Reviewer Rating: 4.5/5.0
4.5
I admit, for a moment, I thought we were gearing up for a cozy, feel-good vacation.
You know the drill — sweet little bells, a glowing Christmas tree, a heartwarming reading of Christmas carols, and a touching “Humanity is our thing” speech kicked off NCIS Season 22 Episode 9.
But this is NCIS, folks. Warm and fuzzy? please.
Gunsmoke is actually on the RSVP list, and of course, Gabriel LaRoche is back in the picture as the Grinch who stole McGee’s holiday cheer.
Let’s start with the big payoff – LaRoche.
This time he’s not just lurking in the shadows. Oh no, he’s supervising one Very This is a touchy case because, naturally, there’s nothing better than throwing fuel on an already smoldering fire.
From the moment McGee learned LaRoche was back in the building, you could almost hear him grinding his teeth.
Hey, it’s nice to see McGee in the spotlight again.
Between Parker’s Lily storyline in NCIS Season 22 Episode 8 and the LaRoche saga now unfolding, we’re fanning the flames while tying up loose ends.
LaRoche’s return surprised everyone, but McGee? it is personal.
After being replaced as deputy director by LaRoche (Ouch), McGee was convinced there was something fishy about him.
Honestly? I can’t blame him. LaRoche has been missing since NCIS Season 1 Episode 1, so forgive McGee if he didn’t lay out the welcome mat.
But LaRoche didn’t do himself any favors either.
He seems a little too happy working with the team “up close and personal,” but we know his giddiness is because he thinks there’s a mole in NCIS — whether McGee thinks it’s LaRoche himself.
Even Jimmy—sweet, lovable Jimmy—got grumpy when LaRoche dared to try eating mints in them. his laboratory. It’s obvious that the team has given this guy the cold shoulder and no one is in a hurry to warm up to him.
Could his praise for the team’s “thinking outside the box” sound sincere… or sarcastic?
LaRoche’s weird, rigid “I’m trying to be a team player” vibe is hard to pin down. Either way, he’s a walking drama magnet and honestly, I’m here for it.
If that causes some friction, especially with McGee or Parker, then so be it.
Of course, Parker behaves well because he has no choice, but you can tell LaRoche’s micromanagement helps him so close to boiling.
A fierce showdown between the two is only a matter of time. That said, Parker better tread lightly – LaRoche is attractive enough to make his life a mess if he wants to.
The actual case involves war hero Hastings, a 2010 ambush in Afghanistan and a controversial tell-all book that accused Hastings of making mistakes that led to the deaths of three soldiers.
The author, Sam Cross, is a former Marine with a tragic personal relationship – his brother was killed in an ambush.
Meanwhile, Hastings is as stoic as ever, refusing to defend himself because he doesn’t feel it’s necessary. His loyalty to those around him – especially the veterinarians who worked at his auto shop – meant a lot.
As the team digs deeper (despite Vance ordering them to start their vacation early), it becomes clear that Sam’s anger has deeper roots.
It turns out that Sam was the radio operator that day and he made a mistake that resulted in the deaths of people, including his brother. Despite Sam’s public slander of Hastings, Hastings has been protective of Sam.
To his credit, Torres does a great job here, showing true Christmas spirit by convincing Sam to stop blaming himself and withdrawing the book.
We even reached a happy resolution when Hastings and Sam reconciled, ending the case with a clean, heartwarming bow.
But don’t think this episode didn’t leave us in a bind.
After lying about his Christmas plans, Torres received a mysterious text message from the person he called “baby.” Uh, sorry? Who is “Baby”? Jess? others?
Look, I’m just going to say this: If Torres and Jesse were a thing, I would scream. Jesse deserves better – preferably Parker, because the chemistry between these two is absolutely smoking.
And then there’s LaRoche, who stands on the podium like he’s running for office, smugly promising a “new chapter” for NCIS.
what does that mean? Will he take over completely? Shake things up? Are you planning something illegal?
One thing is for sure – LaRoche isn’t fading into the background anytime soon, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Love him or hate him, he’s adding to the tension the show desperately needs.
Ultimately, this is a satisfying holiday episode with just the right balance of warmth, mystery, and drama.
Sure, LaRoche may still be a wild card, but he’s changing everything, McGee has something to do, and Torres has something to do baby drama Let’s keep guessing until January.
random thoughts
- Parker’s kringles look Delicious. That guy’s baked goods never disappoint.
- Loved McGee’s VPN talk and the nod to his book publishing days. Classic Mike.
- PS: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out McGee’s Evolution: From Probie to NCIS Legend to see how we really feel about McGee’s lack of storyline on the show.
- Why didn’t anyone ask Parker anything? he Are you ready for Christmas? Or Jesse (but maybe we Already know The answer to this question.
Over to you! What do you think of LaRoche’s return? Who do you think Torres’ “baby” is? Are you as sure as I am that Jesse belongs to Parker?
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NCIS will return on Monday, January 27, 2025.
