Post by pdsmith777 on Feb 23, 2017 3:28:25 GMT
"Under Covers" - Season 3, Episode 8
Usually when a show undergoes a major cast change, it takes awhile for the cast and writers to adjust to the new dynamic. And with two changes at the beginning of Season 3, this pretty much held true for NCIS.
There are two notable exceptions. Episode 3, which dealt with the regular cast, plus Paula, which I've already discussed, and Episode 8.
This little gem was originally supposed to be a Kate and Tony episode. Bellisario made it known is interviews, he wanted to explore the relationship between DiNozzo and Todd. This episode and "Boxed In" were the two main episodes he had planned to begin that exploration with. With Sasha Alexander's exit, these then became Tony and Ziva episodes.
What would this have been like had Sasha hung around? Probably much more emotional and far less physical. Remember they had already gone through Tony getting the Plague, and Kate's emotional breakdown at the hospital when he almost died. So there were clearly underlying feelings between the two.
It is also surprising that this episode would come so quickly into Ziva's introduction into the team, but then again, that dynamic added a bit of layered story telling to the show, that wouldn't have been there later in the season.
As far as the show is concerned, it is a fast passed, mystery, with several twists and unique turns it keeps the viewer interested. The directors exhaustion clouding her judgement and causing her to second guess herself, Fornells' agents getting caught with the pants down watching Ziva and Tony, Ducky having to learn as much as he can with two bodies on his table, and then having to feed that information to our duo under cover.
The only thing I didn't like about this episode is that it would lead to the awful episode where Chip tries to frame Tony. Other than that flaw, this is an episode worth watching over and over.
Usually when a show undergoes a major cast change, it takes awhile for the cast and writers to adjust to the new dynamic. And with two changes at the beginning of Season 3, this pretty much held true for NCIS.
There are two notable exceptions. Episode 3, which dealt with the regular cast, plus Paula, which I've already discussed, and Episode 8.
This little gem was originally supposed to be a Kate and Tony episode. Bellisario made it known is interviews, he wanted to explore the relationship between DiNozzo and Todd. This episode and "Boxed In" were the two main episodes he had planned to begin that exploration with. With Sasha Alexander's exit, these then became Tony and Ziva episodes.
What would this have been like had Sasha hung around? Probably much more emotional and far less physical. Remember they had already gone through Tony getting the Plague, and Kate's emotional breakdown at the hospital when he almost died. So there were clearly underlying feelings between the two.
It is also surprising that this episode would come so quickly into Ziva's introduction into the team, but then again, that dynamic added a bit of layered story telling to the show, that wouldn't have been there later in the season.
As far as the show is concerned, it is a fast passed, mystery, with several twists and unique turns it keeps the viewer interested. The directors exhaustion clouding her judgement and causing her to second guess herself, Fornells' agents getting caught with the pants down watching Ziva and Tony, Ducky having to learn as much as he can with two bodies on his table, and then having to feed that information to our duo under cover.
The only thing I didn't like about this episode is that it would lead to the awful episode where Chip tries to frame Tony. Other than that flaw, this is an episode worth watching over and over.
