NCIS: Season 5 [DVD]

There has been a pattern in the writing of NCIS that has always been fascinating. Ever since "Bete Noire" in Season 1, this series has always used it's season finale to essentially set up the next season's finale. "Bete Noire" introduced Ari Haswari. In the finale to Season 1, Jethro Gibbs shot Ari to cover Haswari's double agent status--though Gibbs would have preferred to kill Ari. Because Ari wasn't killed at the end of Season 1, he was able to murder Kate Todd at the end of Season 2. Because Ari shot Kate at the end of Season 2--and more importantly, WHY he chose to murder her--we were able to get the backstory of Gibbs revealed, the tragedy surrounding his first wife and daughter, which culminated with Jethro leaving the MTAC at the end of Season 3. Because of Gibbs' "retirement", NCIS Director Jenny Shepard was able to initiate her off-the-books operation against Rene Benoit, using Tony DiNozzo to romance La Grenouille's daughter Jeanne. So as we get into Season 5, we have the culmination of Shepard's attempt to avenge her father's death by killing Benoit, though she crosses both the CIA and the FBI in the attempt. "Bury Your Dead"--especially its final scene--sets the tone for the season. Though the show has its usual action, interplay between its characters, and bawdiness that has made the show such a wonderful view, there also seems a certain weight to the season. The regular viewer knows the story with The Frog isn't over, moreover there has to be a deeper reason why Shepard seemed willing to pursue Benoit without government sanction. It is the playing out of this season that, again while the season has its usual fun, seems to give the season a somewhat sad tone. Still, the performances are at their usual high standards. Mark Harmon's Gibbs is his usual self, though we are once again shown more of Jethro's past and his genuine heart. While Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo is his usual obnoxious self, the aftermath of the La Grenouille affair leaves our boy shaken, both because of his feelings for Jeanne and being used by Shepard. Tony's conscience comes in the form of Ziva David; who, while enjoying her usual verbal sparring with DiNozzo, also makes Tony own up to his feelings about what happened and what it may have done to Jeanne. Cote De Pablo's Ziva, with her hair straightened and deemphasizing her widow's peak, becomes a more Americanized woman (and the shots of Cote bending over ain't too bad, either). We didn't have an episode that featured Sean Murray's Tim McGee a season after The Probie's year with his nom de plume (Thom E. Gemcity), but Pauley Perrette's wonderful Abby Sciutto gets her usual fun, especially in "Dog Tags". David McCallum's Ducky Mallard is most representative of the tone of the season, because he becomes privy to the secret that Jenny hides through the season. This leads to Lauren Holly, and the end of the Jenny Shepard storyline. Shepard seems calmer this season, especially after the disappearance of The Frog (Even propositioning Gibbs in "Lost And Found"), but we figure something had to have been motivating Jenny attempting something that would compromise the agency. That something plays out through the season, and is revealed in "Judgement Day", the two-part season finale, which of course sets the table for Season 6. The high points of this season are "Ex-File", in which a part of Jethro's past becomes a part of an investigation (Plus, we get a visit from Susana Thompson's Hollis Mann--this episode is capped by a wonderfully sad sequence at the end), "Internal Affairs" (The body of La Grenouille resurfaces, and we meet Rocky Carroll's Leon Vance--Carroll draws greatly from Daniel Benzali's character in "The Agency" from earlier this decade), "About Face" (Where Brian Dietzen's Jimmy Palmer is featured, and reveals a slight obsession with footwear), "Judgement Day" (Which brings Gibbs and Shepard's long-ago Paris operation--the one where they also became lovers--to a full circle, as well as Jethro coming to a sad conclusion about the murder of The Frog), and the simply magnificent "Requiem", in which Gibbs, while aiding the now-grown best friend of his late daughter, is finally able to put to rest the loss of Shannon and Kelly. Performances of note are Joe Spano--we don't see as much of Tobias Fornell as we usually do during a season. Susana Thompson, whose character retired from the Army when she realized Jethro hadn't recovered from losing his wife and daughter (Why do I suspect that Holly will appear again--in Hawaii, living on the grounds of a novelist, and driving a Ferrari?). Susan Kelichi Watson's Nikki Jardine, the NCIS Intelligence Analyst who happens to be a germophobe (Leading to many moments where the team exploits Jardine's phobia for their humor), and Muse Watson returning as Mike Franks in the season finale, with his usual cowboy demeanor. But Cameron Goodman's performance in "Requiem"--as Maddie Tyler, Kelly Gibbs' best friend as a child--gives the episode the impetus that sets Jethro toward finally making his peace with losing Shannon and Kelly. NCIS has always been a fun show, with an ability to wrench at the heart in unexpected moments. This is a season that has an underlying tone of sadness and impending tragedy, and it gives the season some unusual depth.

