Last week, NCIS shocked audiences when Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) split with husband, Jake (Jamie Bamber), after finding out he was having an affair.
Every aspect of the episode excelled, right down to the reveal that Ellie (an Oklahoma girl) drives a pickup truck.
But, the most profound scenes were between Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Jake, because Harmon’s eyes showed that Gibbs really wanted to deck the wandering husband.
Equally impressive was how Harmon showed that Gibbs would have taken all of the hurt away from Bishop, if he only could find a way.
There is no better acting on television than the acting done by this cast.
Expect that to continue tonight when Ellie is at home in Oklahoma with mom, Barbara (guest star Lindsay Wagner). As they wait for Ellie’s dad and grandparents to arrive from Wyoming for Thanksgiving, Ellie chops wood while Barbara gives her relationship advice.
Jake continues to call, but Bishop does not answer. When she finally has enough of the ringing annoyance, there is a great scene that shows what many people would like to do with a cell phone at some point or another.
Also tonight, the Secretary of the Navy asks NCIS to help locate a bone marrow donor for a sailor with leukemia. His two siblings were Marines killed in the line of duty.
While most of the NCIS team make plans to spend Thanksgiving at Ducky’s (David McCallum), Gibbs (Mark Harmon) heads to Oklahoma to check on Bishop.
Perhaps he is overwhelmed by holiday spirit or too much fresh Oklahoma air, but Gibbs tries to get Bishop to open up about her feelings. He quotes Gibbs Rule #28, “If you need help, ask.”
So, last week, Gibbs was giving marital advice, and this week, he is discussing feelings. Where is Leroy Jethro Gibbs and who is this person who looks like him?
Seriously though, he is letting Bishop see what the audience has known for over twelve years…Gibbs may be a man of few words, but every word he says is important.
This year, as every year, the NCIS audience can be grateful for many things…especially for a show that delivers quality each week.
NCIS also stars Pauley Perrette (who, along with Harmon, is nominated for a People’s Choice Award), Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll and Brian Dietzen.
Tonight’s guest stars are Joe Spano (as FBI very special agent Tobias Fornell), Ryan Doom, Patricia Bethune, Grantham Coleman, Harry Van Gorkum, Jack Mikesell, Stuart McLean, Eric Nelsen and Scott Roe.
Tonight’s episode, “Blood Brothers,” was written by Jennifer Corbett and directed by Arvin Brown.
NCIS airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
