NCIS Season Finale Spoiler from EW

[dragonheart]

I haven't seen this spoiler before. Saw it on another blog and totally stole it (is that against the rules?) It was posted on the NCIS newsletter so maybe it's a free for all....

The newest issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine (#1151/1152, April 22/22, 2011) contains a teaser/spoiler for the finale.

The final moments of NCIS' eighth season are so shocking, even some cast members are being kept in the dark. Parts of the finale have been deemed "red-page scenes," which means only the specific actors involved and a few key crew members get the script. (A previous "red page" example? The season 2 death of Kate Todd, played by Sasha Alexander.)

Exec producer Gary Glasberg says the "significant change" that occurs will "affect NCIS in ways people will never see coming." In particular, Gibbs (Mark Harmon) will be reeling. Glasberg notes, "His world is about to be rocked both personally and professionally."

Now, this statement has me a little worried - "will affect NCIS in ways people will never see coming" - darn, I thought we had all the bases covered as I have seen some pretty diverse and decisive views on what's going to happen. What haven't we thought of ....

In particular, Gibbs will be reeling. Glasberg notes, "His world is about to be rocked both personally and professionally."

Not liking that statement much either because the only thing that could rock his world both personally & professionally is his team - Tony, Ziva, McGee, Abby, Ducky

But then again wasn't last year's ending supposed to rock the NCIS world and it was - blah.

Only a few more weeks until all our questions are answered - or will we be asking new ones?

Comments

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I have to say the more I hear, the less worried I get because we've heard it all before.

As you say last year (and the year before, IMS) was meant to be the most shocking and dramatic and Gibbs will make a decision that affects all of his team deeply, the teams' world would be rocked kind of thing. And what did we get? A damp squid.

I didn't even for one second fear that Papa Gibbs would be killed and thus S8 would begin with an in pain and guilt ridden Gibbs.

Maybe I'm just too jaded, but we've had these kinds of things for several years now, so I'm not.

Maybe I'll be proven wrong; maybe the writers will pull a rabbit out of the hat, but I have to say I wouldn't bet on it.

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you here, especially with season 6. They insisted that it was going to be shocking, and unexpected, but the moment Rivkin died in "Semper Fidelis," I knew that Ziva was going to leave the team in the finale (at least temporarily.) And the actual ending of that ep was pretty predictable the instant the terrorist was seen.

Given that NCIS has such gangbuster ratings of late and that its entering season 9, I have seriously doubts the network would actually let them do anything that's going to significantly and permanently change the status quo. Killing off any of the main characters at this point is show suicide, regardless of what some of the character haters (coughzivahaterscough) think.

My theory remains that Tony will leave the team for whatever reason - EJ dead, he's offered his own team, or something like that - and it won't be on good terms with Gibbs. Of course, they'll hit the magic reset button by 9x02 and everything will be undone without them actually dealing with it (e.g. "Couldn't live without you.")

I could be wrong, of course, especially since my track record for predicting NCIS stuff sucks - I was utterly that the ratings would plunge after how (IMO) horrible season 6 was and how (again, IMO) terribly mediocre season 7 was. Truthfully, I expected the show have been canceled in season 8 due to plunging ratings, so my predictions ... not so great.

[dragonheart]

Ahh, Rigil, you are always the voice of reason and I value your opinions as both a man and a former T/Z shipper and NCIS fanatic. You can look at it with some objectivity, while we (at least me)looses some brain cells every time I read another spoiler.

I think you are right - all will be status quo by 9.2 as we both know the writers have short memories and continuity problems.

I think that we(me)actually "like" getting ourselves worked into a tizzy over this stuff, because if I really hated it as much a complain about it, I would just quit watching and writing and reading. But it is just too much fun, of course I may change my mind on that hanging around thing if EJ stays - really don't think I could even pretend to handle that.

[dragonheart]

I think you are right - my anxiety is lessening instead of increasing or maybe I just don't care as much because all the cock and bull is causing me to harden my heart as a defensive measure.

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

I think I can look at it with "objectivity" because I've effectively given up on the show and am now just a casual viewer. I'm no longer trying to figure out what the subtext of a scene is since its become clear that any subtext that doesn't bludgeon you over the head is generally accidental or simply in the eye of the beholder.

It probably doesn't hurt that I'm intentionally trying to distance myself more and more from the show since what I want in it clearly isn't what the 19million viewers want. *shrug*

Ah well.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not alone in this. *Nods in agreement* We get this all the time and actually I sometimes think all the hype they release and all this 'most shocking ever' has a negative effect on people.

My take is that the team will stay intact, unless someone does want to leave. Killing Ziva if CdeP doesn't want out, would be pointless.

