The Positively Positive » CBS

TV Episode Recap/Review – NCIS “Cracked”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:23:07 +0000

NCIS “Cracked” Season 8 Episode 6 – In this episode, Abby becomes fascinated by the body of a young lieutenant who ran in front of a bus and was killed instantly. The woman’s body is covered in a secret code that only she can understand and Abby soon loses herself while trying to crack it. When Ducky discovers that the poor girl was being slowly poisoned, the whole team goes on the lookout for who was involved in her death.

Pauley absolutely shined in this episode and I loved how she played Abby slowly losing her own identity as she started to take on the one of the woman who died. Makes me wish we’d get more Abby-centric episodes on the show.

My favorite bits…..

Tony having a very naughty phone conversation with his girlfriend…..Ethel?

Tony calling McGee “McTween” – LOL!

This bit:
Tony: “I think Ethel and I really have something.”
McGee: “Well they have antibiotics for that.”

Ziva being confused about what kind of role playing Tony was talking about.

Tony reassuring Gibbs that he would be able to pull off wearing a leotard.

Palmer once again finding the exact inappropriate thing to say in front of a dead body.

Ducky being able to figure out exactly how fast the bus was going just by looking at the body. Nice.

Abby’s “Holy Mother of Einstein!”. Oh I am so gonna be using that one now.

Tony asking the boss “Mel Gibson much?” after seeing the crazy message on her computer.

Gibbs admitting to the girl’s mother that he *did* have children, and the mother asking him to tell her that the pain does go away. His silence spoke volumes.

The woman’s eerie message “They’re going kill me” written over and over on the table.

McGee knowing that Abby was fine, she was just thinking.

Trying to figure out what an erased hard drive could possibly be a euphemism for and realizing I’ll never have half the dirty mind that Tony does.

Gibbs and Tony sharing similar expressions for a second there while they both looked at the plasma. Don’t know if anyone else noticed it, but I thought it was too cute.

Abby going down autopsy to talk to the woman’s body and promising that she would understand what the codes meant.

Abby admitting that she’d had “eleventeen” Caff-Pow!’s so far that day.

Abby asking McGee for help.

McGee’s reassurance that they’d find Abby, though I don’t know if he was talking more to himself than Gibbs.

The professor giving the book that was the victim’s, to Abby.

Everyone seeing that the woman was not talking to anyone when she was at her “meetings”. Oh boy, that’s not good.

Abby not shutting up until Gibbs was forced to raise his voice. He only did it because she didn’t listen the first time he asked.

Abby’s devastation when she saw the video and realized that no one understood what the Lieutenant was going through.

Gibbs brining in the woman’s daughter to try and bring her back from the brink.

The woman’s mother begging Abby to put emotion aside and let her daughter go.

Abby getting her mojo back…..until it hit a nojo. LOL.

Gibbs figuring out the one bit of the puzzle that Abby could not.

The look on Palmer’s face when Gibbs sent him off to work a lead. So cool!

McGee finding the source of the poison and reporting it to the team via a webcam.

Completely cracking up at the sight of Tony as “Tony” from Saturday Night Fever. The outfit was a bit tight but the impression was spot-on.

Tony being afraid that he was offending the movie gods by dressing up as Travolta. LOL.

Abby going back for the book.

Overall a great Abby-centric episode and just in time for Halloween – I’m sure Abby would appreciate the timing.

Check out my NCIS Reviews Page for even more NCIS Reviews.

TV Episode Recap/Review – NCIS “Dead Air”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:56:10 +0000

Okay so I’ve decided to start putting full reviews up here of the shows I also review at Daemon’s TV. I usually end up cutting a LOT of stuff in order to keep to my word limit up there and it seems a shame to let all of that go to waste. So now you’ll find the extended versions of my reviews up here on this blog.

First up, my review for NCIS Season 8 Episode 5 “Dead Air”

In this episode the team is put on the case of a naval officer and a radio DJ who are shot to death while on the air. It looks like the DJ was the target when they find out that he was being heavily recruited by a homegrown militia group working out of a suburban neighborhood. The group was looking to buy a bomb so that they could blow up a communications tower at Norfolk. Ziva goes undercover as a fake arms dealer willing to sell the fuse they need to activate the bomb and when Gibbs and the team discover the man behind the purchase, they think they’ve got their killer. But though he joined the group after his wife was killed, this newly single dad didn’t commit the murder. It was another member of the group and even when they catch that guy, their job STILL isn’t done because they find out that yet another member of the group has the device. He plans to set it off at a girl’s baseball game, hoping to take out the high end government people who will be in attendance watching their daughters play. In true Team Gibbs style they arrive just in the nick of time to get everyone away before the thing goes off.

