NCIS SEASON 17: SURPRISE VISIT

 

 

 

One would be hard pressed to think of what it was like without one or another NCIS series airing on TV. This, the original, has been around since 2003, an amazing 17 seasons and another on the way. Even more amazing is that the standards of the series have kept up all this time. 

Season 17 provided us with a great gift as the season opened with the return of fan favorite Cote de Pablo as Ziva David. When last seen she was presumed killed in a mortar attack in season 13. This led to the revelation that she and fellow agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) had a daughter together which led to his leaving NCIS to raise their child. We find out in the season opener, a carry-over from the final show last year, that Ziva has actually been alive and on the run from her attacker. Now she has no choice but to come to the team for help.

Some series bring in old cast members to give them an opportunity to reminisce and continue the role. Not so here. There is enough meat on the episodes involving Ziva here to satisfy not just the actors and writers but the fans who were left shocked by her death. And while the door is satisfactorily closed on the case the opening for her and Tony to return, even in minor parts like a visit, is left open.

The other episodes felt a bit anti-climactic after the return of Ziva and yet in revisiting them on disc you find that they held up to the quality of the series as a whole. And like all series that see actors in smaller roles stick around, even those actors got the chance to see episodes provide them the opportunity to shine and take center stage. The best example of that here is actor Brian Dietzen who plays forensic doctor Jimmy Palmer. Dietzen was an assistant to David McCullum’s Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard for years until McCullum slowed down his schedule. He stepped into that role and one episode here has him at the center of the action taking place.

Personal issues take place alongside the usual sleuthing going on. Dr. Jacqueline Sloane (Maria Bello) must deal with issues with her past involving her daughter. Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) deals with his family issues. Agents Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) and Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) continue to have a certain amount of sexual tension and attraction between their characters. And there is a potential love interest for team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) that may not end well.

While some series tend to begin to feel like they have nothing fresh left in them by 10 seasons in here we are presented with a 17^th season that continues to prove that doesn’t have to be. The acting, the directing, the stories all continue to provide solid entertainment and feel as new as they did when the series began. Word is due to Covid the upcoming season will be shorter. Thankfully we’ll at least have one as this series remains one worth watching. And if it is thank goodness we can go back and revisit all 17 previous season on disc. 

Click here to order.