My theory, which I posted a few weeks ago is that actually MW only signed up for one more season, but TPTB did a deal with him (including directing an episode) that he keep it quiet to keep the tension up. EJ will die, Tony will be offered Rota, we know he can't refuse this time and he'll leave. Maybe he'll come back as a guest star a couple of times. I hope I'm wrong, but so much is pointing towards Tony being offered Rota and I can't see any logical reason for him turning it down.

I expected the ratings to keep falling after EJ appeared, so I was really surprised when this week's were higher than last.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

Maybe I am wrong, but given we've had this hype for at least three seasons and nothing has come of it, I'll be surprised if I am.

Defence measures are good.

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

An interesting theory, but I can't see it happening because, whether you like him or loath him, Tony is a big reason a significant portion of the fanbase tune in. Remove him, and I guarantee that the ratings will nosedive. NCIS is CBS' ratings cow at the moment, so I honestly can't see them changing anything. Its like the people who thing that they're going to make Tony/EJ permanent - and screw up the long-hyped Tiva thing. Not gonna happen, IMHO.

Now if he goes away at the end of the season (Rota or wherever) and then comes back by 9x02 after they mash the flashing reset button, that tracks with my theory. But permanently? No, I just can't see that.

What also makes me chuckle is how they keep hyping the Rota assignment as if its some major step up. Its a subordinate office. If they really want to show Tony moving up in the ranks, offer him a MCRT.

Of course, this is also the show that forgets there's a MCRT in Norfolk and that Norfolk is 2-4 hours away from DC depending on traffic...

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

If MW wanted out, what other choice would they have? They can't force an actor to stay. And at the end of the day the fanbase is minor when it comes to viewing figures. The majority of watches won't be on any fansite or forums, etc. We fans like to think we have a 'say', but we don't.

They would have to come up with a really, really good reason for him coming back or even turning down promotion - assuming that's how it pans out. And I honestly can't think of a reason that most people would buy. Of course the whole Rota link and his clear 'I made a mistake by not taking it when Jenny offered' might be a huge red herring. Or as we know the writers can totally 'forget' it was such a large part of this season.

Rota would be his own team, which he hasn't got now and is unlikely to get one if he was offered and refused. As Tim said he can't afford to turn it down twice.

You never know, maybe this last part of the season will all turn out to be a dream *wry grin*

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen any indication that Weatherly wants out ... have you? Given that most television shows really struggle to find audiences and this is his business, I'd actually be surprised if he did want to leave.

They would have to come up with a really, really good reason for him coming back or even turning down promotion

Not on this show, they wouldn't. They utterly failed to give an adequate reason why the SecNav would sign off on Ziva coming back after season 6, or why she was even let back into the country (no matter the awesome 7x01), or why Gibbs still has a job. If Tony ended up leaving for a new team, they could handwave his reasons for coming back away by making it a temporary assignment or killing off his team so he's second guessing himself all the time or just having him not be happy. I thought they were pretty clear that he wants the DC team so it really boils down to moving Gibbs out of the field somehow.

At this point, though, Tony has really become the CDR Riker (of Star Trek: TNG) - he's been the #2 for too long, but they can't actually promote him because it would require him leaving the show and doing that would screw up the character dynamics which the Network doesn't want.

You never know, maybe this last part of the season will all turn out to be a dream *wry grin*

Can we make it be everything after "Judgment Day"? Or a fever dream from Tony's injury received in "Cloak"? Pretty please?

[alidiabin]

I'm catching up on stuff i've missed.

Since S5 i've always guessed the main thing that happen in the SF but not the twist. I knew Jenny was going to die but freaked out when the split the team up, I knew Ziva would go back to Israel but gasped when I saw her in the camp, I knew that Gibbs would get caught up in the Renoysa cartel but dropped my drink when I saw Jackson's store being entered by Palmolona.

I'm still hoping EJ dies. And it seems DMC might not be sticking around hoepfully he retires rather than dies. As for the twist (if there is even one) bring it on!

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I haven't, no. It was just speculation. We know his wife hates the character, MW said so. So I just pondered that maybe he'd only signed up again for one season, but a deal was done, which included him being allowed to direct an episode, whereby he'd keep it quiet until the end of the season. And with EJ turning up and the whole Rota link - the P2P killer could have struck anywhere first, Rota was clearly chose - it just seemed to tie in as a possibility. Oh, and it's time for a team shake up if we follow it back to S2 and then S5.

Given how much emphasis they have put on Tony regretting the decision not to take Rota and the whole having Rota forced on us, I still say they would have to come up with a good reason. Sometimes the smaller the thing (unlike the whole Ziva thing) the less easy it is to handwave.

Can we make it be everything after "Judgment Day"? Or a fever dream from Tony's injury received in "Cloak"? Pretty please?

Well for me, as much as I love Ziva I'd like everything after the end of S2 to be a dream *g* Especially 1991!!!!!!!!!!!!!