Review: NCIS 6x24 "Aliyah"

[bananacosmicgirl]

For once, I'll post my review before I read everyone else's reviews of the episode, and then I'll see if they match at all. Yes, I know I'm late - I've been busy with other things, other shows, and after the trainwreck of the NCIS:LA introduction, I just didn't feel like watching.

Ziva.

I. Just. Don't. Care.

They have mangled her character into something I have no idea what it is. I see her in the final scene being beaten and I couldn't care less. In fact, I'm hoping that she'll be killed off and not come back to the team. The whole "veil" (more like choking blanket) of secrecy around her has long since played out its part. The "sexual tension" between her and Tony has been much the same as the crap between Jenny and Gibbs. Are the NCIS writers completely incapable of writing interesting, well-rounded female characters?

Also, I'm very tired of the multilayered secrets this way and that. First we had Jenny with all of her stupid vendettas and idiotic undercover missions, and now we have not only Vance with the is-he-or-isn't-he-a-good-guy, but we also have ten thousand versions of previous canon events, what with Eli/Mossad/Ari/Ziva/Rivkin and other characters I can't be bothered to recall. Everything is about moles, secrets, and getting people beat up this way and that. Are they honestly suggesting that Ziva has been lying to the team/NCIS about her allegiances, and to Gibbs about Ari, for years and we're still supposed to like her and root for her? Seriously?

I will say, at this point in my ranting, that I did enjoy at least parts of the episode. There were some good scene - most of them between Gibbs and Tony. Gibbs' unwavering trust in Tony is beautiful to see.

Also, I didn't see the Tiva. Which was a relief. I have absolutely no trouble seeing this as Tony being worried about his colleague and friend, and using the curiosity that he was born with to check up on her. With the talk a few episodes back (the boxing episode, I don't remember what it was called, but that was another mess) about how he still isn't over Jeanne, I really can't see that all of what happened was triggered by jealousy. I don't see him wanting Ziva. I have never seen him wanting Ziva. In I think season five, there was the episode where Ziva was blah-blahing on and on about soulmates. There, I think it's kind of obvious that she might be in love with him, but he's not interested in her. He has the look of get-me-out-of-here! while she's talking.

If I have to take Ziva as a character seriously - and really, I don't - I guess that her anger towards Tony about killing Rivkin is more fuelled by the fact that she knows that she's to blame, just like the other Mossad-dude said, more than at Tony. She knows she let her personal feelings get in the way. Also, if she is in fact interested in Tony, then her way of showing it sucks and either way, she needs serious therapy.

Onto other things.

Except for the scenes with Tony, Gibbs felt distant like he has on several occasions this season. At least this season finale wasn't tied to something that happened to Gibbs in 1991.

Tony was... oh, I don't know. I can't decide. On the one hand, I love Tony. On the other, he feels so extremely one-dimensional this season, not unlike Ziva (although on a whole, I feel Tony's character makes a lot more sense than Ziva's does). I would have liked to see more of a reaction to shooting Rivkin, would've liked to see some feelings.

I've been re-watching Buffy (as I've mentioned before here on LJ), and I adore the way they let the characters talk. They don't cut off in the middle of a scene for "suspense" or whatever. They let the characters talk, or for that matter be quiet, which gives great depth to the characters. NCIS? Not so much. They always stop when it's getting interesting. Gibbs and Ducky in the basement? Ducky asks about what happened, and they just cut the scene. I realize that we already know what Gibbs was thinking, but I really think there are more layers to add to what happened (especially as they've never actually talked about what happened on the show, other than the tearful scene when Gibbs regained most of his memory). And that's just one example - they always do the same thing. Cut off in the middle, where I would've liked to see what they say, or not say.

Anyway, that was a tangent. But yeah, I still feel Tony's one-dimensional this season. He's been a clown, a frat boy, and except for the elevator scene with the girl in the boxing-episode, the writers seem to completely have forgotten that there's more to him than that. He can be so much more. I believe fanfic writers have shown again and again that his character is full of possibilities.

Then again, I'm not always sure I want more, knowing the mess they made of Gibbs' past.

I enjoyed the scene with Tony and the Director of Mossad. That was a nice scene and Tony showed his skills. He played Eli, and that was very good to see.

I kind of enjoyed the scene between Tony and Ziva in Tel Aviv. No sympathy whatsoever for Ziva, but there was some emotion in Tony at least.

