NCIS Season 22, Episode 19 ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ is one of the strongest episodes of the season, with multiple callbacks to Gibbs and the lore of this show and a strong focus on Timothy McGee as a character. The team works well in support of McGee, but it’s really Sean Murray’s time to shine, and he deserves it, particularly twenty-two seasons in.
But the episode also works really well to showcase how much the character has grown, and how much the show has grown around him, too. The lessons of Gibbs have been well learned, and a lot of people are carrying this show forward, even without him. And sure, we miss Gibbs. But this show has continued to work even without him—something we weren’t sure was possible when Mark Harmon originally left. And one of the biggest reasons why has been Sean Murray’s steady presence as Timothy McGee.
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IS IT TIME FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR MCGEE?
The question after NCIS Season 22, Episode 19 ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ is what comes next for McGee. LaRoche is clearly not getting his job back. And McGee was clearly right about him all along. Perhaps everything he did to prove his point won’t exactly endear him to TPTB. Maybe his place is on the field. But it also feels like the show could decide to give him another role and still integrate him into the storylines. We see a fair bit of Vance, and he’s not on the field, after all.
That might require the team to bring someone else in—they would need another field agent if they remove Tim from the equation, but at this point, that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Some fresh blood might be good. Or hey, if you want to bring back someone, just saying, always a possibility. As long as McGee is still around, there are ways for the growth to feel believable and for both Tim and Delilah to be happy! Let us remember to keep Delilah happy, too. One relationship in this show has to work out, please.
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THE LEGACY OF GIBBS
It’s funny to watch an episode like NCIS Season 22, Episode 19 ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ and consider the legacy of Gibbs while watching NCIS: Origins at the same time, because it gives you a complete picture of the character, who he was, who he will end up becoming and the people he will impact along the way. But this episode, and the way everyone knows the rules, is a pretty good example of why NCIS: Origins ended up working, even though I originally thought it wouldn’t.
Gibbs is a very good character, but it’s not about Gibbs per se. It never was. It’s about the people Gibbs touched, and the stories that can be traced to decisions he made or things he taught others. Though maybe, in a way, that is about Gibbs. Quite a legacy, isn’t it?
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Things I think I think:
- What are you doing, McGee? Why are you trespassing at Gibbs’ place in your dreams?
- Torress, what do you mean by everyone’s had a basement dream?
- “The only mistake I made was telling you two about my dream.”
- No, McGee is not fine.
- What do you mean the system thinks the undercover wedding was real? Let´s go back to THAT.
- Oh, when you call Parker Gibbs you need to go home.
- Also, did someone go on an old NCIS binge or something? So many Gibbs mentions this hour.
- Yes, judges will laugh at you, Nick and Jessica. I’m laughing.
- Jessica checking on Parker is nice.
- “Maybe you just need some closure.”
- Did you really chase this man all day, Tim?
- “Guys, you gotta believe me here.”
- Only Nick and Jessica would consider staying married for the benefits.
- Jimmy is the best friend ever, truly.
- Now that McGee is getting questioned, it’s like everyone found their sense of urgency!
- Ah, so the rules for NCIS are pretty funny, considering Kensi and Deeks were married over on NCISLA without a problem.
- Rule 45, lol.
- “Maybe he got tired of waiting for people to believe in him.”
- YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE HIM EITHER, TORRES.
- Why are you feeling bad about LaRoche, Jimmy?
- I hate this investigator late, truly.
- Truly wanted the mint to be the thing that brought LaRoche down.
- Don’t you bring up Gibbs, LaRoche.
- “It’s time you knew the truth?”
- I hate cliffhangers.
Are you excited for NCIS Season 22, Episode 19 ‘Irreconcilable Differences’? Please share with us in the comments below! And if you have any thoughts about the show, leave a review/rating of your own in our NCIS hub!
NCIS airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.
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