NCIS - The Enemy Within - Review: "Love and grief"

NCIS dealt with home-grown terrorists this week after evidence revealed that an American had radicalized. Also, we saw the fallout from Diane's death while another character was revealed to have been dating.

An American citizen, named Sarah Goode, is rescued in Syria by Navy SEALs. She is a social worker who worked at an orphanage for Syrian children. As Gibbs interviews her, Abby searches the evidence that the SEALs brought along. She comes to a stunning conclusion: one of the guns has a fingerprint from an American. His name is Kyle Nasry and when the team talks to his mother, it doesn't make much sense that he is a radicalist. However, they learn from his ex-girlfriend that he got involved with them in Europe. Kyle was arrested a few years ago for protesting against war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he was let go by the FBI. By FBI Agent Tobias Fornell, that is. Despite the team's concerns for Fornell, he asks Gibbs to stay on the case as a distraction. Gibbs agrees.

Later, Abby deduces that another American was involved: Randall White, who was fired from the armed forces and imprisoned. The team learns he has just arrived at Dulles Airport and track him down. Unfortunately, when they are about to arrest him, he shoots himself through the head. In the meantime, Kyle is also back in the United States, but when he contacts his mother, the team is able to apprehend him. They think it is over, but Abby has another look at Sarah's ransom video and discovers that she had allied herself with the terrorists. Sarah is now at a lecture where Imam Musa Ibn Hasan is speaking, who is calling for peace among religions. Sarah attempts to kill the Imam, but Vance, who is also at the lecture, manages to stop her.

Elsewhere, we see the fallout from Diane's death. First, Vance comes to Gibbs' basement to ask how he is doing. Gibbs claims he's doing fine and that Fornell isn't doing too well. That becomes clear when he walks into the NCIS building. Tobias too claims he is all right and that all the attention should go to Emily. However, because Diane's mother is at his house, he needs to get some air and focusses on the case instead. The team offers him their sympathy, as Tobias receives hugs from Tony and Abby and condolences from the rest (and Fornell in return tells McGee that Diane was very fond of him). Vance tells him that if he needs someone to talk to, he is there for him. After all, Vance knows what it's like being a widower and a single father. Fornell later tells Bishop that he is moving into Diane's house and the two of them were planning to get married again. In the end, he admits to Gibbs that he loved her and that this time their relationship was really different from their marriage. He then asks Gibbs to bring him a piece of Sergei Mishnev when they get him.

Also, McGee and Bishop can't help but notice that Tony is acting strange. The reason for this becomes evident as ATF Special Agent Zoë Keates, last seen in "Parental Guidance Suggested", comes to NCIS to give Tony back his cuffs which he left at her place. This reveals that they are in a relationship, and have been for quite some time. Tony tries to keep it a secret, but McGee and Bishop overhear their conversation. As such, everyone comes to know about it and therefore, Tony and Zoë later decide to just come out.

This was a solid episode and a good follow-up to "Check". The case of the week was an interesting one that shed some light on Syria and home-grown terrorism. I also liked that they really addressed Fornell's grief in the little moments. I really enjoyed his conversation with Vance, with Bishop in the car and at the end with Gibbs. And Vance checking up on Gibbs is a real sign of how far their friendship, or mutual understanding, has come. Tony and Abby separately hugging Fornell was great. I hope we get to see Emily soon as well, and I wouldn't mind meeting Diane's mother. That poor woman lost her daughter due to her connection with her first ex-husband, all while getting back together with her second ex-husband. I must say I would have liked to see more of Gibbs' grief, but that's just the way Gibbs is. In times like these I really hate Gibbs' stoicism and not showing how he really feels, but it fits the character.

I must say I enjoy seeing Tony with Zöe together. When it was announced that Tony would get a new love interest, everybody thought it would be Leia Pendergast from "Choke Hold". Instead it is Zoë, the woman Tony has a past with. We only get a few short scenes in this episode, but I'm looking forward to more. However, it's a pity that their relationship wasn't addressed earlier. They have been dating for weeks or months but as far as I remember, Zoë hasn't been mentioned since episode 6. I would have liked it if Tony had said in an earlier episode that he was dating someone.

What did you think of this episode? What are your opinions on the case of the week? Were you surprised that Sarah was involved in her own kidnapping? How do you feel about Fornell's grief in this episode? And lastly, what do you tink about Tony and Zoë being together? I would love to hear your opinions in the comment section below.

About the Author - Daniel van der Veer

Daniel van der Veer is a Dutch university student studying Psychology. On SpoilerTV he is a reviewer of NCIS, The 100, Stalker, Madam Secretary and the upcoming shows Battle Creek and Odyssey. He also enjoys LOST, Arrow, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Nikita, The Blacklist, Scorpion and How To Get Away With Murder.

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