Settle in, doctor. This should be good.
Vance: Dr Cranston is here to observe your team.
Gibbs: Hah! Not much to see.
Gibbs: We are who we are....Director Vance.
McGee: What are we supposed to talk about?
Rachel: Most people talk about their sex lives.
Tony: Well, that let's Tim out.
Gibbs: I like women. I just don't like them when they ask a lot of questions.
Gibbs: Take Dr Cranston. Let her drive. You can lie down. Shrinks love that, McGee.
Tony: We make decisions. We live with them.
Gibbs: You don't forget. You just move on.
LAST UPDATE ON 9th March 2011, 6.33AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW
LEON & JACKIE VANCE
2nd March 2011
The show's only married couple. We rarely see Jackie, but we know that their love for each other is strong, they adore their kids and their marriage is rock solid. Or is it?
We know that Jackie adores her husband. In "Endgame" she killed a woman to protect him. However, earlier in the episode we saw how Vance's behavior and harking back to his past experiences with Kai sent her off. It was obvious that Leon Vance is a difficult man to live with. Jackie's anger when he began brooding over the death of his partner was obviously something long standing.
The depth of love between them is without question. Leon has no trouble saying "I love you" on the phone when he can be overheard by his agents. At the end of "Endgame" the look that passes between them says it all.
But, will their marriage survive the attempted murder of Leon and the revelations that his career at NCIS was based on a lie? That he was selected for NCIS purely as a sacrificial lamb?
That Leon has developed PTSD from being blown up is without doubt. We are seeing him push Gibbs away. There is someone much closer who he will be pushing away and that is Jackie. One of the first symptoms of PTSD to manifest is attempted self isolation. Removing everyone who could possibly hurt us from our sphere of influence. Often this is done in the manner that Vance is with Gibbs. Making himself unpleasant and lashing out when anyone tries to get close. But Jackie is closer than Gibbs, so is more likely to be receiving the bulk of Vance's hurt, anger and paranoia.
It takes a truly remarkable person to stand by another when they are on the receiving end of so much furious emotion. So many friendships, let alone marriages, crumble under the strain of PTSD.
I would like to see the writer's tackle the state of the Vance marriage. Even if only mentioned in passing.
LAST UPDATE ON 3rd March 2011, 6.31AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW
