CopperTop

I grew up watching NCIS, like some of my favorite memories are watching reruns with my mom as a kid. Recently, I started rewatching the show from the beginning because I had really only seen the big make or break progressing the overall plot episodes. When I saw they were making NCIS: Origins, I was a little hesitant because the original is so special to me. But let me tell you, I love this show. The detail in each character that we already know mixed with the details of the new ones… I just… love everything about it. Mike Franks stepping into the shower to hold Tish while she cries. Austin Stowell’s beyond incredible voice acting that I sometimes have to do a double take to see if it’s Mark Harmon on my screen or him. Also with that, the writing of some of my favorite Gibbisms and their literal (for lack of a better word) origin story. Jackson Gibbs casting. Chefs kiss incredible. Vera and Franks !!!!!!!! And speaking of… YOUNG MIKE FREAKIN FRANKS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I need a full episode of him and Tish. I need every detail, I want every fucking morsel, slice of life moment between them. I also, based on the last two episodes need more Mary Jo and Franks sharing scenes. Their understanding and trust in each other while still being themselves. idk idk idk. Also..Lala Dominguez THE WOMAN YOU ARE. I’m fanning out but this show does such a great job of marrying the lore of 19 seasons of character building of Leroy Gibbs, while giving us even more background on him and then building new relationships and dynamics with those we know and don’t know. Plus the cases?? Great. The way it’s shot also feels like such a different tone than original NCIS and it’s actually one of my favorite things about the show. All that to say, I hope we get more seasons, tell me where I need to share my praises to get a season 2 on the books!!!!! They’re all neat!!! I just think they’re all so neat!!!!!!

Whumptober 2024 | Day 30

NCIS Origins s01e04: “You’re not alone.”

NCIS Origins doesn't fuck around - 3 episodes in and we already have:

- unabashed fanservice in the form of (mostly) naked Kyle Schmid, TWICE

- VERY obvious, in-your-face food for slashers (berny/gibbs, mike/gibbs)

- slightly unhinged badass female lead

- gibbs literally being called poor little meow meow by the character in the show, repeatedly

- SO MUCH ANGST (they really didn't need to pack it so dence in the pilot and yet!)

- actual I can save him / I can make him worse / I can fuck his brains out meme WRITTEN INTO THE SCRIPT

These people know exactly what they're doing and I for one am living for it!

Early S7 Ziva David: Thoughts

Ziva just spent months being held captive in a terrorist camp. While never explicitly stated in the show (although Ducky does strongly imply it late in episode 3? I believe) there is a more than likely chance that Ziva was r@ped or sexually abused while captive. She was there for 3 months. Terrorists are well known for using r@pe and sexual abuse to assert control and terrorize their captives. Especially women and femme presenting captives. You almost have to assume they would not have given Ziva any special treatment. And in fact because of her status as a Mossad agent and her knowledge of American federal agencies and operations, you could even assume that they might have treated her extra harshly.

And then she tries to come back to NCIS. Hurt and deeply traumatized and lonely. And Gibbs questions her loyalty. And Vance tells her directly to her face that she is "damaged goods". The pain she must have felt. The times those words probably rang thru her ears for YEARS afterward.

There is no doubting that Ziva is strong and independent. How long did that keep her from speaking about her pain? How long did she wait to reach out for help?

In S17 we hear her talk about her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. We see, through Ellie and the journals, that all of the cases Ziva worked deeply affected her. She took every case personally.

I used to see Ziva as just a kick ass bad bitch queen. I now realized how carefully she constructed that facade.

She experienced SO much grief, and loss, and trauma. The loss of her mother. The death of her sister, just 16, to a suicide bomber. She killed her own brother. When she was only 25. The death and betrayal of her boyfriend by her trusted friend and teammate. The perceived betrayal of her mentor/father figure. Tortued in a terrorist camp. Betrayal of her father. The death of her father, her last living relative. Leaving her own child for years. And so so much more.

She fought so hard to protect her heart. She fought so hard to protect the people she loved, so that they wouldn't experience what she did.

I rewatch s7 and Ziva eyes just look so empty. She looks exhausted and almost hopeless. (Shoutout to Cote de Pablo for being an phenomenal actress and portraying it all so well) Those months forever changed her. Her character was never the same.

And her trauma is never really talked about after that. But with every rewatch I can't help but think about that as I watch her work cases.

This was long and rambling and I don't know if it even made sense. But I have a lot of thought on Ziva and I needed to get some of them out there.