Midseason Report Card: Was ‘NCIS’ season 12 a major step forward?
Last year, we found “NCIS” in a somewhat uncertain place. We were still recovering from the exit of Cote de Pablo, and the show was trying to figure out what their rhythm and personality was going to be moving forward.
Now that we’re in season 12, is this the great show again that it once was? The answer there is mixed. Aside from some great characters, we would say that the show really has sputtered on and off since season 8, and all of the creative turmoil last year just threw most of it into a blender. On the other side of it, this is a show who knows what casual viewers seem to enjoy, and therefore, it goes more towards appeasing them rather than necessarily satisfying diehard fans or doing anything to really push the envelope.
What worked – A few episodes this season were particularly great. While difficult to watch, “House Rules” was an emotional window into McGee’s world. Meanwhile, “Grounded” was a fun caper / introduction to Bishop’s husband Jake, and “So It Goes” was a worthwhile look into what makes Ducky the man that he is.
This was a big handful of episodes overall for Sean Murray, who really brought it and elevated McGee to a new level. While it would’ve been nice to see Margo Harshman at some point, we cannot fault him for that.
What didn’t – Our biggest complaint with season 12 is that for the most part, it feels like the show is resting on its laurels, and not taking very many chances. Where’s the episode to really get people talking? Why not take a big creative risk? It takes us a few minutes to ever remember many of this season’s episodes, since they really tend to blend together.
Also, the lack of a genuine “shocking moment” made some of the other annoyances more prominent, including the lack of many great Abby episodes or that certain story threads (Delilah, Tony’s dating life, anything for Jimmy) get brought up, become important, disappear for a few weeks, and then are casually mentioned again. Why can’t there be a shred more consistency?
Overall – If you like “NCIS” as escapism and a chance to return to familiar characters and stories, this season was probably very good for you. It delivered more of what you’ve been loving for so long. If you wanted it to challenge you, or even at times its characters, you were probably disappointed. Grade: B-.
What’s your take on season 12 so far? Share with a comment, and head over here to watch another preview for the January 6 episode. Also, sign up now to get some further TV updates on everything we cover at CarterMatt via our newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)
Sandi Brooks
January 6, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
The above mentioned House Rules as one episode “that worked” in S12 was mostly enjoyable because of the flashbacks from far better seasons, and with far superior cast chemistry. I doubt that episode would have hit any marks without previous team appearing.
Fay
January 4, 2015 @ 10:07 pm
Sorry for the late reply, but just now saw your text. And first of all like to congratulate you by the two great questions about the show: a 12 NCIS season took a big step forward? the show is great again, as it once was?
I would not say that the season 12 was a “step forward” for the show. I think the season 12 is well marked by style “comfort food” of Gary Glasberg. So I would say that the season 12 definitely shows this style.
Personally, I enjoyed the show until the middle of season 7. Actually comes this time my feeling that the show began to rest on their laurels, with some good episodes, others less so, as you said.
And then …. no, the show is not great as it once was, in my opinion. Long time. But today, the show is totally “comfort food”.
Kat
January 2, 2015 @ 5:06 am
NCIS has been losing steam for years because they haven’t taken any significant risks in years. Eli David’s death episode where the closest they came to doing something interesting in a long time and for me there were problems with that concept too. They dropped the ball on the aftermath and during the episode some of the characters felt off. Did things or didn’t do things they should have.
But that has been the MO with NCIS for a long while now…no real follow through. Just trudging along with no real explanations or developments that resolve anything. They repeat the same stories…
The formula is SO predictable now you could chart out the whole season.
Opening arc, mystery bad guy that might have promise. Bad guy gets forgotten until midseason where he is mentioned briefly then last three or four eps he gets dealt with. Meanwhile, you have, a Father episode, this year was McGee, an ex wife ep, an Abby ep, a Tony Sr. ep, a Gibbs saves the world and kbows everything always ep, wait that all of them…. A very special preachy message ep or ten, and three or four eps that make absolutely no sense mystery wise. That is NCIS now to a tee.
