An unbelievably well-crafted, -written, -acted, well-everything episode! What a start to a new season! It had drama, humor, action, pathos, a philosophizing Ivy-educated terrorist, and the incomparable NCIS ensemble doing its thing in the most entertaining yet realistic way. At the end, when the team earns the applause of the entire office, led by Vance, they don't smile and wave, they look away with a mixture of chagrin and, oddly, shame, as if they don't really deserve the good fortune that they have fought and struggled for. This was foreshadowed by Ziva, when she told Tony that she did not feel worthy to be rescued by her friends' sacrifices. Special kudos to Michael Weatherly, a truly amazing performance, Cote de Pablo, ever restrained and real with glints of intense emotion coming through her wonderfully expressive eyes, and McGee, who has come into his own as a full-fledged (non-Probie) member of the team. Team is the operative concept here. The hundreds of persons who create this show came together in a remarkable way. This is one of the best hours of one of the best television shows ever to air.
7 Reviews
One of the best episodes EVER!!!
jlcdrama22 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Last season of NCIS had me disappointed. Season six lacked the extensive plot that lies behind the scenes of every episode. Instead, they ended the interesting "mole in NCIS" way too soon and left us with nothing of interest until Michael Rivkin, and even that didn't satisfy us. However, that was all forgotten in the last forty-five seconds of the season six finale when we all saw Ziva tied up in a chair in Somalia with no Gibbs in sight to help her.
This season opener grabbed you just like the season six finale, in the first forty-five seconds. The difference is that this episode reeled you in and didn't let you ago, even after it was over. I'm still gasping in shock and counting the minutes until next Tuesday.
First of all we see Tony tied up just like Ziva and talking to the same guy that spoke to Ziva in the last scene of season six, Saleem Ulman. I loved Tony's narration that filled us in on not only what was going on, but at the same time what had passed. Our first shots of the team minus Ziva showed them at their usual struggles in a typical NCIS humorous way. I was actually stunned by how they seemed to be doing fine without Ziva...until I realized that was all just a carefully placed mask. We see the team go through about six possible replacements and it all boils down to one thing: Ziva is irreplaceable.
Through Tony's talks, we learn that the team figured out that Mossad had lost Ziva somehow. We also learn that Tony arrived in Somalia not to rescue Ziva, but to kill Saleem because--according to Tony--he killed Ziva.
Something I surprisingly liked was the fact that Ziva was of course really alive. Not only was this a clue from the credits with included Cote de Pablo as usual, but also in how the team thinks she was killed at sea when of course we all saw her beaten up in Somalia. This was a good choice because there were many fans terrified that Ziva was going to die seeing as how NCIS has killed off two members before.
I had to laugh when NCIS traced Saleem's location through his favorite beverage: Caf-Pow. Just too funny.
The acting in this episode was phenomenal, better than an average episode which is typical of NCIS when they have highly charged plot like this. When Saleem reveals to the captured Tony and McGee that Ziva is in fact alive, not only was Tony's shock and quick dry remark "So how was your summer?" perfect, but so was Ziva's reaction. I swear I saw a hint of a smile on her face when she saw him, no doubt having thought she wouldn't see any of them again.
Of course the man who comes to their rescue was Gibbs, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It turns out that Tony and McGee had planned their capture, just not Ziva's rescue exactly. Gibbs doesn't show any emotion when he sees Ziva alive he only says, "Let's go home." That's the Gibbs we know and love.
The last scene is of all of NCIS clapping at their return and I had to chime in, but not for them, but for the episode. It felt like the old NCIS has returned and I couldn't wait for the next episode. After the previews I actually shouted to my sister "I'm going to die! I'm going to die! We are building a time machine and going into the future to next Tuesday. All we need is a flux capacitor, a Delorean and the guy who played as Doc." I guarantee it, any true NCIS fan will feel the same way as I do.
This season opener grabbed you just like the season six finale, in the first forty-five seconds. The difference is that this episode reeled you in and didn't let you ago, even after it was over. I'm still gasping in shock and counting the minutes until next Tuesday.
First of all we see Tony tied up just like Ziva and talking to the same guy that spoke to Ziva in the last scene of season six, Saleem Ulman. I loved Tony's narration that filled us in on not only what was going on, but at the same time what had passed. Our first shots of the team minus Ziva showed them at their usual struggles in a typical NCIS humorous way. I was actually stunned by how they seemed to be doing fine without Ziva...until I realized that was all just a carefully placed mask. We see the team go through about six possible replacements and it all boils down to one thing: Ziva is irreplaceable.
Through Tony's talks, we learn that the team figured out that Mossad had lost Ziva somehow. We also learn that Tony arrived in Somalia not to rescue Ziva, but to kill Saleem because--according to Tony--he killed Ziva.
Something I surprisingly liked was the fact that Ziva was of course really alive. Not only was this a clue from the credits with included Cote de Pablo as usual, but also in how the team thinks she was killed at sea when of course we all saw her beaten up in Somalia. This was a good choice because there were many fans terrified that Ziva was going to die seeing as how NCIS has killed off two members before.
