A Week in TV Shows: NCIS

NCIS is, by far, one of my favorite shows.  I didn't actually get into it until about a year and a half ago. You can pretty much find an episode playing on USA at any time of the day.  Thanks to DVR I have pretty much been able to catch up on all the seasons in that time.

NCIS, or Naval Criminal Investigation Service, is made up of a great team, headed up by Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.  Gibbs is one of the most intimidating, badass agents you'll ever meet-- a former Marine whose first wife and daughter were murdered years before.  He has since had three more wives, all of whom resembled his first wife in that they are redheads-- and all of whom he has divorced.  Through the episodes we are given small and brief glimpses into Gibbs' heart.  We know he lives by a code of rules, which are often referenced throughout the series.  He spends most of his spare time in his unfinished basement, working on building a boat by hand.  And that he is fiercely loyal and protective over those he loves-- including his NCIS team, though he might not admit it.  He seeks justice for those murdered who served in the Navy and Marines, and will stop at almost nothing to get it.  He has low tolerance for bullshit, including the at times easily-distracted DiNozzo and McGee.

Tony DiNozzo is the suave, handsome special agent and former Baltimore cop with a weakness for beautiful women.  At times it is hard to take him seriously, as he often turns serious situations into jokes about sex or making fun of the nerdy "probie," Agent McGee; but he is usually put in his place by Gibbs with a slap on the back of the head.  DiNozzo is a skilled agent who loves his job, and although at times he acts like a smart-ass jokester, he too seeks justice and wants nothing more than to see murderers and criminals put behind bars.

Timothy McGee, also known un-affectionately by DiNozzo as Probie, or McGeek (and a variety of variations of his last name), is a computer nerd with multiple degrees, including a Master's in computer forensics from MIT.  He starts out as a very insecure agent, but we watch as he develops into a self-assured, skilled agent who uses his computer knowledge for many things from breaking through firewalls to catching criminals.  McGee is my favorite on the NCIS team (though Allison will argue DiNozzo is the best) because of his endearing nerdiness, not to mention he's cute and holds his own under DiNozzo's constant mockery.

Ziva David is a trained killer from Israel, and the daughter the leader of an Israeli counter-terrorist group.  It's easy to love Ziva because she is the picture of girl power among the male-dominated field agents of NCIS.  We often see the turmoil she faces, having her father absent for most of her childhood, and her younger sister killed in a suicide bombing, and having to shoot her half-brother before he can kill Gibbs.  There is often sexual tension between Ziva and DiNozzo, though they remain mostly just friends throughout the series.

These characters are just a few among the many that make me love NCIS-- including Dr. Mallard (or Ducky), the medical examiner, as well as his assistant, Palmer; and Abby, the forensic scientist who analyzes all bullet casings, blood and DNA samples, and anything else removed from crime scenes.  NCIS keeps gore and violence to a minimum in comparison to many shows of its kind, in exchange for excellent character development-- despite the fact that it is a very plot-driven show.

If you're looking for a good show and have lots (I mean lots) of spare time, NCIS is a good place to start.  You will quickly be taken by the plots and characters.  You'll come to love the opening theme, each time Gibbs tells the team to "grab your gear" just before an investigation begins, not to mention you'll probably crave a good cup of coffee since Gibbs just about always is drinking some.  Just make sure you don't have anything else to do first, or else it probably won't get done for a long time.