What happened to the show that wasn’t afraid to be politically incorrect? Dare to take risks with cutting edge topics? Had sass and real, smart humor? Had chemistry between the characters that not one other snow could compare to? Had real character development and real, meaty character interaction that meant something to the fans? This show seems to be dead now and has been replaced by POD TV. Seriously invasion of the NCIS character snatchers happened!
Losing Zva was a HUGE loss. The Ziva character was fun, sweet and kickass at the same time. Her language mistakes so endearing, her Chemistry with the team undeniable, her acting chops exceptional. The loss was profound because her charm mixed with the other characters and especially Tony covered up some of the horrific wrriting that overtook NCIS around season 8-9. The port to port killer could have been great but fell like a lead ballon.
The character of Bishop adds less than nothing to the mix and IMO damages the chemistry onscreen seriously. She is a bad fit. In fact, I would go so far as to say Bishop is an illogical fit. She has no real training, has overlapping skills that are a waste and is basically a greenhorn with no charm. She should go back to NSA.
What a pity for a once great show to devolve into Khardasian type glop. My rating D-
Redeeming quality left…Tony and McGee together. When they are together anymore.
sadtonyfan
January 1, 2015 @ 8:09 pm
I’m not rushing out to get season 12 yet either. So far it’s been the Gibbs/McGee hour and contrary to what tptb apparently believe, not everyone watches the show to see these two get all the focus and drama. If Tony only rates his yearly “light fare” one and done, and McGee and Gibbs continue to be pushed to the front all season, I’m done with this show. Weatherly and his fans apparently aren’t important to the current showrunner and producers. It’s all about super Gibbs and pushing McGee into the second place. No more team. Just Gibbs and McGee and supporting cast.
JennieWren
January 1, 2015 @ 4:14 am
I used to rush out and buy the latest series on dvd when it came out, but I still haven’t gone and got series 11. There is just something missing. I don’t like Bishop’s character at all, she just doesn’t fit in. Over the last couple of years the show is lacking the vitality that it had in the earlier years. I hope the writers/directors/producers all get their heads together and come up with better story lines and acting.
marysue
December 31, 2014 @ 5:09 pm
What I’ve found hard this season is that it seems rather disjointed. Some of the episodes have been good to give us back stories on the show’s characters but they started off with a rather dramatic premiere that left loose ends that haven’t been dealt with yet. The Russian baddie is still out there. Gibbs didn’t kill him, and what the h*** is his connection to Ari Haswari? Was that episode a lead in for Cote to return or a more final way to write Ziva out? That coupled with the Abby/Tony Ziva conversation in the Halloween episode left me with the feeling “Okay which way are they going with this?” There has been too much of introduction of characters and leaving loose ends. The writers seem to have gotten mixed up as to whether to have a continuing storyline or just have one off episodes. That being said it will be interesting to meet Gibb’s second ex. I also hope before the end of the season we see the arrival of Jimmy’s and Breena’s baby and at least one ep with Delilah in it. Come on GG it’s time to bring her back from Dubai! It has also been rumoured that Zoe Keates will be back for at least one more episode for another run in with Dinozzo. I know the potential love interests for Tony have been somewhat Ziva clones and even though I find this frustrating I can’t help but think that it is leading up to something. I keep watching because I do love the characters and have a crazy sense of the curious. I do agree with others that this show is still trying to find its footing. Losing Cote last year was a huge blow to the show because they were revolving so much around Mossad storylines and when she left at the last minute they didn’t know what to do. I still maintain that GG should have had a couple of ep ideas in the back pocket when Cote’ s contract talks were stalling. If he’d done that then they would have had something to start with last season when Cote did decide to walk away.
liz laughlin
January 2, 2015 @ 9:14 pm
I agree with a lot of what you say. When the breakdown in negotiations between Cote and CBS totally broke down and she left, Glasberg should have had a contingency plan and he did not. Now Glasberg has had over a year to get his footing and it has not happened.
