I agree with the other critics here and would add two more: First, what is the MI5 doing outside of the UK? That would be MI6 jurisdiction. And secondly, why would any bad guy go to a hospital with a GSW when they have to be reported?! But I liked the intercut with Delilah and Yorka, and Abby's collar! And that bomb scene was so Lethal Weapon, I was about to yell: Grab the cat!
19 Reviews
Disappointed fan
davidsailoreal5 December 2022
As a long time NCIS fan, I am deeply disappointed by the way the characters are written. We're talking about federal agents, well trained and well experienced, and we have seen that time and time again over the previous 14 seasons. They would not have acted the way they did in any sane world, and I can see that the other reviewers feel the same way.
Over the years I've watched Special Agent McGee solve plenty of crimes with the team, and he is my second favorite character, right after the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs of course. Never would I expect the Elf Lord to do what he did in this episode. It is so out of character for McGeek to behave so recklessly.
After the impressive list of accomplishments that the NCIS team has collected over the years, this episode is disrespectful to the characters and to the overall progression/flow of the show.
Over the years I've watched Special Agent McGee solve plenty of crimes with the team, and he is my second favorite character, right after the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs of course. Never would I expect the Elf Lord to do what he did in this episode. It is so out of character for McGeek to behave so recklessly.
After the impressive list of accomplishments that the NCIS team has collected over the years, this episode is disrespectful to the characters and to the overall progression/flow of the show.
Ready or Not
bobcobb3013 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Was this the best hostage episode we have ever seen on TV? No, of course not and I am glad we are finally through with most of the Tim and Delilah stuff what with the wedding and the baby now born, but outside of that this was still an enjoyable episode. It gave us action and suspense something that the show does not regularly give to us.
Delilah
krvmfr25 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I love ncis and this episode didn't make me want to stop. The only thing that's annoys me is Dee is meant to be paralysed yet she felt contractions and manages to push the babies out? She would have had a c section if real. The rest of this comment has nothing to do with the episode but I need to type out a certain amount of letters to be able to post this so right now I am just rambling. It's currently 91 days to Christmas and 61 days till my birthday which is going to suck as it's my first birthday without my mum here but I will have a good day as she would want me to. I have no idea what else to say.
The worst, most poorly written episode I've ever seen
mickmc-3135421 November 2017
McGee missed two perfect opportunities to take out the bad guy on the ER waiting room - a seasoned agent like him would never have acted so irresponsibly. And it just went downhill from there with numerous unlikely, unbelievable situations. Poor writing just to keep the story going. I'm entirely disappointed with this episode. I've been a fan of NCIS for years and hope that this episode is not a harbinger of the series' demise.
sloppy
valkary23 November 2017
I just want to comment on sloppiness, being I am from Serbia: Andre Yorka, who is said to be discharged from Serbian army, is NOT a Serbian name, first or last name to be precise. It would really help to do some research while writing new material, especially when Your facts are not right.
Dumbest episode ever!
andrzejwymagalski29 December 2017
Ready or not? We wasn't. I see everybody agrees on it. The scriptwriter should be shot on sight. The number of tragic mistakes is countless. No real agent would do such things. Remember it's the 15-th season. Even actors should know, that stupidity hits the roof in this episode, and should refuse to act.
Just SKIP this one.
Appalling script writing
kenokamura16 January 2021
I tried to find something to like
movies-10922 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I liked Morgan the cop, of course he didn't make it. But every time I see any law enforcement officer give up his weapon I want to scream. I know that's a big no-no, and I have no idea how much it may happen in real life. I have friends who are police officers, and they may have faced a hostage situation, but I wouldn't have ever heard the stories from them if they had handed their weapons over.
The only thing I didn't see coming was the female "hostage" actually being an accomplice. And would the guy have shot her if McGee had shot him first? We'll never know. I think Hollywood writers feel they have to disarm the good guys to avoid an hour-long episode being a 5 minute episode.
I give it a 5 because I still love the show. I've spent the past year streaming from the beginning up to this point - the good, the bad, the worse. The turnover bugs me. DiNozzo irritated me as much as he irritated McGee in the early seasons but I grew to like him - and his Bob Wagner dad. I know more turnover is coming still. The ending was a bit satisfying but Yorka doesn't die. Maybe his fate is worse, we can imagine.