I had to laugh when NCIS traced Saleem's location through his favorite beverage: Caf-Pow. Just too funny.
The acting in this episode was phenomenal, better than an average episode which is typical of NCIS when they have highly charged plot like this. When Saleem reveals to the captured Tony and McGee that Ziva is in fact alive, not only was Tony's shock and quick dry remark "So how was your summer?" perfect, but so was Ziva's reaction. I swear I saw a hint of a smile on her face when she saw him, no doubt having thought she wouldn't see any of them again.
Of course the man who comes to their rescue was Gibbs, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It turns out that Tony and McGee had planned their capture, just not Ziva's rescue exactly. Gibbs doesn't show any emotion when he sees Ziva alive he only says, "Let's go home." That's the Gibbs we know and love.
The last scene is of all of NCIS clapping at their return and I had to chime in, but not for them, but for the episode. It felt like the old NCIS has returned and I couldn't wait for the next episode. After the previews I actually shouted to my sister "I'm going to die! I'm going to die! We are building a time machine and going into the future to next Tuesday. All we need is a flux capacitor, a Delorean and the guy who played as Doc." I guarantee it, any true NCIS fan will feel the same way as I do.
A unique and enjoyable episode.
Squeats22 September 2009
This show is so versatile! I love how they gave this season premiere episode it's own unique voice. (Made all the better in that the 'voice' belonged to -very- Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.) They left us to hang over the summer hiatus, worrying for Ziva's safety, and this episode manages to extend and increase that worry. But as always, the team pulls together and manages to make things all work out. My one complaint is that there wasn't enough of Abby and Ducky, I know they're meant to be supporting characters, but nevertheless they add such depth and colour to the show. All in all, an excellent premiere episode, I can't wait to see more!
No Showers
faithless473429 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Would have been an easy 10 star were it not for the obvious. I and the other viewers are really expected to believe that they came all the way home from Africa without showering and aside from apparently Gibbs changing into clean clothing. As to Gibbs it is possible that even he did not change he just took off his gilly suit. Also, how did he travel from his sniper hide to the hallway in about 60 seconds? Asking for a friend.
This episode strains credibility to my breaking point
Ralpho21 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I understand that one can't expect TV dramas to adhere strictly to reality. They'd be as boring as everyday life and soon canceled. So some conceits are acceptable and even necessary if a show is going to succeed. But this NCIS episode goes too far.
Spoilers below.
What we are expected to believe is that DiNozzo and McGee, without official authorization, enter an African country and deliberately allow themselves to be captured by Arab terrorists who are holding their colleague Ziva David. Why would they do that? Because their capture allows Gibbs to officially mount a rescue operation that apparently consists solely of himself. Somehow Tony, who has no way of knowing that Gibbs successfully positioned himself for a shot with a sniper rifle, tells the terrorist that he will be shot moments before Gibbs fires. Gibbs then dispatches two more terrorists from the same distant location while DiNozzo and McGee carry David out of the room they were held in. Then, suddenly, Gibbs stands in front of the three ex-captives and says, Let's go home. In the next scene they are walking into NCIS headquarters looking as if they haven't even showered since their ordeal. And everyone gives them a round of applause. I felt like giving them a raspberry.
I understand that many people find this episode compelling drama, but I don't understand how they can accept the fantastic improbabilities in the plot. Audiences must be easier to please than they once were.
Spoilers below.
What we are expected to believe is that DiNozzo and McGee, without official authorization, enter an African country and deliberately allow themselves to be captured by Arab terrorists who are holding their colleague Ziva David. Why would they do that? Because their capture allows Gibbs to officially mount a rescue operation that apparently consists solely of himself. Somehow Tony, who has no way of knowing that Gibbs successfully positioned himself for a shot with a sniper rifle, tells the terrorist that he will be shot moments before Gibbs fires. Gibbs then dispatches two more terrorists from the same distant location while DiNozzo and McGee carry David out of the room they were held in. Then, suddenly, Gibbs stands in front of the three ex-captives and says, Let's go home. In the next scene they are walking into NCIS headquarters looking as if they haven't even showered since their ordeal. And everyone gives them a round of applause. I felt like giving them a raspberry.
I understand that many people find this episode compelling drama, but I don't understand how they can accept the fantastic improbabilities in the plot. Audiences must be easier to please than they once were.
not so sure about this
anna_s_6852123 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I have to admit from the start that I was dreading this premier since I'm most definitely not a fan of TIVA & it's been pushed hard & heavy by SB. And yes, there were parts of the episode that I enjoyed - mostly those in the office. & I did like seeing that McGee & Tony appeared to have gotten to a point where they were both acting like adults again without all of the pointed snark that we saw last season. However the whole Tony in the chair given truth serum seemed very contrived - especially once they brought Ziva in & sat her down. The whole 'I can't live without you' admission really made me want to change channels. If this is what we can look forward to for the season, then I guess I can not plan to be home most Tuesday nights.
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