Both Shane Brennan and Glasberg had only to continue Bellisario’s storyline after season 4. Shane Brennan had worked with Bellisario and knew the plan well. Glasberg, however, did not work with Bellisario and it was his job to write a replacement for Ziva. This was when the first major diversion from the plan occurred. TPTB decided to do away with the strong female agent and replace her with a weak agent, a tech savvy agent, a pretty nerd, even though they already had two techies, in McGee and Abby. This was a major shift away from Bellisario’s paradigm. Women, in particular. liked the “kick ass” women like Kate, Ziva and before them, Sarah MacKenzie in JAG. It was a major interruption of the story line for many women. Many of the female fans of the show had lived vicariously through these strong women. For them the Walter Mitty experience was gone.
It doesn’t surprise me that the guys, Gary Glasberg and TPTB, didn’t get this. They were clueless that they had pushed away a lot of female fans. They chose a character that they personally liked and eliminated the type of woman that a lot of their fan base liked. Shane Brennan knew the Bellisario formula and so NCIS:LA has Kensi, the strong woman. It is not enough to have a strong woman occasionally. They need one on the team. I don’t know if their egos would allow that. In their way of thinking, they have improved the show.
Crystal Miller
December 31, 2014 @ 1:39 am
You were generous…D- was my grade for it. The team cohesion is gone and the newbie/probie thing is old. The hole is still there and neither Bishop the character or Wickersham the actress can fill it. Wickersham skill set is not up to NCiS standards..CBS please find a new home for the Bishop character.
Beverly
December 31, 2014 @ 1:14 am
My grade for the show is a D. The only reason it is not an F is because I love all of the cast except for Bishop. This a totally different show now. I can’t believe how fast such a good show went downhill. The relationship between the characters continues to disintegrate. I don’t know if it is the writers, the show runner or what but one thing I don’t blame is the original actors Mark, Pauley, Michael, Sean, Donald or Brian. Rocky Carroll (Vance) doesn’t even show up anymore. I guess he is in Israel with Ziva. I don’t know what destroyed this show but it has bounced back through many cast changes and I expected it would do the same when Cote left. But they didn’t leave well enough alone and decided to make some “changes”. Gibbs is different. Tony’s lines are juvenile and he has regressed to childish new age Tony when he was maturing so nicely (and don’t mean by taking bubble baths and colon cleansing). He is a Sr. field agent. Have the writers forgotten that he knows how to handle himself and run an investigation? McGee and Abby’s working as a team and as computer geniuses has been co-opted by Bishop. All the cool things that they used to figure out with minimal help is pretty much gone because Bishop has taken over some of their lines and action. The only part of the show that has remained normal as we have all loved it are Ducky and Palmer. The intense dislike of the Bishop character (not talking about EW only the character) that a large number of fans have is totally ignored by GG as if we don’t exist. So much for all the years we fans invested apparently we are not appreciated and assumed to be dumb as rocks. Final straw here. Can’t watch anymore. It was good while it lasted. For those that are enjoying the changes,hope it is good for you in 2015. I’m done. I’ve geared up for the last time.
