NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 2 ‘Fire in the Hole’ is an episode about partnerships—not just Mackey and J.D.’s, but Evie and DeShawn. The banter is on point, but even just two episodes into the new season, the level of intimacy also feels very much heightened. For the team at large, but for these two particular partnerships that the show is clearly setting up as our ships to root for, especially.
And yet, the team dynamics still work very well. Doc and Blue are as integral as the others—and they even get a chance to banter, even if it’s not UST-filled banter. That’s what makes the show so refreshing. It’s hard to hit on one good ship, much less two from the beginning. It’s even harder to do that while the other pieces work so well around them. But here we are, and it doesn’t look like the show is letting up anytime soon.
MORE: Check out our interview with Olivia Swann if you want some teases about where the season is going.
EVIE & DESHAWN
Procedurals are filled with dynamics that start like Evie and DeShawn’s and turn romantic, but we don’t have to go very far to find a similar one within the NCIS universe. Can we get Kensi and Deeks to come to Australia for some reason? Would Evie and DeShawn recognize themselves in them? I don’t think they’re anywhere close to that, but as a viewer, it’s kinda obvious.
It’s still a little early, but it’s clear these two care for each other. It’s also clear that they don’t know how to exteriorize that—Evie, in particular, doesn’t know how to exteriorize that. And banter is easier. It’s safer. If everything’s a joke then you don’t have to lead with your feelings. Except, in this episode, Evie seems to realize that even if you put up a wall, it will still feel like the world is ending when you think you’ve lost your partner. DeShawn already had to face this a couple of times before in Season 1.
At the end of the episode, when DeShawn is high on pain medication, that’s when Evie lets her walls down. That’s when she allows herself to not just have her partner’s back, but to take care of him like perhaps she’d want to. And maybe tomorrow she’ll go back to the banter because she’s not ready to face why she even wants to drop the banter. But for now, the fact that she did for a moment, and the fact that J.D. didn’t even think before jumping off the boat to rescue her, well… that means we’re not seeing things. We can ship this. Even if it’s probably going to be a while.
MORE: Our review of NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 1 is here!
MACKEY & J.D.
Mackey and J.D.’s partnership feels way more solid than Evie and DeShawn, because while the younger two are building a real partnership despite not really showing their cards, Mackey and J.D. have already shown each other their biggest, most important cards. Now, they’re comfortable with each other. There’s an undercurrent of trust that allows them to be more relaxed because there’s no fear that the other person can still find out something about them and decide this relationship isn’t worth it.
But just because it’s a different dynamic doesn’t make it any less interesting. The best relationships, fictional and otherwise, are rooted in friendship. And what NCIS: Sydney is building with these two is a very solid friendship made up of two people who will have each other’s backs, who will step in when the other needs it, and who will hold each other accountable. And what else can you ask for in a partner—any type of partner—than someone who appreciates who you are, but who will be an active participant in making you a better person, because they will never, ever let you get away with stuff.
Do I ship it? Yes, I do. But just like Evie and DeShawn, I fully believe we still have a ways to go before this ship can become what we want it to be. And I will be enjoying every second of the journey.
MORE: Is Kate Todd coming to NCIS: Origins?
Things I think I think:
- “You’re not normal” sounds about right.
- A Titanic selfie? Who is this jokey J.D.? Not that I’m complaining at this banter. And relaxed banter, at that.
- “My partner”!!!
- Okay, look, let’s just continue moving the Rankin storyline along little by little.
- Hahaha well, it does look like a man purse a little bit.
- “Sorry, that was too assertive.” Oh, Blue. I love you.
- “You sure this is what Mackey would do?” LOL
- J.D. is having fun. Mackey isn’t.
- What do you mean it’s always a sex dungeon?
- I kept thinking someone was going to come and trap J.D. and Mackey in the not-sex dungeon.
- Eve performing the wedding was the most second-hand embarrassment moment of this show, by far.
- The singing was golden, though.
- A Mexican standoff, oh yay.
- The silent communication is on-point between partners this hour.
- I wouldn’t have put the gun down, not gonna lie.
- “I need your measurements so I can get your coffin made up.” Mackey is my favorite.
- DeShawn, how did you survive that?
- Evie’s reaction gave me life.
- “I can’t swim” was good, DeShawn’s reaction was better.
- This is a bit of propaganda, but whatever. It’s less annoying when it’s Australia.
- Ironic that even there some people chafe against the U.S., though.
- J.D., what in the world are you doing?
- Let’s never ask ourselves what J.D. would do, honestly.
- Evie knocking the guy off the boat!
- DeShawn jumping after her!
- “Following protocol is not choosing” is a good line.
- I can’t believe J.D.’s plan worked.
- “Not on your watch,” lol. What a pair J.D. and Mackey make.
- It hit his medal. Of course it did.
- The last DeShawn and Evie scene is 100% romantic-coded, come on.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 2 ‘Fire in the Hole’? Share with us in the comments below! And if you have your own opinion on the show, leave a review/rating on our NCIS: Sydney hub!
NCIS: Sydney airs Fridays at 8/7c on CBS.
