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KATE TODD - WAS SHE BELIEVABLE?

27th August 2009

I found Kate Todd an interesting character, but felt that, as a Secret Service agent she was not particularly believable. In my opinion, Kate Todd would never have been taken on by the Secret Service, let alone been raised to Presidential Security Detail. There are several reasons for this.

Her shooting abilities are not good. This is a woman supposed to be protecting the President of the United States of America. She can't even shoot properly. When firing under pressure, she can't hit the target. Remember the bullet ridden PDA in "Marine Down"? With those sort of shooting skills she would be more likely to shoot the President than any assassin.

I also found it very hard to believe that anyone as gullible as Kate would have got through the selection process. Remember "Left For Dead"? She is totally taken in by Suzanne and feels sorry for her. Her gullibility leads to two people dead and others injured. Herself included.

Hand in hand with her gullibility is her ability to be over trusting. In "Sea Dog" she trusts a friend in Treasury not to tell the FBI that the NCIS case involves counterfeit money. Hello? Of course a treasury official is going to tell the FBI. Her job would have been on the line if she hadn't.

Trusting, gullible and a lousy shot. Not only does it raise the question of how did Caitlin Todd get into the Secret Service, it also raises the question of why the heck did Gibbs offer her a job at NCIS?



LAST UPDATE ON 28th August 2009, 6.22AM Australian Time
SUBMITTED BY MargyW


SCRIPTS OF JESSE STERN

26th August 2009

Jesse Stern started writing scripts for NCIS with season 2's fan favorite "Forced Entry". He next popped up again with season 4's "Skeletons". From season 5 onward, however, Jesse became one of the shows most important writers. Why? Because his scripts always involve major plot and/or character development. Leaving aside "Forced Entry", let's look at the rest of the scripts and their importance to the show.

  • Skeletons. This episode was a pivotal moment in the Gibbs/Mann relationship as we see them both struggling for dominance in the relationship. You just know this relationship is not going to end well.
  • Identity Crisis. On the surface, not a major episode. However, this is the one that introduced Doctor Jordan Hampton, who later becomes Ducky's love interest. It is also an excellent Fornell episode as we see that Fornell has now been promoted to driving a desk.
  • Corporal Punishment. Ziva struggling with feelings of being overwhelmed. Gibbs attitude towards the war in Iraq is spelled out. Gibbs own deep compassion is shown when he gives his Silver Star to the now disgraced Marine.
  • Internal Affairs. Apart from Judgment Day, this is the pivotal episode of season 5. The La Grenouille story arc comes to an end. Gibbs knows Jenny is telling lies about what happened that last night at her house. Any remaining trust he had in her dies at the end of this episode. Introduction of Leon Vance as an assistant director of NCIS. The episode is particularly liked amongst fans for the brilliant interrogation scenes.
  • About Face. Whilst not the actual script writer for this episode, Jesse wrote the story. This episode was a major one for the development of the character of Jimmy Palmer as we see him struggle with his fear after being shot at. We also see that Ducky does have a soft spot for the young man. In every episode Ducky has called him "Mr Palmer". When he hears the gunshots he screams "Jimmy!" We also see that Jimmy Palmer is an extraordinarily brave young man when, even with the gun drawn on him, he continues to drive straight at the gunman's truck.
  • Heartland. The acknowledged high point of season 6. This is the episode in which we learn more about Gibbs' past. We meet his father. Learn about the reasons for their estrangement, and the first steps are taken towards healing that relationship.
  • Cloak. The penultimate episode of the mole inside NCIS story arc. Agent Lee is unmasked as the mole. The character of Phillip Davenport, the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav) is introduced. We learn that Leon Vance actively sought promotion to Director of NCIS. This is the real start of the Leon Vance story arc.
  • Broken Bird. Massive Ducky back-story/character development. Jordan Hampton is back as Ducky's ladyfriend. More development on the Leon Vance front, with the appearance of a CIA file on Vance which is given to Gibbs by Trent Kort. A little character development for Kort. A throw away comment from Kort revealing that he doesn't care for torture. His very real dislike of his "interrogation" tutor at Langley is obvious.
  • Knockout. This one further develops the Leon Vance story arc. We meet Leon's family for the first time. We learn a little of his past when he travels to Chicago to deal with the murder of a friend. Gibbs virtually challenges Vance. Telling him he won't let another director use NCIS for their own ends, like the last one did.
  • Semper Fidelis. Sets up a new story arc with the killing of Michael Rivkin by Tony. Continues the Leon Vance arc with the SecNav visiting Gibbs at his home. We learn that the file on Vance that Gibbs has been given is a fake, and we learn that Davenport is aware that Vance shredded his file upon coming director of NCIS. Most likely the file was shredded at Davenport's express command.
Jesse Stern is probably one of the finest writers in television today, and one of the reasons that NCIS has rated so well in season 6. The season 7 premiere has been written by Jesse, so we can be sure that this episode will be edge of the seat stuff and pack one heck of a wallop.