Beverly
December 31, 2014 @ 1:14 am
My grade for the show is a D. The only reason it is not an F is because I love all of the cast except for Bishop. This a totally different show now. I can’t believe how fast such a good show went downhill. The relationship between the characters continues to disintegrate. I don’t know if it is the writers, the show runner or what but one thing I don’t blame is the original actors Mark, Pauley, Michael, Sean, Donald or Brian. Rocky Carroll (Vance) doesn’t even show up anymore. I guess he is in Israel with Ziva. I don’t know what destroyed this show but it has bounced back through many cast changes and I expected it would do the same when Cote left. But they didn’t leave well enough alone and decided to make some “changes”. Gibbs is different. Tony’s lines are juvenile and he has regressed to childish new age Tony when he was maturing so nicely (and don’t mean by taking bubble baths and colon cleansing). He is a Sr. field agent. Have the writers forgotten that he knows how to handle himself and run an investigation? McGee and Abby’s working as a team and as computer geniuses has been co-opted by Bishop. All the cool things that they used to figure out with minimal help is pretty much gone because Bishop has taken over some of their lines and action. The only part of the show that has remained normal as we have all loved it are Ducky and Palmer. The intense dislike of the Bishop character (not talking about EW only the character) that a large number of fans have is totally ignored by GG as if we don’t exist. So much for all the years we fans invested apparently we are not appreciated and assumed to be dumb as rocks. Final straw here. Can’t watch anymore. It was good while it lasted. For those that are enjoying the changes,hope it is good for you in 2015. I’m done. I’ve geared up for the last time.
Linda H
December 31, 2014 @ 12:28 am
A+++! It’s the best show in the entire world! I love it. And the Team gets better season by season. Such wonderful and talented actors, great writers and storylines and a good crew. I love the family vibe. I still see and feel it. The show hasn’t lost anything in my opinion.
What bugs me are those crazy haters who never let us fans enjoy articles and news that are being posted online. They are always there to write the same things over and over again. It is annoying for me to see all the hate.
Brooklyn Aggie
December 31, 2014 @ 12:15 am
Yup I would not even given it a D. I give it an F. They have thrown away all the fundamentals. It is on life support and clearly there is a need for Cote to return as Ziva.
Marie H
December 30, 2014 @ 11:46 pm
You gave it a B+?1 Are you kidding?1 No way would I give it anything higher that a D. Not the Weatherly’s or Murray’s fault. The team chemistry is gone…..and the scripts are not origianal. They just have taken what happened years ago in the news concerning military families and using because they can not come up with the the previous 10 seasons had.
Rocky Weiss
December 30, 2014 @ 11:20 pm
So this awful Bishop actress still frowns her way through 40 minutes of a show now best to be ignored?
I gave up hope when they started to make Tony a 46 year old playboy who dates cheap girls!
Zero action, an actress who shouldn’t be there anymore and not one attractive woman…who under the age of 50 still watches NCIS?
If Cote returns+TIVA happens to make my GF happy I’ll watch again! Until then it’s a show for old ladies who think Harmon is still the sexiest man alive!
Elena
December 31, 2014 @ 12:23 am
Actually, I’m 19 and Harmon is very sexy in my opinion. Just because you seem to not think about him like that, you have NO right to call his fans old ladies while many of his fans are pretty young.
I don’t get how people can be so blind over this whole Cote/Ziva thing. She left! You have no right to insult anyone. If you don’t like the show anymore then why do you check sites with articles about it? Why are you leaving comments like that? Does it make you happy to insult and hate on everyone and everything?
I for myself am very glad to see Cote having left the show. That woman is a very overrated actress with not much talent. It happened too many times that it was always someone else from the Team who had so save her ass from getting in trouble. And she got the others in trouble and danger multiple times. She was a self-centered character and the same goes for the actress. I used to adore Cote but that phase is over since she signed for the CBS mini-series. NCIS is an ensamble show, there is no room for people or characters like Cote and Ziva.
liz laughlin
December 31, 2014 @ 5:57 am
Sorry, but Matt asked the question about what the fans thought. The fans are answering. You don’t like what they think. So, you are attacking them. You say that you are only nineteen A lot of us have been watching NCIS and JAG before that because these shows were developed by Donald P. Bellisario, a master showman. Bellisario had a rare talent of writing wonderful characters that we, the fans, loved. JAG was the original show from which NCIS was spun off. JAG started up in 1995, which is probably right around when you were born. You are welcome to your opinion but attacking people who know and love both JAG and NCIS and now are unhappy because of the way the show was changed and changed on purpose by TPTB is a bit nervy of you, in my humble opinion.
