As a rule, TV critics don't write a lot about procedural dramas. The perception is that they aren't all that interesting because they tend not to have much character development and the stories don't change much from episode to episode. They're also difficult to recap which means that for many sites, shows with strong stand alone episodes might as well not exist.
There is some validity to this argument. A lot of procedurals do tend to replow the same ground episode after episode. And since the primary plot function of a series that has stand alone episodes is that they need to be understood by a casual viewer, then in most cases you shouldn't expect much of a change over the course of a season.
But like the best shows in any genre, the best procedural shows transcend their limitations and create something that is both character driven and easy to jump into at any point. One show that has continued to balance on that line is "NCIS," which airs its 200th episode tonight.
The show and its cast was originally introduced during a two-episode arc of "JAG" and its first season reflected that show's sensibility. Known then as "Navy NCIS," the series reflected the vision of co-creator Donald Bellisario, who had also created "JAG."
But what "NCIS" has had from the beginning is an ensemble that may be as good as any in television. The characters are well defined without being cartoonish and each of the roles has evolved and grown over the nine season run.
USA has been running blocks of episodes from earlier seasons of "NCIS" in recent weeks and I've been struck by how some of the characters have changed over the seasons. It's not just that they've grown older or that they've experienced things that have changed them throughout the run of the show. It's also that there is this strong continuity of character and motivation that anchors the show in a way that is very unusual for a procedural.
That consistency is one of the reasons the show has played so well in syndication. You can watch an episode as a stand-alone experience and enjoy the banter and the solving of whatever crisis comes up in the hour. But each episode also has a fair amount of backstory and nods to previous events that provide a rich tapestry for longtime viewers. Even if you've seen that season three episode before, it will have a richer meaning now that you've watched events play out in later seasons.
Another factor that gets overlooked by critics is that the ensemble in "NCIS" is just stellar in nearly every episode. Mark Harmon's Jethro Gibbs doesn't show a lot of emotion and its easy to mistake that quiet behavior for a small acting range. But in the same way that Gary Cooper filled up a screen with just a small shift of his body, Harmon has proved to be an expert at moving scenes along with a subtle, nuanced style that is a joy to watch.
I could go through the rest of the ensemble and make similar observations. Sasha Alexander, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Lauren Holly, Rocky Carroll and Brian Dietzen have all contributed to the success of the show and they work together on screen in a way that nearly always seems note perfect for the scene.
Tonight's 200th episode is a bit of a twist on the classic "what if?" tale, although in classic "NCIS" fashion it provides some real twists along the way. In the episode "Life Before His Eyes," Gibbs finds himself face-to-face with the barrel of a gun, which forces him to question choices he has made in the past. That jumping off point provides the opportunity to see all the show's characters in a new light. The episode also gives longtime fans the chance to see some familiar faces return, including Gibbs' wife and daughter, his mentor Mike Franks and rogue agent Ari, who was shot and killed in Gibbs' basement by his sister Ziva (Cote de Pablo). There's even a new wrinkle in the relationship between McGee (Sean Murray) and Abby (Pauley Perette).
The entire episode isn't flashy and won't be the subject of many breathless tweets from those in the industry. But the 200th episode of "NCIS' delivers the same consistent entertainment and enjoyment as every other episode of the show.
And I'm alright with that.
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