Everyone who reads this column knows that, in my opinion, NCIS’s David McCallum accomplishes nothing less than “spectacular” every time he is on-screen.
Before you think I am being nice, please know I am a tough critic. Just ask any friend who watches television with me. A ridiculous edit or a badly looped line? I scream at the TV. You would think that I am watching a fumble during the Super Bowl when the score is tied on 4th and goal and :03 is on the clock.
Yes, I gripe about bad television, sometimes like it is the end of the world. I am thankful that my husband has learned to endure this after many years. (He is a Jets fan. Suffering is in his nature.)
I also am thankful that I never have to complain about NCIS. McCallum, Harmon and the rest of the stellar cast and crew never fail me. With that in mind, I am anticipating a treat tonight.
McCallum’s alter ego, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard will strive to do the almost-impossible: 1) conduct an autopsy remotely; 2) use sailors as surrogate surgeons; 3) track all of their movements since one of the three sailors is the murderer, and 4) do all of this underwater on a submarine.
No problem. He is the Duckman, after all.
The body is confined in the sub’s decompression chamber, and the three potential murder suspects are trapped in the chamber with the deceased. Not only is there potential for evidence tampering, but it will be four days before the compartment can be opened without killing the survivors.
Decompression Sickness (DCS), often referred to as “the bends” or Bends and Caisson Disease, is an illness that can affect a victim when pressure rapidly decreases around the body (such as a submarine ascending quickly) and compromising the circulatory system. Death can come from a variety of complications.
Unless they want three more bodies in the decompression chamber, protocols must be followed. Unfortunately for NCIS, the corpse will lose most of its evidence in those four days, even if none of the three seamen in the chamber tamper with the body.
My guess for the “most likely”? Look for: 1) the person who would know that the corpse will become nonviable for evidence, and 2) the one who could stand the nauseating smell of a dead body for four days.
Check out the sneak peek below between Abby (Pauley Perrette) and Bishop (Emily Wickersham). A couple of the above-referenced friends will agree with the Valentine sentiment.
NCIS also stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll and Brian Dietzen.
Guest stars on tonight’s episode, “Decompressed,” include Maya Stojan, Greg Sereno, Henderson Wade, Tim Conlon, Brett Rice, Aaron Hendry, Keston John, John DeMita, Dahlia Salem, Matthew Brenher and David Paladino. “Decompressed” was written by Brendan Fehily and directed by Tom Wright.
For McCallum fans, check out his recently published novel, “Once A Crooked Man.” A quirky novel about crime, a suitcase full of cash and a dangerous man lurking in the shadows. The tagline is “Crime pays. And pays well.”
NCIS airs at 8:01 p.m. ET/PT on CBS (U.S.) and on Global TV (Canada).
