In our pre-"Legend (Part 1)" episode poll, 70 percent of people said they were hoping CBS greenlights the NCIS spinoff, sight unseen. Eighteen percent said they were fans of NCIS but against the spinoff. (Twelve percent said they don’t watch NCIS and wouldn’t tune in to a sister series.) Will those numbers change now that we’ve met the folks at NCIS Office of Special Projects (OSP)? Vote in the poll after the jump. I’m still a go. Here’s why:
• The spinoff really would be different: Just as NCIS exec producer Shane Brennan promised us, OSP’s L.A. Operations Center is not about forensics, it’s about undercover work and LL Cool J’s Special Agent Sam Hanna magically tossing the surveillance footage from cameras 3 and 4 from the small screen up to the Big Screen. [Insert a sing-songy Awesome! from me here.] I was pretty much McGeekin’ it any time Hanna touched a screen last night. I could’ve watched him send Abby that email for 20 minutes on loop. (As a child, I once had the option of staying in the hospital overnight or going home. I asked for time to think it over because the hospital room had a push button phone and my house didn’t. I have problems, too, McGee.)
• Special Agent G. Callen is a mystery, and I want to explore. Chris O’Donnell was one of about six actors on NCIS exec producer Shane Brennan’s wish list for Callen. I’ll admit I wasn’t quite feeling him — until the end of the episode, when he was in front of the mirror transforming into arms dealer Liam. It was a combination of the steely look on his face and the voiceover of operational psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor) explaining the meaning of "Legend." It’s the backstory that an undercover agent creates in his mind for his role. It runs so deep it includes a fictional family. Callen doesn’t know who his real family is (and as Brennan told us, he doesn’t even know what the ‘G’ stands for in his name). No wonder it’s easy for him to become someone else. He’s like a blank slate, which is sort of how I see O’Donnell, too. Even though I had a huge crush on him after Circle of Friends, I never felt the need to read about him. I have no idea what his personality is like in real life. (And before you say, "Does he have one?" He must.) He’s difficult to read, which will work well for Callen when he’s operational — and when we’re trying to figure out how damaged he is from his past. (I was surprised by how physically affectionate he was with Gibbs, who apparently saved his ass when they worked together in Serbia years ago, and by how he referred to the OSP team as his family. Unexpected for someone who’s a loner by nature, but necessary for any show that’s going to be compared to NCIS.) I’ll continue to warm to O’Donnell if he keeps bringing those intense stares and has chemistry with LL Cool J. Hanna is supposed to be very protective of Callen when they’re in the field. The spinoff’s success — we’ll know May 20 if it’s picked up — will hinge largely on their interaction and making sure that LL isn’t in front of a touch screen all the time.
The one drawback to introducing the spinoff characters on episodes of NCIS is that the split screen time with the regular cast means leaves the new actors less time to develop that chemistry and, more importantly, convince us of it. As Gibbs is the dad of NCIS, agent-in-charge Lara Macy (CSI‘s Louise Lombard) needs to become the mom of OSP — or at least the person they all respect/fear and have their own unique relationship with. It’s impossible to know from her brief and expository conversations with Nate ( "As an operational psychologist…") and Callen (please ask Gibbs what the hell happened between he and Macy 18 years ago) if that spark is there with them. Hanna and Special Agent Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) haven’t even gotten any memorable face time with her yet. Still, I had an affinity for Macy from the moment she said "Crap" when the opening undercover op fell apart. So I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt.
As for the plot of the episode, twisty! My jaw-dropped when Callen opened the door as arms dealer Liam and in walked Michael Rivkin, the Mossad agent Ziva had been meeting with back in Washington. (Even if the spinoff doesn’t get picked up, these episodes were officially worth it.) The preview for "Legend (Part 2)" referred to Ziva as an "NCIS TRAITOR," but there’s no way that she knew that Rivkin was buying weapons, explosives, and passports. Right? Tony’s jealousy suspicion boils over next week when Ziva’s connection to Rivkin comes out. (Tony already knows that he was with her at the Moroccan bar explosion. How had no one ever told Tony that Ziva almost died? I realize he was on a ship at that point, but that seems like news that someone would have found the time to share with him.) I can’t believe that Ziva, who killed Ari to save Gibbs, would be a traitor. What’s your theory on how the last three episiodes of the season will play out? (And what do you think the connection is between Gibbs and Macy???)