Franzi
December 31, 2014 @ 6:09 pm
Yes, Matt asked the fans, not haters. And most of the people are constantly hating on characters, Ziva being gone and so on. The list of the hatred can go on forever. That person insulted actually all fans of Harmon by calling them old ladies. Elena from above said what she thinks and while people like you are allowed to spread your hate all over this place she is not allowed to say what she thinks? And btw, I’m 18 and watched JAG with my dad and I watch NCIS since day 1. Just because I’m young it doesn’t mean I have no idea about the origin of NCIS and it probably goes for Elena too. If you and others are oh so unhappy with the show then stop watching it. You just watch it on purpose to spread your hate and be nothing but negative and whiny. That’s childish.
liz laughlin
January 1, 2015 @ 8:38 am
I’m sorry Franzi and Dirk, I was not approving what anyone said or did not say. I am what is called a “free speecher.” I defend people’s right to speak or in this case write. .She, Elena, obviously dislikes intensely Cote de Pablo.and you allow Elena to say nasty things about Cote and that is okay because you likely agree with her. You tell anyone who disagrees with you that they should just shut up and go away. You can try to intimidate me but I just don’t go away. After all of the years I’ve spent on this planet, I’ve learned to ignore bullies. Young or old bullies. Can I call you Anna?
Franzi
January 1, 2015 @ 10:20 am
And you obviously dislike intensely Emily and the show as it is now. While Elena is the bad one for saying she dislikes Cote it is totally ok for you to do the same (and worse) to Emily and the show? So much for freedom to speak. You are the bully here.
liz laughlin
January 1, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
If you had read my post above, you would see that I have refused to attack Emily Wickersham. My complaint is with the role of Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop. I think that it is a weak role and does not replace Ziva or Kate before her. DP Bellisario had a winning formula that included a strong “kick ass” woman. He did this with Sarah MacKenzie in JAG and with both Caitlin Todd and Ziva David in NCIS. This is what I mean when I said above that Bishop is no replacement for Ziva.
I also make a distinction between the actor and the role that they play. From everything that has been written or put out on video, the cast members say that Ms. Wickersham is a very pleasant person and they like her. I have no reason to doubt that that is true because I don’t know her personally.
Because the role is not well written, I am not making any judgement about her acting abilities. She may be a very good actress. I have up-voted some posts because while I may disagree with the author about some things that they said (attacking Wickersham, for example), I agreed with the majority of what they said. Some people post only mean things about Emily and they do not get my support. I am not a bully, I am a teacher and often have to stop the bully in his/her tracks. You can continue to attack me but it says more about you than me. Happy New Year!
Sandi Brooks
January 6, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
All dislike I’ve seen is of the poorly concieved, I’ll fitting CHARACTER of Ellie Bishop, although I have seen no evidence that Ms Wickersham is in any way mpressive while doing either action or comedy aspects of the show.
liz laughlin
January 6, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
Until I see her in something other than NCIS, I have to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Dirk K.
December 31, 2014 @ 11:36 pm
Where was this person attackting anyone? Tell me. Honestly Liz, you’re the only one who’s insulting people and with that I don’t mean only people who comment here. You’re even insulting the cast so it’s nervy of you to tell anyone off for speaking their mind. You might be old enough to have watched even JAG from the beginning, but even younger people can watch the show from ep 1 to the last one so don’t even try to make yourself the expert. I don’t care about your humble opinion because you’re so full of hatred just like many others who spread their hate on purpose and because it’s fun to you.
Gisela
December 30, 2014 @ 11:09 pm
Bishop is still ruining the show! An actress who is a joke in action scenes shouldn’t be on NCIS! And besides frowning and sitting on the floor she didn’t contribute anything!
And who cares about Tony dating lots of Ziva copies? How many unemployed actresses who want to play a Glasberg character creation and ruin their career can there be?
NCIS is a soap now thanks to whoever is in charge of the show on CBS! Lots of better shows out there!
Luiza Lopes
December 30, 2014 @ 10:52 pm
For me this season has been the best in YEARS! Since 7th season I wasn’t that exciten!