Meanwhile Tony is in trouble when interviewing a bunch of people in order to get a voice match for a suspect, leaves him without a voice of his own. Ordered to not speak for at least 24 hours, no one thinks he can survive that long without making at least one movie reference.

Before I get to my favorite bits, I have a least favorite bit to mention first…

The national weather service coming on the air with a storm warning and blocking me from hearing the first three minutes of the episode, starting right when Tony and McGee got off the elevator. Very odd for Southern Califoirnia, lemme tell ya. So now I have no idea what “dream” McGee was talking about. Boo. *sadface*

We now return to our regularly scheduled favorite bits…

Gibbs asking McGee if there was an app for doing his job. LOL.

Tony saying he once thought about going into sportscasting. You know, I could totally see him doing that.

Abby trying out active sonar and almost getting it, before she knocked the big jug over.

Gibbs making reference to Iron Butterfly’s “In A Gadda Davida”. Way to go, Gibbs.

Ducky telling the dead body about his favorite radio programs when he was a kid.

Gibbs sniffing the female deer urine. Um….ew.

Really digging Abby’s little skull earphones. I totally want some now.

This bit:
Abby: “Gibbs! Trying to give me heart palpitations?”
Gibbs: “No. What’ve you got, Abs?”
Abby: “Heart palpitations”

Ziva pointing out that a white picket provides neither security or privacy. I never thought of it that way, but she’s absolutely right. I still want on though. LOL.

The guy opening his door and immediately assuming that Tony was a salesman.

Tony holding up his hand to prove he was married, but apparently forgetting to borrow a ring for his “cover”.

Tony running to catch up with the “jogger people”.

Kinda wondering why Tony was the one interviewing all the people while Ziva and McGee sat on their asses in the car.

Abby being nice enough to let Tony have some of her Caff-Pow! Well it’s nice to see that someone cares.

Aw, cute moments with Tony and Abby. Love it when these two get to hang out, they haven’t done that in a long time.

Ziva and McGee figuring out that the leader of the group was going to buy a bomb.

McGee completely erasing the last five years of Ziva’s past made for a pretty quick undercover ID.

Deeter completely ignoring Tony’s badge but then wisely stopping when he came face to face with Gibbs’ gun.

Tony holding up the q-tip showing a positive result for bombs and telling Deeter he was pregnant. OMG totally classic DiNozzo right there.

And now we interrupt for another brief announcement….

ANOTHER FREAKING STORM WARNING?? Seriously?? I get that it’s serious but they are also two hours away from my home. Sigh. So the entire conversation between McGee and Tony while they watched Ziva? Missed it. Ziva’s conversation with Haskell ? Yep, missed that too. Grr..

We now return (again) to our regularly scheduled list of favorite bits…

Tony’s attempt at threatening the suspect not working nearly as well with laryngitis. Aw, poor Tony.

Tony’s squeaky cries for help and Gibbs coming in to the rescue.

Ducky trying to examine Tony in the middle of the squadroom while his patient kept squirming and talking.

The look on Tony’s face when Ducky said “Let’s hope that there are no movie references that require you edification. I’d hate for your ego to write a check that your body can’t cash.” – LOL! (I totally knew that was a Top Gun reference. When it comes to 80’s movies, I think I could give Tony a run for his money in the quote department).

Gibbs telling Tony “Don’t do it, DiNozzo. Willpower.”

Seeing that Haskell hides his explosives in the freezer. I mean that’s where you’re supposed to keep high grade explosives, right?

Gibbs saying that the first rule of investing was to use someone else’s money. Actually, I think he’s right. I’ve heard that one, too.

Gibbs sending Ziva in to talk to Haskell’s daughter and the girl saying that if her father was dumb enough to get involved with terrorists then he could rot in jail, but she had proof that he didn’t commit the murders. Good girl.

Tony trying to add what little he could as McGee presented the evidence they had against Nelson.

Gibbs pointing out the flaw in Nelson’s logic when he said that even if he had all the money in the world for protection, it wouldn’t have stopped him from going into the radio station and shooting two people. Nice!

Finding out that they totally bluffed the whole interview with Nelson. OMG, brilliant! I just about lost it when Tony opened the jar and started drinking the “deer urine”.

Gibbs getting the truth from Nelson by letting him see his daughter on the other side of the interrogation window.

