8.20 Two Faced April 5, 2011 Spoilers!

[ML Fan]

Have you seen "Two Faced?" Tell us what you thought. There are spoilers and discussions posted on our sister site NCIS Special Ops, if you're interested.

[AngelZ]

I liked it. Love seeing the pot stirred up.

Silly EJ thinking that 'I've got the Director on speed dial' is going to make Gibbs shake in his boots Stupid little girl.

[shywriter]

Probably my favorite of the season, for intensity and the mix of case with character stuff (not that I watch for the cases, but they are supposed to be a "major case response team" so it's nice when they try )

I was surprised and kinda amused at the intensity of the reaction at our sister board to Gibbs' treatment of EJ. Some found it misogynistic, others just thought it was unprofessional/disrespectful. I thought it was pretty Gibbsian, actually; it seems a bit late to be upset about Gibbs being Gibbs.

Maybe it was about the Gibbs-attitude being directed toward EJ, as a bit more established than a one-shot guest character, or as another agent, and apparently for many, as a female, but I was more bothered about Gibbs' behavior toward (regular character!) Tony when Gibbs came back from Mexico the 1st time then left without even saying goodbye, and worse, when he came to take the team back, no warning or explanation. Runner up was Gibbs not acknowledging Tony's pulling both him & Maddie from the drink (I suppose we can imagine that scene, but maybe we shouldn't have to just imagine it!)

I agree with those who don't think much of EJ, only because the writers could have done far better with making her just as competent & sexy without making her so junior high in her confrontation with Gibbs and her way of communicating (her frustration that the others were listening to her from the other side of the partition just sounded like a whiny kid. Hard to take her seriously as a team leader if that's how she acts. And that's a maturity thing, not a male-female thing; if a male team leader said that in the same way he'd look just as doofy.)

I've expounded on this elsewhere, but with EJ's team transferred to DC (tho' maybe just for the P2P killer), all the talk about keeping or splitting the team, mentions and reminders of Rota and Tony having been offered the team (and Tim saying he couldn't afford to turn down another promotion), Gibbs telling Abs nothing is changing and Vance says it is... are the writers finally facing facts (as in, 10 yrs as a Special Agent?) and giving Tony his own team?

...and if they do -- just for a few eps or for good? Will NCIS be juggling two MCRTs?

(I don't know why I keep trying to guess; I'm terrible at this game... )

[ML Fan]

I think that Gibbs blew up off EJ and it reminded me of how agent Lee was treated and in both cases we knew Gibbs did not want either of them there for different reasons which is why I cannot forsee Gibbs and EJ working together for good. I thought that it was funny that EJ thought Gibbs would react at all to her having the director on speed dial even though I am sure that probably wasn't the writer's intent. I think that someone of EJ's rank should have more maturity than EJ does and that Gibbs has an issue with outsiders intruding on his team it isn't something personal against EJ.

[shywriter]

Apr 9, 2011 7:38:21 GMT -5 shywriter said:

I've expounded on this elsewhere, but with EJ's team transferred to DC (tho' maybe just for the P2P killer), all the talk about keeping or splitting the team, mentions and reminders of Rota and Tony having been offered the team (and Tim saying he couldn't afford to turn down another promotion), Gibbs telling Abs nothing is changing and Vance says it is... are the writers finally facing facts (as in, 10 yrs as a Special Agent?) and giving Tony his own team?

...and if they do -- just for a few eps or for good? Will NCIS be juggling two MCRTs?

Mega apologies for quoting myself, but I just saw a blurb quoted from from EW and it could fit with the above prediction:

The final moments of NCIS' eighth season are so shocking, even some cast members are being kept in the dark. Parts of the finale have been deemed "redpage scenes," which means only the specific actors involved and a few key crew members get the script. (A previous "red page" example? The season 2 death of Kate Todd played by Sasha Alexander).Exec producer Gary Glasberg says the :significant Change" that occurs will "affect NCIS in ways people will never see coming". In particular, Gibbs (Mark Harmon) will be reeling. Glasberg notes, "His world is about to be rocked both personally and professionally."

I am never, ever right about my predictions!! Don't tell me I'm still in the running to get one right!

[Mr.Clark]

I think if there is going to be a change I think it has to be Vance going and Gibbs getting promoted off the team. If that happens Tonys comment to EJ about wanting the varsity team will have been a clever bit of foreshadowing.

That's the scenario that makes the most logical sense. The problem is Harmon has too much influence and if he doesn't want to give up center stage than they might have to rejig the whole dynamic of the show. Give it a CSI-style schism, something I don't think is in the best interests of the show going forward. The size of the ensemble cast is just right now. Gibbs as a character is a finished product and as such if anyone should have their role decreased a bit it's him.