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

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

Which episode did Gibbs and Tony get captured by the arms dealer?

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

They didn't! LOL! Ziva and Tony captured the arms dealer (I think he was an arms dealer) and he woke up on a plane. Tony and Gibbs then spin him some yarn to scare him - mainly Tony but Gibbs looks amused. Fairly sure it's S4 - that one with Aries.

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look that one up. I think that'd be a hoot to see. :)

I'm still catching up on episodes.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

There's even the obligatory reference to a previous series one of them was in. :-)

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

Is that the one where Tony says he'd have a better shot at getting a date with Jessica Alba?

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Different ep, I believe. He said that in MTAC and I don't think he was ever in MTAC in that one. In this one, Gibbs is looking for the answer to one of his crossword clues. Tony provides it - St. Elsewhere. :-)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

They captured the arms dealer. They were working on convincing him they were taking him somewhere as a favor to Israel... somewhere he'd likely not survive. It was the one with um... the one where Ducky met The Frog.

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

I remember Ducky meeting The Frog. Frog gave him a nice bottle of something that Ducky always wanted to share with him on a future date.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

That's the one. The thing on the plane was at the very beginning.

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

Gonna have to track that one down. I don't remember Tony and Gibbs having a conversation with an arms dealer where Gibbs just let Tony talk.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Gibbs was doing a crossword. Tony was, I think, reading the paper or a magazine or something. The guy was trussed up on a sofa. Ziva came wandering through at some point and laughed at the idea that the guy thought they were CIA.