McGee annoyed the crap out of me, which isn't unusual (unfortunately). For some reason, the writers feel the need for him to be "funny", which was just inappropriate - and boring, when repeating the same "joke". Like Gibbs' coolness has been a reoccuring theme, McGee's inappropriate humor and ass-ness has been too. He's been hitting Tony under the belt (the "Love and War"-comment about Jeanne comes to mind), he's been making inappropriate comments (the bag-comment in "Bounce", if I remember right) and he's been acting like he's the best thing NCIS has ever seen (pretty much every episode). It was nice seeing McGee's character growth in the prison-episode, but why can't we have character growth without arrogance?

Abby. Oh, Abby. Haven't we seen the whole Abby-hugs-Tony-when-he's-hurt routine a few times already? Are the writers really running so low on ideas that they have to re-use everything? On top of that, she's highly annoying when Gibbs calls from Tel Aviv. They've gone to Tel Aviv, Tony hurt and quite possibly facing danger - and she's babbling on and on and on about... whatever, I don't remember what it was. Just shut up. And when will Gibbs actually tell her to shut up? He has no trouble telling anyone else.

Ducky was probably the only character I didn't have any issues with. Palmer was there for some reason - and that makes sense in autopsy, but in the bullpen? Not so much. Sitting in Tony's chair? Even less.

Well, this turned long. As an ending note, I'll say that I will tune in next season, but if they spend the first four episodes getting Ziva back and then acting as though nothing has happened, then I will definitely throw something at my computer screen. And if they can't stop with all this crap with secrets and moles and sleeper cells and more secrets, then I'll probably go bang my head into the wall.

ETA: Oh, and the room where Gibbs, Vance and Ziva were watching the interrogation-whatever with Eli and Tony? Could they not have done a better job disguising the regular interrogation room? *snort* I think it was even the same table.

Comments

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

Agrees with some of what you say, other bits not quite so much.

Definitely agrees over the whole comparison to Buffy and letting them talk, etc.

As for Jimmy. As much as I love him to me his presence was exactly the same as in S4 finale. The writers suddenly thought 'ooh, Jimmy has been with the show for so long, let's put him in an episode. Do we have a reason? Nah, but that doesn't matter.' As for him in the squad room, by take is that they are harking back to the Tony & Jimmy scene in 'Bounce'.

Overall I didn't think it was a great finale.

I don't think Ziva has been lying. I think either Eli is playing Vance and Vance genuinely believes it, or Vance is lying to Gibbs for whatever reason.

I too would like to have seen some reaction from Tony killing Rivkin. Whether he was a good guy or a bad guy at the end of the day that kind of encounter there should have been far more than what in effect came over as total detachment and 'so what'? He isn't that cold.

[tuawahine.livejournal.com]

Ziva.
I. Just. Don't. Care.
Me neither. As far as I'm concerned the episode ends with the plane taking off from Tel Aviv, and is decidedly not a cliffhanger.

Are the NCIS writers completely incapable of writing interesting, well-rounded female characters?
They seem to have exhausted themselves with Kate, and heaven knows what they would have done with her if the actress had stayed on.

Are they honestly suggesting that Ziva has been lying to the team/NCIS about her allegiances, and to Gibbs about Ari, for years and we're still supposed to like her and root for her? Seriously?
That confuses me a lot, too, because it means either I have not understood the episode or the writers are very very strange people. (Unless there is far more to Vance than we know. Which would also be annoying, but still the lesser evil.)

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Ziva.

I. Just. Don't. Care.

That pretty much sums it up.

But then, you probably expected me to say that. ;-)

The stupid UST and the equally stupid mobeius thread of secrets and lies eat the real estate that used to be devoted to the characters themselves.

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

So many of us are saying the same thing about the moles and spies and theme of "distrust" all season. And about Ziva. I wish she'd die - that's terrible but I do. I hate her now and can't see how they can possibly redeem her.

I didn't mind "Aliyah". At least there was no terrible and very wrong "Tiva". And at least we saw competent!Tony and Gibbs choosing Tony over Ziva (and how nasty was that ultimatum she gave him?!).

I didn't mind Jimmy being there - he and Tony clearly have some kind of weird friendship going on as evidenced in "Bounce" and he was worried about him and wanted to welcome him home. I thought it was quite sweet. I like Jimmy and would like to see more of him.

I liked Abby hugging Tony as well - he's hurt and he's been away and she would hug him. I didn't mind that - I really wanted *someone* to hug Tony and love him a bit because he's been through hell, poor boy. And I DID like Gibbs giving him that little ass pat so that was nice *g*.

