It’s been a couple of weeks since news reports revealed that in 2009 NCIS investigated Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s disappearance while in Afghanistan and also how their investigation heavily influenced the military command to charge Bergdahl. According to news reports, the NCIS investigation included talking to Afghans outside Bergdahl’s base and an NCIS analysis of his computer. We mention this because many people ask if NCIS special agents really go into combat zones and whether analysts similar to McGee and Abby really do search computers. Because tonight’s episode results in Bishop and Gibbs going into Afghanistan, we wanted to give a shout out to the NCIS agents who worked on the Bergdahl case.

Once again, the “Lost in Translation” episode gave the writers opportunity to feature the skills of the agents and to use all the tricks and tools of the trade, both in Abby’s lab and in Ducky’s lab. It also featured two Afghan brothers in conflict with each other during a time when Muslims are so much in the news as terrorists, and where one brother is portrayed as a kind and caring man to U.S. military personnel.

We got a kick out of Tim McGee’s and Jimmy Palmer’s April Fool’s trick on Tony DiNozzo, when McGee claimed to have been selected as the recruiting ‘poster boy’ for NCIS. We loved McGee’s “Secret Agent” look.

Without giving away too much of the plot, the writers deepen Bishop’s character beyond anything that’s been revealed about her to date. Jethro is pure “Gibbs” when he forces Bishop into an undercover role in Afghanistan. Of course, none of us were surprised to see the Afghan who accompanied the “doctor” into the hostage hideout, wearing a traditional headdress, but peering out with piercing cobalt blue eyes. We all knew Gibbs wouldn’t be far away. After all, he told Bishop, “I have your back.”

He did and he always will. Thank you, Mark Harmon, for giving us, and millions like us, something edifying to watch on TV. We do so hope this wonderful NCIS team will return next season.

Be Blessed, Diane and David Munson