We all knew this was coming, right? Since the first spin-off launch episode a few weeks back, the inevitability of our NCIS agents tangling with the venerable Israeli intelligence agency was obvious. Particularly after last week’s ending, which saw DiNozzo (who, according to his own estimation, is “scrappy”), shoot and kill Mossad Officer Michael Rivkin (Merik Tadros).
I was kind of hoping that Oded Fehr (Sleeper Cell) would pop up and infuse the episode with some authentic Israelis; instead, we got the butchered accents of a bunch of American actors, Ziva (Cote de Pablo is Chilean), and Arnold Vosloo, the South African best known by me for his turns on Chuck, and 24. The show’s linguistic advisors have always been so so, and this time, when really pressed to make a go of both the language and culture of Israel … let’s just say there was a lot of hit or miss.
As there was with the title of the episode, “aliyah.” The word is used in reference to going to Israel; the idea that you literally “go up”, either because the country’s mountainous regions are so high above sea level, or, more spiritually, because you’re ascending in holiness. Last night, the word was used in reference to Ziva’s return to serving her country. While the term is used in reference to people who move to Israel, for they are retuning to their land, its not really applicable here. Okay.
Unfortunately, the Hebrew wasn’t the only hit or miss last night, and, overall, I found myself gravely disappointed. In some ways, the episode was a redux of last season’s finale, with a team member potentially leaving. Ziva remaining behind in Israel to “finish what Michael had started” was a bit ridiculous; before three weeks ago, there had been no indication in a long time that she was still only a liaison officer stationed with NCIS.
In fact, while the assumption may not have been correct (clearly), every sign pointed to the fact that Ziva was an agent, not a foreign officer. That she couldn’t technically assume that role in the real world didn’t matter so much on a show where the purpose was to slowly ingrain her in the world that had been created. There was a complete lack of fluidity in her loyalties being tested; to say that this would have been the first time in years that she was tested is absurd.
If she were a Mossad agent on the ground in the United States, she would have been called to perform an overwhelming amount of duty for her country over the past few years. I think, rather, that the writers saw an opportunity to create some drama, and pulled her back out of a comfortable position in order to do so. And, believe me; Ziva’s request for a transfer of either her or DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) definitely crossed my mind as a potential vehicle for shipping one of them off to this fall’s upcoming NCIS spin-off. I pray that doesn’t happen.
All in all, not the most satisfying of episodes. Definitely not enough McGee (Sean Murray) time. I’m also not crazy about how often the show separates the team: these two in LA, these three in Israel, etc. They all work best when sitting in the same place, not via telephone or video conference. Plus, it would save us from having to experience another ridiculous Abby (Pauley Perrette) worry-fest, and welcome home hug.
Of course, the stars did shine here and there. Mark Harmon is always great, and he certainly didn’t fail me here; rather, I think the episode failed him a bit. I’m very curious about what’s going on with Vance (Rocky Carroll), and I have to say, that while I may not have enjoyed his character so much in the beginning, his story with Gibbs is much better than anything Director Shepard (Lauren Holly) had to offer.
The biggest question the finale left me with was the following: how the hell does Gibbs get those boats out of his basement?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 20, 2009 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
how the hell does Gibbs get those boats out of his basement?
INDEED!!! :)
He burnt the last boat “Diane”.
“In fact, while the assumption may not have been correct (clearly), every sign pointed to the fact that Ziva was an agent, not a foreign officer.”
Actually, I slightly disagree. While watching the show this year I thought her loyalty would be tested between the two agencies. Also, while Gibbs and crew treat her like an agent, whenever other agents/victim’s relatives called her agent, she always corrected them.
“a transfer . . . crossed my mind as a potential vehicle for shipping one of them off to this fall’s upcoming NCIS”
Crap, now I think it’s going to happen, at least for a few weeks. I’m pretty certain the female FBI officer might appear as a temporary (or permanent) liason.
I don’t think Ziva stayed behind because she couldn’t trust Tony, but because she couldn’t trust Tony’s feelings. It was pretty obvious he’d go to the mat for her, even if it meant throwing away his career and protecting her from a fellow Mossad officer who was also her lover.
I really liked the past two episodes. I kept thinking that I missed the Tony/Ziva dynamic this year and figured the writers had tuned it down so their interaction wouldn’t overpower NCIS, but then I revised my opinion. The strength of the show is in its relationships. Just as I could spend an entire hour watching T/Z, I could also spend it watching Jimmy and Ducky or Abby and and McGee or any combination in-between (which the show has done to strong effect). Also, I loved how comfortable Jimmy appeared reading Tony’s xxx books which reminded me of their past relationship, particularly when Tony appeared.
This show keeps getting better and better, particularly with RC. I think the writers couldn’t decide if the NCIS director should act as one of the gang or as a boss. While it initially worked well with Jenny and RC, the boxing episode showed they wanted to place him in a different light, but they couldn’t figure out how to do it. However, for the past two episodes, actually using Vance as the ‘director,’ who care about power, and not as a ‘friend’ or ‘shadow figure’ works best. RC also really shone in that light.
*POST AUTHOR*
For me, it’s the old “actions speak louder than words.” Ziva may protest when called an agent, but we never see her acting as a “liaison” to anything. I realize its because the writers drop the ball on continuity for the ease of it, but that doesn’t mean her never acting in her capacity shouldn’t allow us to believe that she no longer serves in it. You are, of course, correct, but the writers gave us 1000 reasons to believe otherwise.
I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that musing of mine. Sorry!
I actually think Ziva stayed behind, because we’re supposed to believe that she’s pulled by two loyalties on a daily basis. That’s why I see a lack of fluidity in the storyline; her internal struggle can’t be non-existent and than to the extreme from one day to the next. It needs to be constant to be real.
I like Tony and Ziva, but as platonic partners who play well off of one another. Relationships are definitely a very strong suit of NCIS (although Abby annoys me a lot), and I hope that they maintain the status quo on them, instead of infusing Tony and Ziva’s with something else as a result of his trying to protect her.
I like Vance when he remains director. When he gets in McGee’s face on a case, or whatever, he becomes too like Jenny, who was an agent and not an administrator. Vance needs to stay grounded in his role, and then Gibbs should be drawn to him because of all of the mystery surrounding him. But, sticking to that role, Vance is great.