NCIS: Requiem (Season 5)

I've often banged on about how NCIS is set apart from most group cops shows like CSI, or even House, based on the interaction between the regular cast (House had it in the first season, but then it faltered, though it is getting it back with the introduction of the new team). Despite that interaction, and in this episode we were witness to it in the very beginning as Abby tried to get pictures of Gibbs' team for her mobile phone, there is not often that we are given any insight into the characters background and emotions. Most recently we were given a look at DiNozzo's feelings after he was forced to admit to the woman he loved that he had been simply using her to get to her father. This week's episode, however, was slightly different as we did get the opportunity to look into Gibbs' personal life.

After the rather surprising (and leftfield) revelation that Gibbs had a wife before the three we know about, and a daughter to said woman, and more that they were murdered while Gibbs was in Desert Storm, very little mention has been made about the situation. Admittedly (and certainly in character) it's highly unlikely that if you found out that your boss had a wife and daughter who'd been murdered you certainly wouldn't bring it up every chance you get, so to dwell on it is almost as unbelievable as banging on about it.

But it's nice this episode that we get the opportunity to see that it is still on Gibbs' mind despite apparently not being talked about. The return of a woman from Gibbs' past - in this case the girl that was Kelly's, his daughter, best friend. Mark Harmon might get a bit of flack for average acting skills, but the fact is, he is a very competent actor and the scenes in which he meets Maddy are wonderfully underplayed, and Gibbs' remark to Maddy when she wonders what Kelly would be like if she had lived ("she'd be like you") is a truly beautiful moment.

The relationship between the two is the driving force of the episode as Gibbs points out to Ducky that while he was unable to save his daughter and wife, he can make a difference to Maddy and save her regardless of what he has to do, and he does come very close to going outside NCIS rule. Indeed by the end he doesn't take his badge with him indicating he is acting alone.

The other character that gets some nice moments in this episode is Tony DiNozzo who is, as usual, completely flippant about everything that is going on, but we do get to see that deep down inside he cares deeply about his boss - although he blithely tells the rest of the team he is unconcerned, he confesses to the Director that he has tried to contact Gibbs after he disappears at the end, showing a loyalty that even Abby doesn't quite possess.

I believe that this is one of the finest episodes of NCIS made, and I can't rave enough about it.

"A+"