NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 3 ‘Lost in Translation’ is a quintessential episode of the show at this point, and a very enjoyable one. The hour gives the main two dynamics a chance to showcase what makes them work, leaves space for Blue and Doc Roy, and never loses sight of what this team is: a found family.
But ‘Lost in Translation’ also establishes a mystery that is sure to have ramifications for the show—Mackey on this high-profile kill list, a fact she takes pains to hide from the rest of the team—and gives us a big bad for the season. Even if we don’t exactly know who the big bad is, or how this storyline will shake up. What we do know, though, is that this show works so much better when the stakes are personal, and this storyline has a lot of promise to give us a lot of good character moments when we finally get to peel its layers.
MORE: Read our review of the Season 3 premiere! And Episode 2.
WANNA TALK ABOUT IT
Everything about Mackey and JD in this episode, and throughout the first three episodes of Season 3 has showcased how much their dynamic has grown. And sure, the Season 3 premiere gave us hints that there were indeed romantic feelings there, but this episode goes further by cementing their partnership, which in a procedural such as this one, is always the perfect foundation.
From JD teasing Mackey about her combative ways at the beginning of the episode to him just flat out asking her what’s wrong after she reacts in a way he feels doesn’t really make sense, these two are past the “getting to know each other” phase and well into the “I know you” phase. They’re still not at “I know you better than you know yourself,” but you can see them inching in that direction.
What they are, and what they’ve been from the beginning—which is part of the reason they work so well, is the kind of partners who can always call each other out when they think the other is acting strange, or hiding something. That means that JD is likely to be instrumental to this secret Mackey is keeping, and whatever the show does to put that storyline to rest. And considering how much the dynamic has advanced so far, we can’t wait.
MORE: Is NCIS: Sydney going there with Mackey and JD?
YOU GOOD, E?
Slower, but definitely steady, is the dynamic between Evie and DeShawn. They’ve had fewer chances to truly connect emotionally, and they’ve all come at high-pressure moments, when one thought the other was about to die. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not close, in their own way. And that’s exactly what works so well on NCIS: Sydney, the dynamic between these two is nothing like that between Mackey and JD. But it’s still pretty interesting.
Their flirty but antagonistic dynamic is very much early Densi, and we all know how those two ended up on NCIS: Los Angeles. And yet they trust each other. With the little things. With the not-so-little things. And as they’ve proven in high-pressure situations, with the big things. There are just so many secrets between them still. They’re not showing all their cards to anyone, much less each other. And that means something big needs to happen to crack the mask both of them carry around each other.
If I had to guess, I’d say we’re getting this sooner rather than later. And hey, Mackey and JD might feel like they’re much farther ahead on the journey, but sometimes slow and steady wins the race.
MORE: We talked to Olivia Swann before Season 2. What did she say about Mackey and JD then?
Things I think I think:
- Self-improvement, lol.
- He is being annoying! But you can be combative, Mackey.
- Evie is like, “Get me outta here,” as Mackey asks her if she’s combative.
- Where is this Blue storyline going? Can she even keep her job, considering her past?
- Yes, those are your Lucky Charms, DeShawn.
- Eh, I see the superficial similarities, but this woman ain’t Mackey.
- I love the little hints at how close Evie and DeShawn are.
- “I know what it’s like. To pretend to be someone you’re not.” Evie, baby.
- Hypothetically speaking, lol Blue.
- And also helping Trigger!
- Mackey seems a little too stereotypical American about this whole thing at first. But I’m glad it wasn’t that.
- “Wanna talk about it?” Jim Dempsey, I love you.
- “Since when do you blindly follow orders?”
- The backstory works really well for Mackey. Give depth to her feelings.
- Mackey and JD work so well, and so do Evie and DeShawn.
- This bomb scene is nerve-wracking, and Tuli nails the acting.
- “You good, E?”
- “It’s good to have you back.” Again, you’re both just turning a blind eye, right?
- Oooh, Mackey is on the list.
- This deleting it thing is gonna come back to bite you in the ass, Mackey.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 3, ‘Lost in Translation’? 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 Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS.