Giggling a little at the “that was just my knee” line from Tony after Ziva tackled him to get him out of the way of the bomb. Nice reference to Season 3’s “Under Covers” episode, even if it did seem a wee bit forced to me.

Tony, Gibbs and McGee understanding why the guy chose to stay and umpire the game even after he planted a bomb.

The reverence that Tony and McGee (and Gibbs) too, gave the lights when they came up.

Ziva asking Gibbs for a game of catch and saying she learned to play from her father.

Finally figuring out where the tiny clip of Gibbs throwing a baseball in the current season’s opening credits came from. Just love that smile he has when he tosses it.

Overall another great episode for this season of NCIS. Now I’ve been noticing that there’s still a lot of talk about Sean Murray’s weightloss and honestly I’m trying very hard to stay out of the “McGee’s too thin!” debate. Though I will say that, yes, weightloss is very noticeable and I’d estimate it at somewhere around 30 pounds (just my guess, totally uneducated). Rumors abound that Sean is sick or something but I can’t find any truth to that when I did some research. It looks like he just started eating better, which is good for him. Personally I think that Sean’s weight is just fine, we’re just so used to a slightly pudgier McGee and maybe that’s why people are more apt to notice his change in looks.

TV Episode Recap/Review – NCIS “Royals and Loyals”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:49:59 +0000

Here is an excerpt of my review for NCIS Season 8 Episode 4 “Royals and Loyals”.

CLICK HERE to read the entire review at Daemon’s TV.

My favorite bits…

Ziva getting McGee to install a new security system and it catching Tony trying to sneak into her email.

McGee ducking Tony’s headslap and Tony getting headslapped from Gibbs at the same time. That was a slick move.

Palmer and Tony giggling over an I Love Lucy episode while getting ready to pull a body out of the water. What’s inappropriate about that?

Gibbs stopping Tony and Ziva’s protests about working together by saying he’d rather be fishing and to just do it.

Palmer slicing into the lung and telling Gibbs he was making a lung sandwich. I know it’s wrong and kinda sick, but I totally giggled at that.

Gibbs having to yank Abby out from under table and help her with a bad charlie horse after she tried to make like a circus performer.

Tony pointing out to Ziva if he’d paid a dollar every time he apologized for being him, he’d be loaded. You know, I don’t doubt that at all.

Gibbs going from being nice to not-so-nice to the British officer in about a half a second.

Gibbs correcting the officer and telling him he was more like Gary Cooper than John Wayne.

Vance calling the SecNav before the Gibbs and Malloy before the two of them “got into a saber duel in the parking lot”. Aw man, I kinda wanted to see that. Maybe he should have let them have at it.

Malloy saying he wasn’t going to hold the fact that McGee was an Irishman against him. As an Irish girl myself, I appreciated that.

Vance assigning Ziva to be the Switzerland between Gibbs and Malloy.

The way Gibbs said “dinero”.

Tony telling Ziva that he was watching the pheromones ooze from her body.

Tony mentioning Bond, as in James Bond, and Ziva saying she wasn’t into bondage.

Ziva asking Malloy for permission for a “quickie” (as in search) before the ship left. LOL, naughty.

Gibbs brandishing the wrench and saying “there’s no such thing as luck” when Tony said it was lucky the ship had to be delayed due to problems. Oh Gibbs, you clever man you.

Abby accusing Gibbs of taking a bite out of the crabby apple tree.

Malloy showing up in Gibbs’ living room. Seems like everyone has his address these days.

Gibbs telling Malloy that he had ten seconds before he “accidentally” shot him for trespassing.

Tony and Malloy getting into a discussion about some great British actors.

Gibbs giving Abby a bear hug after she found out about the pollen connection. I especially enjoyed the extra growl he gave when he did it. So sweet!

Tony joking that he’d warn Ziva’s new beau to “be careful” and “handle with care” before settling on the sweeter “contents priceless”.

Tony not being able to help himself and attempting to break into Ziva’s email again, setting off all kinds of alarms. Who wants to bet that he’ll still try it again? He’s like a little puppy. LOL.

TV Episode Recap/Review – NCIS “Short Fuse”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:27:50 +0000

Here’s an excerpt from a review I wrote over at Daemon’s TV. CLICK HERE to read the entire review there.

NCIS Season 8 Episode 3 – Short Fuse

My favorite bits…

A woman going down to inspect a suspicious noise for once. Of course, this woman also happened to be a Marine.

