‘NCIS’ season 11, episode 20 review: Delilah and McGee have plenty to discuss
After spending some time in New Orleans, “NCIS” returned to its roots Tuesday night for a much more straightforward hour of storytelling than we’ve had in the past. There are a few twists, a few turns … and also plenty of Delilah.
We’re a big fan of this character for so many reasons: She’s different. She has a different energy, and she knows just what sort of person that she is now that she has gone through the accident. From the moment, though, that it looked like we were about to lose her from the show courtesy of her wanting to take a job in Dubai, we were ready to boo the writers from the rafters. Here you go again, “NCIS”: Taking a character and finding a convenient way to write them out using a story point that we’ve seen so many times in the past. McGee and Delilah would split up since she had different career pursuits, and we’d never see her on the show again.
Maybe that will still be the case, but we loved that the show didn’t break them up just because it would be easy. That reaffirms everything that they’ve done with the Delilah character to date. This is why we’re firmly in the Make Margo Harshman a Series Regular for Season 12 camp. Even if you don’t want to see her with McGee and are more for him and Abbie, there’s still something about her that makes her an interesting character. Maybe it’s because she’s been introduced slowly, and there was never any pre-show expectations placed upon her.
As for the rest of the episode, we’d vote for pretty boring. There wasn’t anything that special about the case of the week, we find Bishop more convincing when she’s not in the field, and Tony needed more to do from start to finish. Ducky being undercover, though, was a nice touch.
So while we’re happy that Delilah is not technically done with “NCIS” yet, we still have to dock the show points for conveniently discarding her … just as we have to for a run-of-the-mill case that didn’t bring that much to the table. Grade: C+.
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Photo: CBS
LaDonna Eriksen
April 15, 2014 @ 1:58 am
Ok….so, basically since Cote de Pablo left NCIS it appears that the writers have been floundering to come up with interesting scripts for everyone. There is no pizzaz left in the show. Bishop is a weak character and it would actually be better without her. Just having Gibbs, Tony and Tim would be better than her dropped in there. CBS needs to do whatever they need to do to get Cote back. I have been a faithful viewer for 11 years and am actually thinking of finding something else to watch. There is always NCIS Los Angeles for my NCIS fix…..and it now far surpasses the original.
Either there is a rift between Harmon and Weatherly or the writers can’t figure out how to mix the four together. She just does not fit at all.
Rhosan
April 9, 2014 @ 1:36 pm
Cote’s leaving was Cote’s decision, no drama about that per my feelings about Bishop. My dislike for Bishop is that she is a Mary Sue type character. She is smarter, jumps higher and is the absolute best at everything she does. Without her, the world would turn to total chaos. Bull! Bishop makes the everything around her seem cold and Gibbs’ complete admiration seems forced and odd.
As for Delilah, I really like her and what she brought to the episode. She has warmth and I would love to see more of this character on the show. I like the interplay between her and the rest of the cast.
Christopher
April 9, 2014 @ 7:54 am
The only female great character Delilah now probably written out and this annoying Bishop character, sorry Matt but she is not convincing anywhere, is still there?
You are right, there is nothing special anymore about NCIS!
Gibbs is like a background character now! Every great actress needs to leave and five minutes after an episode viewers don’t know what the storyline was about!
The only good thing was Tony and Tim together!
But as long as the showrunner wants this Bishop character on the show viewers will continue to leave because her presence prevents chemistry and team work!
And after more than half a season Bishop is still disliked by most fans so CBS should get rid of Bishop soon, this would be definitely an episode worth watching with an interesting storyline!
Hurlman
April 9, 2014 @ 1:38 am
I know people are saying Tim and Delilah – yah ! Me, not so much. They have NO chemistry together. Tony is better with Delilah (NOT ROMANTICALLY – just friends to be clear) calling her ‘wheels’.
There is no romance at all between Tim/Delilah. No offense, but Sean is not a romantic type – he is a geek type. Your review is much the same as mine- less Bishop for sure – which was wonderful – but the case- meh .,,44 minutes if scratching my head saying ‘I think I saw this storyline before’..I did like the mention of Trent Kort..now THERE was a good character. .oh for the good old days !!! Having said that- this may say more about my disinterest in NCIS as a whole than anything else – Sorry !!
TullaT
April 9, 2014 @ 1:47 am
I agree. Tim and Delilah don’t really fit. She has an easy chemistry with Tony, but it’s not sexual. They are comfortable friends. Something that’s VERY lacking for Tony this season.
Tonyfan Ncis
April 9, 2014 @ 2:03 am
I agree with you both. Tim seems to like her but not be in love with her.
Hurlman
April 9, 2014 @ 2:59 am
Tonyfan NCIS – that’s it in a nutshell. Likes her. Does not love her. WHY would he even think of moving in together ? Odd !
TullaT
April 9, 2014 @ 1:35 am
The team is now officially split. There are two teams now: Tony/McGee, and Bishop/Gibbs. I was watching. In this entire episode the two teams were NEVER in the same scene together. Tony was “sort of” in a scene with Bibbs (that’s Bishop/Gibbs) but if you watch carefully, they were never in the same shot.
And of course, in the previous two episodes, Bibbs were in New Orleans, so there was no interaction between the two teams.
I have a feeling there is a huge rift between Michael Weatherly and Mark Harmon.
Hurlman
April 9, 2014 @ 1:45 am
I did not say TullaT – but noticed the split as well. It is nice to see Tim/Tony though. Amusing ! Perhaps Michael is not towing the ‘aw sucks’ everyone do it Marks way of late. That makes me think there are two teams on set as well – how sad !!! Where did the ‘one big happy family’ go ?
agentscully514
April 9, 2014 @ 1:51 am
I think the “happy family” left with Cote.
Tonyfan Ncis
April 9, 2014 @ 2:03 am
I agree, and whatever wool they are trying to pull over the public’s eye is wearing thin. Maybe that’s why there have hardly been any set visits by the entertainment reporters this year.
Terry Headley
April 9, 2014 @ 1:35 am
Move along .. nothing to see here.
agentscully514
April 9, 2014 @ 1:23 am
Delilah was WONDERFUL! what a breath of fresh air in this stale season, to get a real woman with spirit, who gets along so naturally with the team. So happy that they didn’t split them up.
Bishop has proven over and over in the past few weeks that she is an analyst, not a field agent. She would be a good consultant. In the field and as a team member she makes no sense at all.
Tonyfan Ncis
April 9, 2014 @ 2:01 am
But it stinks that they are removing her from our sight. I don’t know what they have planned; I’m glad she and McGee are still together; but why do we have to lose the interesting character of Delilah and meanwhile we’re still stuck with Bishop?