Reviewer Rating: 3/5.0
3
In NCIS Season 22 Episode 5, we saw an old spy with a secret.
The story of Captain Butler reminds me of the story of David Cartwright in the ultimate spy drama Slow Horse.
Like Cartwright, Captain Butler suffers from dementia praecox, causing him to be “time shifted” from the present back to his old days as an active spy.
Like David Cartwright, Butler’s memory has a twist – but here, it’s a Russian twist.
What a twist – Butler turned out to be a double agent, a spy who helped end the Cold War. A hero.
But what I don’t understand is why NCIS was asked to investigate in the first place.
Sure, Butler tries to take his nurse hostage, but he has dementia, so isn’t this behavior to be expected to some extent?
Why did the nurse feel the need to write down the number he stated? How did she know they were important?
I mean, she even mentioned that Butler’s dementia causes erratic behavior, so it seems weird that she’s taking it all seriously.
The secrets Butler held were clearly important to someone or an institution.
When the team tried to pull his files, the CIA got involved, making it clear that someone really didn’t want these details dug up.
Apparently, Butler’s mission was so secret that if even a single clue resurfaced, the CIA would be thrown into chaos.
Let’s talk about the conflict between the CIA and NCIS.
NCIS has far less power than the CIA, so why do showdowns always happen between these agencies?
Wouldn’t it be nice if they could collaborate and share information? You might think that all of these agencies would have learned the importance of cooperation after 9/11.
So when Parker and Vance started preaching to the CIA guys, even though Butler had ties to the Navy, it felt out of place.
The fact that the CIA actually caved and shared information? This is too inappropriate
We know the CIA won’t hand over intelligence easily unless they have a role to play.
So, yes, I asked them why they didn’t share the information, but let’s face it: NCIS is not the final authority here and shouldn’t be calling the shots.
Casey then cracked the code that the CIA allegedly missed. Really? It’s as if the CIA didn’t know Butler had stolen a secret document. How ridiculous.
As Parker said, “Are we a CIA cleanup crew?” — yes, at the time, it certainly felt that way.
While I can be skeptical of a lot of things on TV, this episode was a bit far-fetched.
Last week, on NCIS Season 22 Episode 4, the team saved the world from a nuclear holocaust.
But now, with spies, dementia and the CIA all thrown into the mix, it feels a bit too much.
I didn’t even need to watch the entire episode to know that NCIS was going to catch Butler, save the world, and uncover the truth.
Why? Because they always do.
While I love a feel-good win, sometimes they push the fantasy a little too far – especially in this win.
Still, I have to admit, it’s fun to watch the team dress up in ’70s gear in an attempt to evoke memories of Butler.
They fit the part perfectly. Jess sports her retro look, and McGee somehow looks more like a drug dealer than an agent, but hey, they go all out.
But there was another headache: Butler was dressing in a modern fashion without even realizing it.
Somehow, he sat next to McGee, who was wearing his retro gear, and didn’t question it. I know about Butler’s “time shift” but the logic feels flimsy.
Again, why would the CIA let NCIS handle something so sensitive instead of handling it internally?
It’s hard to believe this storyline, especially since NCIS has discovered that the CIA agents are the bad guys.
Honestly, did the team think they could outwit a seasoned spy? It’s so ridiculous – but those costumes are worth it!
On the romantic front, things are getting interesting.
Torres is fully into the dating scene, and as I mentioned before (and yes, I know some of you disagree), I still think he’s interested in Jesse.
It may not be his past style, but people change, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he thinks Jesse is his ideal partner. She’s beautiful, funny, bubbly – what’s not to like?
Jimmy has moved on, and relationships have changed in the real world. But honestly? That’s not going to work, especially for Torres.
While I have my own ideas about who Jesse might work with in the future, the bigger question is: why does she need a love interest?
Why can’t she be an independent woman focused on her career without falling into a messy work romance?
Finally, I have to say – this was a failure of an episode.
The storyline feels contrived, requiring too much suspension of disbelief even for NCIS. The show rarely misses the mark, but when it does, it’s hard to ignore.
Just a reminder, in case you missed it, NCIS returns on Monday, November 25th – Thanksgiving week! So set your calendar!
Over to you, TV fanatics! What are your thoughts on the NCIS espionage incident? Did it hit its target, or did it miss its base?
Do you like the team’s retro ’70s apparel? Hit the comments and let us know!
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