We’re Back!!! For several weeks or months (we’re not sure) we’d been writing critiques on our blog, but unbeknown to us, those critiques were not getting mailed to you. Those of you who went to the blog, found our messages there, but it took us quite some time to correct the problem. If you go to the blog you can find those you’ve missed in the archives. We are happy to be back with you.
As we stated a couple of weeks ago, sometimes we write a critique of the NCIS NOLA show if we don’t enjoy a particular episode of Gibbs’ original NCIS show. Tonight, we were going to watch the NOLA show for comparison, but that show started out with a girl in a strip joint. We didn’t even bother to watch it. Now back to “Status Update”. We have said the producers have Leon Carroll Jr., a retired NCIS Special Agent on their set to help them keep the show technically correct. In our opinion, they must have produced tonight’s show when he was on vacation, or they ignored what he advised in order to be more edgy. For the most part, the show was unrealistic. Also, the beginning “work flirt” banter between Tony and Bishop was worse than juvenile. This show airs at 8:00 pm with younger viewers tuning in and it’s inappropriate for a married woman to make light of monogamy.
It is clear the writers wanted to bring back Delilah from Dubai, so she and Tim McGee could renew their romantic involvement. Using Delilah in an undercover sting operated from a computer in a secure office was plausible, but to involve her (a computer specialist in the cyber division of DOD) to accompany armed DOD agents entering an apartment, which turned out to occupied by NCIS agent who arrived first, was just plain stupid. In the real world, it would be extremely dangerous to everyone involved because she is not trained agent. Even DOD having Delilah living in a ‘safe house’ apartment was a stretch of realism.
It was interesting to note the show highlighted the dangers resulting from military family members using social media. This week it was all over the news how terrorists are stalking military families in social media. These are great lessons to be learned from tonight’s show.
Tim McGee was correct when he advised Delilah to pull the trigger and shoot at Tim, when Omer Malik gave her a gun. Agent McGee assumed Malik wouldn’t have given her a weapon with a bullet in the chamber, for fear she would turn it on her captor. Because she was not a trained agent, she had no idea what McGee was talking about. This is proof she was in way over her head. Apparently her boss was in too deep as well, because at the end of the show he was suspended for “gross negligence.” (No doubt the technical adviser returned from vacation in time to catch the ending, and insisted the guy be disciplined).
Please leave us a comment in the comment section, so we’ll know this posting actually made it to our subscribers. We won’t post your comment, unless your comment is specific to the content of the show. But we will select the name of one of you who comments to us and we will mail you a copy of our most recent novel, “Embers of Courage,” which features Raj Pentu, an NCIS agent working undercover with the CIA on a terror group in Egypt.
What did you all think of tonight’s episode? From the previews, next week looks a bit lame, so here’s hoping it’s a great show to usher in “The Dovekeepers,” starring Cote de Pablo, who once played Ziva on NCIS. That miniseries airs next Tuesday on CBS at 9:00 pm and concludes the following night.
Be Blessed, Diane and David Munson
Nothing is wrong with a strip joint. The NCIS NOLA case was much better.
Also, Bishop did practically nothing but gossip.
At the risk of sounding as though we are gossiping, we agree with Jie. Bishop added nothing to this episode, but meaningless chatter and gossip. We also wonder why the producers brought back another female Special Agent in this episode, who had appeared in an episode in a past season. Could this be a threat to the Bishop?
The actress is ok. It’s the character.
I really like your critique this week! (As usual.) It ‘s more interesting when you point out the things they do wrong! I’m forwarding to my sister. Hopefully she’ll start following you also. We LOVE NCIS!!!
Hope to see you at another book signing in Clearwater one day!
Patti
I am so weary of the adolescent writers. They are killing what was once a good show. We were planning to watch NCIS NOLA later tonight.
It was a good show, and I always enjoy reading your reviews of it.
I agree and could’t have put it better
I was pretty disappointed in the show tonight as well. I guess too many years living with an ex-Navy former police officer, but I think I groaned out loud when they had Delilah show up at the sting–sitting in her wheelchair IN FRONT of the armed officers! What?!? I really hate it when the shows does stupid stuff like that. I’m also seriously over the juvenile “banter” that always seems to center around sex. Grow up, people! You’re agents, not high schoolers!
Got it! Welcome back.
I also thought it weird that Delilah would go to the apartment and be the first one at the door in a wheelchair. Culturally, although in separate bedrooms, I cannot see an Arab male sharing with a single female.
I am trying not to be, but remain critical of Bishop.
Hi David & Diane,
Yes, I am getting your posts now. Hurray!
I totally agree with you about the absurdity of Delilah being involved in the sting operation. Her shining moment came earlier in the season when she was back at her old job after the accident. You may be correct in stating that if NCIS doesn’t get back to the tried & true, it will be looking to end its run.
D and D (if I may call you that),
Know it is a TV show, how realistic would it be for a handicapped DOD Analyst/Federal Agent to be part of a tactical ICE team? That scene looked ridiculous.
We appreciate Jiesheng’s involvement in our discussions, as he raises timely and probative questions. In our “Status Update” critique we mentioned that the DOD analyst (Delilah) should not have been present when DOD raided an apartment that was part of their ‘Sting Operation’. The civilian Special Agents in NCIS, FBI, DEA, ICE, Homeland Security and too many other Federal agencies, are all required to complete very rigorous physical training, that preclude persons with disability effecting mobility. For that reason, many persons confined to wheelchairs (like the fictional character, Delilah) are employed at Intelligence Analyst. Theirs is a job that provides them with the safety of being in an office where they work mostly with computers. They are a very important function, which supports the mission of the agency. The only times I have ever seen them to be functioning outside the confines of their offices, were in occasional trips to a court room where they provided testimony before a Judge and Jury in support of a prosecution. NEVER in a tactical situation where they would pose a danger to themselves or to others. In real life, Delilah’s presence at the execution of an arrest or search warrant would result in disciplinary action, directed against the team leader.
Thanks. I was wondering about that since many of other forums were praising that scene (of Delilah at the door of a raid), or just classifying it as humorous.
When that NCIS/DOD confrontation began and I saw Delilah sitting in a wheelchair right in front of the door, I said, “Poppycock.” I don’t know much about military or law enforcement operations, but regardless of political correctness, that situation would never have happened. Both her physical condition and her lack of training as a field agent would preclude it.
I enjoyed the episode anyway, though.
Bendiciones.
Jane