And I’m SO TIRED of this Cote/Ziva thing! It’s been over a year of this boring cry and crazy comments. MOVE ON PEOPLE!
And the Tiva fans who think NCIS was just about that, sorry guys but that is just stupid to say the least.
Eleanor S
December 30, 2014 @ 10:43 pm
I would have graded it lower than what you gave it. The team is so disjointed is not funny. Very Tired of Gibbs being the center of attention….and Bishop can’t do anything to help the team without the husband to assist her. Surprised he would help her as seeing how not in sync they were at the airport. It is just a very pale shadow of the former great show it once was.
Cheryl Gress
December 30, 2014 @ 10:21 pm
I gave it a D+. The Quality of Bishop and the lack of quality overall writing has fallen way below the bar we have come to expect. Yes they have done nothing but bring in Ziva Clones…hey I call it as I see it. Gibbs freaking ex wives and Ducky and Abby’s love lives too. People complained that TIVA was a soap opera…well then what do you think it is now? A three ringed soap opera circus.As many viewers have said it is not must see TV any more. NCIS LA has surpassed it in the quality department.
Karin
December 30, 2014 @ 4:22 pm
I’m a fan of NCIS since they were introduced on JAG and I’m amazed at what these actors deliver all the time. I’m very much liking S12, and even liked S11 a lot because it’s NCIS again. The Ziva show is over and I like that even though she was one of my favorite characters. I can’t say that I miss her because there is no unnessecary drama anymore, and the characters can shine as individuals again and not as the ones that have to save Ziva either getting out of trouble or getting revenge. I never thought I’d like the new NCIS without her but I do and I admit, S11 and S12 go back to the Team being a family again and not just same random sidekicks for Ziva. Love it.
liz laughlin
December 30, 2014 @ 8:27 am
No, I think that they are trying to find their way and are still off the path. In comparison to seasons 1-10, the writing is just not as good. The Bishop character was not a good replacement for Ziva..
liz laughlin
December 30, 2014 @ 7:20 am
I am currently watching Season 9 and NCIS is so lacking compared to what it once was. The episodes usually had continuity in the past. Now they are all stand alones. The writing is lackluster. It doesn’t capture my attention the way it used to. Even though I’ve watched season 1 through 10 many times in the past, those episodes still keep me glued to the screen. The acting seems off. It seems that the actors can’t overcome the dull scripts. Either the writers have forgotten how to write or Cote’s great acting used to make up for it. But then again, even episodes where we saw little of Cote were far better than what we are getting now. I don’t know why TPTB decided to take the great game plan that they inherited from DP Bellisario and throw it out the window.
As I’ve said in the past, I’m not going to gang up on Emily Wickersham. The character, Bishop, would be hard to sell even with the best actress in Hollywood. Bellisario always had a strong “kick ass” female lead. Bishop is not that in the least. Bellisario wrote the team as family. There were always lots of unforgettable poignant moments between the various characters. That’s gone. This show is now a shell of what it used to be. It’s not a bad show it’s just not excellent anymore and that is sad.
Cheryl Gress
December 30, 2014 @ 10:16 pm
Major mistake hiring Wickersham.
liz laughlin
December 30, 2014 @ 10:49 pm
Major mistake writing the character, Ellie Bishop. Also, major mistake allowing Cote to walk. Ziva was a great character and Bellisario chose the right actress to play her.
Crystal Miller
December 31, 2014 @ 1:24 am
Agree with you.
Erin
December 31, 2014 @ 3:11 am
I don’t miss Ziva at all. I just wish that the writers were allowed to give big dramatic stories to Tony instead of ALWAYS giving them to Gibbs and McGee. Sorry – but these two just shouldn’t constitute the whole show with everyone else being supporting cast. They just aren’t all that interesting to watch no matter how many big huge dramas and super enemies you give them. Seems TPTB do everything they can to make sure Tony is insignificant and/or irritating while flattering Gibbs and McGee with big stories.
