Tony DiNozzo: Competent Agent, Frat Boy or something else?

[webbgirl]

After watching the past couple of seasons of NCIS in rapid succession, I had this post forming on Tony's character and his growth, or lack thereof.  I kept debating on whether to actually post it or not, then I saw a couple of spoilers for upcoming episodes In the upcoming episode Knockout (6.18) we're promised more info on Tony's background.  The writers (or producers can't remember which) also promised that we'll get lots of angsty info in the season finale on Tony. I'm personally hoping for some background that shows us why he reverts to the frat boy mentality and womanizer when things get too 'real' or uncomfortable for him.
Anyway, my post is more about Tony as a good agent than it is about other stuff.  Through all the seasons of NCIS we get glimpses of Tony being a really good investigator and having great instincts.  Unfortunately, these moments tend to be eclipsed by his goofing around or his attempts to show off for Gibbs. 

I'm going to lose my Gibbs/DiNozzo slasher card for this, but I think that him being around Gibbs is the problem.  I also think this is somewhat intentional on the writers parts. When we see Tony in charge of a situation (rather than following Gibbs' lead) we get to see his analytical skills and leadership capabilities. 

This is even evidenced in "Bait" when Tony has to take over when Gibbs ends up in the classroom with the kid. We also see it in "In The Zone" when Tony and Nikki (sp?) go to Baghdad.  Once they're in Baghdad, Tony was the epitome of a seasoned investigator.

Back to "Bait" though.  One of the things this episode highlighted for me was Tony's willingness to stand up to Jenny when he professionally disagreed with her.  He stood up to her in a way I don't think we've ever seen him stand up to Gibbs.  I don't think it was out of a lack of respect, but it felt more like him claiming his place as 'Senior Field Agent'.  It demonstrated it clearer than all of the times he's spouted the words to Ziva and McGee.

Question is, why has Tony never been able to stand up to Gibbs the way he stood up to Jenny?  When Gibbs returned to NCIS and essentially brushed Tony back into his place, Tony bowed back into his spot and deferred to Gibbs.  I know that they showed the awkwardness of the transition, but I felt like it was mostly played for laughs.  Though, I found the part of him turning down his own team for the sake of watching out for Gibbs heartbreaking.  Again though, he was able to be honest with Jenny about it.  I think if he'd been dealing with Gibbs in a similar situation he would have just played it off and made a joke.

My fondest desire for this season is that we finally get to really see Tony coming into his own, even when he's around Gibbs.  And that we get to see some honest acknowledgment that he's not just the comic relief.  I think it would be a natural outgrowth of what happened with Jeanne and Jenny.  Situations like that are either going to break someone or make them stronger in the long run.  I'd love to watch the process of the latter with Tony.

Any thoughts or comments from everyone else on this?

Comments

[kelly-girl.livejournal.com]

I agree with your Tony fan-ness! I too wish he'd acknowledge Tony directly. He does it to other people about Tony but not to Tony.

Maybe he thinks showing Tony his worry would be seen as a weakness. Or that showing Tony that he's equal to Gibbs would make Tony too cocky? I don't know, but I'll fun thinking about it.

But I do know Gibbs has a very weird and perverse sense of humor and there have been many instances where he does not give Tony what Tony so obviously wants like in 'Missing' where Tony wants Gibbs to say he was worried and missed him.

Gibbs admits it then turns it into a joke.

He knows Tony wants to go to his hometown so bad but has him stay in the office. Loved the scene in um 'dead guys under ice' ep where Tony finds the gun and Gibbs asks if he wants a pat on the head and Gibbs strokes the back of his head. And Tony is so happy. Hmm, maybe both of them are getting something out of the way Tony defers to Gibbs.

So yeah, maybe this has stunted both of them, though after the reveal of Gibbs first wife and daughter, Gibbs has been a little less stiff.

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that the situation with Jeanne and Jenny's death will have the same impact on Tony's character as the revelation about Gibbs' family did for him. I would hate to see all of that opportunity for character growth wasted.

I do constantly giggle at the amount of time Tony must have put into researching Gibbs background and past. (Though, that does give me plot hole issues with the whole Shannon thing, but I'll let that go someday.)

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

I want Jeanne to come back. I liked those two together. I think Tony got to be himself, and I don't think he's even been 'himself' around himself for years.