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NCIS: Sharif Returns
(S04E13) There has been quite a bit of talk this season about serial dramas versus their stand-alone episode counterparts. Both have their pluses and minuses. A very serial drama will tend to inspire more loyalty as it rewards the avid fan, but is less accessible to a new viewer. A mostly stand-alone drama is much easier to get involved with and a much easier sell for syndication, but runs the risk of becoming boring or formulaic. I think NCIS does as good a job as any series in mixing the two elements, and this week was a great example. We still had the case of the week, and anyone just stumbling onto the show would have had no problem following the story. But for fans that are regular viewers there was quite a bit of ongoing story thrown in as well. As the title notes, Mamoun Sharif (Enzo Cilenti) is back, and coming along for the ride is Lt. Col. Hollis Mann (Susanna Thompson, pictured) . They even managed to throw in a reminder of the big Tony mystery to keep us all guessing about just what is going on.
So, where to begin? Let's start with the case of the week. I thought it was pretty solid. Missing chemical weapons are always a scary threat. And they were made more of one since we know the writers have no issues with infecting someone from the team. I fingered the scientist, Hogan (Victor Webster), as being involved with the missing gas right away. It's the old TV viewer detective theory that "he's just too famous not to be involved." A theory that also worked Monday night when Victor guest starred on CSI:Miami.
Even knowing he was involved, I found the how's and why's of it all interesting. His plan to sell a modified version of the BZ to Sharif in order to create a panic and up the value of his stocks wasn't the best idea anyone ever had, but it was clever. Sharif's end of it, lacing money with his modified BZ, was as frightening as it was brilliant. The vast majority of people just exchange cash over and over without giving a thought to where it has been.
There was one part of Sharif's story that I didn't quite get. Why was he so fixated on Gibbs? His motivation for revenge, as Gibbs reasoned out correctly, was that his family was killed by a smart bomb. That makes sense for why he is doing all of this, but I didn't think they showed here, or in "Sandblast", a reason for him to be specifically after Gibbs. That said, even though the reason behind it was suspect, the cat and mouse between the two was good. I especially liked the conversation where Gibbs invites him over and asks him to bring coffee. Sharif saying that he had already been there but Gibbs wasn't home was ominous. Gibbs slowly succumbing to the effects of the BC coated tools was well done too. Speaking of the tools, I also want to know, "How did he get that boat out of the basement?"
I'm curious to see what the reaction to Lt. Col. Mann's return will be. I liked it, but could totally understand someone not wanting a big romance angle in their crime show. Or, someone not liking that her presence cut the screen time of the other members of the team. I might have an issue with that last part if it became a regular thing, but as a once in a while guest shot, it's not bad. It doesn't hurt that Susanna Thompson is a knockout either.
Harmon and Thompson have great chemistry and their flirtation led to a couple really good scenes. The meeting with Director Shepard had so much tension. I liked the little smirk from Gibbs as the two women headed off in separate directions. And the discussion Gibbs and Mann have about Sharif, where Gibbs says "People get older, realize they want something different." had nice, if not so subtle, subtext. The only thing I didn't like about Lt. Col. Mann's return was how in the middle of the episode she was just suddenly back in her fatigues.
It was kind of a slow week for Abby, McGee, and Ziva. My favorite part of that was the Gibbs/Abby tattoo conversation. Her look when he asked where she wanted to put the tattoo was perfect. Their relationship is very cute. I also really enjoyed Abby and Mcgee gossiping about the Gibbs/Mann flirtation while breaking out the baby morphing software.
And finally, Tony and Jeanne. It's been established that Tony will take off during work to go see her, so that wasn't a surprise. Ignoring Ziva's call in the middle of such a time sensitive case was a bit of one though. I was excited when Tony went for Jeanne's computer, thinking that here is confirmation that she is part of the assignment and he is getting intel, etc. Unfortunately, the fact that he was looking at the email she had mentioned leaves the possibility that he is just a little jealous out there.
I'm not sure if it means anything, but the email was from JCARS@zedlink.com. If you didn't freeze frame and read the whole thing, he basically says that he realizes losing her was the biggest mistake he has ever made. And if there is any chance that she still has feelings for him, he wants her back. While it doesn't confirm anything, I think it lends support to Jeanne having a past with one of the people Tony has been investigating. We'll just have to wait and see. Overall, another solid episode.
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