‘NCIS’ season 11 finale review: Ralph Waite tribute stuffed full of Jackson Gibbs memories
The Ralph Waite tribute for “NCIS” was a difficult one to think about and process, and for a number of different reasons. There was a story that was somewhat separate from the death of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ father, but also one that brought back memories of Parsa and the brotherhood from earlier this season.
The question that we find ourselves wondering right now is whether or not the extra story was needed in addition to Jackson’s funeral. We’re going to argue that for the sake of making the show “NCIS,” it was, and largely because of the way in which it was all tied together. Gibbs (played wonderfully here by Mark Harmon) channeled some of his own memories of Jackson when played into trying to solve the case at hand. There was still plenty of action in the process, and Gibbs once again doing what needed to be done (difficult as it may have been). Sometimes we do doubt how he is able to take out so many bad guys no matter what ails him, but we won’t worry too much about it.
In the end, though, this was a lovely tribute that focused in the final minutes on what it should be: The story of Gibbs, and how his father was a flawed hero who helped to shape him into the man that he is today. This was a fitting end to a season; we know that there will be more dramatic cases in the future and some that focus on a variety of different characters, but the time for that was not now. the episode still at least did its part to bring us some other character moments in the context of Jackson; even someone like Bishop, who never had a chance to meet the man and has been a very polarizing character, had something to say.
This was about emotion and reflection, and for that, “NCIS” deserves some applause. We may have preferred to see five or so more minutes of it, but what we had was certainly touching. Grade: A-.
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Photo: Fox
Sandra
May 14, 2014 @ 1:02 pm
Wonderful episode and tribute to Ralph Waite. Loved the flashback moments. Vance was wonderful in his ongoing effort to help Gibbs through his grief. Loved seeing Tony handled the team and the case competently without needing to ask Gibbs for help.
Have to confess I kept waiting for someone to mention Ziva. When the team went down to Gibbs’ basement to work the crime scene, Ducky mentioned that he had worked a crime scene there before. Bishop did not even blink an eye to ask who else had died there. The ongoing complete amnesia about Ziva was obvious and painful in this episode. Makes me very sad indeed. Bishop contributed nothing, no surprise.