NCIS: Hawai’i 3×03 Review: “License to Thrill”

NCIS: Hawai’i 3×03 “License to Thrill” is a pretty fun, light episode of the show that explores a different side of Jesse Boone than the one we usually get to see. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the hour, but it’s always good to take characters out of their comfort zones, and “License to Thrill” certainly does that with Jesse.

But NCIS: Hawai’i 3×03 “License to Thrill” doesn’t just showcase a different side of Jesse, it also serves to show us how little we truly know Kate Whistler. The episode puts Jesse in situations he has never been in — and that he emerges from in one piece, but at the same time divulges that Kate is less the straight-laced person we expected her to be considering her wardrobe.

So let us talk what we found out regarding Kate, what Jesse learns about himself, and what that means for the team going forward as we discuss But NCIS: Hawai’i 3×03 “License to Thrill”:

MID-LIFE CRISIS?

Careful Jesse gets to do a laundry list of things he normally wouldn’t do this episode, starting with the jet ski racing, continuing with the surfing, and then there’s the big one, flying — not to mention landing! a plane. I would love to be a fly on the wall of his nighttime conversations with his wife. (Just another reason for us to actually get to meet his wife!!)

But I digress, this was a very good episode for the show to get to explore more of Jesse. We’ve mostly seen Jesse within the context of his job, or how he relates to the other characters around him. Sometimes we’ve seen him in the context of his kids. But we’ve rarely gotten to see this Jesse, and it was a good way to expand his character.

There doesn’t have to be a conclusion for that. It doesn’t really feel like Jesse was in the middle of a mid-life crisis (especially because he’s not old enough for one), but questioning what you’ve done with your life, or what you’ve missed out on is pretty normal. Wanting more is also pretty normal. Just as, after a day like the one Jesse had, it would be pretty normal for him to want a quiet day in or five.

DON’T I SEEM FUN?

Kate Whistler seems, to anyone who doesn’t know her, little a pretty straight-laced, serious person. It’s the FBI clothes. But we all should know better by now. And in many ways, the NCIS: Hawai’i team does. But even the people who have started to know her better, like Kai, seem a little surprised to learn that Kate is not the serious person her wardrobe sometimes projects. That she’s gone skydiving and bungee jumping.

That she’s fun.

Her defense of it is pretty hilarious because in truth this is just …another layer of Kate Whistler being peeled off. She’s comfortable now with the NCIS: Hawai’i team. She isn’t trying to hide anything from them behind a layer of faux professionalism, even if she’s still wearing the FBI clothes. That’s why she’s somewhat surprised they don’t know the things she hasn’t had a reason to share. Because she feels like these people know her. And they do! Even if they don’t know all these little details because they haven’t yet come up.

Lucy (I missed you, Lucy) isn’t the only one who knows Kate. The team has become her family. And Kai, her closest friend on the team, might be the perfect example of that.

Things I think I think:

• Again, if we don’t get to meet Jesse’s wife this year, we riot.
• Jesse looks like he’s never even HEARD of “Jesse time.”
• When your boss knows the name of your cat, that’s when you know you’re family.
• Kate’s like “my team” when she talks about the FBI, but your team is the NCIS: Hawai’i team, let’s not lie.
• Sam staples with a lot of.. eh, what’s the word… decisiveness.
• Also, his “See you later, Ernie” was kinda hilarious.
• Ofc Sam was right.
• I mean, I’m glad Kai said it because I was thinking that dressed like that, no one was gonna talk to Kate. She LOOKS like an FBI agent.
• YOU WERE CHECKING IN WITH KENSI AND DEEKS AND WE DIDN’T SEE IT?
• I mean, I know that’s not all there is to it, Sam, but you dangled the carrot right in front of me!
• HOW IS THE BABY?!?!
• But is Jesse having a mid-life crisis? Or is he just worried about what he might have missed? The second thing is kinda …normal.
• “Why? I’m fun! Don’t I seem fun?”
• Let’s unpack that at a later time, Kate.
• I also don’t speak bro.
• Tennant’s face when Sam was actually teaching a seminar was priceless.
• Cool plan, Jesse. Or, you know, not plan.
• Hilarious how these dudes thought they could take on Sam.
• Can you really talk someone through landing a plane?
• This is the ultimate moment of trust, I’m telling you.
• Also, I feel like she didn’t give nearly ENOUGH instructions.
• “Were we at war?”
• Sam’s secret better have something to do with Hetty, Callen and the NCIS: Los Angeles loose ends. Just saying.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Hawai’i 3×03 “License to Thrill”? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS: Hawai’i airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.