NCIS Season 24, Episode 2 Review: Director DiNozzo

NCIS Season 24, Episode 2 ‘Clean Slate‘ is the first with Director Tony DiNozzo, and a couple of things are clear right away: things are going to be very different with Tony at the helm, and there’s no way this show can get away with not bringing in Ziva David at some point.

First, let’s get the Ziva-shaped elephant in the room out of the way and admit that so far, NCIS seems to understand that Ziva is a big part of Tony’s life, and that having Tony here means having Ziva, even from a distance. They prove that with constant check-ins and nods to their relationship, and by making Ziva a constant presence. That’s the best-case scenario of what we could have asked for without Ziva’s physical presence, and it works. For now. It won’t, however, work for an entire season. At some point, it’ll grow old, and we’ll either need to see Tony and Ziva together (and maybe even Tali), or it’ll feel like we’re being baited.

Two episodes in, however, we’re still willing to give this storyline some breathing room, particularly because ‘Clean Slate’ tackles head-on a few of the other issues with Tony being director in the first place. Like: What about McGee? And does he even know how to be a Director and not an agent?

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THE ONLY WAY I KNOW

Sometimes the case is important or even interesting, but in ‘Clean Slate’, despite the fact that it’s one of those that isn’t actually solved, instead we found a spy, and the storyline will surely continue on; the case is just there to move the plot along. And to give Tony a chance to get overinvolved, to a point where he’s making everyone uncomfortable, so the team basically forces McGee to go talk to him.

Because the episode makes it really obvious Tony isn’t behaving like the Director; he’s behaving like an agent. What we learn at the end of the episode is that, well… Tony knows that. He’s not confused about what his job is; he’s just… using his new position to have a little fun. And apparently, he has fun “catching bad guys.” Which, as long as he also does his actual job, is probably not a bad thing.

This will, however, mean a different dynamic for the team. Tony won’t have time to be as involved as he was in this case every week. He does have another high-profile job. But we’re likely going to see him more than we saw Vance, and that means everyone’s going to have to learn how to play ball with Tony, for better or worse. And right now, we know (and Tony knows) how that works with McGee, and even with Parker to an extent, but what about Nick … or Jessica? We’ll surely find out.

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I AM NOT SURE HOW I EVER LIVED WITHOUT IT

The thing that makes Tony’s return really work within the context of this show is that there are still two people on this team who have a real connection to him: Tim and Jimmy. We don’t see much of Tony and Jimmy this episode, other than a very enlightening conversation in Jimmy’s lab where we learn that Tony is crashing on Jimmy’s couch (if you got a place, maybe your fiancée would come stay a few days, Tony), and he’s one of those people who loves to set the thermostat to Ice Age. Poor Victoria.

We do, however, get a fair bit of Tony and McGee, and every second of them is gold. From the conversation about McGee’s ‘probie’ that turns into McGee calling Tony a probie, to the running thread of McGee being concerned about Tony, but protective, ending with Tony making sure McGee knows he’s destined for even bigger things than him, their friendship has certainly picked up where it left off. And in so many ways, that’s what happens with people you’ve known for such a long time. It’s easy to just settle back into that comfortable dynamic.

There is, however, a little bit of recognition during that conversation at the end of how far the two have really come. Tony isn’t the same Tony Tim knew. He’s grown. And Tim is certainly not the same probie Tony knew. He’s also grown. That doesn’t mean their friendship can’t still be as close as it was before; it just means that it has to find a way to fit the people they are now. The good news is, they both seem pretty on board with that.

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Things I think I think:

• Some dissapointment from McGee about Tony getting the job he wanted is normal.
• Ziva… called Jess. To… make sure Tony stays on his diet.
• “Apparently he only listens to strong women. They scare him.”
• Okay, this is kinda hilarious.
• Ziva, you could come visit!
• I love McGee having Tony’s back, always.
• “Your job is to solve cases and my job is to make sure nothing gets in your way” is a good line.
• The vibes are so weird with Tony sometimes, I love it.
• Comedy gold.
• I miss Vance, but I like that the office now feels like Tony’s.
• Yeah, it was so obvious you hated raisins. I get you, me too.
• Wildcard is better than class clown.
• “I also know what this office means. I don’t plan on letting anyone down, including him.”
• Did you have a good talk with Ziva?
• “I think you’re looking for Abby.” Aw, Kace.
• Autopsy gremlin?
• Get a place, Tony. How is your family gonna come visit?
• “I think he’s worried I might be cooler than him” is 100% a thing Nick Torres would say.
• Did you really almost confuse Parker with Gibbs?
• “Did you just wink at me?”
• He did.
• “Worry all youj want, and then just watch his back.” Good advice.
• I have a feeling Tony’s Tenets are not going to catch on.
• The way he says Ziva, lol.
• “She’s got you on watch duty.” You say that like you don’t need it.
• I am also struck by the urge to get rid of every smart device I own.
• “It’s not a distraction. It’s the only way I know how to survive this job.”
• Oh, I really love the suggestion that SecNav is grooming McGee for bigger things. I really love it.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of NCIS Season 24, Episode 2 ‘Clean Slate’? Share with us in the comments below!

NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/9c on CBS.