The latest NCIS episode focussed on a supposed terrorist that actually turned out not to be one. Also, McGee is set to become the new face of NCIS.
Bishop, Gibbs and Qasim head to Afghanistan. On their way, Bishop tells Qasim that, as an NSA analyst, she was stationed in Afhanistan and Pakistan for 18 months and that she lost a co-worker there. In DC, Tony and McGee manage to identify Landis' killer: Ken Ashmore. In Afghanistan, the Navy Colonel tells Gibbs he is not turning over Qasim and Gibbs agrees. However, Qasim takes matters in his own hands and takes a jeep from the unit. That jeep is later found, but without Qasim. Fortunately, McGee and Tony manage to track down Rasheed's location and give the coördinates to Gibbs. Gibbs wants one vehicle with Bishop going into the village, but Bishop doesn't agree. She thinks she is better at analyzing than out there in the field, but Gibbs says he got her back. So Bishop drives to the village, but is stopped by a guard, to which she claims she's a doctor. Rasheed has Qasim in a room, but the guard brings Bishop in. However, that guard turns out to be Gibbs who shoots Rasheed. Qasim is safe and as a surprise, he can come to the US if he applies for a special immigrant application. Also, while that is being processed, he can work as a translator at NCIS.
Meanwhile, McGee has been chosen as the new face of NCIS and Tony is not too pleased with this. A huge figure of McGee is later brought into the office and, much to Tony's dislike, Gibbs even thinks it looks good on Tim. The recruitment brochure also has McGee's face on it. Tony later uses the figure to demonstrate how the attacker killed Landis. When the case is closed, Tony apologizes to McGee and says he is very supportive of him becoming the new face of NCIS. This pleases McGee, but seconds later he reveals that it was all a late April Fools joke. While Tony initially screams that this isn't over, he later smiles and says: "I've taught them well."
I am not sure what to think about Bishop's behavior during this episode. Her story about the deceased co-worker was a bit tragic, but I'm not sure what the point of it was. Also, why was she insubordinate to Gibbs? Is she really afraid to get out in the field? She must have known this was never a desk job. At the NSA, she might have been an analyst, but now at NCIS she is a (probationary) agent. Gibbs was right to tell Bishop that her job is to do what he tells her to do. If you can't do that and you really don't want to do field work, then you should just quit already. I understand that Bishop is struggling with her new job and I appreciate the show trying to acknowledge that, but she's been on the show for a while now so she should be used to the field work.
What did you think of "Lost in Translation"? How did you feel about the case of the week? Did you enjoy the story about the two brothers where one wanted the other dead? What do you think about the late April Fools prank McGee pulled on Tony? And lastly, what are your opinions towards Bishop's behavior during this episode? I would love to hear your comments in the section below.
The next NCIS episode, "Troll", airs Tuesday at 8/7c on CBS. It will be the first episode of a story arc about a terrorist group recruiting young people via the internet. The arc will also end the life of someone we know, a loss that has been described as "surprising", "emotional", "someone very close to us" and "very significant". I am excited for the story arc, but I hope we won't lose a major character. Here is a promo for episode 22:
