NCIS MODERATORS' BLOG 48

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7.06 OUTLAWS AND INLAWS

10th November 2009

"Outlaws and Inlaws" was written by Jesse Stern and is simply one of his best scripts ever.

This episode was by turns humorous and heartwarming. Muse Watson turned in a wonderful performance as a bemused and protective Mike Franks. The scene in the squad room where Gibbs' blows his statement out of the water was brilliant. Gibbs gently reminding Mike that he is no longer Mike's probie, but the agent running this case. As usual, the chemistry between Mark Harmon and Muse Watson was some of the best you will ever see.

More chemistry between Mark Harmon and Rocky Carroll made the Gibbs/Vance scenes some of the best we have seen from this combination so far. The scenes in interrogation as they spoke with Mike, and then watched Mike and the "outlaw" part of the combination were delightfully funny to watch.

Funnier still was the exchange between Mike and Tony at Gibbs' house. The door/lock/knock/gun double talk put me in mind of Abbott and Costello's famous Who's Up Next exchange. My younger readers may have to google to understand what I am meaning.

After the less than stellar outing with "Code of Conduct", "Outlaws and Inlaws" gave us some much needed belly laughs, and a dose of genuine affection and warmth, as well as some very good lines.

Ziva: Touch me and die.

Vance: You usually set it on fire for a Viking funeral.

Vance: I'll give you some leeway on this. Seeing as it's your friend, your boat, your mess.

Tony: Why would two bad guys go after Franks?
McGee: They didn't know him very well.

Ziva: We have been instructed to sit on the baby.

Layla: Sometimes the most significant moments in your life happen without any choice at all.

Abby: Gibbs, we love you very, very much.
Gibbs: What the hell is this?

LAST UPDATE ON 11th November 2009, 6.23AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW

EPISODE TITLE APTNESS?

10th November

Long time since I went on one of my linguistic tirades, so I thought I'd pick it up again, for change - LOL

In one of my last posts in this vein, I asked you about what episode titles conjured up for you, now I'd like to take this a step further, and ask you whether you think the titles fit the episode in question. No disrespect meant to the writers here since I appreciate how it difficult it must to be to find a title, which sums up the episode.

However, one of the most difficult things about writing something, which will be read or viewed by somebody else, is for the outsider, i.e. the reader or viewer to understand what the writer was getting at in the first place. No doubt many of you will have received a comment from your school teacher or somebody else stating they haven't understood a word about what you were writing, even though you yourself understood perfectly!! You know when you write something there is a tendency only to write it for yourself, even though theoretically the end result is meant to be for somebody else.

The reason this subject came about, is due to the fact that in recent years I mainly view programmes, films, TV series dubbed, and frequently the title in the foreign language has no bearing on the one in the original language, although the translator has undoubtedly put said title because he or she has felt this sums up what the story was about in whichever format it is being viewed or read. A classic example of this is Sound of Music (original film title) which became Tears and Smiles (Sonrisas y Lagrimas) in Spanish - now which of these titles best sums up that film? Both? Neither? Only one?

This also happens with titles in the original, how often have any of you thought the title was inappropriate for the story in question. I know this happens to me frequently.

So, how about you consider the episode titles for this season to date: Truth or Consequences - did this explain the episode in anyway? Reunion - appropriate or inappropriate? Inside Job - ditto previous questions, etc. I would be interested to know your opinions on this, because as a linguist this is an extremely fascinating subject.

I shall be setting up an interactive series on this some time this week when I get a free minute where I'll be asking you for a YES/NO answer regarding title appropriateness for an episode, and also the title you would have put had it been your choice, just out of idle curiosity and all that.

Y con esto y un bizcocho se acabó lo que se dió

LAST UPDATE ON 10th November 2009 2:05 PM CET
SUBMITTED BY Sorgiña

BRIAN DIETZEN AS JIMMY PALMER

9th November 2009

Since Brian joined NCIS in what was supposed to be a one-off appearance, he has rapidly won hearts as the gawky but lovable Jimmy Palmer.

His first outing as an actor was as an evil elf in a school Christmas play. A bit of a remove from Jimmy Palmer!

Over the years we have watched Brian grow into the role of Palmer. Gawky, unsure, afraid of Gibbs and hero worshiping Ducky. Jimmy is the character I think we all unconsciously identify with. Quite a load to put on Brian's shoulders. I don't think I have heard anyone say they don't like the character. That is really quite an achievement for an actor. To create a character that is universally liked.

But don't make the mistake of confusing the actor with the character. Anyone who has the season 6 dvds should watch the featurette "Bodies of Work" about the making of the dead bodies. This feature is hosted by Brian and shows him to be a million miles away from his character.

Looking across the series, I think the episode that best showcases Brian's talent is the season 5 episode "About Face". We see sides of Palmer that simply haven't been visible to us before...and I am not just talking about the shoe fetish either! We see a strength and a courage that we simply did not associate with Jimmy Palmer. The writers asked a lot of Brian with this script, and he delivered.

It is disappointing that Palmer's first outing in season 7 was a retrograde step with "Code of Conduct". That script was unfair on Brian. Giving him appalling lines and taking his character back to where it was in season 2. I hope that for the rest of the season we will be given the opportunities to see Brian give us Jimmy as his best, not his worst.

LAST UPDATE ON 10th November 2009, 6.25AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW

FORNELL AS BOYFRIEND MATERIAL

8th November 2009

Let's take a look at Tobias Fornell as possible boyfriend material.

Tobias has a steady job, being a Senior Special Agent with the FBI. He is trusted to run delicate operations such as investigating NCIS over the death of Rene Benoit.

He is honest, straight forward (some would say blunt) and loyal. Characteristics he shares with his closest friend Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

Married once, (that we know of) to an ex-wife of Gibbs', and subsequently divorced. Is most likely now marriage-shy as the ex-wife, Diane, cleaned out his bank accounts when she left. This marriage collapse has not made Tobias bitter. He has been able to bury the past and come to at least speaking terms with Diane. Possibly because of their child, Emily, but it does look as though the have remained friends. In the season 6 episode "Nine Lives", when Fornell is in trouble with his director after the shooting of a Mafia crime boss by a supposed witness, it is Diane he turns to to talk out his troubles. We know this because he tells Gibbs that Diane told him that Gibbs would be there for him. Seems Diane knows both her men well.

So it appears that Tobias isn't carrying anywhere near the level of emotional baggage that his friend is.

Looked at objectively, Tobias Fornell is actually a better prospect than Gibbs. Emotionally steadier, financially more sound (he's only paying one lot of alimony, not three), and doesn't build boats in his basement.

LAST UPDATE ON 9th November 2009, 6.22AM AEDT
SUBMITTED BY MargyW

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MargyW

Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer

Dec 4 2009, 3:46 AM EST by bellswebster

Thread started: Nov 9 2009, 2:27 PM EST Watch

My blog entry for the day:

http://cbsncis.wetpaint.com/page/NCIS+MODERATORS%27+BLOG+48

As always, any feedback/discussion would be great.

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Sorgiña

Episode Title Aptness?

Nov 20 2009, 10:06 PM EST by jml709

Thread started: Nov 10 2009, 8:32 AM EST Watch

My entry today is on the aptness of titles for any given episode, and I would be interested to know what you think about this in relation to any episode you've seen.

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