Many happy returns highlight tonight’s episode of NCIS, titled “Saviors.” Jon Cryer returns as Dr. Cyril Taft, the surgeon who saved Gibbs’s life this season. Joel Gretsch returns as “almost-perfect” NCIS Agent, Stan Burley, and Katie Roberts is back as Navy Surgical Tech Ensign, Joni Ryan.
But the topper may be the return of Scottie Thompson who debuted her recurring role as Jeanne Benoit back on November 7, 2006.
Nine years ago, when the late Jenny Shepard was still director of NCIS, she assigned Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) to go undercover as Professor Tony DiNardo in an attempt to capture the illusive arms dealer, La Grenouille (French for “The Frog”).
Masterfully played by Armand Assante, La Grenouille was not only a deceptively charming criminal; he also was father to Dr. Jeanne Benoit, the “mark” in Tony’s undercover guise.
DiNozzo was supposed to get Jeanne to fall in love with him and share intel about her father, but Jeanne had no idea that her father was an arms dealer.
The romance lasted for almost two years before Tony was forced to reveal the truth about himself, but unfortunately for DiNozzo, he already had fallen in love with the beautiful doctor.
The breakup left viewers in tears as Weatherly skillfully portrayed a man trying to hold back the pain of losing his true love.
That emotional pain will resurface tonight when insurgents attack a group of doctors volunteering in the Sudan. Counted among the missing-or-dead is Jeanne’s now-husband, Dr. David Woods (David Chisum) and Ensign Ryan, a friend of Cyril Taft’s and a member of the surgical team that operated on Gibbs.
When NCIS is called to rescue the volunteer medical team, Jeanne invites herself to be part of the recovery effort. Dr. Taft insists that Jeanne be allowed to accompany Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and DiNozzo to meet Burley in South Sudan.
Taft chides Gibbs for not taking care of himself following his surgery, and the negligence is evident when Gibbs has medical setback in the office.
NCIS also stars Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, Emily Wickersham and David McCallum. Other guest stars tonight are Annie Tedesco, Gabriel Hogan, Omono Okojie, Noel Arthur, Sarah Jane Mackay and Akuyoe Graham.
“Saviors” was written by Executive Producer, Scott Williams, and directed by Tony Wharmby.
NCIS airs on November 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
