![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonheartEpisode Title: One Last Score 8.17
Caf-Pow Rating: 1
I know a lot of people won’t agree with me on this one, but I am going to go out on a limb and call this episode an EPIC FAIL – at least for me.
Let me say right off the bat that my displeasure with the episode has nothing to do with being a disgruntled TIVA fan – I am certainly that - but one of my few character strengths allow me to look beyond my preferences to the big picture and the big picture is where this episode failed – big time.
Since we are on the subject of EJ, let’s talk about her first: Michael Weatherly has gone on record as saying that EJ is diametrically opposite to Ziva in almost everyway - from her appearance to her demeanor. They were so busy making EJ the anti-Ziva that they missed the boat on what EJ’s character could have been – They could have portrayed her as a smart, capable, interesting woman - someone deserving to be a team leader – someone that everyone could respect - for her abilities. But instead they made her frat boy fodder for Tony and an object of jealousy for Ziva –and at least in her first appearance not very likeable. I have read most of the posts and I know a lot of people think she is great, but unless my Tiva colored glasses were fogged, I really didn’t see one likeable thing about her and I really do hope that the writers try to redeem her in future episodes because her appearance could be the catalyst that kicks off some really interesting plot lines and character development that set up the season finale and S9 very nicely such as:
Option#1: Tension between Gibbs and Vance
Vance clearly respects EJ and her team, they have performed top notch in Rota, and so he brings her in to help out on the PTP killer case. This could set up some angst for Gibbs: Is his team not good enough? Is he not good enough? Is Vance looking to replace him and /or his team? If so, what happens to his team - are they terminated due to budget cuts? Scooted down the totem pole to "just another team" status? Will they have to work in the shadow of EJ and her new MCRT team? What if the team is ok, but Vance is looking to replace Gibbs - what happens to him? Is he fired? Forced into early retirement? Let's face it, Vance is a politician and there hasn't been much love lost between him and Gibbs lately. Gibbs has always been a little too comfortable, a little too confident in his abilities and in his position at NCIS - maybe it's time his confidence got shaken - maybe he's replaceable after all. If he is replaced how will the team react to a new leader? Is this yet another missed opportunity for Tony? How will the team dynamic change if EJ becomes the new MCRT leader?
Obviously NCIS (and the fans) has to have Gibbs, so what circumstances bring him back? Does he return fully redeemed or does he return with his tail between his legs or perhaps with a chip on his shoulder?
Option#2: Tension between Gibbs and Tony
EJ serves as a mirror to Tony, she is living the life he could have had, and she is enjoying the successes that could have been his. He starts to question himself and his motives for turning down the promotion - did he really turn it down due to loyalty to his team or did he turn it down out of fear of failure? Tony has never been that self-confident as evidenced by his continued frat boy behavior - behavior he should have outgrown years ago. As he questions his motives, he begins to question his blind loyalty to Gibbs and his place on the team. In the past, he has always been too happy to play second banana to Gibbs, sure he has always been in Gibb's shadow, never really allowing himself to shine, but that shadow came with a safety net - he can't screw up too bad if he has Gibbs looking over his shoulder. Maybe that realization causes him to push the boundaries, creating friction between himself and Gibbs. Eventually that friction starts to affect the whole team, and even spills over to Abby, Ducky and Palmer. Will they be forced to choose sides in this struggle? How will Ziva and McGee cope with a feuding team leader and lead agent? Will the team survive? Will it implode or self-destruct? How will the conflict affect their job performance? Will their cases suffer? Will bad guys slip thru the cracks because they aren't jiving as normal?
At the end of the day, we need our team - together and intact relationally so how will it be resolved? Most of us watch primarily for the team dynamic, so wouldn't it be interesting to shift the paradigm for a little while? Let’s take the angst out of their personal lives and put in the workplace – much more interesting – at least for me. Of course, the serial killer arc will be front and center, but I think the real action should be in the bullpen – between our beloved characters.
Another way this episode failed for me was the directing by MW. I think he made the rookie mistake of trying to cram too much into the hour – the camera angles and panning made me dizzy – there was too much symbolic placing of characters and veiled innuendos. It all felt very forced and contrived, like he was trying too hard – again I think it was due mostly to inexperience and not lack of creativity or brilliance on his part, maybe his second attempt will be more relaxed.
All in all this was a not a good episode for me. I think there were many wasted opportunities for setting up a great season finale, but in this episode at least, the writers were too concerned with “trouble for Tiva”.
An epic fail? Maybe, maybe not, only time will tell. Here’s to hoping that the next few weeks prove me wrong and biased - and I can’t tell you how wrong I hope I am.
