CBS

NCIS Season 22, Episode 9 Review: ‘Humbug’

NCIS Season 22, Episode 9 ‘Humbug’ is the episode we were waiting for to close out this first half of the season of NCIS and go into the hiatus satisfied with where the show is going. From the Torres focus, to his secret girlfriend, to the episode playing out as the team vs. LaRoche—with the team coming out on top—it was a very satisfying hour that also managed to be heartwarming and even a little bit Christmasy.

In fact, the only thing the first half of the season didn’t really give us is some clarity regarding Jessica and Jimmy. It makes no sense for the show to drop the ship now, after all the setup and time spent together, but they sure don’t seem in a rush to put them back together. Sure, there are lessons the two had to learn separately before they could truly come back together, but it’s hard to argue that they are learning those lessons. Instead, it feels like they’re just learning how to be without each other.

But overall, the first half of the season was pretty solid, with some truly high notes. In the back half we’d love to get that Jessica and Jimmy answer, obviously get more of the LaRoche and Lily plots, and please, please, please can we get some more of a focus on Kasie as an individual? We’re begging here.

MORE: Is NCIS: Origins worth the watch? Here’s our spoiler-free NCIS: Origins review!

A COMMON ENEMY

The reason LaRoche works so well in NCIS Season 22, Episode 9 ‘Humbug’ and in general is because he gives the team a common enemy to unite against. And sure, he starts off and will probably remain first and foremost a Jimmy foil, since it was the job Jimmy wanted that he took, but if this episode proved, Parker is right there with Jimmy and the team isn’t far behind. Even if they don’t distrust LaRoche as much as Jimmy does, they don’t like outsiders telling them what to do, and they certainly don’t trust the Deputy Director.

It makes sense that they wouldn’t. There have, of course, been changes to this team through the years. McGee has worked with so many different people he’s trusted with his life at this point that it’s getting kind of hilarious. But they’ve all been different from someone like LaRoche, because they’ve been people out in the field with Jimmy, and they’ve also been people who have earned that trust. Simple as that. LaRoche has only not done that, he looks shadier by the second. In fact, he looks so shady I’m starting to question Vance for not thinking he’s shady. He probably needs to dial down the shady just a little bit or his storyline is going to be over sooner rather than later, that’s how sus he is to me.

But hey, for now, it remains mostly a McGee thing, with the team chaffing at being told what to do by LaRoche and trusting Jimmy’s instincts but not fully buying into it. Soon enough, though, LaRoche will probably do something that’ll get the entire team on board with Jimmy’s “he’s a problem” attitude. And then this storyline will turn really and truly fun.

MORE: NCIS: Sydney is coming back soon! Need a reminder of how it ended? Here’s our review of the NCIS: Sydney Season 1 finale.

BABE?

NCIS Season 22, Episode 9 ‘Humbug’ introduces a new mystery to the show, one they will surely touch on when NCIS returns in January. Who is this mysterious woman Nick Torres is dating—and is ready to spend Christmas with? Where did she come from? How has the relationship progressed so fast without us knowing anything about it?

Could it be…someone we already know? It’s unlikely to be Bishop, the reason Torres has had such a hard time with trust in the last few years, but with the show not revealing who it is he’s talking to, there’s always the possibility that it is. Especially considering he kept the identity of whoever it is he’s dating from the team. But Bishop’s exit would make this problematic, even if Emily Wickersham somehow wanted to return to the show.

If it is someone new, though, who could it be that fans could easily accept with Torres? There was a lot of talk in this episode about letting go of guilt and accepting help, and it felt at first like Torres was still in the bad part of the comparison to Samuel Cross, but perhaps he isn’t. Maybe he’s coming out on the other side and this relationship is part of the reason why. If so, fans will want to learn who the lucky lady is, sooner rather than later.

MORE: Do you want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We got one for you!

Things I think I think:

Are they all huddling by the copier because it gives off some sort of fake warmth?
Oh, they are.
Nick, why are you being so cagey about your Christmas plans?
Glad that McGee is just “I think LaRoche is sus” instead of keeping that from the team.
Oh, fun, a book-centric plot. Not joking here, I actually like this.
Parker’s “can’t wait” to LaRoche working with the team deserves some sort of award for sassiness.
And Jimmy chiding LaRoche about eating in the lab. Ha. My petty team.
Does LaRoche just have no bedside manner or is he being this much of a nuisance on purpose?
Once again, Nick, why are you lying?
I mean, Cross, why even invite someone in?
What does LaRoche mean by “you shouldn’t have met Cross without me”? Does he think this highly trained team can’t do their job without him?
Jess and Kasie seeing right through Nick was nice.
The fact that they dusted off McGee’s author persona was a nice touch, truly.
Ok, but the way I despise LaRoche.
Torres, you projecting a tad.
All of this turned out nicer than I expected, I’m not gonna lie. Christmas miracles do exist!
LaRoche took the blame? More like took the credit.
“It’s not about me. How are you?” hit me hard.
Babe?
BABE?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 22, Episode 9 ‘Humbug’? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

Here are our NCIS reviews:

Lissete Lanuza Sáenz

Lawyer. Writer. Editor. Former Senior Editor in charge of Features, Lists, and News at CBR. Freelancer at TV Guide & Remezcla. Eternal optimist. Fangirl since the dawn of time. Hates the color yellow, olives and cigarettes. Has a recurring nightmare where she’s forced to choose between sports and books. Falls in love with fictional characters.