NCIS "Knockout"

[webbgirl]

Okay, for the most part I liked this episode. I thought it was a nice departure from the norm. However, there were some hiccups in the storytelling and the whole thing with the hooker playing matchmaker for Ziva and Tony was a bit...okay, nauseating.

I do like that Gibbs knew that Tony wasn't getting any and that Tony sooo responded to physical contact from Gibbs. That entire moment was just made of win. Including the look on Gibbs face when he told Tony he *knew*.

Tony's reaction to the lack of nookie also gives us an explanation of why we've been seeing more of FratBoy!Tony recently. I don't necessarily like the explanation, but it's an explanation. I can only hope we get an explanation for McGee's issues at some point too.

Another great moment was when Tony was interviewing the hooker (what was her name, Tia? Something with a T) and asked what she did for Joe. Her response that it was the same thing he did for his boss was just beautiful. The loooong pause after she said that had to have been thrown in for the slashers. *g*

Vance...I should start by saying that I abhor internal intrigue stories in shows. They make me all twitchy. The fact that they're going to drag this whole Vance thing out for who knows how long is just annoying to me.

I have kind of major issues with the fact that he obviously lied to his wife about his background. He also perpetuated the lie with his kids.

I do start to wonder if part of why he sent Tony away is the fact that Tony is such a good investigator and his loyalty to Gibbs is complete. McGee is easier to manipulate and Ziva is a good little soldier who will follow the orders of whoever has the highest rank.

I also wonder how this is all going to play out in the end. Whether it will turn out that Vance stole his friend's story to protect himself (or his friend) or it's something more sinister. They've clearly set up the Tony/Ziva story that they want to tell by the end of the season. I still have the altar set up to light incense on that whatever the final storyline is it ends Tiva for good.

One thing that piqued my interest today was the confirmation that there are 25 total episodes this season. The two parter for the spin off are episodes 22 and 23 and that's where a lot of the Tony/Ziva stuff is supposed to come. I'm really curious about what will happen in 24 and 25. I don't know that we've really seen specific spoilers for those episodes. That leaves two episodes where we can watch Gibbs and Tony makeout...right????

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I loved the Vance family scenes. They were cute and oddly realistic and Mrs. Vance is all kinds of awesome.

But the story itself? *throws up hands* Didn't really hold together AT ALL. It was just kind of pointless.

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

I feel like they were trying to tell three different stories in one (and that's just for the A plot). If they had just stuck with Vance wanting to find his friend's killer that would have been a fine story and I think they wouldn't have jacked up the storytelling quite so much. The fact that they added the whole power struggle with Gibbs and the questions about who he really is, just throws everything off. It's part of why I hate the intrigue stories.

I love his family too which is why the whole thing about him potentially not really being who he says he is irks me. I think having them as a periphery every once in awhile would add a nice balance to the show.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

exactly. There was *murder of friend* story there was *misuse of power* story (which was never really explained how marine/not marine) there was *weird vibe with sexy woman* story there way *Gibbs looking into Vance* story there was *weird Ziva/woman bonding* story there was *weird Tony* story..... there was *donutsweeper is losing track of the plot and doesn't care* story

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Tony just needs to eat some doughnuts and that'll solve the problem.

Course, eating them in Gibbs' bed wouldn't hurt. Just think, when the filling blops onto his chest, Gibbs could lick it off. :-)

[brilliantomega.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Vance rocked. When she got on Vance for the toothpick and then told Gibbs in no uncertain terms that he was staying for dinner...<3<3<3...

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I like that we got some insight into Vance. He's one of those wonderfully gray characters where you're not quite sure which way he's going to jump.

I like that he told Gibbs to hang on to the file "to keep him honest". That shows a level of trust I wasn't sure they had between them.

I also like that Gibbs rubbed Jenny's actions in Vance's face. Gibbs has been there, done that and had to clean up after.

Interesting that Vance and Whozit (can't remember the dead guy's name) apparently switched identities (to some extent). This is a huge theme for the series and suddenly we're seeing one that's worked for years. I suspect this isn't the last we've seen of this.

And finally... once again, the slash just writes itself while the het, as set up by the former hooker married to a mob boss, is just creepy.

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

The whole Vance thing is one of those stories that could end up being really interesting or irritate the crap out of me.

I did like that Gibbs brought up the Jenny issues and that he's more than happy to cross Vance when needed.

The slash scenes were all so pretty. I really did like Gibbs better overall in this episode. I feel like he's back to the old Gibbs a bit.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Yes! Gibbs is definitely back. ;-)

And yeah, the Vance story depends entirely on what the pay off is.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tweeter_/]

I really didn't like this episode. We didn't get enough of the "team" for my taste. We got disjointed good stuff, but overall, it fell flat for me.

I found myself utterly bored with Vance's story. The family was cute, but I didn't really care about the case and almost turned off at the memorial scene.

I did love how Gibbs basically told Vance that he wasn't going to let him do what Jenny did.

[nialla]

I do like that Gibbs knew that Tony wasn't getting any and that Tony sooo responded to physical contact from Gibbs. That entire moment was just made of win. Including the look on Gibbs face when he told Tony he *knew*.

Adored that scene (of course *g*), but it also seemed like Gibbs was just generally more expressive than he has been in a while. Gibbs is stoic, but he'd been acting barely above a coma for a time.

Vance...I should start by saying that I abhor internal intrigue stories in shows. They make me all twitchy. The fact that they're going to drag this whole Vance thing out for who knows how long is just annoying to me.

Same here. Especially since it can not only go pear-shaped really easily, but they can also drop it into a void and leave it incomplete. Not that I care whether or not Jenny's father was really alive, but I wish it hadn't been brought up if they weren't going to follow through.

I still have the altar set up to light incense on that whatever the final storyline is it ends Tiva for good.

I have a tiny hope this is a red herring of sorts. We've been outright told TPTB are heading down that path. Maybe they're actually going to fake out and have it be not quite what we think?

They have been known to do quick turnarounds, such as sending Mann off with barely a mention, plus dropping Sheppard's whole intrigue storyline, including Tony's relationship with Jeanne, like a hot potato. His former relationship is still part of his character development, but it seems like that plot thread is done.

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

It really felt more like he was interacting with the team again. The past three episodes have felt more that way. I've missed that so much.

I hate that they built up this whole complex thing around Jenny and then let half of it just drop. I mean they never even did anything with her having the terminal illness other than saying that that's why she chose to go into a dangerous situation. Ugh.

I'm not sure that Tony and Ziva will actually hook up. I think they may come close and then be interrupted by the boyfriend's arrival. I just want to see some character growth with all of the characters that actually *sticks*.