NCIS – Recap & Review – A Desperate Man

photo: cbs

NCIS
A Desperate Man

Original Air Date: Jan 10, 2011

Maria – Sr. Reviewer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

The murder of a Marine woman is made all the more muddied by the efforts of her Detective husband. Meanwhile, Ziva has relationship issues of her own as her boyfriend CIA Ray is back but she is avoiding his calls.

Firstly though, we begin with the traditional random chat from the bullpen. DiNozzo is trying to tease McGee into revealing how long it’s been since he got laid. There is no way to put that delicately. McGee isn’t that preoccupied with sex and eventually it is revealed that DiNozzo may be losing his preoccupation with sex, he may have actually matured enough for a long-term relationship.

Speaking of relationships, CIRay is back in town but Ziva is refusing his calls. Ray is persistent though, and even calls Tony and Tim. Gibbs also gets a phonecall, but he then tells the team about the murdered Marine. It is time for the Agents to get on with the case.

Maya Burris was found dead, killed by a sniper’s bullet. However, the body had been wiped clean, indicating that the killer knew about forensics. This makes her husband, homicide detective Nick Burris, an obvious suspect… especially as he now stands to gain $400,000 from her life insurance policy. However, Nick is genuinely heartbroken and begins to mount his own investigation. Tony and team have to assure him that NCIS will catch the killer, before Nick will finally agree to step down from his own investigation.

McGee has done some serious trolling, even checking the CCTV in other countries where Maya was stationed. She did a lot of unofficial work, and it appears that included meeting with Barry Norton. We now have our second suspect.

Barry Norton used to be an embassy liaison, but then he decided to sell government secrets to terrorists instead. Maya Burris worked to bring terrorist cells down; there is absolutely no question as to what side she is on. This means that the NCIS Agents have another suspect. Norris would have motive to kill her to prevent being uncovered. However, then Norton turns up dead. It’s looking increasingly likely that he was the target all along.

Meanwhile, Ziva is working through her relationship issues with Ray. The reason she’s upset is that Ray failed to turn up for a date, and it reminded her of all the times her father neglected her in favour of work. Ray seems determined to make it up to her now, even proposing to her. She genuinely seems conflicted, almost on the verge of accepting until she realises something…

Ray’s cellphone history puts him in the same place abroad at the same time Barry Norton and Maya Burris. Ziva figures out that Norton was initially Ray’s target. Ray doesn’t try to deny it. He explains to her that Norton was his target, but he arrived back in the US before Ray could complete his mission. The CIA did not give him permission to kill Norton on US soil, but Ray now knew what a threat Norton was and took measures into his own hands.

Maya Burris was collateral damage. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ray seems determined not to think about it. He has taken a desk job, to spend more time with Ziva, to put his killing days behind him. Ziva rejects him though, and reports him to the authorities, telling Maya’s husband that the killer will never hurt anybody ever again.

I have a lot of sympathy for Ray (although I am biased due to my love for Enrique Murciano). He could very easily be the episode title’s Desperate Man. He is desperate to rescue his relationship with Ziva. He was desperate to kill his mark, even though the CIA retracted his mission because the evil man was on US soil. It seems to me like Barry Norton needed killing and that Ray became the fall guy. He needs counselling and support, not dumping, ending his career and probably ending up in jail.

That said, I understand Ziva’s actions completely. Cote’s acting is amazing, she’s really been able to portray Ziva’s emotional journey about learning to trust people with her feelings. It took a lot for her to open herself to love, and although it is rather cliché for the killer to be the lover, I still felt very sympathetic to Ziva. I also enjoyed the friendship between Ziva and Tony, although I can’t see it as anything more. I think they would find more comfort in each other as friends.

I’m rather disappointed by the way Ray was written out, but I enjoyed seeing Ziva’s more emotional side. I also enjoyed Palmer’s scene, he never fails to entertain me. I’m looking forward to the 200th episode next week, even if I have heard that it’s more of a flashback episode. What are your TwoCents on the episode and the upcoming 200th episode?