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webbgirlAfter 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?
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?
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on 2009-01-29 07:06 am (UTC)I do wonder if it can be fanwanked, though, given Gibbs' weirdness towards Tony this season. He's been very curt and cold - I mean, even for Gibbs. No headslaps, nothing that's a compliment even if you look at it through a Gibbs-filter and an awful lot of cutting remarks (as opposed to your usual Marine chivvying). Perhaps Tony's being more of a fratboy because he's acting out? Negative attention is better than nothing! I mean it doesn't quite work, because that doesn't explain things like Tony ... not knowing why Gibbs doesn't drink on a stakeout ... despite having more stakeout experience than McGee ... (that was just strange) ... but it's better than nothing.
With every Tony hint that we're given from the Powers that Be, the more convinced I am that "Callen," the character from the NCIS spinoff who's supposed to have chameleon-like abilities of subterfuge, is actually Tony. And my guess is that the tension between Gibbs and Tony is going to be the impetus to drive him up and away - hopefully as team leader, since we've seen that he's been ready since the beginning of season 4.
I'm a Gibbs/DiNozzo shipper (for early seasons at least), but I agree with you that Gibbs isn't so good for Tony, at least not any more. So honestly, if I am right about Tony moving to the spinoff, I don't mind too much. So long as the show doesn't, you know, suck, I think it'll be good for the character. He's been kind of frozen since the middle of season 5 or so, apart from his reactions to Jenny's death.
On another note: is it just me, or is Tony and Jenny's relationship something of a desert in fanfic territory? Jenny always seems to get cast as a villain when she's not being shipped, that I've seen, but I don't think she and Tony had a negative relationship. I don't think it was a healthy one, either, but she mentored him and saw his potential, even while manipulating him to her own ends. I really think we should have seen more of how her death affected him.
*clings*
on 2009-01-29 07:16 am (UTC)Watching the earlier seasons on DVD recently makes me sad for what seems to be missing in the Gibbs/DiNozzo relationship right now. Both on a gen and a slashy level.
On another note: is it just me, or is Tony and Jenny's relationship something of a desert in fanfic territory? Jenny always seems to get cast as a villain when she's not being shipped, that I've seen, but I don't think she and Tony had a negative relationship.
YES!! Thank you. I actually saw their relationship in Season 4 as being a better one than what Gibbs and Tony have right now. She seemed to respect him more as a leader rather than just a member of 'her' team.
I do blame lazy writing overall, but I'm hoping that all of this stuff does end up panning out to something interesting for Tony by the end of the season.