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rebecca_in_blueSara and I spent yesterday afternoon at Mom's house, playing video games and eating Thanksgiving dinner. She had so much food -- turkey, rice dressing, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, rolls, salad, apple pie, cheesecake, and cookie cake! I ate too much, and after a meal like that, I really didn't want to go into work that evening. We were there a little late setting up for Black Friday. I have to be there dark and early tomorrow morning -- ugh!
They're a bit late, but below are my notes on this week's new NCIS. Rebecca wasn't thrilled.
Review for episode 10x07 Shell Shock: Part 2
Writer: Gina Lucita Monreal (The Tell)
- What is up with that Marine talking about how sexy the Queen of Hearts card is? Um, ew.
- “We need your help to find him.” Yes, because when you're searing for a terrorist, the person to help you is a soldier who just returned from combat with PTSD and who, only last week in Shell Shock: Part 1, suffered a psychotic break from reality that caused him to kill his best friend. Ugh! What is the matter with you, writers?
- And why the heck is Westcott's dad still here? He's done nothing but huff, roll his eyes, and be an unhelpful jerk. I can't remember the last time we had such a pointless character.
- Tony is jealous/curious of Ziva's plans to go the opera, but she won't give him any details. This is getting old, writers — so old. (And it especially annoyed me because just recently in Lost at Sea, Ziva seemed miffed at Tony and McGee for going to the bar without her. Look, Ziva, if they can't have a guys night without you, then you can't go to the opera without Tony.)
+ Patterson was nicknamed McCartney because he plays the guitar. Rebecca approves. :)
- Westcott's flashback to the ambush was so cheesy, especially Gibbs's “Why are you running?”
+/- Abby seemed very toned-down in her lab scene with the Westcotts, but I guess that was appropriate to the situation. I did love her mention that the whole team is planning to have Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs's house this year! Yay!
- Gibbs pushing Westcott to try the computer stimulation of the ambush. Is it really a great idea to make this guy relive such a recent, traumatic event? No wonder he couldn't finish.
+ I loved Ziva's outfit in the first half of the episode (the purple top and khaki-colored pants), especially in the long shots in the bullpen.
+ The shot of Gibbs stepping off the elevator reflected in the autopsy doors — very creative camera work there.
- What is up with Gibbs semi-blaming himself for Westcott's condition? I still don't understand or appreciate how Gibbs is handling this guy with such touchy-feely kid gloves. I ask again — can you see him doing this with anyone on his team? I sure can't.
- Very poor judgement on Evan's part to bring Westcott to a bar. Again, this guy just suffered a psychotic break that lead directly to the death of his friend. So let's take him to a bar and give him alcohol! Yeah, that makes so much sense. And now the bar scene is turning into the Westcott family feud hour. Ugh. They're obviously this year's annoying November arc characters. (Last year's was Chaplain Burke, and 2010's was Liat. I hate to sound whiny, but I haven't seen a November arc that I could really sink my teeth into since Season 6.)
- McGee spent all night at his desk combing through Fenten's computer. Yeah, that poor guy hardly ever leaves his desk anymore, does he?
- And now we have more Westcott family drama with Evan whining about how he wants his old brother back and how their dad doesn't care about them. Ugh! This arc needs to be over already.
+ Geez, that dramatic music when Westcott was in the convenience store made me lol. Terrorist plot goin' down in the soup aisle!
- When Westcott was having the flashbacks in the convenience store, memories of Torres (the friend he killed during his psychotic break) kept popping up, but Gibbs told him to forget those and just focus on Kersey. Because everybody is acting like that never happened, and Westcott isn't a dangerous guy who needs to be in a psych ward or VA hospital, not out walking the streets! Ugh! Writers, you fools!
+ The little exchange between Gibbs and Ziva when she was trying to get out of working the stake-out with DiNozzo was so cute. Did you really think Gibbs would fall for that, Ziva? :)
+/- At first, the scene with Tony and Ziva in the car made me want to bang my head against a wall! Fortunately, it got better; Ziva finally opening up and talking about her sister was kinda cheesy, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. I also think it had something to do with Tony talking to her about his mom last week.
+ “Lay off the double negatives. They confuse her.” Lol, Tony!
- Gibbs letting Westcott into observation while he interrogated Kersey. Ugh, the pure stupid things that they keep letting this guy do! I can't take much more of this arc.
- And this whole time, Westcott has been misremembering what happened during the ambush; he, not McCartney, was the one who saved Hill. This wouldn't irk me so much if most of the episode hadn't been built around getting him to remember what happened at the convenience store! Now we find out that his memory has been unreliable all along! I may as well ask Sara to recount something for me.
+ “You've seen me drive. I am never late.” Lol, Ziva!
+ Tony once caught McGee playing video games in a cape!
- Ow, that Tiva anvil at the end. I'm trying to take these things as friendship-only, because that's how I prefer Tony and Ziva, but it's getting harder and harder. :\
- I'm bummed we didn't get to see the team having Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs's house. Remember when they all had Thanksgiving dinner at Ducky's house back in Child's Play? That's still one of my favorite moments.
+ Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette's PSA about how soldiers returning home with PTSD can get the help they need after the episode.
FF: I wrote a slight tag to this episode in To Be Thankful For. When we found out that the team would be having Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs', my imagination sorta grabbed that and ran with it!
Instead of the expected turkey or cornucopia, Mom had fall leaves put on the cookie cake. Someone got to it before I could photograph it, so here's wishing y'all a happy 'ksgiving! I am off to enjoy the evening with CJ & Company.