LAST UPDATE ON 27th August 2009, 6.54AM Australian Time
SUBMITTED BY MargyW


TAKING GIBBS TO PIECES

26th August

Although I shall be taking Gibbs to pieces I promise to put him back together again and in good nick otherwise MargyW and Nath will have me hung drawn and quartered in the best of scenarios.

I know this topic is perhaps not the most original, however, this time I thought I would do a breakdown of both his good and bad traits, as the gent is not perfect except perhaps in terms of eye candy for the female fans despite the lousy marine style haircuts. No offence to the marines, but the haircut is anything but flattering.

Right, now where was I? Ah yes! The good and bad traits of one Leroy Jethro Gibbs:

GOOD TRAITS
BAD TRAITS
  1. Empathises with children
  2. Loyal to those considered family
  3. Hardworker
  4. Thorough investigator
  5. Open-minded
  6. A good friend to his friends
  7. Empathises with animals
  1. Physical abuse of subordinates
  2. Obsessive about work
  3. Follows his own rules
  4. Not very communicative
  5. Solitary
  6. Drinks vast amounts of coffee/bourbon
  7. Bad driver

Obviously the above list of good and bad traits is general, not to mention pretty much black and white, where there should be more grey. However, if we look at this coldly, his bad points do rather outweigh his good points. For example, on the one hand he is a hardworker, which is positive, however, Gibbs takes this to the point of obsession, as we saw in the case of Ari in Season 2, likewise in Season 5 with Maddie, his deceased daughter's friend, in Requiem, etc. To become obsessed with work, particularly in crimework turns highly negative, not only from the point of burn out if the case is not solved relatively quickly but also, in that this obsession can often prevent you from seeing the wood for the trees. And in time, this leads to abandonment or neglect in other work areas, not to mention personal life as we saw in the case of Ari. Then with the case of Maddie in Requiem, he pursued this case virtually off his own bat, throwing caution to the wind, as it became extremely personal. You could see here that this case became a kind of penitence, a way of compensating for not being able to save Kelly and Shannon, because he was in Iraq. And if it hadn't been for DiNozzo, who arrived in the nick of time like the 7th cavalry, neither he nor Maddie would have made it back alive. In the cases of Ari (Twilight) and Voss (the one who murdered Chris Pacci - forget episode name right now), the obsession here was to right a wrong done to his people, i.e. a member of his team, Kate, and a colleague/friend Pacci. In both these cases he left no stone unturned, using any and every means available to mete out justice. Everything else, was left to one side so to speak to deal with these cases - fortunately his Senior Agent (DiNozzo) is a similar character in this respect, and the rest followed like sheep.

We note that he is open-minded, which in armed forces related law enforcement, is quite something. We see this openness in relation to Abby and her dress code, in another case where one of the naval suspects was homosexual and no judgement was passed. This is an exceptionally good trait here and quite incongruent with his character, particularly if we take into account he is an ex-marine, and lives by a relatively strict code of rules, which he brings into the work sphere.

