NCIS (TV Series) Starting Over (2022) User Reviews

TPS Reports!

[acfurst · 9/10 · 10 April 2022]

The best part by far was Gary Cole talking about TPS reports, a reference to one of the greatest movies ever - "Office Space". The rest of the episode was pretty good too, but adding the TPS part is what made it special. I have enjoyed NCIS for most of the 19 seasons; this is probably the last one but adding Gary Cole in the Gibbs role and having him say "TPS reports" is a nice way to go out, if that's what is to happen.

I agree that they might as well bring up something from "That 70's show" (though I was never a huge fan of that, the way I am of "Office Space", maybe something from a Hallmark Christmas movie (that Ms. Law was in) and bring back a reference to McGee's successful novels. They've already made reference to David McCallum in The Man From UNCLE but it wouldn't be wrong to go out with another reference to that. Also they could bring in Michael Weatherly to reprise his DiNozzo role, along with Robert Wagner as his father. Maybe have a reference to "Gibbs" playing quarterback in college. Might as well throw in the kitchen sink on references, before the show finally slips down the drain.

Yea, I'm going to need to see those TPS reports

[matthewpsprenger · 10/10 · 29 March 2022]

Best ever! I love it when they say lines from other shows, movies. Especially when the actor was in that production. I wonder if it was Gary Cole's idea? Keep it going. Now all we need is Nick to say a line from That 70's Show!

TPS reports!

[syncopatedrhythm · 10/10 · 29 March 2022]

This episode gets a 10 plus just for Gary Cole talking about filing TPS reports. Almost spit out my drink when he said it. Agent Lumbergh NCIS. I'm sure half the audience didn't get that little inside joke.

Show is suffering a slow, painful death

[charleswx-43127 · 9 April 2022]

I was impressed with the "TPS reports" inside joke. I just watched Office Space again the other day. But, I was highly disappointed that they would blame the victim. "If Tommy had been honest with both women he'd still be alive." If the victim were female, this line would've never been written in the script. Only when the victim is male would they blame the victim. Also, any time the victim is male, it seems like there's always something he did to bring it on himself. Can't just have a female be a bad person. Just have to justify her crime in some way. One way or another, guys are bad and girls are good, even if the woman murders someone. This isn't the only show that does this. L&O SVU is bad about it too.

Starting Over

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 3 June 2022]

Vanessa Lachey's Tennant character intrigued me here and I may need to start checking out NCIS: Hawaii. As for the rest of the show, the storyline was pretty mediocre this week.

The writing is getting incredibly lazy

[gsanvin · 5/10 · 30 March 2022]

In this episode the highlight was the Gary Cole Office Space joke referencing TPS reports. Aside from that it was blah.

The show is obsessed with having every character in an office romance. Move on to something original already!

The "cliffhanger" with Torres being attacked as part of the NCIS Hawaii crossover was poorly done. The writers all but held up a sign that it was going to happen and when it did the shock factor was nowhere to be found.

They Are Too Hard To Rediscover The Magic

[manofkent-66876 · 3/10 · 3 April 2022]

NCIS has been looking up in recent episodes but this one got away from them. I get the feeling that in their desperation tio breathe life into the already rotting corpse of NCIS Hawaii they overextended themselves here and ended up almost making an episode of NCIS Hawaii quality instead.

They really need to do something about the Jessica Knight character as well. With every show that the character puts on the butter wouldn't melt in her mouth act she becomes less and less credible and more and more a caricature to the point where in the second part of this crossover she looked quite at home in the dreadful NCIS Hawaii.

Its so sad to see NCIS in the doldrums like this but at least it aint anywhere near as bad as NCIS Hawaii and on the upside NCIS LA might just have got itself a decent storyline for the first time this season.

An okay episode!

[harrykivi · 5/10 · 2 January 2024]

Margaret Rose Lester, the cowriter of this episode, seems to be a writer, who is thinking about the current themes in our society, which I appreciate, but her style has not yet appealed to me. Scott Williams is a writer, who has had an interesting career in NCIS. He has written some great episodes like "Family First", "Keep Going" and "Seek" and also some real stinkers like "Homesick", "Ready or not". This episode with them two writing together was okay. Ten times better than "Peacekeeper", but still nothing to write home about.

Let's start with the good.

. The production values of the episode are great. "Starting Over" is well-directed, the music fits the scenery. The acting is a mixed bag here. The regulars do great, Joi Symone and Vanessa Lachey are good too. Jack McGee, Laura San Giacomo and Brandon Black though felt a bit wooden.

. The story does present an interesting theme of PTSD and grief. The jokes are agreed some of the best in a while- the banter between the team members is rather fun. The case is occasionally intriguing with a couple of interesting twists. It was also nice to see Fornell.

But...

. Dr Grace has never been one of my favorite characters of the show. Don't find her interesting and she doesn't propel the plot along here that much. Wished there was lot more done with the grieving father storyline, which caught me thinking. The mystery concluded in a pretty basic way that one sees coming from a mile away. Not all of the dialogue is very good, some of it feels dull, especially at the beginning.

Overall, an average episode.

5/10 HK.