On the art calendar, I'm looking at Still Life with Ginger Jar and Eggplants, an 1894 oil painting by Paul Cezanne.
They're a bit late, but below are my notes on this week's new NCIS. Rebecca wasn't thrilled.
Review for episode 10x07 Shell Shock: Part 2
Writer: Gina Lucita Monreal (The Tell)
- What is up with that Marine talking about how sexy the Queen of Hearts card is? Um, ew.
- “We need your help to find him.” Yes, because when you're searing for a terrorist, the person to help you is a soldier who just returned from combat with PTSD and who, only last week in Shell Shock: Part 1, suffered a psychotic break from reality that caused him to kill his best friend. Ugh! What is the matter with you, writers?
- And why the heck is Westcott's dad still here? He's done nothing but huff, roll his eyes, and be an unhelpful jerk. I can't remember the last time we had such a pointless character.
- Tony is jealous/curious of Ziva's plans to go the opera, but she won't give him any details. This is getting old, writers — so old. (And it especially annoyed me because just recently in Lost at Sea, Ziva seemed miffed at Tony and McGee for going to the bar without her. Look, Ziva, if they can't have a guys night without you, then you can't go to the opera without Tony.)
+ Patterson was nicknamed McCartney because he plays the guitar. Rebecca approves. :)
- Westcott's flashback to the ambush was so cheesy, especially Gibbs's “Why are you running?”
+/- Abby seemed very toned-down in her lab scene with the Westcotts, but I guess that was appropriate to the situation. I did love her mention that the whole team is planning to have Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs's house this year! Yay!
- Gibbs pushing Westcott to try the computer stimulation of the ambush. Is it really a great idea to make this guy relive such a recent, traumatic event? No wonder he couldn't finish.
+ I loved Ziva's outfit in the first half of the episode (the purple top and khaki-colored pants), especially in the long shots in the bullpen.
+ The shot of Gibbs stepping off the elevator reflected in the autopsy doors — very creative camera work there.
- What is up with Gibbs semi-blaming himself for Westcott's condition? I still don't understand or appreciate how Gibbs is handling this guy with such touchy-feely kid gloves. I ask again — can you see him doing this with anyone on his team? I sure can't.
- Very poor judgement on Evan's part to bring Westcott to a bar. Again, this guy just suffered a psychotic break that lead directly to the death of his friend. So let's take him to a bar and give him alcohol! Yeah, that makes so much sense. And now the bar scene is turning into the Westcott family feud hour. Ugh. They're obviously this year's annoying November arc characters. (Last year's was Chaplain Burke, and 2010's was Liat. I hate to sound whiny, but I haven't seen a November arc that I could really sink my teeth into since Season 6.)
- McGee spent all night at his desk combing through Fenten's computer. Yeah, that poor guy hardly ever leaves his desk anymore, does he?
- And now we have more Westcott family drama with Evan whining about how he wants his old brother back and how their dad doesn't care about them. Ugh! This arc needs to be over already.
+ Geez, that dramatic music when Westcott was in the convenience store made me lol. Terrorist plot goin' down in the soup aisle!
- When Westcott was having the flashbacks in the convenience store, memories of Torres (the friend he killed during his psychotic break) kept popping up, but Gibbs told him to forget those and just focus on Kersey. Because everybody is acting like that never happened, and Westcott isn't a dangerous guy who needs to be in a psych ward or VA hospital, not out walking the streets! Ugh! Writers, you fools!
+ The little exchange between Gibbs and Ziva when she was trying to get out of working the stake-out with DiNozzo was so cute. Did you really think Gibbs would fall for that, Ziva? :)
+/- At first, the scene with Tony and Ziva in the car made me want to bang my head against a wall! Fortunately, it got better; Ziva finally opening up and talking about her sister was kinda cheesy, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. I also think it had something to do with Tony talking to her about his mom last week.
+ “Lay off the double negatives. They confuse her.” Lol, Tony!
- Gibbs letting Westcott into observation while he interrogated Kersey. Ugh, the pure stupid things that they keep letting this guy do! I can't take much more of this arc.
- And this whole time, Westcott has been misremembering what happened during the ambush; he, not McCartney, was the one who saved Hill. This wouldn't irk me so much if most of the episode hadn't been built around getting him to remember what happened at the convenience store! Now we find out that his memory has been unreliable all along! I may as well ask Sara to recount something for me.
+ “You've seen me drive. I am never late.” Lol, Ziva!
+ Tony once caught McGee playing video games in a cape!
- Ow, that Tiva anvil at the end. I'm trying to take these things as friendship-only, because that's how I prefer Tony and Ziva, but it's getting harder and harder. :\
- I'm bummed we didn't get to see the team having Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs's house. Remember when they all had Thanksgiving dinner at Ducky's house back in Child's Play? That's still one of my favorite moments.
+ Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette's PSA about how soldiers returning home with PTSD can get the help they need after the episode.
FF: I wrote a slight tag to this episode in To Be Thankful For. When we found out that the team would be having Thanksgiving dinner at Gibbs', my imagination sorta grabbed that and ran with it!
Instead of the expected turkey or cornucopia, Mom had fall leaves put on the cookie cake. Someone got to it before I could photograph it, so here's wishing y'all a happy 'ksgiving! I am off to enjoy the evening with CJ & Company.
On the art calendar, I'm looking at Still Life with Ginger Jar and Eggplants, an 1894 oil painting by Paul Cezanne.
