SPOILERS - NCIS "Skeletons"

[justalurkr]

or is there something less than totally satisfying about this freeze-frame-on-the-perp ending? Yes, we know everything we need to know, theoretically, and we've had our Gibbs-in-Interview fun for the evening, so here! Here's the bad girl without the boring procedural details that explain why she's the monster.

'Cuz I'd sure help Gibbs or DiNozzo or McGee or even Abby move a body, but Coren Nemec in full crazy? Love doesn't explain that to my satisfaction.

Also, what? Ducky has no skeletons? Palmer and Lee got short shrift on theirs? Or are they finally out of the shadowy corners and I missed it surfing for porn? I'd much rather have another round of young fumbling lust or runon memories of that time when...than what we got for crew skeletal action:

1. So the Little Man broke Abby's heart. Really. So? Pauley Perrette gave a bang-up performance and Gibbs always knowing what to say was pretty much worth the price of admission, but still. This is Abby's skeleton?

2. Madame Bitch Director become Madame Bitch in the Manger? She's totally hiring this Army CID chick because Gibbs won't date a co-worker, isn't she? Or do Army people regularly go to work for Naval Criminal Investigative Service? Plus, a shot of bourbon during working hours while they most likely dish about The Man They've Shared, Except No One Really Has Him? When did the open contempt for women in the workplace start on this show, and when can we expect it to end?

3. OMG! MCGEE WROTE A BOOK! BASED ON HIS CO-WORKERS LIVES! THAT BASTARD! Because we totally didn't know that. We totally haven't worked that ground over sufficiently. His "twisted sister" doesn't even begin to measure up to the appalling shock! Again, when can we expect closure on this?

4. Tony DiNozzo has a GF he's sooooo serious about, he fails to flirt with hotties! I'm too grateful we didn't have to squirm through yet another "no, I love you more" scene to gripe much. Plus, it papered over the red herring for me of why they wouldn't be suspicious that a business woman would rather take time out for a warrant service than just signing the damned papers and getting it over with. Cooperating, she'd have had much better grounds for an OMGWTFBBQGRANDPAW reaction than that cagy bitch crap.

Of course, now it looks as if the team members are paying more attention to each other than to the witnesses/suspects, but whatever.

5. Okay, to be fair? I suspect Zive Sue's skeleton closet would require its own season to open, so sticking with the glowing remains of her dead not-boyfriend might have been the wise choice.

6. [looks back at 2] On the other hand, if Madame Bitch in the Manger does convert Lt. Mann to Agent Mann (a character naming sin for which the NCIS writers really would have to burn in hell for all eternity, or at least 'til summer break,) that puts her off limits for more painfully unprofessional verbal spars such as the ones we saw, oh, every time Gibbs and Mann were onscreen together?

Tony's right. She's not a redhead. This. Must. Be. Stopped.

Comments

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I think gave Abby the plotline because the guy playing him had died sometime after filming the last episode he was in. A homage maybe?

I did not know that

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

The long, lingering shot on the screen saver before she "moved on" certainly makes a lot more sense.

[ducks-in-a-row.livejournal.com]

or is there something less than totally satisfying about this freeze-frame-on-the-perp ending?

I literally looked at the clock 'cause it *wasn't* over. Seriously, I think someone lost the last ten minutes of the ep.

Madame Bitch Director become Madame Bitch in the Manger?

I so despise that little ferret-faced bitch. Last ep Mann was in, I was fully expecting the director to put on her cat suit and start scratching, she was so blatantly jealous. And now.... Is it possible for any tv writer to create a mature female character who isn't either a blithering love-struck teenager or a manipulative bitch?

I do adore Abby, but then, secondary female characters do tend to come out looking better in general.

teh ebil interwebs, they ate my reply

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

So here's a shorter one:

I so despise that little ferret-faced bitch.

Me, too!

Last ep Mann was in,

Oh, wait. You weren't talking about Madame Bitch in the Manger with the ferret-faced thing?

Is it possible for any tv writer to create a mature female character who isn't either a blithering love-struck teenager or a manipulative bitch?

Apparently not, though I think it's more a woman in charge thing, irrespective of the character's age. For some reason, secondary female characters can have vulnerabilities that don't revolve around their love lives. In order to be 'well-balanced,' the woman in charge must be utterly incompetent in the social arena. Only men can succeed at love & war and be believable.

Re: teh ebil interwebs, they ate my reply

[ducks-in-a-row.livejournal.com]

No, no-- I *did* mean Madame Director aka Ferret Face. I should've been more careful with my pronouns.

I actually haven't minded Mann too much, except when TPTB try to stir up this stupid jealousy over Gibbs. Even then, Mann has played it cool while Ferret Face bares her teeny little fangs.

Apparently not, though I think it's more a woman in charge thing, irrespective of the character's age.

Could be, altho in "House" I love Cuddy and despise Cameron. I'm going with my original (Sam-based) theory that the female character who gets screwed by the writing is whoever is designated to be THE GIRL, regardless of age or profession. THE MAN, tho, as you say gets to succeed in everything.

