NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 1 “Gut Instinct” brings back the Sydney team with a lot of changes, and more of a focus—if possible—on the developing relationship between Mackey and JD. For an episode that’s meant to be setup (we obviously get no answers about Blue, and nothing really big on Mackey and JD), this is a very entertaining hour that proves Sydney might just be the easiest show to pick up in the franchise.
The Mackey and JD of it all is not surprising. NCIS: Sydney has been quietly, but steadily, setting up two ships on this show, and though Evie and DeShawn have gotten their share of moments, the Season 2 finale made it clear that Mackey and JD were way closer to understanding their feelings, if not acknowledging them.
NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 1 reinforces that idea, while also giving us a good episode for team dynamics, introducing a new character who we don’t hate, and setting up the Blue storyline we can’t wait to delve into. And with Sydney getting a full season this year, it actually feels like we’ll have time to explore it all. I can’t wait.
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WHERE IS BLUE?
Considering where the Season 2 finale left off, I expected “Gut Instinct” to pick up with Blue. The episode, instead, skips ahead a little bit and completely cuts Blue off from her team, leaving us literally on the edge of our seats, wondering where this is going and when she will be back. Because this was a fun episode! The banter was on point. We like the new guy. But this show still needs Blue. The team still needs Blue.
And the thing is, as soon as they figure out that Blue didn’t really want to quit, and that she might need them, I’m sure they’ll all be on the case. Maybe they’ll even go a little rogue to do so. I won’t complain. This show has established the ships really well, as I said, but the thing that makes it really work is how believable the team dynamics are. I don’t watch just because I care about whether Mackey and JD end up together, or because I care if Evie and DeShawn one day kiss. I watch because I care about all the characters.
But also, because we are, at this point, invested in the dynamics they all share. And though there’s no doubt that Blue’s strongest connection is with Doc Roy, the truth is she, Evie, and Mackey once literally held each other as they thought they were dying. This team isn’t just about separate partnerships. This is a team. A family. And family will fight for each other.
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IN CASE YOU DIDN’T SEE IT BEFORE
I’ll argue NCIS: Sydney set up Mackey and JD as a possible ship in literally the “Pilot” because that’s what you do with your main ship, you set it up early. But with only 8 episodes in Season 1 and 10 episodes in Season 2, the show hasn’t really had time to give them the development that makes people say: “Oh yes, that’s exactly what they’re doing.” And though I think Season 1 and particularly Season 2 made it clear, “Gut Instinct” picks Season 3 off by making it absolutely clear where they’re going with Mackey and JD. It might take a while still, but this is a ship that’s been very clearly set up.
The basis of friendship is already there. The way they care for each other is a little more than they care for others, in a way that sometimes leads them to make bad decisions. The banter is on point. We saw JD’s jealousy in the Season 2 finale. This episode gives Mackey an echo of the same reaction at hearing that JD is now on dating apps. But there’s also how they handle conflict in this hour, and what that means.
Let’s be clear, JD questions Mackey’s gut not because he doesn’t trust her, but because he’s scared for her. He doesn’t know if she’s fine, and she’s not been open about her therapy. So he’s defaulting to protecting her from herself. Very soon, JD realizes she doesn’t need that. Mackey’s got this. She knows what she’s doing. And then, when they solve the case, JD does the thing you would expect him to do in these circumstances: he apologizes.
He, of course, doesn’t give context to his reaction, but he does make it very clear to Mackey that he was in the wrong. And there’s no one he trusts more than her. And Mackey sees it. She understands what he’s saying, even if he’s not saying it. They’ve always seen deeper when it comes to the other. That’s why she lets him off the hook. Why she says “thanks, partner.”
It’s even why she goes ahead and helps with his dating profile. Because Mackey might care, and she might be closer to seeing it, but she’s nowhere near accepting what that means. She’d rather avoid it for as long as she can.
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Things I think I think:
- I really appreciate the show having Mackey go to therapy, even if we already knew she’d be awful at therapy.
- “Break glass in case of fashion emergency.” OMG.
- Look, their security was, indeed, kinda lax. Sorry to say.
- What do you mean Blue resigned?!
- Evie and DeShawn making fun of JD’s dating profile is a perfect representation of the dynamics between these characters.
- Love how JD cannot call Mackey by her name. Nicknames are love.
- This scene with JD asking about the therapy and Mackey asking about the dating site is the most obvious ship setup in the history of ship setup. The level of awkwardness is A+.
- “Keep me posted”??
- Banter still on point, guys. Banter is still on point.
- “Mackey, you’re going to ruin the movie.” LOL
- Yes, block him, Evie. Block him.
- I typically like that Mackey and JD are not afraid to call each other out when they think the other is wrong, but you’re out of line, JD, and I know you don’t even mean it. That’s fear talking.
- Rosieeee, no, you can be a fixer.
- That blue video murdered me. HELP HER.
- What do you mean he answered “more or less” to the question of whether that was his kid.
- JD, was that a pep talk? Never give pep talks again.
- Okay, new dude, you’re okay.
- Good apology, JD. Good apology.
- “Thanks, partner.”
- “You’re a catch, Sargeant. Deal with it.” I’m not okay.
- What did she change?!
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 1 “Gut Instinct”? Share with us in the comments below!
NCIS: Sydney airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS.
