‘NCIS’ season 11, episode 15 review: How McGee and Delilah (nearly) saved ‘Bulletproof’
Sometimes, an idea that sounds great in theory is not necessarily so when it airs on TV. There were problems in Tuesday night’s “NCIS” episode “Bulletproof,” and it makes you wonder a little bit whether or not this 11-year old series is finally starting to veer a little bit off-course.
The idea of an episode that is more about protecting agents and soldiers from gunfire rather than constantly featuring the characters in gunfire was probably an important message to send home, mostly because we feel like CBS procedurals in particular should have a little bit of a role in desensitizing ourselves to frequent murder scenes or shootouts on TV. We’re not trying to reinforce any political viewpoint here, but merely commenting on how we as a viewing public almost seem numb to watching televised gunfire, but are up in arms and offended by programs featuring other delicate subject matter.
It was “NCIS” in this episode that actually came across as surprisingly political about the issue of gun control, which is not exactly a route that you would think television’s #1 show would do given the risks that come along with that. It really just didn’t work within the tone of what the show was, and then balancing that out with the Bishop – “probie” scenes created an extra layer of awkwardness. Once again, we liked the idea in theory of Bishop going through the ropes, and we understand the need for extra screen time for a new character. It’s just with the way in which the stories are being executed, it’s not giving the character the time needed to grow organically. Emily Wickersham has to feel like she’s in a pretty crazy situation having to dive into this world with so many established faces.
Now, we do want to talk about what in our mind did work about this episode: McGee and Delilah. Far too often we criticize “NCIS” and other procedurals for coming up with cheap excuses to get rid of a guest star – love interest character, whether it be a simple breakup or killing them off. To the writers’ credit, they are not doing that here. McGee and Abby may be a frequently-shipped couple, and maybe they will get together someday; but for now, we like the journey that McGee is going on with his current girlfriend, and there is a message in here about love, support, and perseverance through hard times. We’d love to have more of Margo Harshman on the show if possible. It’s not often that you really get a chance to do something different if you are a show in season 11.
“Bulletproof” was basically two separate episodes to us. The part that was about McGee and Delilah was fantastic, and the other story was probably the worst of the season. Therefore, think of this grade as an average of the two. Grade: C+.
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Photo: CBS
Christine
March 2, 2014 @ 7:25 pm
Cannot agree more! Delilah is that fresh character people want to watch! McGee and Delilah are great together!
I don’t know what the writers thought changing Bishop from a know-it-all with the perfect combat skills (because of her three brothers) to a lost puppy in the field.
The writers definitely ruined this character and I don’t know how they can fix it because fans won’t accept a character who is supposed to be little Miss Sunshine one week and Killer girl the next week.
There are so many great characters on NCIS and the best solution is simple: It can work without Bishop and even if Ziva doesn’t come back (although CBS should try to get her back) everyone apart from Bishop is loved by the audience!
m
March 1, 2014 @ 11:00 am
The problem for me is a problem of respect and consideration for the fans… Ziva and Tiva were very important for the show. You can’t totally replace (forget) that and think people agree… They don’t respect fans and don’t respect themselves too… I hope that they are trying to fix things but now i am doubtful
johanna
March 1, 2014 @ 9:32 am
I´m looking forward to the time, when GG admited his mistake with EW. Her semi-profi acting has been hurting the show, which I loved for 10 years.
marysue
March 1, 2014 @ 4:33 am
I loved the scenes between Delilah and Tony. He seemed more like his old self; witty and joking around some. I also liked the scenes with McGee and Delilah too. He is proving to be a loving man to a woman finally. Bishop’s inexperience in the field doesn’t ring true. I don’t believe that a real NCIS team would let an inexperienced person like that be in the field. Bishop would be better suited for a desk job role on the show. If Cote doesn’t want to return I vote that they try to convince Diane Neal to come on board. She has good chemistry with the cast. I do feel for Emily. She has to be given credit for taking on the challenging task of filling Cote’s shoes. It is the writing that is not very good this season not so much the actress herself. I still think that if all the women were combined in various ways on the show we’d have some really hilarious storylines.
agentscully514
March 1, 2014 @ 6:20 am
agreed marysue! I feel badly for the actress. Cote had once in a lifetime chemistry with the whole cast, especially Michael. the network made a MASSIVE mistake demanding that the leading lady role had to be filled immediately. well you just can’t do that. They picked a sweet little girl to fill the shoes of a titan. it’s not her fault. The character was COMPLETELY ill conceived. the team was already brain heavy, and GG had the bright idea to add another brain. what? EVERY crime fighting team needs muscle, which Ziva was for 8 years. You can’t switch out muscle for brains, especially when the team has brains FULLY covered. This is writing 101. what’s not covered now is muscle. Now that Ziva is gone there is NO action. Even in the opening credits, everyone is just posing, and the ONLY action is the Tiva car crash from s10.
I wonder if this girl has a high ranking relative, seriously. She is pretty. she doesn’t have anywhere NEAR the chops to take on the leading lady role in such a huge show. she is eaten alive every time she walks into a scene. Her lack of presence and talent becomes more painfully obvious with every long, excruciating episode.
This is the season that never was, for me. THis is the season of the most god awful character in the 11 year history of the show. please shoot me in the head.
Greg Timms
March 1, 2014 @ 7:03 am
I am no fan of Bishop. Her jaw is clenched and I can not understand her. She is literally ruining NCIS single handed.
