NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 10 ‘Sting in the Tail‘ is a good season finale, one that ties up most of the loose ends from the season, and that ends on an interesting note that promises more for these characters in Season 3. It’s not a huge cliffhanger, but considering how much we’ve learned of these people in Season 2, it still feels like a nice tease, going forward.
However, compared to Season 1’s finale, the episode does fall a bit short. You can’t pull the same card twice, after all—and you don’t actually want to, otherwise you won’t be able to maintain the stakes. The Rankin of it all feels like it was solved a little too fast, considering how long we spent thinking about it, and the most interesting part of the hour isn’t anything that has to do with the actual case, but the dynamics between J.D. and Mackey, and what the events of this hour and the previous one says about their relationship.
MORE: Revisit what we learned about J.D. and Mackey’s dynamic in our interview with Olivia Swann.
(ONLY) PARTNERS
There’s an awkwardness to J.D. and Mackey’s airport goodbye in NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 10 ‘Sting in the Tail’ that wasn’t there at any point in the season. One that certainly hasn’t been present since the two bonded at the beginning of this season, since their trust grew exponentially once Mackey showed J.D. a bit of herself. And that awkwardness comes from the fact that in this episode, Mackey confronts J.D. about his jealousy. It’s what I discussed in my previous review, she puts a name to the feelings he’s displaying.
And once Pandora’s box is open, you cannot close it back down.
Because now she’s noticed it. And even though J.D. was right, even though he wasn’t acting purely out of jealousy, even though Etienne was indeed the bad guy in all of this, both Mackey and J.D. know there was more to it. They know the other one knows. And not just that, it’s now been acknowledged between them. So, even if they want to avoid it, at some point, it’s going to have to be addressed. Because he was jealous. And because he took that shot. Because he was worried. And because she is still holding all her cards very, very close to her chest.
MORE: Do you want a complete list of Gibbs’ rules? We got one for you!
CHARACTER (DEVELOPMENT)
There are little moments of character development for everyone else in NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 10 ‘Sting in the Tail’. The season ends as a great setup for Blue, but DeShawn and Eview have had moment after moment of not just a great partnership, but something that has always felt like a building block for more. And of course, there’s Doc Roy, who this episode once again establishes as the rock Blue will need for whatever is coming her way.
But the team, as a unit, just works. The little dynamics within it have never detracted from that. Sometimes, procedurals have a hard time making that work, but NCIS: Sydney just found six people who clicked together really well, who feel like a fun group of people who like each other, who are a ragtag family, and then… managed to build the particular dynamics between the twosomes they wanted to build, whether those dynamics be romantic or not. And now, we’re very much invested.
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Things I think I think:
- At least we’re getting Rankin answers.
- “Get your boy in line” lol
- Even Agent Carter sees it.
- “You alright”/”Not really”
- “Are you anti-NGOs or anti-Etienne?”/”I’m gonna assume that’s not a serious question.” Awfully close to the actual question there, Mackey.
- But it feels kinda valid.
- Have we considered maybe he is jealous, but maybe he also has a point?
- Imagine that, Rankin could just be woken up like that!
- Summer camp for terrorists was kinda funny.
- “We’re mid-rescue, and you’re giving me notes?” Wouldn’t be Evie if she didn’t.
- Can’t say I feel too bad about the dude. Poor croc, though. I hope evil doesn’t cause indigestion.
- Maybe that’s why the croc meat isn’t that great?
- But it’s the thought that counts, DeShawn!
- J.D. *is* like a dog with a bone.
- Mackey with the fire and the kicking ass was kinda cool.
- J.D.’s “look at me” killed me.
- Now that’s how you set up next season. Is this Blue’s mother?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney Season 2, Episode 10, ‘Sting in the Tail’? 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.
