Customer Reviews

NCIS - The Complete Fifth Season

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There has been a pattern in the writing of NCIS that has always been fascinating. Ever since "Bete Noire" in Season 1, this series has always used it's season finale to essentially set up the next season's finale. "Bete Noire" introduced Ari Haswari. In the finale to Season 1, Jethro Gibbs shot Ari to cover Haswari's double agent status--though Gibbs would have preferred to kill Ari. Because Ari wasn't killed at the end of Season 1, he was able to murder Kate Todd at the end of Season 2. Because Ari shot Kate at the end of Season 2--and more importantly, WHY he chose to murder her--we were able to get the backstory of Gibbs revealed, the tragedy surrounding his first wife and daughter, which culminated with Jethro leaving the MTAC at the end of Season 3. Because of Gibbs' "retirement", NCIS Director Jenny Shepard was able to initiate her off-the-books operation against Rene Benoit, using Tony DiNozzo to romance La Grenouille's daughter Jeanne.
So as we get into Season 5, we have the culmination of Shepard's attempt to avenge her father's death by killing Benoit, though she crosses both the CIA and the FBI in the attempt. "Bury Your Dead"--especially its final scene--sets the tone for the season. Though the show has its usual action, interplay between its characters, and bawdiness that has made the show such a wonderful view, there also seems a certain weight to the season. The regular viewer knows the story with The Frog isn't over, moreover there has to be a deeper reason why Shepard seemed willing to pursue Benoit without government sanction. It is the playing out of this season that, again while the season has its usual fun, seems to give the season a somewhat sad tone.
Still, the performances are at their usual high standards. Mark Harmon's Gibbs is his usual self, though we are once again shown more of Jethro's past and his genuine heart. While Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo is his usual obnoxious self, the aftermath of the La Grenouille affair leaves our boy shaken, both because of his feelings for Jeanne and being used by Shepard. Tony's conscience comes in the form of Ziva David; who, while enjoying her usual verbal sparring with DiNozzo, also makes Tony own up to his feelings about what happened and what it may have done to Jeanne. Cote De Pablo's Ziva, with her hair straightened and deemphasizing her widow's peak, becomes a more Americanized woman (and the shots of Cote bending over ain't too bad, either). We didn't have an episode that featured Sean Murray's Tim McGee a season after The Probie's year with his nom de plume (Thom E. Gemcity), but Pauley Perrette's wonderful Abby Sciutto gets her usual fun, especially in "Dog Tags". David McCallum's Ducky Mallard is most representative of the tone of the season, because he becomes privy to the secret that Jenny hides through the season.
This leads to Lauren Holly, and the end of the Jenny Shepard storyline. Shepard seems calmer this season, especially after the disappearance of The Frog (Even propositioning Gibbs in "Lost And Found"), but we figure something had to have been motivating Jenny attempting something that would compromise the agency. That something plays out through the season, and is revealed in "Judgement Day", the two-part season finale, which of course sets the table for Season 6.
The high points of this season are "Ex-File", in which a part of Jethro's past becomes a part of an investigation (Plus, we get a visit from Susana Thompson's Hollis Mann--this episode is capped by a wonderfully sad sequence at the end), "Internal Affairs" (The body of La Grenouille resurfaces, and we meet Rocky Carroll's Leon Vance--Carroll draws greatly from Daniel Benzali's character in "The Agency" from earlier this decade), "About Face" (Where Brian Dietzen's Jimmy Palmer is featured, and reveals a slight obsession with footwear), "Judgement Day" (Which brings Gibbs and Shepard's long-ago Paris operation--the one where they also became lovers--to a full circle, as well as Jethro coming to a sad conclusion about the murder of The Frog), and the simply magnificent "Requiem", in which Gibbs, while aiding the now-grown best friend of his late daughter, is finally able to put to rest the loss of Shannon and Kelly.
Performances of note are Joe Spano--we don't see as much of Tobias Fornell as we usually do during a season. Susana Thompson, whose character retired from the Army when she realized Jethro hadn't recovered from losing his wife and daughter (Why do I suspect that Holly will appear again--in Hawaii, living on the grounds of a novelist, and driving a Ferrari?). Susan Kelichi Watson's Nikki Jardine, the NCIS Intelligence Analyst who happens to be a germophobe (Leading to many moments where the team exploits Jardine's phobia for their humor), and Muse Watson returning as Mike Franks in the season finale, with his usual cowboy demeanor. But Cameron Goodman's performance in "Requiem"--as Maddie Tyler, Kelly Gibbs' best friend as a child--gives the episode the impetus that sets Jethro toward finally making his peace with losing Shannon and Kelly.
NCIS has always been a fun show, with an ability to wrench at the heart in unexpected moments. This is a season that has an underlying tone of sadness and impending tragedy, and it gives the season some unusual depth.

