What I’m Watching: NCIS

NCIS: Season 7, Episode 7 “Endgame” (B+)

It’s interesting that how this episode works extraordinarily well as a way to link the spin-off to the original but that it also functions just fine all on its own. The reference to Lee Wuan Ka’s recent encounter with Vance in Los Angeles could be interpreted by a casual viewer checking in for this episode alone and unaware of the existence of the spin-off as just another stop on her hit list, with no idea that Ka was the focus of an episode from just a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. The fact that Vance plays just a big a role on “NCIS: Los Angeles” as he does here, and actually a bigger part than he currently does on this show, makes for a crucial bond between the two since the latter really doesn’t trumpet the NCIS part of the show as much. This episode keeps with the tradition of a deadly international killer having a personal relationship with a high-ranking NCIS agent and ending up dead in their homes. It’s a good way of enhancing Vance, who initially came on the scene as a potentially corrupt replacement for the dearly departed Jenny Shepard. This gives him a sense of purpose, and it’s also good for him to be a bit separate from the team. McGee’s romantic entanglement seemed like it was going so well, and I suppose that he does deserve credit for realizing that something was up. The abrupt accent change came out of nowhere, and Ka’s quick execution made for an intense moment. Eventually the probie will find happiness – just not anytime soon, it appears. On a lighter note, Tony deserves credit for coming up with an infinite number of ways to incorporate “Mc” into every word he uses and nicknames he gives McGee.