Wondering how many takes it took for them to get those bad shots of Tony. I can’t imagine it’d be easy to do.

The photographer trying to tell Gibbs that Tony couldn’t leave. Ha!

McGee pulling up Tony’s mug shot from when they were arrested for trespassing and offering it up as the cover shot.

Tony ignoring McGee’s warning and bringing a photographer to a crime scene.

Gibbs walking in just as Palmer started scratching Ducky’s nose. You know, I always wondered what would happen if someone’s nose started to itch in the middle of an autopsy. I guess now I have my answer.

Jumping when the bomb went off.

Gibbs calling McGee “Tim”. I just love it when he does that every once in a while.

Cracking up when I saw Gibbs ironing and watching a western. Then laughing even harder when Fornell came in with dinner and the two of them acted like the perfect married couple. I especially enjoyed the “we both agreed we hate that place” line. Good to see that the two of them have stayed friends all these years.

Gibbs throwing out the takeout and going for a box of cereal instead.. and Fornell doing the same.

Abby referring to autopsy as the “duck pond”.

Agreeing with Ziva when she said she finds certain older men attractive. *cough*MarkHarmon*cough*

Palmer and Abby’s high five after she figured out who their victim was.

Finding it pretty funny that the wife asked Gibbs and Fornell if they were married, considering they were both married to the same woman at different times.

Tony flat out asking the woman why she was attracted to Tolin.

Loving the fact that Gibbs’ first reaction to seeing the cardboard Tony was to headslap it. I guess he just can’t help himself, it must be such a habit by now.

Abby bouncing in front of the elevator to wait for Gibbs to come out.

McGee reluctantly agreeing that Tony’s movie reference was right.

Gibbs calling Tony “poster boy”. LOL!

Seeing that Heather put a bomb on her brother’s shooter. I totally expected her to be holding a gun on the guy but I guess that makes sense, considering what she does for a living.

Gibbs carefully measuring out his footsteps so he could question the guy safely and get the confession that he’d hired the hitman.

Finding out that the bomb was a fake.

Gibbs coming home to find Fornell in his kitchen cooking Italian, getting his hand smacked for trying to sneak a taste then being told to wash up. OMG, can these two get any cuter?

Ziva trying to make Tony feel better for not getting on the cover by pointing out his shoulder was visible behind Gibbs, and McGee giving him a sympathetic pat on the back. Aw.

TV Episode Recap/Review – NCIS “Worst Nightmare”

Mokibobolink — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:18:42 +0000

Here’s an excerpt from a review I wrote over at Daemon’s TV. CLICK HERE to read the entire review there.

NCIS Season 8 Episode 2 – Worst Nightmare

My favorite bits…

Okay wait, did McGee just refer to himself as the “brain trust of the entire unit”? LOL!

Tony saying that he was NOT going to answer the question about why the interns wouldn’t like Gibbs, because he would come up behind him and make him regret it.. which he of course did. And with that, we have the first headslap (albeit with a manila folder but still, I’m counting it) of the season. Woot!

Abby listing off everything that her intern can or cannot do. Hey, after the Chip fiasco, I can’t say I blame her.

McGee torturing his intern and Tony asking if he finally understood how much fun it was. Oh yes, that one look said it all, McGee was totally digging it.

Tony asking Conrad who would catch all the bad guys if they went into the private sector. Awesome point and I loved hearing that coming from Tony. So relieved that he’s not being as much of a nut as he was last season.

Palmer walking in on Ducky and the intern having so much fun. Hmmm.. can we say “jealous”?

Gibbs asking “Why are you angry, man?” to the kidnapper. So droll and yet so funny.

Conrad catching Gibbs getting the ransom money from the evidence locker and getting Gibbs to compare doing his job to running into a burning building.

Gibbs slapping Palmer’s hand when he tried to reach for the stuff in the box. Aw, poor Palmer.

Abby’s intern actually wearing his bells. OMG, I laughed so hard every time he moved.

Gibbs shushing Abby’s intern.

Woot! First “On your six, Boss” of the season, too! Nice.

Totally flipping out at the way the old guy was able to take out McGee and Ziva. Whoa!

Freaking out for about a half a second when Ziva shot Mason… and then I realized that sort of accident would never happen on Team Gibbs. So when Mason got up I wasn’t surprised at all. Nice show they put on for Carmichael though.

Cracking up at this line from Tony:
“You know what you got? Taken down by Leroy Jethro Gibbs.. holla!” – Tony says holla? Awesome.

….