I'm on the next episode now - back to Afghanistan again. Although it does kind of look like the barren hills of LA. NCIS is the longest running show if its type, and believe it or not I like that about it. I still have more seasons watching or listening to 2-3 episodes each night, before I have to find another show. Already did all of Criminal Minds. I suppose I'll try some of the NCIS spinoffs next.
This episode could have been a lot better even using the same situation.
And to law enforcement officers everywhere: don't give up your weapon!
The only thing I didn't see coming was the female "hostage" actually being an accomplice. And would the guy have shot her if McGee had shot him first? We'll never know. I think Hollywood writers feel they have to disarm the good guys to avoid an hour-long episode being a 5 minute episode.
I give it a 5 because I still love the show. I've spent the past year streaming from the beginning up to this point - the good, the bad, the worse. The turnover bugs me. DiNozzo irritated me as much as he irritated McGee in the early seasons but I grew to like him - and his Bob Wagner dad. I know more turnover is coming still. The ending was a bit satisfying but Yorka doesn't die. Maybe his fate is worse, we can imagine.
I'm on the next episode now - back to Afghanistan again. Although it does kind of look like the barren hills of LA. NCIS is the longest running show if its type, and believe it or not I like that about it. I still have more seasons watching or listening to 2-3 episodes each night, before I have to find another show. Already did all of Criminal Minds. I suppose I'll try some of the NCIS spinoffs next.
This episode could have been a lot better even using the same situation.
And to law enforcement officers everywhere: don't give up your weapon!
Awful
hunter5816 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
So many improbable acts by the good guys in this episode that it almost seemed like a parody. From missed chances to kill Yorka, to the retired officer Morgan clumsily "watching" Yorka to the ridiculous disarming of the bomb. And the NCIS agents shouldn't have been surprised by the reveal of the accomplice, given that she actually searched and disarmed them. Any hostage with half a brain would have ignored Gibbs' gun and/or knife, and Yorka wouldn't have trusted a hostage to do the search. He'd have had her lift up Gibbs' coat and have him turn around. Or make Gibbs and Bishop take off their coats. I've never written a review of NCIC on here, but this episode was atrocious.
Mostly an Embarrassing episode
talonjensen13 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I read the other reviews and I just wanted to add a few comments, so this isn't a complete review.
The best actor was the old guy (guard) who died from being gutshot. There are enough other comments on the poor acting.
The bomb scene is just embarrassing. They could easily have pushed the bomb back out into the hallway, but turned the cart over in the dining room with the nails on the outside of the C4 pointed toward the room and THEM.
If leaving it in the dining room they could have pointed the shrapnel at the nearby wall leaving two layers of stainless steel on the cart to protect them and the room. Admittedly not a lot of protection but there didn't appear to be any shrapnel on the cart side of the bomb, so the difference would have been significant if it had gone off. They should have reached over the cart, from behind the cart to snip the bomb wire.
The best actor was the old guy (guard) who died from being gutshot. There are enough other comments on the poor acting.
The bomb scene is just embarrassing. They could easily have pushed the bomb back out into the hallway, but turned the cart over in the dining room with the nails on the outside of the C4 pointed toward the room and THEM.
If leaving it in the dining room they could have pointed the shrapnel at the nearby wall leaving two layers of stainless steel on the cart to protect them and the room. Admittedly not a lot of protection but there didn't appear to be any shrapnel on the cart side of the bomb, so the difference would have been significant if it had gone off. They should have reached over the cart, from behind the cart to snip the bomb wire.
I can't believe this is the NCIS show we've loved for so many years.
jdonalds-527 November 2017
I don't know what went through the directors head. This episode is the worst NCIS ever.
How can you take seasoned actors and make them behave like newbies? The basic story wasn't the problem. It was the directors execution that fell more than flat.
The best part was seeing Abby driving her car.
I hope this isn't a harbinger of future episodes. Someone please step in and make sure this doesn't happen again.
This director isn't new to the game. He must have had some sort of objective but he didn't let the audience know what it was.
