A team of special agents, operating outside the military chain of command, must investigate any crime with pieces of evidence connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. Character driven stories with surprising twists play a large role in the second season of NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service). The NCIS team of investigators is led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), an experienced investigator with sometimes unorthodox, but always effective methods. Working under Gibbs are Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo (Michael Weatherly); Special Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander); Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette); and NCIS’s medical examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum). Additionally, joining the staff this season will be Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) whose communication and computer skills outweigh his naivete. Whether investigating murder or espionage, the NCIS goes global in their quest to solve all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.Equal parts JAG and C.S.I., NCIS does a formidable job of blending relevant military headlines with quirky characters who are tenaciously determined to solve a crime–even if it means having to sleep in the morgue to get a few minutes of shut eye. Created by Donald P. Bellisario (JAG, Quantum Leap), NCIS actually began as a two-part episode of JAG in 2003. Later that year, the drama made its full-season debut on CBS. On this six-disc set, which includes all 23 non-JAG episodes plus optional commentary by Bellisario on the first episode, viewers are introduced to an elite squad of special agents, led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Gibbs is a hard-nosed investigator who doesn’t say much. But when he does, an insult usually comes out of his mouth. He’s brilliant when it comes to ferreting out the truth, but he’s not savvy enough to figure out how to block his ex-wife’s nagging phone calls. Instead, he makes do by destroying his cell phone. Gibbs’ team is fleshed out by an eclectic and somewhat eccentric set of colleagues, including medical examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), wannabe playboy and former homicide detective Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), forensics expert and resident Goth chick Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), and former Secret Service agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander).
The murder of a peripheral NCIS agent halfway through the season is a taste of what’s to come in future seasons when core characters leave the show (voluntarily or not). But in its first year, the show sets up a strong premise that (while not wholly original) is well executed. One of the more stickling aspects of the show is its reluctance to allow Tony to show signs of maturity. At times, he behaves more like a rambunctious puppy than an ace investigator. –Jae-Ha Kim
Buy “NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service – The Complete First Season” For Only $19.89
January 29, 2006
#1
Creo que por lo menos deben colocar subtitulos. Always is tha same thing we, the spanish speakers, get to wait for spanish version. Esto está mal, anoche pre ordene la serie, pero hoy la voy a cancelar por que me di cuenta que no esta en español.
January 29, 2006
#2
This serries is OK, but it really lacks the substance that Criminal Minds, MI-5, CSI or Alias has. The list goes on. When is the second season of Bones and Criminal Minds coming out?
January 29, 2006
#3
NCIS isn’t going to be winning any awards any time soon. It’s generally unoriginal, and the acting and writing are subpar.
That being said, it’s not a bad series. It is what it is.
January 29, 2006
#4
With the current line-up of television consisting of procedural after procedrual, standing out is something easier said than done. While NCIS attempts to do this, it also falls pray to its own workings.
NCIS is a simple show: bad things happen to people on military land and the Navy Criminal Investigative Squad is sent out to find out who did it. The crimes are par for the course; sometimes interesting, sometimes not. There aren’t any flaws in directing or production either, it’s all at the quality that is to be expected from a network TV show. Where NCIS falls apart is its character and comedy writing, which verges on stereotypical and uncomfortable. All too often the show tries far too hard to be funny, creating an aura that makes the show hard to watch. The characters are flawed by this same sense, because their interactions with each other usually force out this comedy, such as Gibbs constant thrashing of his underlings in his stereotypical “you’re an idiot” way NCIS has worked to cringing perfection. Unfortunately, this makes the show at times unbearable to watch, not to mention the fade-to-black-and-white stylistic which feels forced.
People looking for a deep and engaging procedural should look at shows like House, Crossing Jordan, and the slightly flawed but promising Bones.
January 29, 2006
#5
Thia series’ first season has some hits and some misses, but overall this CSI/WITHOUT A TRACE companion is entertaining and has offered some interesting, if oftentimes, confusing plotlines. The series focuses on a special team of agents who investigate various crimes under the umbrella of the Navy/Marine Corps. Mark Harmon heads up the team as Jethro Gibbs; Sasha Alexander is Kaitlin Todd; Michael Weatherly is Tony Dinosio; Pauley Perrette is forencisc expert Abby; David McCallum is medical examiner Duckie; and Sean Murray is Magee. Crimes range from terrorists to murders to kidnapping and gun running. Most episodes move quickly, although there are some distractions such as the annoying music that almost always accompanies Abby’s scenes; McCallum’s constant trivia and storytelling have become redundant and annoying; and the constant sexual bantering between Weatherly and Alexander is overused. While all the performances are very good, especially Perrette and McCallum, Mark Harmon’s character is so unlikeable at times, you wanna punch him. Hopefully, they’ll infuse him with a little more positive personality in the seasons to come. I don’t find it as good as CSI or WITHOUT A TRACE, but I look forward to more episodes.