It strikes me as hard to believe that, despite the fact that the cases are often like so much noise to me, I find so much to enjoy on every episode of NCIS. Even with my incredulity last week at Gibbs for letting his mother-in-law off, or for his poor choice in Hart as a friend and/or love interest, I still love this show. Because it’s the little things that make it hum.
I’m still not so sure that I believe that Tony was wrong, and that Leah Mayne (Susan Misner) had nothing to do with her husband’s death … or at least that the case was conclusively proven to only involve Peter Iger (Joe Guzaldo). At the very least you have to wonder if Iger didn’t reach out to Leah or to other wife Rachel Wells (Christine Lakin) in search of background information on John/Christian (Ryan McCann).
But then that’s really the point — I don’t care. Of course I don’t want to watch a show that leaves me hanging, or a procedural that doesn’t make a solid case by the end of the hour. But I definitely don’t watch NCIS for the team’s investigative prowess (as enjoyable as that can be at times). This is what I watched it for last night:
- It was subtle, and easy to miss, but the Park Inspector’s ring tone for his wife was a quacking duck. I love my wife very much, and I of course would never do something like that, but a quacking duck. Brilliant.
- I’m not a big Abby fan, and part of the reason why was on display last night when we got a shot of her from the boots up — I think she’s a bit too over-the-top strange — but what I loved about her last night was spelled like this: Mortimer. She’s a substitute volunteer puppy raiser? First of all, hilarious that there’d be a sub position for that, but how cool? I’m not so sure about having the dog in her lab, inner or outer, but how cool? And I loved his vest!
- I’m 100% with Tony on this — McGee should absolutely copyright that app and get it out to all law enforcement agencies around the country, search warrants be damned. He built an app that could look up and download locking codes for cars just based on their VIN numbers? I mean, total violation of privacy and rights, but that’s awesome.
- It’s very Ducky that his mother’s death would not send him into a funk. He’s very much the type to learn a life-lesson from the passing of his 98 year-old mother, instead of lamenting his loss. I think that was extremely apt for the character, and I only wonder why they decided to have her pass away now. Didn’t Nina Foch, who played Victoria Mallard, pass away in 2008? Anyway, as opposed to Tony who suspected something wrong with Ducky because of his enjoyment of the rain, I thought it made perfect sense for him. Isn’t he British? That’s their lot in life!
- I love that Ducky’s got a swinging new lady friend. Also perfectly in keeping with his character following the death of his mother — it’s time to live!
Even when nothing’s happening this show is great.
Photo Credit: CBS
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Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 10, 2010 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
The “cutest” moment on TV all year was when Mortimer tugged on Abby’s pony tail :)
Ducky is Scotch but I think the dreary weather love still applies.
I would have to re-watch previous episodes to see if he is wearing regular ties and not his typical bows. Obviously none of them read the obits. I know I will have turned into my mother when I start reading them on a daily basis!
Loved the Mortimer story line – it is so completely Abby. I do admit to questioning him being in the lab and not being in a crate or pen of some kind.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks for the correction. I think I meant to say English, although that likely would have resulted in louder screams from Scots who hate being referred to as English!
Iger might have been a discreet investigator. If so, he would have put together as much information as possible before interviewing the first wife, and have been especially wary about approaching the current wife, in case she warned Mayne. Following the online search and credit report, his next step was surveillance and retrieval of the discarded water bottle for the fingerprint match. If he hadn’t spoken to either of the women before, he definitely wouldn’t do so at that point because they could ruin his blackmail attempt.
That’s the second time in as many weeks that I had absolutely no sympathy for the murder victim. I even liked the scummy Iger better than him.
I’m not sure if the cutest moment was Mortimer chomping on the ponytail or waddling up to greet Ducky in the cemetary. A definite, vocalized “AW” in both cases.
Unfortunately, McGee mentioned hacking was involved in getting the unlock codes, which I assumed to mean breaking into the automotive manufacturer’s databases. It’s one thing to trample an individual’s rights, but he’d never get away with attacking large, rich corporations. That being said, since there are codes to start the engine, I wonder if there are codes to turn engines off, OnStar-style. That would be very useful for apprehending fleeing suspects and preventing car chases (something NCIS:LA could have used this week).
Yes, I believe Mrs. Mallard’s actor died before they began referencing her having moved into a care home. I suppose they wanted to write her out gradually, as it would have been very painful for the cast and crew to have to do a death episode so quickly (shades of Phil Hartman in NewsRadio).
I love that Ducky’s got a new gal, but will miss the Baltimore ME, Dr. Hampton, as I liked their scenes together.
*POST AUTHOR*
I liked when Mortimer had the skeleton in his mouth.
Oh, good catch! I’d forgotten about that one.