NCIS: Hawai’i 2×03 “Stolen Valor” is an exploration of Kate Whistler’s character, and the ways she fits into this team, outside of her relationship with Lucy. Till now, the show has mostly focused on Kacy, and how the relationship has changed Lucy. All of that isn’t just great – it’s the kind of stuff we want more off – but to truly love the ship, we have to know the characters. To truly love this team, we gotta figure out everyone’s place in it.
Kate Whistler has always been a little bit of an enigma, by design. She doesn’t possess Lucy’s bubbly personality, and it has always felt like she’s playing everything a little too close to the chest, not necessarily because that’s what she wants, but because that’s the only way she knows how to be. And though we have seen Lucy’s good influence on her as she learns to be part of the team, particularly in the first few episodes of Season 2, learning how to be open is a journey.
One Kate Whistler doesn’t have to embark on alone.
I have complete faith in you
The Kacy parts of the episode are as good as ever, and it feels like NCIS: Hawai’i has truly cracked the formula, very early on. With it being Season 2, it’s likely we will at some point get some rocky moments in this relationship, but that doesn’t mean they will – or have to be the majority. Fans can and will root for stability, for growth, for a relationship that continues to get stronger and stronger.
Because we fall in love, and that is nowhere near the end of the story. There are no happily ever afters and fades to black in life. Instead, we build our own happiness every day, and we do it by learning about our partners, lifting them up, and by making each other better. There are plenty of obstacles to throw a relationship as new as Kacy, and as long as NCIS: Hawai’i continues to focus on ones that make sense, that aren’t just drama for the sake of procedural drama, fans can take them. Especially since we know that internal “drama” can strengthen a relationship.
And hey, in the meantime, please continue to give us the casual intimacy and acceptance from everyone around them that we don’t often get for LGBTQ+ relationships. Kacy doesn’t have to be special storyline-wise, because the fact that they are just another couple is special in itself when it comes to representation on TV. We’re tired of burying our gays or worrying about them at every turn. We just want some casual cuddling and two loving girlfriends.
You think you get used to loneliness, but you don’t
But this episode provides more, with very welcome insight into Kate Whistler and the ways love – in all aspects of life – can help you become a better person. Sometimes it’s easier to live without investing in others. There’s no big upside, but no big downside either. Not much to gain, very little to lose. And for Kate, that might have been okay in her grief, and it might have been necessary in the immediate aftermath, as she tried to get over the loss.
It’s impossible to live a full life by just avoiding feelings, though. And though Lucy has been the most important part of Kate’s journey towards opening up, we can’t discount the fact that right now, Kate Whistler has more than a girlfriend. She’s got a team. People who care about her, not just because they care about Lucy. And if she learns to let them in, Kate Whistler can find the thing she lost before – a family.
You can’t replace what you lost, that much is true. But you can find your own place in the world, just as you can find your people. Kate Whistler isn’t there yet, but the door is open, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes her.
Things I think I think:
- I’m never gonna be over the “you have a new message” notification before the message even came through.
- THE NCIS COUPLES THAT TRAIN TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER.
- Battle cries do help.
- I’m Lucy Tara. I relate to her. I love her.
- Bam Bam is back!
- Chase and Ernie are kinda fun.
- “I volunteer my apartment to be cleaned.”/”I second that idea.” LOL
- Worried Kate is adorable.
- Jesse and Kai play very, very well off each other. Not a shock, but always great to see a show take advantage of their kind of chemistry.
- How many snacks did Lucy bring for one stakeout?
- Casual intimacy is my jam.
- Worried Lucy is even more adorable. And Kai and Jesse trying to reassure her? The big brother feels were on point.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Hawai’i 2×03 “Stolen Valor”? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Hawai’i airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.
