NCIS 14x19 "The Wall" Review

SPOILERS

"The Wall" had three simultaneous stories going on: the main plot, a humorous subplot, and a character revealing subplot. I was preparing not to like the episode for some reason, but I really did like it. It had all the usual points of an NCIS episode with a little something extra added in.

The main story was a pretty usual one: who killed the Marine? The use of a small poison-filled dart was definitely a deviation form normal and it reminded me of the episode with those small KGB pellets that killed you slowly. It's another case of wrong place, wrong time. And even though last time I said I would be watching out for the random people (to figure out who was the killer) I didn't even think about suspecting the actual killer. I had forgotten about her. Good job, writers. I was surprised. I guess I will have to expand my suspect list to include anyone with dialogue. What was more important to this episode was not this main story, but the setting of the tours of the memorials for vets and in particular the experience of one vet were more important, which I will get to later.

An episode like this needed a humorous subplot, and so it ended up being Bishop and McGee chasing a rumor that Quinn and Torres had a fling at FLETC. So maybe they didn't have a thing, but they definitely knew each other. So why did their old classmates say it was true? Very funny and light, I enjoyed it more for Torres than for Quinn. And Gibbs' little comments were the best, "Fantasize on your own time, McGee."

Henry refuses to cooperate.

Reeves...I had forgotten about Officer Reeves to be honest, since he kind of disappeared from stories after the Kai Chen thing. Doesn't mean I don't like him; I really do. And this episode was great for him, character-wise. He is getting antsy stuck at a desk in DC and is willing to take any job that gets him moving, even if that means a detail on a cranky vet. But his experience with Henry Rogers and a little Gibbs life talk is enough to make him turn down a high-risk job in Syria and think about the people around him. Henry is not very likable at first but I loved the slight adversarial nature between him and Reeves (handcuffing him? I laughed out loud!). The bit of him alone at the Vietnam Memorial was something I saw coming but nonetheless enjoyed. Also, that final scene with Henry coming home and the people were waiting for him? I was nearly in tears. That was so sweet.

They are probably gearing up for some kind of international crisis to be the center for the final few episodes and carrying into next season. So maybe Reeves didn't take the job now, but he might have to in the future. As long as they keep him around.

8.5/10