But I don't like what they've done to our show. And I couldn't care less about beatenup!ziva. Are we seriously SUPPOSED to care after the character assasination they did on her?

And McGee - it's all just so wrong. His behaviour is off in so many ways. WHY?! I don't know what they're thinking. But everyone is off really. Gibbs seems kind of tired and distant and this whole "can we trust Vance?" thing is wearing so thin.

I wonder if they can pull it around in S7 or if they've lost viewers for good. THEY seemed to think they had exciting shows lined up for us, but by and large it was all very "meh". Sigh.

[pegasuspup.livejournal.com]

Wow, someone who thinks like me. Interesting. I too, am flummoxed by all of this so-called "Tiva" stuff. I've never seen Tony express any interest in Ziva beyond teammate and colleague. He might be interested in who she's dating/sleeping with, but that's because he's nosy, and gets a thrill about finding out stuff. He is an investigator, after all. The only thing I don't really get is everyone assuming that Tony's interest in Ziva is sexual/personal, yet Tony says nothing to correct their impressions.

Ziva, on the other hand, has been stalking Tony for ages, and as far as I can tell, it has always been unrequited and annoying, Gibbs told her to back off (in "Suspicion"), Ducky told her to back off ("Angel of Death"), Tony blatantly ignores her needy attempt and bonding (in "Cloak"). What is the first thing he says when the op is over in "Under Covers" - "I want a divorce!" I get it, they are two good-looking people working closely together. I just don't see them having a romanitic relationship together.

Moreover, I don't even see that Ziva respects Tony. She disses him, works with McGee (major asshattery with him all season, god what a jerk he's been all season) to keep him down, deliberately misleads him, and ultimatesly, disregards him again with that line, "I wouldn't tell you, but I'd tell Gibbs." Yeah, that is exactly how I'd want my partner, and more importantly, my romantic partner to act.

It isn't that I don't care that Ziva has been captured and is now being tortured, it is that she has been captured and is now being tortured for her knowledge of ... NCIS? (pause to have a good belly laugh and to scratch my head.) All right, they want to know about NCIS? Not, the CIA, or Mossad, but NCIS? Cops who investigate Navy crimes? Why her? Why not steak out the coffee shop where McGee writes and snag him? He probably know tons more about NCIS, having worked 4 months in Computer Crimes, but you also know that you wouldn't have to torture him too much. One or two fingernails and he'd be putty in a terrorists hands.


Gibbs has been internalizing a lot of stuff for the last couple of years. Or perhaps I should say, the writere have been having Gibbs internalizing stuff a lot more these last few years. During the marathons where you see lots of first and second season episodes, he is a tad more relaxed and more comfortable with his relationship with the team. I think Gibbs is trying to determine what is the best way to do his job, but you are right - there are too many secres and hidden agendas getting in the way of everything.

And speaking of earlier seasons, I liked Abby much better in the earlier seasons when she was cool and eccentric. This past year, and actually, probably longer (at least since Dog Tags), she's been a caricature of herself. What was up with her weird freak out about the Santa? And in Aliyah, when she and McGee called Gibbs, and all they did was babble on an on instead of reporting and getting back to work? Where are the old writers - bring them back, please?

But back to teh original rant - Ziva. She can be a strong person on her own - she doesn't need a relationship with Tony to be an important character. I wish the writers would see that, and write that, instead of taking the easy way out.

[jack-infinitude.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting to headbutt McGee for the majority of Season Sux. Up until now, I've been able to handwave it as "Little Timmy's growing up, and growing up is never pretty," especially since my first theory about him never played out; but now I just want to tie him up and leave him to die somewhere.

Okay, not really, because I adore Sean Murray. But its a close thing.

I was also meh on Ziva and Tony. I would have liked Gibbs storylines better if they took place any other time. Alas, it seems that 1991 was some sort of time warp that Gibbs was hurtling through for quite awhile.

I stopped being a fan of Abby a long time ago, so frankly I'm not surprised or amused by her behavior. It was really only a matter of time.

If I was in charge, then I would have my writers investigating real NCIS cases and using them in the show. All we seem to get now are murders; I'd like to see kidnappings, monetary fraud, etc. Murder is boring; can I have some variety please?

Anyway, to end this rambling comment, I'd just like to say that I liked your review of the episode, and its nice to see someone who gets me. *high fives*