Anticipation Laced with Dread

[dragonheart]

Normally by now I am giddy with excitement for the next new episode of NCIS. I really do count down to Tuesday evenings - it's like my week doesn't really start until then (yeah, I know, I need to get a life).

I went shopping with friends this morning and had this itchy feeling of unease that I just couldn't place - nothing is amiss in my life: Marriage? good. Relationship with my son? good. Work? good. Family and friends? good. All is good - so I was really perplexed at this low level but still noticable tickle of unease. As I wandered the malls looking at stuff I didn't want to buy, I was finally able to pinpoint the turn in my mood - because I actually woke up feeling pretty good.

My friends and I were discussing last night's NCAA basketball game: University of Kentucky vs Ohio State University. My friend said in passing "Your alma mater beat DiNozzo's alma mater" and bam - that's when my mood turned - I started thinking of NCIS, so why do I have an uneasy feeling concerning my favorite show?

I think I have been feeling anticipation laced with dread since about the middle of the season, but it has been manifesting much stronger since the last two episodes.

I am not liking what is going on. The subtle character assassinations are starting to get to me - I never know who or what to expect from one week to the next from any of my beloved team. It's like I don't even know them anymore. One week someone is living in weirdo land and the next week they are back to normal. Last week it was Ducky and his creepy nursery rhymes over the dead body - what happened to respectful medical examiner Ducky? He was macabre to say the least. He does deal in death on a daily basis, but normally his stories lean more to the lighthearted side of life. It left me feeling uneasy and kinda worried for Ducky. And that's not the only thing that bothered me about last week's episode.

And it seems like everyweek I am coming away with a "WTF was that?" moment (or two).

I don't know, maybe my mid life hormones are getting to me - forty is hell ladies - just wait until you get there - you will see what I mean - or maybe my obsessive personality has latched on too hard and I need to divest my attentions - H50 is looking like a good option.

Whatever my weird deal is - I am excited for and dreading next Tuesday all at the same time and I can't even put into words what 8.20 is doing to my anxiety level.

I think I need a nap

Comments

[zaedah.livejournal.com]

You're faring better than I with this season. At least you're watching it! I keep saying "Oh, I'll catch up On Demand" and then lack of enthusiasm keeps me from following through. Seriously, I haven't even seen the EJ eppy yet!

It's not age or relational workings... it's the damned, shark-jumping show!

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

You took the words out of my mouth. I've caught only sporadic bits of this latest season - the last one I watched all the way through was 8x01 (although to be honest, I originally turned it off the moment they pulled out the "Ziva has a new secret boyfriend" nonsense), and I'm actually making a concerted attempt to distance myself from the show...

Sadly, I suspect nothing will change. Next season will just be more of the same ... have either of you seen this image? I think it perfectly explains what you're seeing happen on NCIS...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b144/RigilKent/TVSeriesLifeSpan.jpg

[zaedah.livejournal.com]

Hadn't seen that diagram before but it sums up the average shelflife pretty accurately! I was quick to blame my blase reception on my unrepentant shipper-ness (and the unfulfilling nature of the writers this year) but I'm seeing more agreements on this disappointed opinion. It's not just me and that makes me feel a bit less... bitter!

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

To me - and this is just my opinion - it seems like the more popular the show has become (beginning in season 6), the less I actually like it. And then, I discovered this image and immediately thought "Eureka! This is exactly right!" And yet, somehow, the ratings continue to skyrocket which frankly boggles my mind.

As to the shippiness thing, I actually used to be a big Tony/Ziva shipper, but since season 6, I've come to the opinion that Ziva could do a whole lot better than Tony (which almost seems to be a minority view as most fans have this "Tony can do no wrong" view.) Sadly, based on how the two have been written since season 6, I have to say the canon version of the characters are toxic to one another. :(

And that just disappoints and saddens the heck out of me...

[dragonheart]

so, we're in the zombie years - explains why I feel like the walking dead sometimes after I watch.

[alidiabin]

I've had this feeling before. Though I liked the last episode.

Either it passes, when an awesome episode comes along or you find a shinny new fandom (Hawaii 5-0)

Character assassinations have been going on since S6. Everyone but Ducky has been badly written.

Rewatching S3 (my NCIS happy place) usually gets me out of an NCIS funk.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I know just how you feel, I really do.

I want the season over and done with so we know what happened, but at the same time I fear the episodes airing because then we'll know what happened.

[dragonheart]

yes, jumping the shark - fits! (Do you remember Fonzi on Happy Days jumping the shark?) birth of a catch phrase!

[dragonheart]

yeap, S3 is one my favorites. That's when I boarded the T/Z ship. Love the easy, playful banter.

[dragonheart]

I know - May is gonna kill me - one way or the other.

[zaedah.livejournal.com]

Sadly, yes... I am old enough to recall the water skiing moment that shall live in infamy!

[alidiabin]

S3 is re-airing on cable here. I love it. The wild crazy Ziva with odd yet beautifully sad moments of emotion, easy banter, funny 'fat' Tim, fun yet competent Tony, Jenny before she went uber crazy with vengence, and the tiny hints of foreshadowing about Gibbs first family - I love it. Once I can afford it and find it, the first NCIS DVD set i'm buying is S3.

[ncischick09.livejournal.com]

I completely empathize. I've gotten apathetic about it, rather than anxious, and I think that might be worse. It occurred to me tonight, as I'm waiting for my ibuprofen to kick in so I can go to bed...I haven't checked the CBS boards in over a week. Haven't been on here in maybe 2 weeks...can't remember the last time I actually sought out some fanfic. I think I finally gave up on that b/c there's nothing good left; there's nothing good left to write about. I certainly haven't written anything in months. It's sad. It's like when you realize you've beaten an addiction, and lo and behold! It didn't affect you as much as you'd believed. :>(

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

And the latest interview with Cote about Ray certainly doesn't make me excited. If anything, its depressing ... its like Cote (and Ziva) have finally moved on from DiNozzo because from how I read it, Ziva is genuinely happy with Ray.

R.I.P., Tiva.

[dragonheart]

I just read that and I am freaking pissed - why I don't know - it's not like I didn't expect it.

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

I'm just kind of sad. I get why Ziva (and Cote for that matter) would want to be happy - its pretty clear that DiNozzo is incapable of being the man she wants and needs, but seeing the ship basically end with such a whimper ...

Yeah. This is JAG all over. If I hadn't already stopped watching the show, this would be my last straw.

Blech.

[dragonheart]

yeah, Blech! Total agreement.

This just may be the last straw for me.

The only thing I am holding out hope for? EJ is killed by the serial killer and Ray goes back to Miami - without Ziva (her choice).

But my ship has taken a few too many torpedos and unless emergency repairs are made ASAP, it is sunk.

[rigil-kent.livejournal.com]

IMHO, its already too late. Season 6 pretty much killed the Tiva ship and they've never recovered from that. There was a brief chance they could right the ship following 7x01 and x02, but the writing utterly failed (especially in regards to DiNozzo but truthfully with both) that year so the time has already passed where they could make a realistic go at it. There's too much baggage between them now.

I'd prefer for it to turn that EJ is the serial killer. But then, at this point, I'd actually prefer that Ziva went to Miami and Cote left the show (mostly because I no longer watch the show and I'd really like to see Cote in something else.) With my general disinterest in the Tony character (thanks, writing!), I'm perfectly fine with him ending up miserable and alone.

Bitter? Maybe a bit...