After the fun patter as Ziva is taking a Film Studies course, ready to do verbal battle on the subject with DiNozzo, it shapes up as an intriguing episode.
It's all about investigative procedures as much as the specific case, beginning with the clash of Ducky doing an autopsy versus Islamic prohibitions against such a mutilation of the murdered marine who was an Arab-American. So the dramatis begin with McCallum's character, not usually the central figure of the team, but the perfect vehicle to put moral issues squarely on the table -something to ponder. And topical issues are deftly integrated into the script, ranging from terrorism to whataboutism.
As suspects are introduced and analysis of the crime progresses, the viewer is led onto previously uncharted territory, as it is not obvious what motives led to the crime. But of course, a logical explanation is neatly provided before the weekly dose of NCIS action is wrapped up. The Weatherly/De Pablo interaction remains one of the series' greatest strengths.
In 15 years on IMDb, this episode elicited only 'know-it-all' nitpicking, nary a single real review till mine. Perhaps a focus on "Goofs" has reached ridiculous, extreme proportions. And has anyone ever heard of Artistic License?
It's all about investigative procedures as much as the specific case, beginning with the clash of Ducky doing an autopsy versus Islamic prohibitions against such a mutilation of the murdered marine who was an Arab-American. So the dramatis begin with McCallum's character, not usually the central figure of the team, but the perfect vehicle to put moral issues squarely on the table -something to ponder. And topical issues are deftly integrated into the script, ranging from terrorism to whataboutism.
As suspects are introduced and analysis of the crime progresses, the viewer is led onto previously uncharted territory, as it is not obvious what motives led to the crime. But of course, a logical explanation is neatly provided before the weekly dose of NCIS action is wrapped up. The Weatherly/De Pablo interaction remains one of the series' greatest strengths.
In 15 years on IMDb, this episode elicited only 'know-it-all' nitpicking, nary a single real review till mine. Perhaps a focus on "Goofs" has reached ridiculous, extreme proportions. And has anyone ever heard of Artistic License?