When dealing with children, Gibbs really comes into his own here and his empathy with them. We have seen time and time again how easily he gets children to trust him and open up to him.

However, he is attitude towards adults depends on whether they are goodies or baddies of course. The way he headslaps DiNozzo, would be considered physical abuse in any working environment today, however, much he may insist they are only wake up calls. Nor is DiNozzo the only one to receive these, since both McGee and Ziva have also been on the receiving end. Fortunately, we are dealing with fiction here otherwise a harassment charge punible by law could be brought against him - good job the woman who gave that infamous seminar on harassment in the workplace was unaware of these, since no doubt she would have had him reported.

Gibbs' communication skills with his team are decidedly lacking at times, he may rely on his gut to know whether something is right or wrong, but his team have to learn Gibbs - speak, i.e. interpret his stares/glares/smirks, terse commands, etc., to know what they should or should not be doing at any given time.

He drinks vast amounts of coffee and bourbon, which in any normal individual would have done untold damage by now to both his blood pressure and liver, not to mention his poor kidneys. Also given how little he sleeps, and when he does it is frequently under his boat, it is little short of a miracle that he is able to perform at all, at least with any degree of integrity.

Last but not least, his notoriously bad driving skills, only superseded by Ziva. Why in heaven's name he never uses the siren is beyond me, considering this is one of the things, law enforcement people tend to abuse, just to get to a crime scene or back to the police station / HQ as soon as possible. From what we have seen, were this not fiction he would probably have been banned from driving by now.

To finish on a good point, Gibbs is extremely loyal to those whom he considers family even more so than friends, and will do his utmost to keep them safe, get them out of unsustainable situations, supporting them without judgement as we have seen with Ducky, DiNozzo, Abby, willing to go through thick and thin with them.

However, when all is said and done, we like Gibbs the way he is, warts and all, and would not have him any other way.

Tomorrow, it's DiNozzo's turn, but that will be in Spanish.

LAST UPDATE ON 26th August 2009 9:30 PM - CET
SUBMITTED BY Sorgiña


SEASON 4 - PERSONAL LOW POINTS

25th August 2009

I am sure that everyone is aware by now that season 4 is not my favorite season of NCIS. It had few good points, and more than a few bad ones, in my humble opinion. Actually, season 4 in its entirety was a low point. I was surprised and delighted when NCIS was renewed for season 5. Season 4 was so bad I thought it was sure to be cancelled.

My personal low points of season 4 are as follows:

  • The entire La Grenouille story arc. This story arc's only purpose seemed to be the destruction of the character of Jenny.
  • Jenny going from competent, intelligent Director of NCIS to Crazy Psycho Nutbag Chick. Hello? Reality check needed here. If Jenny had that level of mental instability she would never have passed the psychological assessments and got into NCIS in the first place.
  • Introduction of Hollis Mann. Totally unnecessary character. The only reason for her introduction seemingly to be turning Gibbs from in control NCIS senior special agent into love struck goofball. YUK! (Note to writers: I really want the news to come through from Hawaii that Hollis Mann has been eaten by a shark. Pretty please????).
  • Introduction of Jeanne Benoit. This character's sole purpose seems to have been to let Tony have his very own personal mental meltdown.
  • Gibbs facial hair in the first few episodes. *shudders*
Season 4 was "The Season of Secrets" from memory. It would have been better named "The Season of Insanity", as that seemed to be a general affliction of the main characters.

I am sure you all have other opinions and I really want to hear them.


LAST UPDATE ON 26th August 2009, 6.26AM Australian Time
SUBMITTED BY MargyW




MargyW
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MargyW Scripts of Jesse Stern 2 Sep 8 2009, 12:04 AM EDT by MargyW
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MargyW Kate Todd - Was She Believable 3 Aug 31 2009, 2:04 AM EDT by MargyW
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MargyW Season 4 - Personal Low Points 7 Aug 26 2009, 10:01 PM EDT by MargyW
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Please have a read and let me have your views.

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