‘NCIS’ season 11, episode 9 review: How was Emily Wickersham in Bishop’s debut?
For many weeks now, there have been high expectations surrounding whether or not Emily Wickersham was going to be an interesting addition to the “NCIS” team. She is not a replacement for Cote de Pablo by any means, but the way in which the transition was handled was pretty smart. Bishop is not meant to be Ziva all over again, and the writers wasted little tim in making sure that she had her own energy, and brought a new way of thinking to the table.
In some ways, you could say that the character is aggressively quirky, and Gibbs may have been a little quick to latch on to her. But at the same time, he clearly saw something to her earnestness and her unique set of skills. There’s something about a character who is a rookie in some ways and an expert in some others.
But overall, we rather liked Bishop. She has a good rapport already with most of the team, and the show made a good move in sending the NSA analyst around to meet some of the characters individually. She almost seems like a spiritual daughter of sorts to Gibbs, a little sister to Tony, and a pal to Abby. She’s not going to stir up tension with the team, and will bring something new to the table. She’s also got a tough side, and she brings in that sort of interesting element that you never see discussed enough on this show: How disconnected some of these people really are with the rest of their lives.
Bishop did help to crack the very case that she was brought in to assist, though she did do it in some very unusual means. She also did end up losing one of her former co-workers at the NSA in the process, but the door is open for her to be around for quite a while now. The good news here is that she is a series regular, and will be around for the rest of the season. While this episode was not perfect as a whole, it was a very good start to the Bishop era, and as good as an introduction as you are going to get to a new character 11 years in. Grade: B.
Did you like Emily’s “NCIS” debut, and do you think that Bishop is going to bring more and more to the table from here on out? Share your thoughts below, and click here if you want to read some more news related to the show (including a full preview for the December 10 episode).
Photo: CBS
goatgirl
December 23, 2013 @ 7:42 am
Bishop is blond, bland, blah. To make her seem quirky the writers have her sit on desks or on the floor. Whoop-di-doo. The next female team member should be a woman of color – Latina, black or Indian — something more than another skinny, long blond hair, white woman. (We already have had a dose of that with EJ and the port-to-port killer arc) Ziva will never be replaced in my mind but let’s not go the complete opposite of her either. Give us a character that’s strong and vivid with an incredible intellect.
Mike
November 27, 2013 @ 8:22 am
Grade B? What? She was great. A little less believable as an agent then Ziva or Kate but still she will be good. I thought I wouldn’t like her but I did.
Patti Holmes
November 22, 2013 @ 3:28 am
I watched the show – wanting to like the new character. Sadly, I thought she brought nothing to be top rated show.
mathlady
November 21, 2013 @ 5:17 am
I loved Bishop’s character…out of the box thinker, quirky…will add new dimensions to the team…will be interesting to see how the rest of the team adjusts…looking forward to more
Vader
November 20, 2013 @ 6:15 pm
Wickersham was terrible. They don’t need her. Add Borin to the cast
Rita I.
November 20, 2013 @ 2:34 pm
She has “Ziva” eyes. My husband & I thought so.
Zack B
November 20, 2013 @ 2:09 pm
Don’t care what SecNav wants. Bishop is strictly second banana and Wickersham is not much of an actress. Too bad we have to endure her for three episodes. If she sticks around, I am inclined to stop watching.
Vincent Cannizzaro
November 20, 2013 @ 1:16 pm
I have been a NCIS fan from the start of the show, maybe because I am a Navy Vet. and a big fan of M.H. and P.P. Now for the new cast member, I really like how they brought Bishop (Emily Wickersham) into the team and the show. I think she is going to be a breath of fresh air to the team and the show. Her quirky ways should fit right into the NCIS family. I think her and her quirky way will fill the void left by ziva in a good way. I am glad they did not try and “replace” Ziva with another Ziva, that would have been a bad move because she was a one of a kind. I can’t wait for the next episode!!
NCIS fan 2
November 20, 2013 @ 8:04 am
It was a rather strange that they brought in someone that they need to take care of. She seems more like a woman that needs protecting that an asset. Theoretically she could be a resource, but nothing to really help the team in the field. She seems more like a liability. I know they want her to be the token female, but it seems like they went the complete opposite direction and brought on a female that is almost a intelligent damsel in distress.
Mike
November 27, 2013 @ 8:24 am
Where do you get she needs protecting? She not only cracked the case but she also figured the entire thing out and helped to take down two of the men in the middle of it.
Sometimes I wonder if people say negatives just to have something to say.
Connie
November 20, 2013 @ 5:31 am
Did Not Like this character at all. Just downgraded the classiness of the show.
Mike
November 27, 2013 @ 8:25 am
Whenever someone speaks in a negative about a show a person a belief a policy or anything else, PLEASE BY ALL MEANS EXPLAIN YOURSELF INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, ” I DIDNT LIKE IT, BLAH!”
ERIN JONES
December 12, 2013 @ 9:28 pm
Mike, sometimes bad is just bad. Nuff said
jayceeverling
November 20, 2013 @ 2:16 am
Loved it! It really reminded me of the old NCIS!