I started watching “NCIS” mostly because I was bored. Back when Heather was attending culinary school, I had my evenings to myself mostly, and suddenly had plenty of free time to occupy. I noticed “NCIS” was playing several times a day in repeats over on SpikeTV, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
While it was a bit confusing at first (since the “back to back” episodes weren’t in order, the shows would switch back and forth between Sasha Alexander – a part of the show up until Season 03 – and Cote de Pablo, who started in Season 03), I was still hooked immediately. Later, Heather noticed a couple of episodes on the DVR and checked it out for herself – and got hooked just as fast. Since then, we’ve both gotten caught up to speed on the show, and eagerly await each new episode.
While the show does have elements of it’s lesser-initialed cousin, C.S.I., it also brings with it lots and lots of team banter – the real highlight of the show. While “CSI” tends to stick more to the serious side of things, the one-upsmanship between agents Tony and Kate (now Tony and Ziva) is hilarious, as is the rather reverential awe most of the agents hold their boss, Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, in. And toss in a forensic scientist who is so into goth it’s rumored she sleeps in a coffin, and a rambling obscure fact-spouting medical examiner, and the banter back and forth amongst the team is always a delight.
What first struck me a bout the show was how well they handled the death of fellow agent Kate (Sasha Alexander) back in Season 02. Not only were they gutsy enough to kill off one of the main characters – in this case an ex-Secret Service Agent, but the episode where they hunt for her killer was extremely well done, with each member of the team having visions of her as they remembered her while they struggled to keep their minds focused and track down her killer.
Since they obviously aren’t afraid to kill off their lead characters (although so far the women have endured most of the deadliest attacks to date, since the only other major shake-up in the line-up as of Season 6 was the death of Gibbs’ boss – and former lover – Jenny Shepard, played by Lauren Holly), you never quite knows how a storyline is going to turn out. And with mortal danger heading their way more often than not, the team faces danger on almost a weekly basis.
But that’s what part of makes “NCIS” so addicting. But don’t take my word for it – tune in at 8pm ET Tuesdays on CBS and find out for yourself why we (and apparently a lot of others, since “NCIS” has been beating C.S.I. in the ratings lately) are so hooked on the continuing adventures of Gibbs and his team.
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