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NCIS - The Artful Dodger - Review: "Will DiNozzo Senior ever change?"

Mar 18, 2015

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The latest NCIS episode featured the sixth appearance of Robert Wagner as Anthony DiNozzo Senior. Senior returned with bad news but also helped the team out in a case.

The case involved the death of Navy Lieutenant Dominic Pine, who was found in the office of his Commanding Officer. It turns out whoever killed him was after the painting in the office. The culprit changed the painting for a fake one, but the team finds out soon enough that the painting is fake. The case gets weirder when a second blood pattern is found, which belongs to deceased CIA official Brian Khosa. Apparently a bug was planted on the painting and since it hang in the office of the Secretary of Defense for a while, it could mean a leak of confidential information. The terrorist group who had planted the bug, Al-Zalim, wanted the painting, because the bug did not have a far reach. The Lieutenant was killed by his girlfriend Gloria so she could seel the painting to Al-Zalim. Fortunately, DiNozzo Senior has connections in the art world so he went undercover as a potential buyer. The meeting threatened to go south, but the team adequately arrested the suspects in time.

Meanwhile, Senior was in town to tell his son that his fiancée Linda left him. Junior of course thinks that was his dad's fault and Tony thinks his father has never been anything but a con artist. When McGee accidentally spills this to Senior, Tony's father is shocked and tells the truth: Linda left him for someone else. After Gibbs makes the DiNozzos realize how much they love each other during the undercover stint, Senior tells Tony that he is an entrepreneur. And yes, there is a different between an entrepreneur and a con artist. The two once again leave on good terms.

Is it me or do these episodes with Senior all look the same? Senior comes to visit Tony (announced or unannounced), does something stupid (like sleep with Tony's next-door neighbor), Tony gets tired of his father and sometimes nearly threatens to cut him out of his life, and in the end the two men always make up. And then in the next episode we start at the beginning again. Oh, and in five out of six episodes Senior was involved in the case one way or another. At this point it all just becomes pretty repetitive. It also looks as if Senior doesn't ever change, or if Tony's impression of him doesn't. These two need to have a long and heart-to-heart conversation. They also need to realize that, basically, they only have each other. I think there should be an event that brings the two of them closer together, like either of them getting a serious accident or either of them losing someone close. Senior's break-up was a perfect opportunity and yet it didn't have the emotional resonance I believe it could have had. It's a pity they wasted the storyline with Linda by having them separate so soon. By the way, the case was average though a bit far-fetched with the terrorist group.

Also, I'm sorry this review is so late and a bit shorter than usual. Busy times, busy times!

What did you think of this episode? How do you feel about the case of the week? What are your thoughts on Senior's return? Do you think he will ever change? Or is it up to Tony to repair their relationship? And lastly, is Senior a con artist or an entrepreneur? Sound off with your opinions in the comment section below.

The next NCIS episode airs this Tuesday at 8/7c. Here is the promo for the episode:



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.
Recent Reviews by Daniel van der Veer (All Reviews)

14 comments:

  1. The case wasn't very good, but to me DiNozzo senior made this episode good. He is so funny, yet classy and he's always in some trouble.

    It is true all the episodes are pretty much the same. Tony's dad is always somehow involved in a case, but differently... he was a suspect, a witness and he assist with a case. So it doesn't get boring for me.

    I just loved that Gibbs called Tony "a friend". This was such a beautiful little moment and I really liked it.

    Hope they will not kill DiNozzo senior like they did Diane, but I guess they wouldn't do that to Robert Wagner...?

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  2. I must admit, I knew what was going to happen in this episode. Because you are right.. they ARE all the same.

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  3. I like NCIS and every episode is good or great for me. I must say this one goes with rating. Season weakest episode with much more potential like you mentioned with Senior and Linda. I was hoping he would really get married and become better person but I guess, Gary and Mark had a different view on this matter. True, every time Senior appears he gets involved almost the same. After last time Senior appeared I thought they are going on better but than this episode and all seems like we are on beginning again. I think Tony wants good and normal relationship but Senior always screw something, knowingly or not. Speech Gibbs did in the restaurant was nice and after that you would think they realized they only got each other. Than Senior just takes off at the end.

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  4. It's true that Senior is involved in a case in different ways, but he had already gone undercover in his season 8 episode. So having him undercover again here, just seems repetitive to me. But I agree the moments between Tony and his father were nice. And Gibbs once again helping the two of them out shows how good he is.

    I don't think they will kill Senior off anytime soon. I don't think they would do that to Robert Wagner.

    Don't want Delilah and McGee to break up. I like them as a couple. Promos tend to be a bit misleading though. We'll see next week!

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  5. Yeah, I was hoping Senior would change after announcing his marriage last year, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I always wondered why Senior would not go live closer to Tony, although I am not sure where Sr lives. But he is aging so you would guess he wants to live close to his son. And yeah, they only got each other but it's sad they don't realize that.

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  6. Well, the ratings are ratings. I wasn't very happy with 16.2 million for this one. I guess people think they can't do a very original episode with him anymore. And whit Empire finale doing 16.7 million today, it will be a struggle next season for #1 drama title. But like we already discussed, I think Jake is going to be killed off next season... or maybe Borin (although that would be just lame). But it is also possible that something will happen to DiNozzo senior...

    To be honest I wasn't happy with this promo at all. I'll guess we just have to wait and see...

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  7. Haven't watched this episode (or the 10 or so that precede it) but I'm gonna say in response to the title - I really doubt it.

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  8. Lol. Yeah, I doubt that too. Apparently Senior is back for another encore in episode 20 so we'll see how that goes.

    I'm a behind on various shows as well. Still haven't caught up from February Sweeps yet. It's crazy.

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  9. I'm still yet to watch Scorpion, NCIS and Elementary episodes from mid-November onwards, I've watched one NCIS LA from 2015 and not a single Hawaii Five-0 since before Christmas. Low priority shows have really taken a hit for me this year.

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  10. I am four episodes behind on Scorpion and like you, I have only seen the first NCIS LA episode of 2015. The last Blacklist episode I've seen was the conclusion to the Super Bowl two-parter. Also behind on The Flash, State of Affairs and NCIS NO. And Allegiance if I'm still watching that.

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  11. I'm all good on Flash and Blacklist (well, except last night's but when I'm yet to watch an episode I don't say I'm behind until about 48 hours later). The others I don't watch. I have too much to do and too much tv to watch! I have two weeks off at the end of next week though, so hopefully I'll be able to catch up on the majority of things.

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  12. Yeah, there really are too many things to watch! Lucky you for having a break soon. I don't have one till the last week of April.

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  13. Hi, I am wondering if you are planning to release the review for NCIS episodes 12x18 "Status Update" and 12x19 "Patience"? Always enjoying NCIS reviews so I would be glad, if you could find some time to write it.

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  14. Sorry for the late response, but I have published it today!

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