I didn’t like the show last night. You’re right, there was little chemistry with the new team but a bunch of super-sized iTouch screens don’t make up for that. I recently saw the first ep of NCIS on USA and that had chemistry. This ep was too show-offy.
I was not surprised by the Callen reveal at all. In fact I called it about 40 minutes into the show. I’ll watch next week and make my decision on if the show warrants a pick-up.
When the original NCIS first came on the scene, I wasn’t all that “enthralled” by the show. It took some reruns for me to finally realize what a great show it is!
We have to give the spin off show some time to find itself. It has potential as long as people are open to it and stop comparing it to NCIS.
I also wish there had been more development of the new characters last night, but I’m totally interested in it enough to check out the next episode. And I think it would be great if it’s picked up (hello…LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell in THE SAME SHOW!!??!) I also instantly liked Louise Lombard and Peter Cambor. Very funny, arch exchange between the two of them….
I greatly enjoyed last night’s episode. The chemistry was a little lacking but occasionally that takes time. To me the chemistry in NCIS didn’t pick up until the second season. I think as the new show moves forward the cohesiveness of the characters will grow. And it’s different from the original. It’s not like CSI where it’s the same show but in a different city.
I’m in. I think we’ll get to see the OSP team work together a little more next week, so I’m not worried about the chemistry. I’m really intrigued by Callen though. And that Michael reveal I did not see coming, kudos Shane Brennan. Can’t wait for next week!
I’m not on board yet — we’ll see after part 2. The gimmick with the touch screen got old very fast to me, and I hope LL Cool J has more to do next time. I was impressed with Chris O’Donnell, though. I guess I resent giving up my Tony and Ziva time for new folks.
I’m a BIG NCIS fan, I watch the “back-to-back-to-back” (3) reruns here in LA. The OSP lacks compelling characters and appears to be building on technology, not chemistry. I’m a tech-geek too, but I get all I need in real life. I just about fell asleep as the multitouch screen scenes dragged on. That’s so 2002 Minority Report ridiculous.
NCIS is the only crime investigation show I watch. What makes it so great is the chemistry – they’re one big, semi-dysfunctional, crime fighting family. Sadly, OSP has not such chemistry. Moreover, who does LL Cool J think he is with his touch screens – John King on CNN? I’ll take Abby any day – who wants a show built around surveillance footage?
I’mgoing to give it a shot. When they did the JAG/NCIS crossover episodes to introduce NCIS I wasn’t a huge fan at that point but after I watched a few “solo” episodes I really enjoyed. We’ll see if Legend can build the chemistry once their on their own like NCIS did.
Fixing Typos:
I’m going to give it a shot. When they did the JAG/NCIS crossover episodes to introduce NCIS I wasn’t a huge fan at that point but after I watched a few “solo” episodes I really enjoyed it. We’ll see if Legend can build the chemistry once they’re on their own like NCIS did.
It didn’t hold my attention. Too jumpy. NCIS team is much more interesting and human. New team is not fun to watch and I don’t like the undercover stuff. Didn’t realize how important Abby is to the show with her forensics and let’s not forget Ducky.
My husband and I are huge fans of NCIS and we love the chemistry of the orginal show, but we are willing to give the new show a chance. I really liked the characters.
I’m just getting caught up on NCIS, but I watched last night’s episode, and I think they have an intriguing group of people. I’d watch the spin off! It’s hard to tell how the chemistry will be since this was technically still an NCIS episode.
I think I will give it a chance — I just came on board the NCIS lovefest by watching the reruns on USA and at the end of last season. The touch screen is going to get old fast, but as Gibbs pointed out — they’re special ops — they’ll probably have some new gizmo every other week for geeks to salivate over.
Last night had some very interesting moments. I remember the NCIS team into on JAG and was excited about a spin-off (really love Mark Harmon so that was an easy sell). NCIS is a good show and when the spin-off gets set with it’s own cast and characters I think it will hold it’s own. I hope so anyway. But, nothing and I mean nothing, should interrupt the great cast, characters and flow of NCIS.