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TV Reaction: 8X22 "Baltimore" (NCIS, contains spoilers)
Well, for the first time in a long time, I saw an episode in real time rather than Tivo time. Here's why...
Oh my, after the last episode, in the basement, I had feared the dynamic of Gibbs and DiNozzo would have emerged roughened up. Fortunately, my fears were unrealized!
It's a good sign if you're loving an episode within the first act. I haven't had that in a long time but oh man, I adored the episode from the start.
Mind you, Tony in Baltimore was a long-craved trope many fans speculated, written wonderful fics around. When I heard this episode was being made, the first thing that popped in my head was:
"Uh oh."
Anticipation can sometimes ruin the actual episode; you build up such an expectation (and in your mind, there's a bigger special effects budget, lol) and have hyped up the episode that when actual air time hits, you're let down.
I'm happy to say "Baltimore" wasn't the case. The flashbacks dovetailed perfectly with the present. For once, the mystery wasn't solved in ten minutes. And we have both the twisted case of the murder and why indeed Tony had drifted from his ex-partner.
And we got Tony back!!!
This was the Tony that caught Gibbs' eye, the competent cop with the movie references and a charismatic humor that was not over the top.
McGee and Ziva took a step back from their barbs and were appropriately concerned. The dynamics among everyone has slipped into an ease with each other, the team has finally gelled together!
The inside jokes were great (ie: Who wants to be a Navy Cop? I rather get the plague. LOL). I did wince at Pacci's prophetic comment about his ulcer but otherwise, the nods to the origins of it all, down to even the Mighty Mouse stapler were gems.
The tragic end to Danny and Tony's partnership was so brilliantly done in its innocuous bread crumbs, leading to the end. The return of Tony in Baltimore as an NCIS agent now was a powerful image and symbolic how he's come full circle. And how Gibbs got Tony into NCIS has me smiling still.
The acting? Ever try hugging a tv before? Weatherly's barely contained darkness was a breath-taking example of his ability to really tug at your heart strings. I was charmed by Detective DiNozzo, I ached for Agent DiNozzo and when he confronted Danny, the tightly reined scene just screamed for sympathy and offered viewers a better understanding of Tony DiNozzo.
There's so much more I can say about this episode.
But instead, I'll just watch the episode again. :)
Oh my, after the last episode, in the basement, I had feared the dynamic of Gibbs and DiNozzo would have emerged roughened up. Fortunately, my fears were unrealized!
It's a good sign if you're loving an episode within the first act. I haven't had that in a long time but oh man, I adored the episode from the start.
Mind you, Tony in Baltimore was a long-craved trope many fans speculated, written wonderful fics around. When I heard this episode was being made, the first thing that popped in my head was:
"Uh oh."
Anticipation can sometimes ruin the actual episode; you build up such an expectation (and in your mind, there's a bigger special effects budget, lol) and have hyped up the episode that when actual air time hits, you're let down.
I'm happy to say "Baltimore" wasn't the case. The flashbacks dovetailed perfectly with the present. For once, the mystery wasn't solved in ten minutes. And we have both the twisted case of the murder and why indeed Tony had drifted from his ex-partner.
And we got Tony back!!!
This was the Tony that caught Gibbs' eye, the competent cop with the movie references and a charismatic humor that was not over the top.
McGee and Ziva took a step back from their barbs and were appropriately concerned. The dynamics among everyone has slipped into an ease with each other, the team has finally gelled together!
The inside jokes were great (ie: Who wants to be a Navy Cop? I rather get the plague. LOL). I did wince at Pacci's prophetic comment about his ulcer but otherwise, the nods to the origins of it all, down to even the Mighty Mouse stapler were gems.
The tragic end to Danny and Tony's partnership was so brilliantly done in its innocuous bread crumbs, leading to the end. The return of Tony in Baltimore as an NCIS agent now was a powerful image and symbolic how he's come full circle. And how Gibbs got Tony into NCIS has me smiling still.
The acting? Ever try hugging a tv before? Weatherly's barely contained darkness was a breath-taking example of his ability to really tug at your heart strings. I was charmed by Detective DiNozzo, I ached for Agent DiNozzo and when he confronted Danny, the tightly reined scene just screamed for sympathy and offered viewers a better understanding of Tony DiNozzo.
There's so much more I can say about this episode.
But instead, I'll just watch the episode again. :)