[bugchicklv.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that freeze frame confused me--and I worried that my TIVO missed the rest of the ending. But no, evidently not. FTW? Does this mean she helped him all along? Did she love him so much she wanted to hide the last body (and WHY 'cause hello? 5 more and a confession).

Gibbs and Mann's "cryptic" conversation (*snort*) annoyed me to no end. I am not sure why because, had that been Tony and Ziva (but no ship NO SHIPPPPPPP!) I'd have been cool with it.

I hope to hell TPTB are not really going to add her to the show in a more recurring role.

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

The business woman's motivations were murky and murkier. I can't see falling in love and adopting a new, mass-murdering lifestyle, myself. Not and be that perky and socially functional, anyway.

I am not sure why because, had that been Tony and Ziva (but no ship NO SHIPPPPPPP!) I'd have been cool with it.

I suspect because, in canon, Gibbs has never 'tapped that' on Tony and Ziva. Those two women are Gibbs's conquests going off to compare notes. I'm not saying women don't do that, but to feature it so often in the story line? Gibbs's girls giggling or commiserating in corners? It's aggravating as all get out.

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

2 and 6. I've just started warming up to MD and that whole thing just set me off again. Are we going to get long series of awkward pissing contests with the three of them? I'd almost rather have the freakin' flashbacks back. That whole thing was the ABSOLUTE worst part of the episode for me. SOOOOOOOOO not happy.

3. Dead Horses must have been on special at the start of the season. They seem to be beating enough of them.

4. *facepalm* The whole Jeanne storyline better have a HUGE freakin' payoff at the end of the season for what it's doing to Tony's character.

Oh, she's doomed

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

Jeanne, I mean. I can't think of any other reason to set up a wild-man-domesticated story line for Tony, especially when they gild the lily with scenes like the one from the Valentine's ep when she oohed and cooed over his honesty about not having bought a gift.

They're just too perfectly happily perfect in their love for this to be anything other than a massive tragedy for Tony.

Re: Oh, she's doomed

[webbgirl.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that I'm waiting with heavy anticipation for the massive tragedy?

*so going to hell*

Re: Oh, she's doomed

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

[puts on pompous hat]

Why unseemly in general, such schadenfreude in this particular instance is, in my opinion, more than justified, given the atrocities committed against Tony DiNozzo's character in the name of what is most likely a paltry emotional pay-off.

[takes off pompous hat]

bitch totally has it comin', dude.

Re: Oh, she's doomed

[superbadgirl]

I actually kind of like a more mature, less womanizing Tony. But, yeah, it's not going to end well. I thought she was part of his undercover stuff, too, but now I'm even confused about that.

Re: Oh, she's doomed

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

They really haven't been doing well in the clarity department this season, have they? The girl butcher's motivations, Gibbs's comings and goings with his not-retirement, Tony's weird undercover business? Maybe we're all still stuck in that dream sequence from the episode right after Kate's death, when the team members were seeing her in various stunning outfits.

Post-traumatic stress-induced hallucinations would explain a great deal of this season that logic does not.

[nialla]

or is there something less than totally satisfying about this freeze-frame-on-the-perp ending? Yes, we know everything we need to know, theoretically, and we've had our Gibbs-in-Interview fun for the evening, so here! Here's the bad girl without the boring procedural details that explain why she's the monster.

I figured out she was the murderer as soon as Nemec's character was connected to her -- there are no coincidences in TV land. I also knew Gibbs was letting her go because he wanted to catch her in the act. But that was a total copout of an ending.

I could see her falling for Nemec's character and offing an overbearing mother that stood in their way, but what about the rest? And why would he keep quiet about it? Twu luv? Or did he help off his mother and crazy chick is holding that over him to not speak about the rest?

Madame Bitch Director become Madame Bitch in the Manger?

I can't decide which was worse, the two girlies dishing about the man they've had, or all those episodes filled with flashbacks to Paris to beat us over the head with the fact that Gibbs had tapped that.

Plus, it papered over the red herring for me of why they wouldn't be suspicious that a business woman would rather take time out for a warrant service than just signing the damned papers and getting it over with. Cooperating, she'd have had much better grounds for an OMGWTFBBQGRANDPAW reaction than that cagy bitch crap.

Tony's got himself a girlfriend, so he no longer has the skills to charm any other ladies. [rolls eyes] I couldn't figure out why no one questioned her not signing those papers... apparently neither could the writers.

On the other hand, if Madame Bitch in the Manger does convert Lt. Mann to Agent Mann (a character naming sin for which the NCIS writers really would have to burn in hell for all eternity, or at least 'til summer break,) that puts her off limits for more painfully unprofessional verbal spars such as the ones we saw, oh, every time Gibbs and Mann were onscreen together?

Oh no, we'll see the Gibbs and Mann dynamic become just like the one between Gibbs and Madame Bitch Director. With the added extra of three-way uncomforatableness with MBD adding in her comments.