Very weak writing....
Everything I didn't want in an Abby origin episode. They really needed to give this all important episode to a writer who understands the character(s) & this writer, in previous episodes, has failed at that.
We got idiot Tony where the humor was just dumb. A case that threw Abby when so many other events over the last 10 years that should have done so, didn't. Then the scenes that could have meant so much were avoided. Abby never found the girl? Even later in life? The bowling nuns made no appearance. Add to that the inevitably stupid line meant to feed a certain group of shippers. Plus we were also stuck with Daddy Gibbs (again) & a Ziva that was bossy to the point where it looked like she was team lead & not Gibbs. Add to all of this, a final scene that was, most likely, supposed to be a balm to the many fans who so wanted to see how Abby got to NCIS & met Gibbs. Yet it, too, seemed to fall far short of the mark. Harmon and Perrette have wonderful chemistry together, as do all of the core four cast members, but are woefully under-utilized in this soap-opera-like incarnation of NCIS.
After having been so excited for this episode, the one and only bright spot was the actress casted as young Abby. She was wonderful - spot on with body language. Unfortunately overall, though longtime fans of the show, the character & the wonderful, amazing actress who portrays this quirky character were let down by this episode.