Sandi Brooks
December 30, 2014 @ 1:51 am
It is not the show I supported and loved all those years. Miss the dynamic, miss the complicated character interactions and good stories, miss hero Tony, Sr Field Agent Tony. What a waste of a terrific actor.
Miss Ziva so much, she was dynamic, fun, intriquing, and kickass.
Bishop is flat, dull and adds nothing to the show.
TullaT
December 30, 2014 @ 2:29 am
Ziva was a lightning bolt, Bishop is a stinky dishcloth. She’s a pathetic failure. she’s been on the show well over a year and still has no job on the team, other than bumbling idiot.
Hurlman
December 30, 2014 @ 5:53 am
Very well said – except ‘dishcloth’ gives her too much credit. She is the worst TV character ever !!
Fay
January 4, 2015 @ 10:33 pm
Well, it is clear to me that Tony was softened and has been used as support for the new character. It is a way to approach the public of new character.
I confess, I don’t like too. This causes Tony feels a “cool uncle”, huh? But … do what? I don’t believe there back to the direction Glasberg gave for the show. Now is watch or not watch.
rachel
December 30, 2014 @ 1:24 am
NCIS needs to do more with Ducky and the England storyline. I loved it. Abby and Tony have been vanilla so far this season.The show needs to do more with Bishop and her husband, Jake. I can’t wait to see what Jeri Ryan brings to the show, as one of Gibbs’s ex wives. Also, I liked Tim so far this season. I agree with the grade of B-.
TullaT
December 30, 2014 @ 2:28 am
Jake is way more interesting than Bishop. It’s pathetic. What a catastrophy Bishop turned out to be. I don’t give a flying flip about yet another Gibbs ex wife, even though I love Jeri Ryan.
Erin
December 30, 2014 @ 1:23 am
Although I like Sean Murray’s McGee just fine, I find the obvious attempt to push him ahead of Michael Weatherly’s Tony forced and a bit boring. Why don’t they ever give us hero Tony anymore? Does every serious episode have to feature Gibbs or McGee now? What a waste of Weatherly’s talent. He’s only paired with Bishop now and McGee has become Gibbs’s right hand man. I don’t consider replacing a dynamic actor with a merely pleasant one to be progress or even good tv. TPTB need to suck it up and give Weatherly some real drama (not the usual “comic” episode or skirt chasing) and the character an exciting crime arc. I’m sick of seeing Gibbs and McGee get all the juicy, character flattering writing.
TullaT
December 30, 2014 @ 2:32 am
I miss hero Tony like crazy!!! since Ziva left he has become old bumble fool Tony, with a healthy dose of creepy old man. Bishop is pleasant like glade deodorizer. She’s a zero. She can’t do comedy or drama. I hope the powers that be are really feeling the pain of their idiotic decision to hire her.
Hurlman
December 30, 2014 @ 5:57 am
even if they are feeling the pain of her in the show – their egos will never let them admit it. The show is now ALL about Gibbs – and Gibbs is not that interesting.
Erin
December 30, 2014 @ 3:45 pm
It has become ALL about Gibbs. Super Gibbs, compassionate Gibbs, hero Gibbs, selfless Gibbs, sage Gibbs, smarter than everyone Gibbs, and I agree – this constant focus on how important Gibbs is and how everyone must comment and admire upon this has gotten boring. I used to like Gibbs but now I roll my eyes when another “very special” Gibbs episode is spoiled. It makes me sad that Tony has become little more than window dressing while tptb push McGee to the front (when Gibbs isn’t hogging the lime light that is). Makes me wonder what they have against Weatherly and his fans.