How can you take seasoned actors and make them behave like newbies? The basic story wasn't the problem. It was the directors execution that fell more than flat.
The best part was seeing Abby driving her car.
I hope this isn't a harbinger of future episodes. Someone please step in and make sure this doesn't happen again.
This director isn't new to the game. He must have had some sort of objective but he didn't let the audience know what it was.
Why tell the security guard?
ultrachronic26 November 2022
The writing on this one is a trifle sloppy. What is McGee's reasoning for telling Morgan the security guard that Yorka is a bad man and to keep an eye on him? Only for Morgan to get too close.
It all kicked off in the waiting room simply because Morgan knew this information when he didn't need to, and McGee could've waited until the rest of the team were at the hospital.
Furthermore, why did Yorka go to the hospital with a gunshot wound?! They're reported to the authorities by the hospital any time someone with that wound comes in. This was stupid, and this episode deserves the low rating that it has.
It all kicked off in the waiting room simply because Morgan knew this information when he didn't need to, and McGee could've waited until the rest of the team were at the hospital.
Furthermore, why did Yorka go to the hospital with a gunshot wound?! They're reported to the authorities by the hospital any time someone with that wound comes in. This was stupid, and this episode deserves the low rating that it has.
The writers mailed it in on this episode
CrimeDrama115 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Apparently the show's story creators could not come up with a better main plot to coincide with Delilah's premature child birth. I'm not buying anything to do with the manhunt.
Yorka, the international arms dealer suspected of killing two men, including a British agent, is sitting alone in the waiting room of a busy hospital with no disguise on? What is worse is McGee. He is just as clueless as he was in S4 E20 "Cover Story." Even if he is about to become a father for the first time, his instincts should have taken over the second he saw Yorka but the writers portray him as an idiot. He doesn't even say Yorka's name while on the phone with Gibbs and the team! Whose idea was that?! The hospital security guard character is a joke. At one point McGee and Yorka are in a standoff so why doesn't McGee pull the trigger? So Yorka can take a hostage. It is ridiculous. McGee has always been the smartest member of the team so episodes like this one are not believable. I agree with other reviews that mentioned bad acting. Fortunately, that has been rare with this show. I think the actors knew the script was mailed in.
Yorka, the international arms dealer suspected of killing two men, including a British agent, is sitting alone in the waiting room of a busy hospital with no disguise on? What is worse is McGee. He is just as clueless as he was in S4 E20 "Cover Story." Even if he is about to become a father for the first time, his instincts should have taken over the second he saw Yorka but the writers portray him as an idiot. He doesn't even say Yorka's name while on the phone with Gibbs and the team! Whose idea was that?! The hospital security guard character is a joke. At one point McGee and Yorka are in a standoff so why doesn't McGee pull the trigger? So Yorka can take a hostage. It is ridiculous. McGee has always been the smartest member of the team so episodes like this one are not believable. I agree with other reviews that mentioned bad acting. Fortunately, that has been rare with this show. I think the actors knew the script was mailed in.
There are some positives (granted, not many)
dodgercodger22 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, I agree with the previous posters and their justified issues with writing, plot holes, etc. However, I must say that the editing was excellent (in particular with all the coordinated screaming). We got a quick glance at the Abby mobile (no surprise as to her style, but I would have expected black). And while it does fall well into the plot hole area about proper procedure, Gibbs taking out the female accomplice was pure magic. Finally, I was hoping for the twins to be named Abby and Jethro -- but Morgan and John are most welcome. Hoping that things get better as we move to our Abby Farewell...
Please Tell Me This Episode Was A Mistake!
clintstevens6 July 2018
I have loved this series from the first episode and was SO pleased to see another season was added for me to binge watch. Unfortunately, I just watched what has to be the worst NCIS episode ever! Hopefully, it was a one-time aberration.
If it was supposed to be a comedic episode it failed. It was NOT funny. If it was supposed to be a tense dramatic episode, it failed. It was NOT serious drama. It could easily have been a 'Criminal Minds' or 'The Night Shift' story...it was THAT bad. The writing was awful, the direction was awful, the camera work was awful and the acting was awful. Where on earth did they find that actor who portrayed Yorka? He was awful!