I do however agree with and adore everything agentscully has said here. Brilliant and informative comments. You should write CBS agentscully and tell them exactly this. You are a very passionate fan. You can speak for me any day. I just hope someone is listening and she is gone soon and moved to the background sooner rather than later for the balance of this Season.
agentscully514
March 1, 2014 @ 3:35 am
ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANGERGIRL!
MrsCarter101
March 1, 2014 @ 4:31 pm
Thanks! I had a really great birthday :)
agentscully514
March 1, 2014 @ 3:06 am
Thanks for this spot on review. I LOVED the McGee-Delilah interactions. The instant Delilah appeared on screen, it was a relief. After all of these months of the insipid wet dishrag Bishop being shoved in our faces, finally there was a character with spark and depth. I hope we see much more of her in the rest of the season. Loved seeing Delilah with Tony. For the first time in MONTHS there was an easy, comfortable, FUNNY interaction with Tony and another human being.
All of that said… Bishop … wow. Until now she has been little miss perfect. They wanted to show us her flaws. Well they certainly succeeded and then some. We founded that that she is COMPLETELY incompetent as a field agent. Apparently Gibbs has been taking this stupid little girl out in the field for three months, and she is only starting her basic training NOW and not doing so hot. This is an OBVIOUS retcon. They gave an idiot excuse about how some trainer had been booked for months. So let’s be clear about this.
NCIS agents, like ALL federal agents, must go to FLETC, which is a several month full time course in Georgia, BEFORE they are allowed in the field. at that point, then they are probies. Up until now ALL of the team members have gone through that training or the equivalent, BEFORE they went anywhere near Gibbs’ team. ALL of them, yes including McGee, were fully qualified with weapons. THEN, they had to learn about investigation.
Now we find out little miss perfect hasn’t had a day of training, but she is squeezing it in, during her free time, while she is being taken out to dangerous crime scenes with a badge and a gun. I wouldn’t want to be Tony in a firefight, relying on this idiot to have my six. On her very first case as a probie she got herself shot in the chest. I know i’m not the only one who wished it was one of those bad vests.
So we have reached this point. At first this chick was cute. The cute wore off weeks ago. Now we have this stupid waif of a girl who botched cases over and over, got people killed, and was rewarded with hugs and candy. She is a complete insult to women law enforcement officers everywhere who struggle every day to be taken seriously.
It is long past time to drop this ridiculous charade. She is an idiotic character with no appeal and no redeeming qualities. She brings nothing to the team. She is an embarrassment to the show. The team has been ruined. I am so upset at what has happened to my favorite show. I don’t have words to describe my disappointment.
Greg
March 1, 2014 @ 3:40 am
It really sounds like to me that you should quit watching this show. Yes I agree that this show did not measure up to their normal performances but frankly, you can’t hit a home run with every episode.
I have every season of NCIS downloaded from iTunes so I would consider myself a fan of the show. There was simular issues with Ziva at the beginning. After she joined the show it appeared as if she was taking over and if my memory is correst she never attended FLETC.
I am totally wore out reading bad comments about a new cast member. Why don’t everyone just backoff and give her a real chance.
agentscully514
March 1, 2014 @ 4:25 am
oh for the love of God, Ziva was Mossad, and former IDF. Her training puts everyone else to shame. Mossad agents are the best trained in the world.
and if she “took over” I didn’t care at all. her character was mysterious, charming, intriguing, funny. I wanted to know more. She was FUN. she instantly fit in with the team and her hazing was hilarious fun.
Bishop’s training and hazing are excruciatingly painful. she has NO connection with anyone on the team, she is no fun, and has no apparent redeeming qualities. I don’t LIKE her, at all. so I have no motivation to forgive handwaving and stupid plot holes. I LIKED Ziva in her first episode; I didn’t need 7 episodes for her to grow on me. this is a joke. Bishop doesn’t fit. time to cut their losses. Bishop is not redeemable. the only hope is to write her off the show discreetly.
Carol
March 2, 2014 @ 12:18 am
For many of us it was our favourite show. And I had no trouble with the transition to Ziva. I also missed Jenny but I had no problems with the transition to Vance. I watched 5 episodes of the Bishop character. The first one I loved. Her weirdness was amusing — for a secondary character in one episode. The second episode I was a little irritated. By the end of the fourth I was annoyed and so bored that I missed the next episode. I watched again this week and I too loved the Delilah-Tim story but the difference in both the characters and acting skills of Delilah and Bishop made it obvious that if there is to be a 12th s Eason Bishop has to go. By the way the ratings are under 17 million as opposed to the old numbers usually between 22 and 24 million pre-Bishop.
Idea: kill off Bishop, do not replace her and have the relationship between Delilah and Tim account for the female lead. We could all learn something about the realities of disabilities and rehab without changing the heart of the show.
Carol
March 2, 2014 @ 12:02 am
Oh my, how I hoped they had killed her off when she got shot and what a disappointment it was when she moved. And how typical of this self-obsessed narcissistic character to ggroan and whine about it later in the office (as compared to Kate who got up with a groan then a smile just before she died).
agentscully514
March 2, 2014 @ 1:32 am
her “death” scene was such an embarrassment, and I was SO disappointed that she was alive!
she is no longer LIttle Miss Perfect. Now she is an incompetent whiner who should not be allowed outdoors. can some PLEASE explain why gibbs hired this bumbling fool?