Leroy Jethro Gibbs, will you be back next season? The ending of tonight’s show leaves us wondering in shock. Will you be with the “Lost Boys” in “Neverland”, a place in the minds of children? NCIS writers of the three-episode arc used metaphors from Peter Pan, written by the Scottish writer, J.M. Barrie in the early nineteenth century. But there is nothing child-like in the schemes of the terrorists on display in NCIS, evildoers who are entrapping young minds to commit crimes against humanity.
It’s like we’ve stumbled into some strange land, where the bad guys speak in coded phrases, and we have to figure out the truth with our hands tied behind our backs. Unfortunately, this is the “Brave New World” we live in. We found it tricky recalling facts and characters from the previous two shows. So when Joanna Teague, Agent Dorneget’s mother and CIA officer, joins the team to find her son’s killer, we listened closely to all the clues and connections. We find Officer Teague (played by Mimi Rogers) to be Ziva-like, ready to do whatever is necessary to stop the bad guys. Still, some twists and turns were hard to follow. In the real world where NCIS agents sometimes take circuitous routes to their homes, after being in trials or other events where criminals have seen them in their cars, they would never take a witness or victim to their home. Yet Gibbs took Luke to his home. Was that awkward move designed to further the plot? This is not the first time Gibbs has done so. With the knowledge Luke has of the terrorists, it would have been smarter to have him ensconced in a safe house that couldn’t be traced.
That being said, this is our take on the show: Agent Gibbs, DiNozzo, Director Vance, are the old men sitting on a bench (per Sadiq Samar) and have no clue how to prevent the growing unrest of restless young people who are alienated from society. For example, Officer Teague asks Luke what kind of ice cream he likes. She mentions chocolate chip and Gibbs votes for rum raisin. Luke sits there clueless, listening to music on his earbuds. This illustrates the wide gulf between the generations. We think that’s why the Grand Canyon was targeted as well, to show this huge gap between those trying to stop terrorism and those who are intent on violence.
Turns out the terrorists are using the creepy music to direct the young kids who are their pawns. So we learn why Luke has his ears glued to these buds. The new generation agent Timothy McGee is the hero, because not only does he play the video game, he wins. As a result, he discovers a flood of clues as to the next targets. In the end, Agent Gibbs gets hurt by the kid he’s trying to help, despite Mike Franks shouting to his subconscious mind that Luke is trouble. “Who will save you,” Mike demands of Gibbs. Who indeed? The final act of desperation in Iraq continues the show until next season.
It was such a wild night, it’s time for us to enjoy a bowl of ice cream. What flavor do you like? What do you think of tonight’s show and how it ended? See you next season, if not before!
Be Blessed, Diane and David Munson
The “old men sitting on a bench” were the Supreme Court justices and that’s why Gibbs asked where they were.
Unless all these kids learned Morse code, there was no way they were going to understand messages hidden in music’s rhythm. That part made no sense at all.
They left us hanging at the end of the seasons with “is Gibbs dead or not?” many years ago. So I’m not buying that he’s dead yet. Usually by now we are hearing who signed contracts for next season. Does anyone have info on that?
I just find it ridiculous.
Sad thing is they know how bad it is. They are already pushing next season in interviews and on sites.
The show last night was, of course, very intense with all agents using their respective skills. It was a little unexpected at the end, but hey we’ve learned to accept the unexpected in the case of Gibbs versus the evil this world can throw a NCIS. We will hold our breath to see how long his recovery will take after(?) he gets out of danger. Again, it could all be a bad dream as in the old Bob Newhart show!!
Wonder if they plan to make Officer Teague a recurring role? Seemed to me that the character is bigger than just one episode. Plus they brought back her son at the very end of the season just to end his role. A lot of loose ends for next season.
We agree. Teresa may be on to something. All will be watching.
I found this finale boring….and even more so after watching NCIS: New Orleans and the Late Show (James Corden) with Zoe Mclellan and Mark Harmon.
I believe in the last week or so I saw that all had signed contracts to cover next years shows. On NCIS website Mimi Rogers is listed as a reoccurring Character. Did Joanna survive? The last scene she was in she was surrounded and going down if I remember correctly and there was a scream. Only next seasons shows will tell.