The addition of Mike Franks, a seasoned professional from the "old school" was truly refreshing. His interaction and interpretation of current NCIS procedures gave a breath-of-life to the segment. Have seen him before in similar roles and he seems to invariably bring a sense of "an honorable,get things done, dark character" who people like to identify with. Sort of an everyman's hero. Would like to see more of him. Of course, I realize that at 60 years of age, I may not be the focus group you are seeking to address, but his presence does give credence to the fact that younger is not better and there is more than one way to skin a cat!
4 Reviews
Coins
bevo-1367815 June 2020
Expediency wins again...
BBBrown16 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Yet another episode demonstrating the strange/weird sense of post-911 "justice(?)" writers/producers Bellisario, McGill, Brennan and many others involved with this show demonstrate regarding law enforcement.
The people behind NCIS seem bound and determined to place this agency on par with -- if not ahead of -- other U.S. law enforcement agencies with a much clearer and focused mandate to target foreign and domestic terrorist activities. In this outing Gibbs -- without any prior notification to and approval from his superiors -- brings in his now retired former boss and mentor Mike Franks to pursue a terrorist suspect who eluded Franks years earlier. After the usual plot twists and turns, they corner and shoot it out with the terrorist leader and members of his group in an empty bar. Then, *after* the leader has clearly dropped his weapon and raised his hands in surrender, Franks shoots and kills him in clear view of Gibbs.
Does Gibbs do the right thing, however reluctantly, and arrest Franks? Of course not. Instead, they go outside, exchange a few words about old times and how the terrorist leader would have found a way to avoid prosecution by providing information to other federal agencies. Gibbs shows yet again how selective he can be in enforcing the laws he is sworn to uphold and simply allows Franks to walk away from the scene and return to his retirement home in Mexico. The viewer is supposed to be left with a sense that "justice" -- in the form of the premeditated murder of the terrorist leader by a retired NCIS agent -- was done and that the U.S. is safer because of it. Expediency wins again.
This ending might appeal to right-wingers, fascists and morally challenged members of the TV audience. I simply found it yet another disgusting example of what passes for "entertainment" in a post-911 American cop show.
The people behind NCIS seem bound and determined to place this agency on par with -- if not ahead of -- other U.S. law enforcement agencies with a much clearer and focused mandate to target foreign and domestic terrorist activities. In this outing Gibbs -- without any prior notification to and approval from his superiors -- brings in his now retired former boss and mentor Mike Franks to pursue a terrorist suspect who eluded Franks years earlier. After the usual plot twists and turns, they corner and shoot it out with the terrorist leader and members of his group in an empty bar. Then, *after* the leader has clearly dropped his weapon and raised his hands in surrender, Franks shoots and kills him in clear view of Gibbs.
Does Gibbs do the right thing, however reluctantly, and arrest Franks? Of course not. Instead, they go outside, exchange a few words about old times and how the terrorist leader would have found a way to avoid prosecution by providing information to other federal agencies. Gibbs shows yet again how selective he can be in enforcing the laws he is sworn to uphold and simply allows Franks to walk away from the scene and return to his retirement home in Mexico. The viewer is supposed to be left with a sense that "justice" -- in the form of the premeditated murder of the terrorist leader by a retired NCIS agent -- was done and that the U.S. is safer because of it. Expediency wins again.
This ending might appeal to right-wingers, fascists and morally challenged members of the TV audience. I simply found it yet another disgusting example of what passes for "entertainment" in a post-911 American cop show.
What did I just watch...?
zillizard14 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
So Gibbs watches a cold blooded murder by his former mentor, and does nothing?
Then finds out the whole thing was a front put on by the mentor, and smiles and laughs? Who is satisfied by this ending? Where is the justice?
WHO IS THIS FOR????? Some of the episodes from this period in time are sickening in their groveling to appeal to the "law and order" crowds. As an American, this kind of depiction feels nauseatingly familiar. This is closer to reality than many may think, and that is the problem with American "law enforcement".
Then finds out the whole thing was a front put on by the mentor, and smiles and laughs? Who is satisfied by this ending? Where is the justice?
WHO IS THIS FOR????? Some of the episodes from this period in time are sickening in their groveling to appeal to the "law and order" crowds. As an American, this kind of depiction feels nauseatingly familiar. This is closer to reality than many may think, and that is the problem with American "law enforcement".
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