Mark Harmon should have never let this episode see the light of day. Looking at the reviews, I see I am not alone in calling this episode horrible and an embarrassing low point to otherwise fine crime drama.
If it was supposed to be a comedic episode it failed. It was NOT funny. If it was supposed to be a tense dramatic episode, it failed. It was NOT serious drama. It could easily have been a 'Criminal Minds' or 'The Night Shift' story...it was THAT bad. The writing was awful, the direction was awful, the camera work was awful and the acting was awful. Where on earth did they find that actor who portrayed Yorka? He was awful!
Mark Harmon should have never let this episode see the light of day. Looking at the reviews, I see I am not alone in calling this episode horrible and an embarrassing low point to otherwise fine crime drama.
First time I walked out on NCIS
Robert-M-Woodrruff14 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
If the writers feel the only way to create dramatic tension is to turn the regular cast into idiots, then I'm done. I was pretty sure retired park cop Dan Lauria was going to get shot after he kept telling McGee how fellow law officers had to help each other out. But I didn't see a lone, wounded perp holding a whole hospital, not to mention the entire NCIS hostage with a single pistol. If the bad guys are that powerful and the "good guys" so incompetent, then maybe Trump isn't the worst thing this country has to worry about!
Uh what
robr-3442613 October 2018
Ok just 2 things real quick. 1. Why didn't mcgee shoot him right away? Other than the episode would be short. 2. Isn't ketamine a tranquilizer for large animals? Why was that in the er? I can't think of any reason for someone to need an injection of it in the er even if it were used on humans. Isn't there safer easier ways to put someone asleep in the hospital?
No one was ready for an episode like this!
harrykivi16 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
NCIS is one of my most beloved shows- I have said it numerous times, but after Ziva and especially Tony left, the show has not been the same. The 14th season was extremely disappointing, but the 15th has up until recently been quite average.
"Ready or not" on the other hand is not an okay episode, which feels semi-watchable- it's god awful. I feel sad to say it, because I really thought we were past stories like "Homesick", beyond "Rock and a hard place", but seems I was wrong.
Even though I really didn't enjoy this one, there are some decent aspects here. For one, the set up of a terrorist in the same hospital Delilah is in, is not a terrible idea -if it's handled by a great writer, director and actors. The directing is fine, though not particularly remarkable.
But that's when I am stopping with positives, because "Ready or not" has hands down one of the most lazy screenplays I've ever seen in my life. The story is filled with ridiculous situations (we all hated the bomb scene), laughable characters (Andre Yorka in particular) and predictable twists one sees coming from a mile away.
Much of the intensity that this episode could have had is thrown out of window ,which makes the proceedings not interesting. Many people have pointed out plot holes, incompetence in the narrative, and it's all true.
The acting as well is quite weak with performances that feel right out of grade school productions. The main cast is fine, but they have been more focused in the past.
I think I could go on and on, but in terms of time and all fans, "Ready or not" is a very poorly written episode.
2/10 HK
"Ready or not" on the other hand is not an okay episode, which feels semi-watchable- it's god awful. I feel sad to say it, because I really thought we were past stories like "Homesick", beyond "Rock and a hard place", but seems I was wrong.
Even though I really didn't enjoy this one, there are some decent aspects here. For one, the set up of a terrorist in the same hospital Delilah is in, is not a terrible idea -if it's handled by a great writer, director and actors. The directing is fine, though not particularly remarkable.
But that's when I am stopping with positives, because "Ready or not" has hands down one of the most lazy screenplays I've ever seen in my life. The story is filled with ridiculous situations (we all hated the bomb scene), laughable characters (Andre Yorka in particular) and predictable twists one sees coming from a mile away.
Much of the intensity that this episode could have had is thrown out of window ,which makes the proceedings not interesting. Many people have pointed out plot holes, incompetence in the narrative, and it's all true.
The acting as well is quite weak with performances that feel right out of grade school productions. The main cast is fine, but they have been more focused in the past.
I think I could go on and on, but in terms of time and all fans, "Ready or not" is a very poorly written episode.
2/10 HK
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