NCIS: Sydney 1×05 Review: “Doggieccino Day Afternoon”

NCIS: Sydney 1×05 “Doggieccino Day Afternoon” is the best episode of the show so far, and the first one that truly feels like a team episode. Everyone’s got a role and case-wise, everyone is necessary. NCIS: Sydney has been building towards that conclusion for the first four episodes. But that’s not just true in the professional sense, it also very much applies to the family this team is building.

It took five episodes, but NCIS: Sydney 1×05 “Doggieccino Day Afternoon” focuses on the one member of the team we hadn’t spent all that much time on — Doctor Roy ‘Rosie’ Penrose. It does so as subtly as this show has handled all episodes, by showcasing his importance in the office, subtly reminding us of the relationships he already has within the team, and shining a light on the new ones he’s building.

But the show also takes the time to provide some very important context on Doctor Penrose, enough that by the end of the hour, we feel like we know him — and by extension, the team better. Now, that’s an effective episode of a procedural.

Family

Family is at the center of every decision made in this episode — from a kid just trying to save his family, to Doc trying to get home so his wife has someone to call, someone to be there for her. But NCIS: Sydney 1×05 “Doggieccino Day Afternoon” is very clear in the messaging about the good doctor, starting from the moment he calls J.D — he might think his wife is all the family he has left, but that is very much not the case.

Family is, has never been, just blood. Family is the people who show up when you need them. The ones who pick you up when you’re feeling down, who make ill-advised decisions (and sometimes defy authority) to try to help you, and yes, the ones that wait in a car for you as you go do something hard. Not because they have to, but because they don’t want you to be alone.

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to be born with them, yes. But sometimes you choose them, or they choose you. And the ones you choose are just as important as the ones that life chooses for you.

You Can Stay In the Fight

Seeing one of your own in danger isn’t easy — especially when we consider how much the team has clicked in such a short time. And everyone deals with things in their way. In the case of Blue, sometimes that means not dealing. In a way, that’s understandable. She doesn’t have the training the other members of the team have. And it’s hard to keep it together when you care. This is why Mackey giving her the Mackey pep-talk is so important.

There were no false promises made. But there was respect. Mackey was treating Blue with the respect she deserves as a member of the team, one Mackey is holding to the same standard she would anyone else. And on this team, no one gives up on each other. It’s that simple.

It all, of course, starts with Mackey and J.D. It has since “Gone Fission.” And though it’s too early to say if those two have the makings of an epic ship, it is not too early to say we want a lot more of them to figure it out.

Things I think I think:

• I will take more of Mackey and Evie casually ganging up to tease J.D, please and thank you.
• Honestly, I appreciate how the show doesn’t do subterfuge in some things. Someone like J.D would catch on fast.
• This might be the best episode of the show so far at teamwork. They’ve done great with the twosomes, this is a team episode as much as a Doc Penrose episode.
• J.D standing in the way of the shot was hot, WHAT CAN I SAY.
• I thought this was a safe episode about dogs, not one that would compromise my emotions! How very wrong I was.
• Seriously, everyone got me this episode. Everyone.
• All this information on J.D! A marriage (and a divorce). Plus a kid?
• Give me a Mackey and J.D heart-to-heart every episode, please. But without Todd Lasance smiling like that, because that’s just unfair.
• Did I finish the episode crying at Doc and Blue? Maybe I did.
• There’s only eight episodes total in the season, what do you mean there’s a hiatus?!

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney 1×05 “Doggieccino Day Afternoon”? Share with us in the comments below!

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