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
I loved tonight’s show because of Bishop. The more we learn about her, the more I like her. Gibbs was his usual taciturn, but understanding and get it done self. There was no doubt he was going in and get the hostages out. He didn’t disappoint. Loved the poster of Tim. Made me think of you, David, with your dark shades. :)
I’d rank this episode as one of the best in a few years. If the writers would put forth episodes like this every week, I would stop wondering if the end is near.
Still not liking Bishop. NCIS: New Orleans was complicated not the best of Borin.
Thanks Jiesheng, for sharing your opinion about NCIS NOLA.
The ratings are out this morning and it is a SERIES LOW for NCIS. NCIS NO was up a tenth. Too little too late for Bishop she was just out of place. While it was better than her usual musings it still fell short. Her arguing not to follow Gibbs instructions diminished any gains in my opinion. I think that was the first time she had fired a weapon in the field and she looked almost ready to cry looking at the body. So sad to see NCIS hit a low mark. Ziva says she is open to coming back they better find mutual ground and get her back. But I really think they are putting the things in place to end this series and put the emphasis behind LA and NO.
John expresses some of the same frustrations as Jie Sheng, who commented off-blog that “(Bishop’s) character has been re-shaped rapidly and doesnt feel like the Bishop they want us to know.” We agree with both John and Jie Sheng. When Bishop’s character was first introduced, she was a former analyst who sat on the floor eating snacks, while thinking. One skill all novelists learn to do during the first chapters of a novel, is develop the character so the reader will know the character. That means a physical description, their background i.e. family situation, and their habits that contribute to who they are. The NCIS writers have failed to fill out Bishops character and in their efforts to get viewer to accept her, they keep adding new info. We didn’t know for many episodes that she was married. Last night they told that she had previously served in Afghanistan and had a colleague die. We are still not sure if Mark Harmon wants Ziva’s character to return. He is influential enough to have prevented Cote’s departure, or to ensure her return. Could he have felt that the squad was too mature and experienced? McGee’s and Zeva’s characters were no longer the rookies, who needed Gibbs nurturing Could it be that Mark Harmon wanted a new rookie, so Gibbs could pour himself into a weaker character? This group is really a dysfunctional family, depending on each other. Maybe Bishop is their present project. Just saying…
They should have been doing these heavy action scenes out of the box with Bishop not a season and a half later.
If I may add on, Afghans many speak Pashtun not Arabic. So Bishop would not be of use at all. Writers mistake?
Played the DVR copy of Tuesday nights show again and I noticed that after the scene where Gibbs shoves her to the floor Bishop no longer used her left arm It simply hung by her side even she was putting things in the Humvee. Any one else notice that?
Don’t get your hopes up. If Secret Service agents who get drunk and cavort with prostitutes can’t be fired, then Bishop won’t be leaving due to an injured arm. It will heal and she will still be with us.
It was just something that caught my eye. All of the actors and actresses have been hurt at one time or another on the set. I believe all have another year on their contracts. Bishop is not going anywhere. Like her or not she is there until they turn out the lights on the series.