"Excellent points weatherly watcher. I thinks it's telling that Tony shows his team the goofy, squishy,faux vain side of himself, while hiding the noble, heroic side. This is why I always get so frustrated by fans who say Tony is nothing more than a narcissistic clown.
I was so happy that we got to see Tony actually tell Ziva and McGee what happened with the kid, instead of them already knowing it, as with Rota and Wendy. Especially after they implied earlier that Tony had done something untoward to Jason's sister. And I loved Gibbs saying never assume. I wish they could have witnessed the talk in the elevator as well, especially since the team has spent so much time telling Tony he wasn't Gibbs in the past. I loved how he assumed a very Gibbsian approach with Jason, and I could see Tony and Gibbs having this same conversation a few years ago. Gibbs could have very easily just taken Jason into the elevator himself and had a similar conversation, but he knew without reservation that Tony was just as capable, and that perhaps Tony "needed" the talk as much as Jason did. I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of our Very Special Agent. He can count his hairs, brag about his boots or do any of the other silly things they insist on making him do, but we know what Tony is really made of. As Abby said, he's all soft and gooey on the outside but solid rock on the inside. That's our Tony."

"Thank you - and I agree about the frustration as well. I feel like some fans can't appreciate the fact that Tony has so many hidden layers - so many depths. They see one thing, and that's it. But we know who our Tony is - and like you said, so does Abby (and Gibbs, Ducky and sometimes McGee). Ziva, I don't think, gets him at all and that's why I hate the Tiva thing."

"Excellent points weatherly watcher. I thinks it's telling that Tony shows his team the goofy, squishy,faux vain side of himself, while hiding the noble, heroic side. This is why I always get so frustrated by fans who say Tony is nothing more than a narcissistic clown.
I was so happy that we got to see Tony actually tell Ziva and McGee what happened with the kid, instead of them already knowing it, as with Rota and Wendy. Especially after they implied earlier that Tony had done something untoward to Jason's sister. And I loved Gibbs saying never assume. I wish they could have witnessed the talk in the elevator as well, especially since the team has spent so much time telling Tony he wasn't Gibbs in the past. I loved how he assumed a very Gibbsian approach with Jason, and I could see Tony and Gibbs having this same conversation a few years ago. Gibbs could have very easily just taken Jason into the elevator himself and had a similar conversation, but he knew without reservation that Tony was just as capable, and that perhaps Tony "needed" the talk as much as Jason did. I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of our Very Special Agent. He can count his hairs, brag about his boots or do any of the other silly things they insist on making him do, but we know what Tony is really made of. As Abby said, he's all soft and gooey on the outside but solid rock on the inside. That's our Tony."

"Hear hear!

Friends...that's all Tony and Ziva should be.

She really doesn't understand him.

On the otherhand, he understands her perfectly."

"@ WW49 1720, 1722, 1723.
Very well said and thank you. I hated the boots scene, but after what you wrote I think you're right and do not dislike that scene so much now.

Just let me add that Michael deserves a Emmy for what he did ''Rekindled'' (and many other episodes). IMO he's the most talented actor in NCIS cast. "

". She said something about it being harder to play the "clown" than to play the straight man - and I believe that.
"

"You're both right. All actors say that it's harder to make people smile (without looking stupid) than make them cry.
Michael does both things perfectly so he's perfetc!

Just read this Michael's last night twitt:
FYI: working nights right now on the EXPLOSIVE season finale of NCIS! And my daughter is 9 days old. So I don't sleep.

LOL Poor guy! LOL"

"since, I have come to enjoy the episode more than when I first watched it.

The boot thing? I like to think of it like this - which may be how they (the writers and Michael) interpreted it or not - just my opinion - is that once again, Tony was not being incompetent or stupid, but rather dealing with awkwardness or upset of a situation.

Everyone noticed how he seemed to dress up more and more into the episode as he and Jason had their conversations. We all know that Tony uses clothes as an armor. To me, the boots were that as well. I can't remember the team ever having to investigate a fire, or arson. Explosions and the aftermath, yes. And Tony did break into Renny Grant's place in "Bounce" when there was smoke coming out, but that's it. Maybe I've forgotten one? Anyway, I feel that Tony going to a scene of a fire - in Baltimore, no less - had him very uncomfortable. We all know that 'the kid he almost lost in Baltimore,' has been brought up several times, each time he has been upset, and now we know why. Even though he managed to save Jason, and he told Gibbs that he knew he made the right choice, we all know Tony has problems with putting guilt upon himself.

So whether or not they intended it this way, I feel that Tony wearing those boots were a distraction somewhat. Tony is usually the first out to help Gibbs, yet he was the last one out, wearing his sunglasses and boots, and talking about being a Playboy. Distraction. And it worked with Ziva and McGee. But not with Gibbs. I prefer to think that Gibbs knew what Tony was thinking (as usual) and played along by being gruff with him - something he does when he feels Tony is upset.


"