As the titles states, this is a great series. One of the largest factors that separates NCIS from other crime dramas is that the characters are so dynamic. It details enough about their backgrounds while still sticking to the crime busting plot. And as shown from the previous seasons, the series continues to bring up situations that makes it different from the Law and Order, new crime everyday type. If you love crime dramas or even just think they are OK then you will really enjoy this series!

A late comer to NCIS, I discovered the series by accident at the rental store. I had to watch everything they owned, then bought all the seasons they didn't have. Fifth season was one of best. Even though this season was shorter (only 18 episodes due to the writer's strike) it had all the character banter that makes this series fun. Whether its Gibbs one liners, Tony's womanizing, Ziva's seriousness, Jennie's obsession, McGeek's incredible wizardry with a computer (and a cameo with an Iron Fist comic book to boot), or Abbey's incredible energy, this series just brings the relationships between these characters to life. Somehow you come to care about them deeper than you do with other series. Perhaps its because the writer's have snuck so many surprises through the series, or perhaps its because the creators don't insult the intelligence of the viewer and include references to episodes from the very beginning of the series, or maybe its because the actors are having so much fun, but there is a charm and charisma and intensity to this series that keeps bringing me back to watch the episodes again and again.

I have all 5 seasons now and just like Hogans Heroes, I never get tires of watching NCIS. The cast is marvelous and most are likeable or, in Abbys case, lovable. Tony is just Tony. He'll never change. But who wants him to? I just wish the writers would quit making Ziva so interested in Tony. Can't wait for the next season. (Sept 23 I believe).

I will begin with a simple statement:

I love NCIS. I am a huge fan, and collect everything I can that has anything to do with the show... okay, I'm a geek about it.

That being said, the fifth season is definitely not something I would recommend to people that are new to the series.

Fans of the series will buy it, regardless, as I did (and you notice that even though I don't care for this season I still gave it a 4 star rating!). But for new commers, it does not have the draw of the previous seasons. Too much of the character interactions that we have all loved for so many years is being covered over by heavy plot and what seems to be writers running out of new gags. NCIS is not a comedy, and I would never want it to be, but far too often in season five we are weighed down with the long and drawn out Director vs. Arms Dealer plot and the after effects of it. The characters seem to be poked and prodded into attempting to maintain their usual interactions, when it is obvious that so many of those things need to change with time.

Really, it isn't bad... compared to most of the other shows that were out that year, it is still in my top five. But it is a poor example of what most NCIS fans have grown to love.

Bottom Line: If you are a fan, then you've already bought it. If you are thinking about getting into the show more, or have never tried it out, start earlier in. Seasons One and Two are fantastic, and really let you get to know the crew that the rest of us love.

I thought season 5 was deffintaly one of their best so far. It delt with family, friends, and loss. We see deeper into Gibbs charater then ever before. As good as every episode is, the stand out would have to be "Requiem". On the DVD say say it was their highest rated episode yet. The only downside to this season is they had the writers strike, so it's a short season, only 18 episodes. They do make a good effort to make it up though with more extras on the DVD. I deffintaly got a sense of family with this season, these charaters deffinatly grow closer to each other more this season then any other.
In short I really enjoyed this season,right up to the exsplosive season cliffhanger. I am looking forward to this next season and where these charaters are going next.

Is it the characters or the script that makes NCIS so special? I believe the answer is the former. The script? Well, that's icing on the cake. This was how it was with Hawaii 5 O. It's that love at first sight thing. We just love the characters. They work well together. They are human but importantly they are to us absent friends. They are to many the friends they wished they had. They're nice to come home to. They have that special thing Charisma! You either got it or you haven't and they got it so that's that!

I just started watching this show in 2008. It is one of the best series there is. It only gets better. As a Old Marine I appreciate what they have done with this series and organization for the USMC and Navy in real life and on the show. God Bless all of the Servicemen and Women in all branches of our Great Military keeping us safe and their families supporting them. Stay safe and keep up the Good work in real life and on the NCIS Series. Mark Harmon and the other stars do a great job keeping me interested in every show. God Bless you all! Semper fi, Jon

The fifth series has all the drama, suspense, action and sex appeal of the previous seasons. The characters and the show itself appears to be improving with age. Gibbs is still the man that every woman would love to take home, DiNozo is the naughty big brother, Probie is the nice guy next door and Zeva well she is a sexy kiilling machine that most men would die for. These characters are loyally supported by Ducky and Abby who are both quirky to say the least! It's a great show and a great way to relax and waste a few hours.

We were a little late in joining the following of NCIS, but we certainly do not regret a single minute of this wonderful series. We own them all and look forward to the next release of each new season. Great characters for you to both love and hate. Strong story lines to hold your attention and stir the imagination. Absolutely wonderful!