NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 5 Review: A Losing Game

NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 5 ‘Black is White’ is the show once again doing what it does best, delivering an interesting case-heavy episode, while still giving enough space for us to feel like we’ve learned something new about the characters. In this particular hour, DeShawn gets a little bit of focus thanks to his knowledge of chess, but we also get an answer to the Blue employment question and a hint as to where this Mackey in danger storyline is going.

If anything, it’s the kind of episode that leaves you wanting more, in a good way. NCIS: Sydney did a lot with two shortened seasons, 8 and then 10 episodes, and now has a full season to pay off some of the dynamics—and pick up some of the dangling plot threads from not just the past, but also this season. And we really can’t wait until they get to it, even if we’re enjoying the ride so far.

MORE: Here’s how to watch every NCIS show in order

YOU GOTTA TRUST YOUR TEAM, MACKEY

Absolutely everyone on this team has gone rogue at one point or another without really trusting their partner, their team. So it’s hard to really fault Mackey for doing what the boss typically does, which is make the hard choice to protect everyone else. We know it’s going to probably blow up in her face, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get why she’s doing it.

However, at this point, her relationships with everyone other than DeShawn have advanced to a point where she should, at the very least, trust JD with this burden she’s carrying. ‘Black Is White’ showcases how well she and JD work as a team in things that don’t even have to do anything with the case, and we have already gotten to see very clearly how much the two rely on each other, and not just that, trust each other. So why not trust him with this?

The answer is probably more personal than Mackey wants it to be. Yes, JD is her partner, and she trusts him. When it comes time to share this with someone, she’ll probably go to him. But right now, JD is also the person she cares about protecting the most. Even if it’s not her place. Even if he wouldn’t want her to do that, he’d probably get mad at her for making decisions for him. But then again, hasn’t he made the same call when it’s been him on the other side?

MORE: Is NCIS: Sydney going there with Mackey and JD?

WHEN DO WE GET MORE OF DESHAWN?

‘Black if White’ gives us more of DeShawn without really going too deep into the things we don’t know about him. It’s an interesting hour that showcases how little of a stereotype he is and one that provides him with some much-needed depth. But we get another dangling storyline for him, at the end, one about revenge, that is sure to be something we pick back up at some point in the season. It’s just that we’re still waiting for the explanation of all the dangling plot threads from last season’s ‘Hell Weak.’

So far, the pace of the season works. We’ve gotten a little bit of everyone, and more of Mackey and JD, who are clearly the ensemble leads here. And as I’ve said before, Mackey and JD’s relationship is a little bit more developed than DeShawn and Evie’s. Now, we kinda need the two of them to take center stage, and especially DeShawn. And we need a little bit more than an episode like this, which gives context without providing us much in the way of background.

DeShawn has secrets the show has hinted at. We don’t have to learn them all, not yet. But we wouldn’t mind peeling another layer or two off this particular onion. It would benefit the show and his character if it didn’t take too much longer.

MORE: We talked to Olivia Swann before Season 2. What did she say about Mackey and JD then?

Things I think I think:

• So, basically, Blue has zero qualifications. Gotcha.
• JD calling her kiddo makes my heart grow three sizes.
• Book adjacent?!
• Look, I’ll say it. War and Peace is long and kinda overrated.
• DeShawn has clearly watched his fair share of mystery thrillers.
• Why is Rankin here?
• And why is Mackey telling HIM and not the team?
• “Anything happens to me, the footage goes viral.”
• DeShawn knowing about chess is hot.
• “In my country, sometimes cops are the bad guys.” I meeeeeeeean
• Technical knowledge of chess and knowing how to play chess are two different things.
• Mackey and JD and the high-five.
• “Remember this face,” and everything. I like it when we have episodes that we know we’ll pick back up later.
• JD found a way to keep Blue!
• Blue hugging Mackey and JD gave me feels.
• “Yes, ma’am.”
• Should I be worried about these favors you called in, JD?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS: Sydney Season 3, Episode 5, ‘Black Is White’? 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.