Review of NCIS 7X08 Power Down by Anna and Hilde
Dear NCIS,
When I first heard about the premise of the episode, my initial reaction was one of pure trepidation. Having spoilers leaked regarding two team members stuck in an elevator solidified my resolve to watch the episode either while doing the dishes or by peaking through fingers covering my eyes. I honestly felt that the Mike Franks episode of a couple of weeks ago would be the tops for me this season. Consistently having Ziva and that dumb pairing tossed in my face either by the writers, her portrayer, her fans, or the media has really gotten on my last nerve to the point of dreading the show. Agreeing to do this review pretty much committed me to not only paying careful attention to the episode but also to taping it in case I needed to clarify a point afterwards. Boy was I glad I did!
Hilde says:
The last few episodes have, to some degree, restored my faith in the show. I’ve found the never-ending Ziva arc tedious and at times painful to watch. The show has always been about the team for me.
The episode started with a pop right from the opener. I know the writers wanted us focused on how the blackout happened, but honestly, I was more amused by the computer game. Roared with laughter at the “Mom” complaint and even more when I realized it was a grown person. Could easily come up with several people that the poor soul reminded me of. A fact that I thought was one of the intentions — an easy way to draw fans in so that they relate to the “topic” of the episode. This scene alone caused me to consider the idea that this episode was going to be an unbelievable ride.
Hilde says:
The opening sequence was hilarious and set the pace for the rest of the episode. We’ve all met a guy like this and it gave the opening a lightheartedness that continued throughout.
Cue the opening theme and then afterwards we finally see him. Jimmy’s back! And we get an incredibly cute scene that starts with Tony giving Jimmy his requested “sit rep” after which Jimmy tells him exactly who was stuck in the elevator the entire night – Tim and Ziva. We get a brief scene between the two during which Ziva, in abject frustration, throws and breaks McGee’s watch. Wonder if this is part of the “changed woman” that’s been so touted this season and, with any luck, Ziva will draw Tim’s name or replace the watch during the upcoming holiday episodes.
Hilde says:
My first moment of relief this evening came when the elevator scene was so blissfully brief. I don’t think I could have stomached another episode focusing heavily on Ziva. My second moment of relief came when I discovered it was McGee she was trapped with. I whooped with joy when Palmer entered the screen, and I loved every scene he was in, especially the one with Tony and Jimmy! I wished we could se more of those two. Another thing that is still missing for me is more interaction between Tony and Gibbs.
Only Tony would give the stuck agents updates using an orange traffic cone. While definitely over the top, it didn’t have as high a rating on the “Juvenile DiNozzo Meter” as others have this season. Gotta love McGee though and his newly developed Gibbs sense clueing Tony into the man’s presence even while stuck in an elevator. The expression on his face lends more evidence to the fact that Gibbs is going to definitely be different throughout the episode. Yet how much truth was there to what Tony said. Only Gibbs would be quite comfortable within the confines of an episode like this as we were about to see.
At the scene, the investigation took on yet another comical tone when McGee realized that his digital camera’s battery had not charged over night because of the blackout. Here’s where the Gibbsonian method of investigation comes to the forefront with Gibbs’ magical black bag of goodies. He has not just one but several instamatic cameras in it and passes them out to his horrified team and, most likely, the delight of viewers.
The comedy continued throughout the investigation. We saw Tony using the remote on McGee as if he was the plasma screen they normally use, the team rushing to use normal methods of carrying out Gibbs’ directions and their impatience at realizing that the norm no longer worked. This led to one of the funnier moments of the episode — the abject horror on Tony’s, McGee’s and Ziva’s faces as they examined the mimeograph machine and the smirk on Gibbs’ as he watched them without their knowledge. Although I do think that Gibbs’ knowledge of the mimeograph might have been taking it a bit too far. Unless he encountered the machine in Stillwater when he was growing up, I found that one part a bit farfetched and there only for comedic purposes — even if I did still enjoy it. The smirk on Gibbs’ face…priceless!
Hilde says:
I absolutely loved Mark Harmon and David McCallum in this episode. Both of their characters were unfazed by the blackout, making do with what they had and watching their younger teammates flounder. I enjoyed watching the practical solutions they came up with for the numerous problems an investigation runs into without their usual gadgets at hand.
I thought Tim’s comment of needing a Brontosaurus to work the mimeograph was priceless, and one that clearly should have warranted a slap from Gibbs. Abby was back in form in this episode, trying to make her own Caf-Pow and using lemon to operate her CD player. She reverted briefly to Baby!Abby, complaining about Ducky getting power and not her. It does not take a scientist to understand why autopsy needs power.
Had to roll my eyes at yet another joke at Tony’s expense though. The idea that it was him and not Ziva who overdosed on the cologne to cover not being able to shower was ridiculous and unneeded. Can we include pointless and just plain wrong since Ziva was the one in the elevator all night long? When is the show going to stop the digs at Tony’s expense? It’s overused and very old.
Hilde says:
So old! I wish the TBTB would focus on developing Tony as a character instead! I have such high hopes for the 150th episode when we finally get to meet his father. I hope the writers have used this opportunity to reveal a bit more about Tony’s background.
And oh yeah, guess I should mention at least a little bit about the case itself. Suspected the hubby more than once as the case developed. There was just something about him that raised my suspect meter. Was glad I was wrong in the end though. Have heard several comments questioning NSA running an op without keeping NCIS in the know. While that thought also disturbs me, I was able to chalk that up to possibly the director knowing and keeping the information as need to know. Plus it could also be explained as NCIS as an agency being kept in the dark about some operations simply because they had/have a former Mossad officer now probationary agent in their ranks. Pointing culpability to the security officer along with the other two and apprehending him via a setup and joint operation with NSA neatly wrapped up both investigations.
Hilde says: For once, this was a case that had me intrigued throughout the episode. I did not get bored, or just plain disinterested or disheartened. This was a well-constructed plot that took a proper investigation to solve. They all played a part in solving it and they kept me in suspense until the end.
This episode, though, for me at least, was all about the humor and getting in touch with the way NCIS used to be. The case was very team oriented as were all of the little humorous asides that are an NCIS trademark. From Abby trying to mix her own Caf-Pow to Ducky storing everyone’s food in autopsy to Tony and McGee trying to “remote control” each other to Abby creating battery power for her boom box to Tony running through a mass of old 70’s cop shows, there was a sense of spreading the scenes around so that the focus wasn’t on just one character in either a funny or a serious way.
This was definitely the thing that I loved most.
Hilde says:
I wholeheartedly agree! This is what has been missing for a long time for me. Let’s hope this continues
The best part of the entire episode came near the end though and it came in two different scenes. When they finally nailed the security guard, Gibbs spoke to Tony with what is the classic cop show line for me. Book ‘em, Danno-zo… Classic and made my jaw drop to the floor before I shrieked and cheered. This was followed by the ending of all endings. After returning to the Navy yard, the team is gathered in the bullpen as the power suddenly returns. As one they rush to their desks and immediately begin frantically typing on their computers — all except one. Gibbs looks around at his team and then calmly turns off his monitor before the episode ends with him smirking/smiling/grinning that MH does. It was the best!
With Love,
Anna and Hilde