NCIS (TV Series) Heart Break (2004) User Reviews

"Don't try this at home, McGee. It's for grownups."

[LegendaryFang56 · 7/10 · 19 November 2022]

(204-word review) On a first-viewing basis, this episode may seem comparable to ones like the previous four, minus the sixth. Once it settles in your mind, that becomes questionable. The weakest aspect was the plot, which was a bit underwhelming, and maybe somewhat far-fetched, even though the reasoning was believable; the one responsible was also pretty predictable: and subsequently obvious, at least to me, when the fact it was a murder, not an accident, was revealed to that person.

But amidst that came Caitlin's internal conflict and the theme of suicidal tendencies, both bringing a rare sense of weight and substance uncommon in shows like this. Relationships were another theme: Gibbs' mysterious red-head lady friend returning, Ducky's romantic endeavors, and the return of Paula Cassidy, an appreciable character that I like keeps returning, who now has an on-off thing going on with Tony, which sizzled palpable chemistry between Jessica Steen and Michael Weatherly.

So, even when something about an episode is lacking, maybe regarding the plot, things like that are vital. And those things seem to be becoming more prominent with each episode, a sign of the stars aligning, slowly but surely, perhaps thanks to the writer(s) getting more comfortable and into a groove of consistency.

A good but depressing episode: most people had good intentions

[akicork · 9/10 · 28 July 2019]

The writing and acting were well up to standard, although there was no real baddie in this episode, with the possible exception of Ensign Hayes' (non-appearing) father, whose treatment of Dornan, the original deceased, triggered Dornan's treatment of Hayes, resulting in his mental instability. Paula Cassidy, intending to help a young sailor under pressure, glossed over some incidents - with hindsight not such a good idea. Then surgeon Ms Byers repaired a heart valve rather than replacing it because she put her patient's desires ahead of her professional judgement. There is a theme here: professional detachment is necessary to protect people from themselves in stressful situations. Hence the Marine Corps' reliance on every Marine doing exactly what is instructed, without interference from personal feelings. This echoes back to the heart-wrenching storyline in "Call of Silence" where a heroic soldier did what was necessary to protect his comrades, although it meant the death of a friend. Apart from that, another reviewer has raised a question concerning oxygen fires. I see no problem in the oxygen fire storyline. Combustion is an exothermic reaction between a fuel and an oxidant (usually oxygen). Both the fuel and the oxidant need to be there - there is no combustion without both. In the present storyline, the matchbook being ignited in an oxygen atmosphere under the bedcovers would easily have provided (matchbook fuel) + oxygen -> heat -> (bedcovers fuel) + oxygen -> general conflagration. Anyone who doesn't accept an "oxygen fire" as a concept should talk to the families of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. Major design revisions were triggered by the oxygen fire on Apollo 1.

Disappointing

[SuperCritical · 1/10 · 10 August 2015]

The show was based upon oxygen in a hospital recovery room blowing up and killing a patient.

This story line ruined the entire episode. NCIS has a team of scientist and not one of them knew that oxygen is not combustible. Oxygen will promote combustion but alone does not burn nor explode.

It is unfortunate that NCIS would perpetuate misinformation and help to spread non truths though the population. I would hope that future shows use a technical adviser that understands science to prevent the continuous dumbing of the population. It would also help make the show more real than fantasy.

Put a bullet in DiNozzo

[rickdover-35800 · 1/10 · 1 September 2023]

While recovering after heart surgery at the Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, a commander dies due to an internal flash and the resulting fire without any apparent external source of ignition; Gibbs and company investigate. McGee suggests the possibility of spontaneous human combustion (SHC), Gibbs makes fun of it, Ducky declines to ignore it, and Abby digs it. However, Abby says that it's murder. Tony sees again a friend from Gitmo, then a party in a hotel room leads to a missing officer at a swimming pool. Ducky wines and dines the woman surgeon, but he later becomes disappointed in her. Abby finds a key fact, then the team solves the mystery.

Seriously don't get this character. A misogynistic, narcissistic POS who brings nothing to the table. I stopped watching the show foe a while, picked it up after this a-hole was gone. Shame he wasn't killed.