NCIS: Sydney 1×02 Review: “Snakes in the Grass”

NCIS: Sydney 1×02 “Snakes in the Grass” builds on the very good “Gone Fission” and delivers an even better episode, with a great balance of stakes, team bonding moments, and an interesting case. DeShawn and Evie’s dynamic takes center stage after JD and Mackey take more of a central role in the first episode, and the show is much better for the spotlight on their relationship.

But it isn’t just them, “Snakes in the Grass” also takes the time to integrate Blue and Rosie into the team dynamics, in a way that makes the final scene with the entire team together feel very much earned. Most NCIS shows have run for long enough that we’ve had a rotating cast of characters, but the thing that has made each and every show on this franchise work – and every procedural that has ever worked, honestly – has been a good cast with great chemistry. We can’t say for sure that NCIS: Sydney is going to make it, but we can say that they got the cast chemistry part down pat.

And that we are already looking forward to seeing more from quite a few dynamics. So that’s saying something.

Partnerships First

Ships are a procedural’s bread and butter, and NCIS: Sydney has a couple to choose from. But whichever way they want to go, the important thing is for them to make sure they establish the partnerships first. The show seems to understand that, and NCIS: Sydney 1×02 “Snakes in the Grass” gives us some moments between JD and Mackey and Evie and DeShawn that are pure partnership buildup.

But of course, partnerships aren’t built in a day – or in an episode. It takes time. The smart play is to do what NCIS: Sydney is doing, work on the partnerships at the same time as the team dynamics, and then …well, you can decide what works and what doesn’t, and what you want to invest in. Thankfully, procedurals make it easy because you don’t have to fill space with idle chatter, there are cases.

Plus, putting people in danger together really helps with the getting close thing. Even if some – like Mackey – might have more issues opening up than others.

A Stereotype (But Unique)

The thing about procedurals is that there are expectations about the types of characters we’ll get, and Mackey, for one, fits those expectations to a “t.” But the only way a procedural truly works is if we take a stereotype and through good writing and great casting manage a character that feels real, even though they might fit a mold. Michelle Mackey is that, at least two episodes in.

We have a lot of time to figure out in what ways she is different – and hopefully, the show goes long enough for us to get to learn all those things. But the important thing is that, even now, she has done enough to break through the mold.

And she isn’t the only one. There might be little recognizable traits to all the characters on this show and the positions they occupy within the team – again, procedurals are what they are – but NCIS: Sydney isn’t the type of show you tune into and think, oh, wait, I’ve seen this exact show with these exact characters before.

Even the cases are different! The benefits of being in Australia. The wildlife brings some pretty distinctive cases, I’ll give them that. We don’t really need more snakes, though. We’re fine without them. DeShawn is fine without them. Or spiders. Or even kangaroos. All is good here.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney 1×02 “Snakes in the Grass”? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS: Sydney airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.