Non-Sequitur: Where Have You Been? (I <3 NCIS)

[mrwubbles]

Someone in EW got hit by an epiphany after watching a 13 hour NCIS marathon on USA networks.

EW.com's Epiphany: Hey! This show ain't too bad!

Article: "NCIS: Okay Now I Get It"

Seriously, I had to comment after reading the article but fearing I was at the risk of coming off too fanatic than fan, I edited myself. On LJ, however, I just had to comment unabridged:


Where has everyone been? I find it amusing at times that it took 6 years before ratings finally reflected what many loyal viewers already knew: that this JAG spin-off is not really a spin-off but a mega hit standing solidly on its own.

Unlike many acronym titled shows we will not mention here, NCIS has stayed consistent with their dysfunctional family of crime fighters. You have all the elements to make a very interesting Thanksgiving dinner here: the gruff, stern but secretly kind-hearted dad (Gibbs), your storytelling grandfather (Ducky), and your gaggle of competitive siblings who spends most of their time arguing who's poking who and "sit over on your side--Daaaad!".

But occasionally, they solve crimes too. Neato.

While there's character driven plots, there's humor too, and an almost self deprecating wit that grounds the show and its viewers. The show has always been about their cast, not afraid to show they care about one another and heck, even the head slapping, pranks and wise cracking can count as affections too. And while the older brother (Tony) can get on people's nerves, he will, from time to time, rise to the occasion when it's needed.

These characters are not perfect. They claim to be, act like they are, but we (viewers) get a glimpse contrary to their actions. These NCIS guys are flawed. They make their mistakes and move on. We don't get globs of their history or them dwelling on "woe is me" and frankly even when fans say they want it, the tidbits the characters impart instead are far more tantalizing.

Mark Harmon just gets better and better. Michael Weatherly still surprises me with the depth of his acting (even when sometimes I cringe when he's too 'Tony DiNozzo') and David McCallum--seriously, how can you not adore Ducky? :)

The NCIS team are not the Waltons but they never claimed to be. Sometimes the crime stumps us, sometimes it doesn't. The show has some mistakes, made some and probably will down the road (coughManncough), but so far, the integrity of the characters and their dynamics have held. No character assassinations like some of my other once favorite shows, just character development. They're not striving to be the next "ripped from the headlines" show or dress their people like escapees from Club Monaco, but boy, they're just as fun to watch.

Now if only the media discovers the same about Bones, I would be a happy camper.

Comments

[incredulity.livejournal.com]

Amen!

I've been watching from the start and have always enjoyed it. I'm one of those strange folks who is very rarely put off by DiNozzo, because I know his heart is in the right place and 99% of the annoying behavior is just a facade. Here's to many more years of enjoyment!

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

because I know his heart is in the right place and 99% of the annoying behavior is just a facade.

That's what I love about the show and why Tony is a personal favorite. Everyone there has some sort of facade but the viewers are always given a clue to waht's really underneath. Love it.

[dhae_knight_1]

See... I can kinda see where she's coming from. Yeah, I loved the first season of NCIS. And the second. And the third kept the standard up.

The less I say about the fourth season - the better for everyone involved, I think. I'm a DiNozzo fan with a serious 'Madame-Director-on-a-crusade'-a-phobia, so...

But I have to admit that I think the show really hit it's groove in the fifth season. To me, that has really been the season where I watch NCIS for the sake of going 'OMG - this is a brilliant show' - really, to an extent I previously reserved for The West Wing (no, I don't think NCIS is in the same league - but it's moving in that direction).

And yes, I agree with you completely. NCIS is all about the characters. There have been quite a few episodes I've had to watch four or five times before getting the plot - but I haven't cared, because I've been having too much fun with the characters.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

because I've been having too much fun with the characters.

Same here! :) I haven't been able to say that about most shows lately.

[khek.livejournal.com]

I love NCIS. I didn't find it until season 3, but I try not to miss an episode. Even though I usually have to download them, since I work that night.

I wish there were more fanfic about the characters.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

There's a few brilliant writers out there just character based, no ship or romance, just good team fic. I'll start mining some and list some here. Off the top of my head: Richefic at FF.net and Kikkamax. A little slant towards Gibbs and DiNozzo paternal/son dynamic but lots of comforty stuff.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

following the link from the newsletter to here... I didn't leave a comment on the ew article for the same reason. I understand that people can't watch everything, but to make light of the fact they're not even sure what NCIS stands for just rankled me. I suppose we're lucky that CBS did look at the ratings all this time and not just who won the awards or what critics were writing about, because NCIS has ALWAYS had solid viewership numbers.

Like any show, some seasons were better than others, as are some episodes, but it nice to see so many other people finally realizing how good NCIS is.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

Like any show, some seasons were better than others, as are some episodes, but it nice to see so many other people finally realizing how good NCIS is.

Yes and like a lot of shows, it needed to percolate to find its niche. I'm so glad they were given that chance. Some shows never get that chance: 7 eps in and sometimes they're axed before they had the chance to settle into a voice.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Very true. Far too often shows are yanked during Nov sweeps or not renewed after the first year because they didn't achieve the audience the studio was hoping for. Or they are 'reimagined' in hopes of getting better ratings. We're lucky NCIS didn't suffer through that.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Heck, sometimes a show doesn't take for me for a few episodes. The powers that be are too impatient (money, money) and they lose out on gems like NCIS and others.

With all this new attention though, I hope the studios are wise enough to leave the formula alone!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

there have been minor changes to the show through the years, the adding of Tim for example, or the dropping of Gibbs' social life (the mysterious redhead from S1) but with luck they've decided to keep things pretty much as they are.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

with luck they've decided to keep things pretty much as they are.

I think all shows go through tweaks and adjustments. I liked the additional of McGee and how they tested him first in a few random eps before introducing him. It took a while but I took eventually to Ziva and yeah, the adding and subtracting of the occasional redheads to Gibbs. What I fear are the big dramatics like the powers that be pulled in other shows, the ratings grabbers. NCIS was like a favorite slipper for me. It fits and as time went on, it began to fit better

:)

[citymusings.livejournal.com]

I didn't find NCIS until S4, but it didn't take long to become an addict. They have one of the best shows of all time.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

:)ain't it fun? Even though I have the DVDs, I still watched the NCIS marathon on USA. Not many shows have that re-veiwing power.

[citymusings.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Leap of Faith (5.5) was on this evening. I enjoyed it very much.

I'd definitely think about watching the marathon if we got USA.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

It's odd, aometimes USA would repeatedly repeat a new episode of "Psych" over and over again but yea, one of their smarter moves was to run marathons of shows like NCIS that I'll watch.