Power Down (17 Nov. 2009)
"NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" Power Down (original title)

The team literally finds themselves in the dark when the investigation into the death of a lieutenant is connected to a city-wide blackout.

Director:

Thomas J. Wright

Writers:

Donald P. Bellisario (creator), Don McGill (creator),

Stars:

Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Mark Harmon	...	Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Michael Weatherly	...	Anthony DiNozzo
Cote de Pablo	...	Ziva David
Pauley Perrette	...	Abby Sciuto
Sean Murray	...	Timothy McGee
Rocky Carroll	...	Leon Vance (credit only)
David McCallum	...	Dr. Donald Mallard
Brian Dietzen	...	Jimmy Palmer
Cara Buono	...	Navy Comm Sarah Resnik
Corey Sorenson	...	Anthony Paxton
Ryan Honey	...	Colin Stone
Roderick McCarthy	...	Dane Frazier (as Roderick L. McCarthy)
Frank Caeti	...	Gamer Nerd
Roger Ranney	...	Elevator Repairman

Storyline

A major power cut spreads over the Tri-state area. NCIS is only one of many facilities affected, so Gibbs's pre-computer methods prove useful again for once, Mcgee and Abby are near nervous break-down. The purpose was to allow a break-in in a 'servers farm' by a gang. But did it include a killed Navy entertainment lieutenant, or was she part of a robbery where nothing was stolen? The answer requires atypically slowly proceeding forensincs as well as a surprising third-party intervention.

---

Plot Keywords:

prank | false identity

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belisarius Productions, CBS Television Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After Tim's camera battery dies, Gibbs pulls a Polaroid SX-70 camera. Gibbs later passes other Polaroid Instamatic cameras out to the team. This will probably be the last emergency where the team can use these 'low-tech' cameras since the film hasn't been manufactured for about 5 years. Some film is left out there (like in Gibbs' bag), but it commands extreme prices.

---

Goofs

About half-way through, a body is shown on the autopsy table while the power is out. She is dead and being autopsied, however you can see her breathing.

---

Quotes

Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo: [McGee and Ziva are stuck in an elevator] So the chain reaction knocked out power in half the district. PEPCO says they'll have it back online soon.
Ziva David: Cannot happen soon enough. I'm sure Gibbs is feeling right at home.
Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo: Well you don't need electricity to used handtools or drink a bottle of bourbon.
[DiNozzo starts to chuckle]
Special Agent Timothy McGee: ...He's right behind you, isn't he?
Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo: [DiNozzo realizes Gibbs is behind him. To McGee and Ziva] Yes, he is.
[to Gibbs]
Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo: Boss, you know, there's nothing wrong with the occassional ...

---

Crazy Credits

At the very end of the opening credits, which shows a car driving on Pennsylvania Ave SE towards the Capitol Building, the street lights then the city's other lights go out, depicting the power outage that took place in the prologue.

---

Connections

References Columbo (1971)

User Reviews