Critic’s Ranking: 4 / 5.0
4
When Donna Mills visitor stars on NCIS, the drama is about to get actual.
The legendary actress, greatest recognized for her iconic function as Abby Ewing on Knots Touchdown, brings her signature aptitude to NCIS Season 22 Episode 3.
With a contact of traditional TV magic, Mills matches proper right into a lineup of unforgettable visitor stars like Robert Wagner and Lily Tomlin.
As one of many authentic queens of TV drama, Mills has at all times been glamorous, ruthless, and by no means afraid to shake issues up.
Abby didn’t simply play the sport; she wrote the principles and broke them at any time when it suited her.
Now, as Wanda Prescott, a high-society antiques collector with a mysterious previous, Mills brings that very same magnetic vitality to NCIS.
If there’s one factor we are able to depend on, it’s that when Donna Mills steps onto the display screen, she’s not right here to mix in — she’s right here to personal the second.
A Spooky Case for Halloween
Being a Halloween episode, NCIS serves up mixture of suspense, laughs, and a contact of vacation creepiness.
Parker is all-in for Halloween enjoyable, however when trick-or-treaters pop up in the midst of the investigation, he doesn’t get almost the joys Jess does.
It provides a light-hearted vibe amidst the strain, setting the stage for a traditional NCIS thriller.
So, about Hal: Hal is lifeless, however the actual thriller is whether or not his home belongs to him or to Bryce Prescott, a Navy SEAL who insists it’s his.
McGee and Torres, loyal as ever, are inclined to consider Bryce at his phrase — they’re all about retaining that “previous” staff spirit alive.
Parker, in the meantime, is cautious and desires proof.
It’s an fascinating dynamic, with Torres and McGee clearly respecting Parker but additionally holding onto Gibbs’s old-school model.
If McGee had been to ultimately step into the lead function, would he deliver again the traditional Gibbs vibe? It’s one thing price watching.
Donna Mills Brings a Contact of Glamour to the Haunted Lodge
Right here’s the place the NCIS Halloween enjoyable ramps up.
The investigation leads them to a supposed haunted lodge known as Prescott’s Folly, and Parker will get a kick out of it, particularly with Torres and Jess spooked about visiting.
Donna Mills performs Wanda with an aura, however sadly, the character doesn’t fairly deliver the excessive drama of Abby Ewing.
Nonetheless, she’s fabulous, dressed to the nines, and provides a contact of sophistication to the haunted vibe.
Parker, ever the joker, savors watching Torres and Jess squirm about going inside, including just a little snark when he and McGee stroll to the “security” of their automobile: “Is that this a terrific job or what?”
His potential to stability humor with severe moments — like when the trick-or-treaters confirmed up — retains the episode’s tone on level.
When Jess and Torres discover themselves in a room filled with creepy dolls and model heads, Parker’s amused commentary is priceless, including levity to an in any other case unsettling state of affairs.
McGee’s Dilemma
However a haunted lodge wasn’t the one “haunting” this hour. One thing’s haunting McGee, too.
He’s clearly nonetheless feeling the sting of being handed over for the deputy director function, an comprehensible disappointment he reluctantly shared with Parker.
Whereas Parker is glad McGee’s nonetheless with the staff, McGee’s temper suggests the snub impacts him greater than he’d wish to admit.
There’s no rift between him and Parker, however McGee’s loyalty to Gibbs’s legacy could be including a layer of frustration.
It’s virtually as if he believes issues might need turned out in another way if Gibbs had nonetheless been round.
The frustration is actual sufficient that McGee’s even digging into LaRoche. Not factor, even when we knew it could occur anyway. However he’s doing it alone, and that’s the issue.
That is most likely why he was so “all about enterprise” at Prescott’s home when Jimmy, Torres, and Jess had been having some enjoyable banter about Jimmy’s “ME” costume.
The truth that he determined to concentrate on LaRoche as an alternative of trying out Ducky’s with the remainder of the staff reveals that he’s heading down a harmful path.
As a result of, , some other time, he would’ve been proper there right away.
There’s particular bother on the horizon for McGee and the remainder of the staff.
Ducky’s
After a yr, it’s not shocking that Ducky’s previous workplace is lastly getting repurposed. However this isn’t only a easy makeover.
Everybody had an concept of what it ought to turn into, and in true Vance vogue, he discovered a solution to fulfill all of them, unveiling a multi-purpose room dubbed Ducky’s that everybody can get pleasure from.
It’s a becoming, considerate tribute that honors Ducky’s legacy whereas retaining the house useful for the staff.
Now, let’s speak Parker.
Personally, I believed he ought to’ve held again on making ideas (take a cue from Jess, who correctly saved her opinions to herself).
Apparently sufficient, after Vance revealed Ducky’s to the staff, Jess and Parker gravitated towards sitting collectively within the “commissary” part.
It received me pondering: even after three years post-Gibbs, is there nonetheless an unstated divide inside the staff?
If there’s any potential “ringleader” of that divide, it may simply be McGee — and Torres might not be far behind.
Right here’s why: Torres’s fixation on Jess and Jimmy’s relationship has been elevating my eyebrows. Certain, he’s shut with each of them, however his latest curiosity looks like greater than informal curiosity.
After which, there’s that second within the haunted lodge when Torres confides in Jess that he’s able to get again into the “love” recreation. That’s when the lightbulb went off –- it appears he could be fascinated about Jess.
Which might be a whole catastrophe.
Jess and Torres share a stable working relationship and friendship, however romantic chemistry? Not a lot.
And significantly, would Torres cross that line and go after Jimmy’s woman?
That awkward second on the crime scene when Torres introduced up the fitness center concept to Jimmy felt means misplaced, virtually as if he was testing the waters or feeling Jimmy out.
All of it hints at a deeper battle brewing. And if Torres went so far as discussing his emotions with Jimmy instantly — that’d be a multitude on a complete new stage.
There’s a connection between Jess and Torres, positive, nevertheless it’s platonic. Pursuing one thing extra may danger their friendship, Jimmy’s emotions, and the whole staff dynamic. Right here’s hoping the present doesn’t tread down that path.
Now, the place there may be chemistry — and I’ve stated it earlier than — is between Parker and Jess.
Ever since they had been trapped collectively on that ship final season, their bond has been simple.
They’re each a part of the “new staff,” unburdened by the previous NCIS legacy, so that they see eye-to-eye in a means the others don’t.
If there’s anybody Parker would confide in concerning the thriller of Lily, it’s Jess.
Little question, their closeness is barely going to deepen, however whether or not it turns into a “factor” is anybody’s guess.
It’d undoubtedly stir issues up — and whereas that’d be fascinating to look at, I’m undecided anybody actually needs to see their working relationship flip right into a full-blown romance.
Over to you TV Fanatics! What did you concentrate on “The Hassle with Hal?”
Do you suppose McGee is heading for bother? Is Torres about to cross a harmful line? Hit the feedback and share your ideas!
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