Caf-Pow Rating: 1
I know a lot of people won’t agree with me on this one, but I am going to go out on a limb and call this episode an EPIC FAIL – at least for me.
Let me say right off the bat that my displeasure with the episode has nothing to do with being a disgruntled TIVA fan – I am certainly that - but one of my few character strengths allow me to look beyond my preferences to the big picture and the big picture is where this episode failed – big time.
Since we are on the subject of EJ, let’s talk about her first: Michael Weatherly has gone on record as saying that EJ is diametrically opposite to Ziva in almost everyway - from her appearance to her demeanor. They were so busy making EJ the anti-Ziva that they missed the boat on what EJ’s character could have been – They could have portrayed her as a smart, capable, interesting woman - someone deserving to be a team leader – someone that everyone could respect - for her abilities. But instead they made her frat boy fodder for Tony and an object of jealousy for Ziva –and at least in her first appearance not very likeable. I have read most of the posts and I know a lot of people think she is great, but unless my Tiva colored glasses were fogged, I really didn’t see one likeable thing about her and I really do hope that the writers try to redeem her in future episodes because her appearance could be the catalyst that kicks off some really interesting plot lines and character development that set up the season finale and S9 very nicely such as:
Option#1: Tension between Gibbs and Vance
Vance clearly respects EJ and her team, they have performed top notch in Rota, and so he brings her in to help out on the PTP killer case. This could set up some angst for Gibbs: Is his team not good enough? Is he not good enough? Is Vance looking to replace him and /or his team? If so, what happens to his team - are they terminated due to budget cuts? Scooted down the totem pole to "just another team" status? Will they have to work in the shadow of EJ and her new MCRT team? What if the team is ok, but Vance is looking to replace Gibbs - what happens to him? Is he fired? Forced into early retirement? Let's face it, Vance is a politician and there hasn't been much love lost between him and Gibbs lately. Gibbs has always been a little too comfortable, a little too confident in his abilities and in his position at NCIS - maybe it's time his confidence got shaken - maybe he's replaceable after all. If he is replaced how will the team react to a new leader? Is this yet another missed opportunity for Tony? How will the team dynamic change if EJ becomes the new MCRT leader?
Obviously NCIS (and the fans) has to have Gibbs, so what circumstances bring him back? Does he return fully redeemed or does he return with his tail between his legs or perhaps with a chip on his shoulder?
Option#2: Tension between Gibbs and Tony
EJ serves as a mirror to Tony, she is living the life he could have had, and she is enjoying the successes that could have been his. He starts to question himself and his motives for turning down the promotion - did he really turn it down due to loyalty to his team or did he turn it down out of fear of failure? Tony has never been that self-confident as evidenced by his continued frat boy behavior - behavior he should have outgrown years ago. As he questions his motives, he begins to question his blind loyalty to Gibbs and his place on the team. In the past, he has always been too happy to play second banana to Gibbs, sure he has always been in Gibb's shadow, never really allowing himself to shine, but that shadow came with a safety net - he can't screw up too bad if he has Gibbs looking over his shoulder. Maybe that realization causes him to push the boundaries, creating friction between himself and Gibbs. Eventually that friction starts to affect the whole team, and even spills over to Abby, Ducky and Palmer. Will they be forced to choose sides in this struggle? How will Ziva and McGee cope with a feuding team leader and lead agent? Will the team survive? Will it implode or self-destruct? How will the conflict affect their job performance? Will their cases suffer? Will bad guys slip thru the cracks because they aren't jiving as normal?
At the end of the day, we need our team - together and intact relationally so how will it be resolved? Most of us watch primarily for the team dynamic, so wouldn't it be interesting to shift the paradigm for a little while? Let’s take the angst out of their personal lives and put in the workplace – much more interesting – at least for me. Of course, the serial killer arc will be front and center, but I think the real action should be in the bullpen – between our beloved characters.
Another way this episode failed for me was the directing by MW. I think he made the rookie mistake of trying to cram too much into the hour – the camera angles and panning made me dizzy – there was too much symbolic placing of characters and veiled innuendos. It all felt very forced and contrived, like he was trying too hard – again I think it was due mostly to inexperience and not lack of creativity or brilliance on his part, maybe his second attempt will be more relaxed.
All in all this was a not a good episode for me. I think there were many wasted opportunities for setting up a great season finale, but in this episode at least, the writers were too concerned with “trouble for Tiva”.
An epic fail? Maybe, maybe not, only time will tell. Here’s to hoping that the next few weeks prove me wrong and biased - and I can’t tell you how wrong I hope I am.