As advertised.

Season five of NCIS was interesting for a lot of reasons. Let’s start with the three month gap in the season because of the writers stike, which one can only assume wiped out some pretty cool episodes based on what the writers wrote before-after the strike. First, there’s the aftermath of the Le Gren---- stuff that kicked off in the previous season, and it ends with “oh we got rid of/or killed the director again.” Which felt like a must over the early years of the show.In between, the stories contained in season five are a little more centered and drawn out in more detail than I talked about in my season two review, when they may have still been trying to find themselves. These episodes are more in the NCIS procedural mold as opposed to season two which veered into Criminal Minds territory at times. These stories are very intimate and deep and unlike some of today’s episodes—they can throw a late curveball. Some of my faves include the one where Ducky can’t perform an autopsy because of a victims religion and the Cub Scout episode where we meet a little version of Tony.

I am sorry this franchise ended. I love New Orleans and seeing the scenes of the City take me back to great vacations. The additional plus is the autopsies are not as graphic as the original series. Cross overs episodes are also fun.Scott Bacula and CCH Ponder are the best actor/actress I have watched over the years

I love this series and hope to get the remaining seasons. This season only consists of 18 episodes.SPOILER ALERT: I thought this season ended with the shoot out with the director in the dinner in CA. and thought the next seasons opener was the continuation of that episode. Both episodes are in this set so I'm not sure. The last episode in this set ends with Leon breaking up the team.In any event, the packaging is pretty much the same as the others, 3 slim cases in the box containing 5 discs. All the discs play fine. I don't care for the splash screens though. The white and blue is too bright or too clear and hurts my eyes. Also, it's not animated, it's just a picture. I haven't watched the special features so I can't comment on them. Some of the episodes have comments from various people but the few I've watched in the past are worthless. It's like trying to watch a move in the theater with someone constantly talking. If you want to include commentaries, please format it like a documentary instead of voice over the episode.I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys NCIS!

Loved the show

A late comer to NCIS, I discovered the series by accident at the rental store. I had to watch everything they owned, then bought all the seasons they didn't have. Fifth season was one of best. Even though this season was shorter (only 18 episodes due to the writer's strike) it had all the character banter that makes this series fun. Whether its Gibbs one liners, Tony's womanizing, Ziva's seriousness, Jennie's obsession, McGeek's incredible wizardry with a computer (and a cameo with an Iron Fist comic book to boot), or Abbey's incredible energy, this series just brings the relationships between these characters to life. Somehow you come to care about them deeper than you do with other series. Perhaps its because the writer's have snuck so many surprises through the series, or perhaps its because the creators don't insult the intelligence of the viewer and include references to episodes from the very beginning of the series, or maybe its because the actors are having so much fun, but there is a charm and charisma and intensity to this series that keeps bringing me back to watch the episodes again and again.

This programme just keeps getting better and better. I didnt think they would be able to maintain a programme that investigates crimes in such a small area (Navy/Marines) but it is the character development that does it for me. After Cate died at the end of season 2 i did think it would be difficult to find someone to replace her that has the same interraction with the rest of the team but Cote de Pablo as Ziva DAvid is superb. It is also refreshing to see that the series advisors do a better job than some of their police/crime competitors with their attention to detail.Overall a fantastic series and i am looking forward to progressing to series 6.

both came on time and are good there is only one more for me to get season 19

Purchased as a Gift for my father who's into these kinds on tv series and he loves it

The content of the NCIS season itself is just great as always. I just love the concept and the, very critical to this series, dry and sarcastic humour! Well nothing more really to say about the show itself, it just rocks.However, the way the dvds are boxed could have been better. It looks all very nice and stuff, the bigger box contains flipping dvd-holders which look really nice. But because this season has an uneven number of discs, the last one is planted in the back of the box. I don't know if the following is because of bumping while shiping the item, or because the disc was just not really well pushed into it's slot, but when my package arrived, the last disc was just floating loose inside the box, leaving it with some light scratches. Nothing really to worry about, the disc still plays just fine, but it just was a little disappointment when I opened the box.Same thing happened with the box of season 3 (which were the only 2 seasons that had 1 disc in the back) so I am guessing it's quite prone to happen.If you want a box that's in perfect condition and no scratches on the disc, you might be taking a risk ordering this item!But if you just love this series as much as I do and don't care about some scratches, you won't have a thing to worry! As long as it plays, it's fine, right? :)

Just like the previous series I was unable to tear myself away from the screen. Pauley Perrette is for me the best character with her kooky sense of mormal, creating a humanity in amongst the serious storylines. Not sure about the 'new' director though, can't help feeling the personality is missing.