Cheryl Gress
December 30, 2014 @ 10:16 pm
Same here!!
liz laughlin
January 3, 2015 @ 10:45 pm
The thing with super Gibbs has always been there. Often when Gibbs meets someone new, the introduction is, “and this is the famous (select any laudatory adjective to replace “famous”) Leroy Jethro Gibbs!.” Why not simply “Special Agent Jethro Gibbs?” The response is always, “I’ve heard a lot about you, Gibbs.” It’s a wonder that they don’t sound a trumpet right before his name. After a while, it sounds almost comical–Ta daaaah, Letroy Jethro Gibbs! I’m not putting down Harmon or the character Gibbs but people don’t do this in real life, except to joke. The character, Gibbs, is written as an understated, humble guy who doesn’t talk a lot–the functional mute. I’ve always wondered why they do this. Do we really need to be reminded that is is the highly esteemed leader of the team.
Erin
January 4, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
Gibbs also seems to be quite famous with super master mind criminal types. He is the target of a new super villain with a personal grudge against him every August. I think that there is a clubhouse somewhere, where super villains take a number to have their turn at Gibbs. Maybe that’s why this years Sergei waited nine years to avenge Ari’s death.
liz laughlin
January 4, 2015 @ 8:40 pm
Let me know if you get the address of the clubhouse or maybe they have a web page.
Sandi Brooks
January 5, 2015 @ 4:51 pm
Too funny! Gibbs centric season enders every year since Aliyah-ToC arc. Gibbs is really NOT high enough in influence/power to have so many master criminals personally targeting him/his team. Ridiculous. And boring.
Gibbs is the least interesting character, other than Gibbs Golden Girl, the ever more Boring Bishop. Between Bishop, Gibbs-Gibbs-and-More-Gibbs, and ther newly crowned pseudo Sr Field Agent McGee, the writters, instead of Dumb and Dumber, are now giving us Dull and Duller. The powerhouse action and dialog was always Tony and Ziva. They’ve left Tony little of consequence, bath beads and babes, and theres no more Ziva. Just a giant vacuum where the joy of watching used to be.
liz laughlin
January 6, 2015 @ 7:20 am
Sad isn’t it.
Sandi Brooks
January 6, 2015 @ 5:26 pm
I suspect it’s part of the narative they’ve embarked upon to retroactively deny any importance or significance to Ziva or Tiva to the show’s success.
Tony, being the remaining part of Tiva (and vocally a loyal friend and supporter or CdP) is being shunned. IMHO.
liz laughlin
January 6, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
I’ve said what you said in the past only to be shouted down by the Ziva haters. I’ve long believed that Weatherly is being disciplined for supporting Cote while the rest of the cast stayed pretty quiet, the safe thing to do. We know that David McCallum had issiues with Cote because he said so. Pauley Perrette is probably happy because now she has 3rd place billing after Michael. (When Bellisario hired Cote, she did not go to the end of the line but got third place billing right away.) Harmon supposedly told Cote to take the deal offered by CBS. He’s a smart guy and I’m pretty sure he knew that losing her would negatively effect the show.
However, like you, I don’t think anybody realized how important Ziva was to the show. I also don’t think that they realized how important Bellisario’s creativity was to NCIS. To totally cut him out of the creativity was a huge mistake. NCIS was the best of his creative genius. The train wreck began when they had to replace Ziva. Glasberg had to create a replacement and in doing so, he/they changed the Bellisario paradigm that was so successful for eighteen years and had brought them to the top of the heap.
The paradigm included the team as family, Gibbs as surrogate father to the team, lots of humor, romance and the strong female agent. They eliminated the strong woman and the romance, they killed the team as family with Gibbs as the father figure by the way they handled the departure of Ziva. They tried to keep the humor but without the rest, it falls flat. What made this show such a charmer was the way all of those elements fit together. TPTB did not understand this and thought they could do something much better. We know how that has turned out.
liz laughlin
January 6, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
I hope you get to read my post below because someone is now flagging a lot of my posts. I’ve had three different posts flagged The website eventually approves them. One got approved by the website and then got flagged a second time. I don’t know if it’s someone from CBS or if it’s anasan or what. The common topic is Cote and choices made by TPTB.