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NCIS

Masquerade

Season 7, Episode 14, Aired 2/2/10

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Episode Summary

The NCIS team has to thwart an attempt by a group of terrorists to detonate a bomb before it's too late.

8.7

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Cast & Crew

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Mark Harmon

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Michael Weatherly

Special Agent Tony DiNozzo
Sean Murray (I)

Special Agent Tim McGee

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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A mediocre episode which does nothing special and has a confusing, lazy plot.

5.0

"Mediocre"

By bartjeee1, May 27, 2011 Report Abuse

It's funny that my first review of an NCIS episode should be a negative one, as I generally really like the show. I'm writing this review because, in what I believe is an overall decent season, this episode stood out. In a bad way.

Let me begin by saying that the plot was mediocre at best. It was difficult to follow and leaves a few holes, too. So first there are these two guys, brothers, who are involved in... what actually? Oh, yeah, his car exploded. But he wasn't really in the car because... I don't know, but the car was being driven by a guy whose goal was... I don't know that one either. And I guess that one guy recorded some video's for... someone, an intelligence contractor or something? And he was tricked by... who, the contractors employees who we never see? That's only briefly explained. But they were somehow in danger? From what or who? And why should I care? It didn't help that the two of them had maybe a total of 30 seconds of screen-time.

So then about the intelligence contractor. He's on-screen for maybe 10 seconds total. He's a guy who supplied false intel about a fake terrorist group to get the city to panic and the senate to vote for a bill or something. It all seems a bit far-fetched. It doesn't help that I never once felt worried about the bomb threat. It was a bomb thread to a city. An anonymous, faceless city. There were never any specific people in danger that I should care about. There was no emotional involvement and therefor no tension or drama. The threat never felt real. Who even made the bomb? The contractor guy himself? Or his employees (again: who we never see)? But it was a fairly amateuristic bomb, wasn't it? It didn't even go off. So am I now expected to believe that an intelligence contractor for the US government cannot successfully produce one simple bomb from somewhere? Did you see the bomb at the end? It looked rather simple to me. And why the hell go through all the trouble of sending some guy around the city to raid dentist's offices for radioactive material (ah, so THAT's what that guy was doing!)? Wasn't the intention just to scare people? Wasn't a 'regular' bomb up to the task? I guess the only reason it was radioactive was so that McGee could find it with his Geiger-counter. What, did a kindergartner write this episode?

Overall the plot felt very uninspired and weak. The twist ending was as predictable as it was lazy. Cherry on the bad-writing-pie was the dentist guy who out of nowhere committed suicide and was somehow being shoehorned in there to take the fall for the whole thing, or something? Why? How? The whole thing literally made no sense.

There was, however, one redeeming element in this whole mess of an episode: Margaret Allison Hart. I personally hate Ms. Hart's guts, and therefor like having her on the show. She's makes a good antagonist to Gibbs and someone for the audience to get worked up over. And then comes the final scene in this episode and it throws the whole thing overboard. The writers had a good, interesting, mysterious regular character to work with but in their over-excitement they dove right off the deep end by making her a potential love interest for Gibbs. The only thing I'm going to say here is that the last scene in this episode was a stupid mistake and felt completely out of character for both parties. It also made me yell at the screen in shock/anger, something I've never done before.moreless

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10 8
Lacked the quality to deserve a ten. but there were some positive aspects.

9.0

"Superb"

By amazing_race, Jan 05, 2011 Report Abuse

I foud this episode to have a really great start, and that car scene on the TV was an awesome idea. The first scene after the episode titles was also awesome, in which McGee is at a virtual wedding, lol!

It certainly was an episode that was relativelt funny and I enjoyed that aspect of it, but the case was below par, in my opinion, and that disappointed me.

I did, however, enjoy having Margaret Allison Hart back, as I am enjoying that character quite a lot. However, she wasn't as awesome as last time.

Overall, an excellent episode if you look at the humour aspect, but in terms of the case, you won't be missing much if you decide not to watch this episode.moreless

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0 2
The pop corn! I burned the first batch but...

8.5

"Great"

By Andrew-R, Jan 05, 2011 Report Abuse

radioactive materials are the best toys around if you're a terrorist with a soft spot for fireworks. Or a manager willing to do anything to earn government funds. Team Gibbs is on the look out for a dirty bomb in the DC area, a task furtherly complicated by a lawyer who seems to awlways be around when Gibss is investigating. But in the end, no matter who your opponent is, the biggest fear is fear itself.
Nice episode, one of those who manages to surprise you; with many good moments between the characters and a good balance of serious and lighthearted moments.
and while you're watching this, make sure Ziva doesn't take care of the pop corn...moreless

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4 0
Ugh!

7.0

"Good"

By sandbur, Aug 27, 2010 Report Abuse

I am so sorry to write this, because I do and will always love this show. But I HATE this lawyer person..."Hart". I was really put out to see her in the picture again, even though it did not take a brain surgeon to see, upon her introduction, that she would be back. I was just hoping it would be in a leak-proof bag on Ducky's table...

Good thing Gibbs is so insightful, because he can see right through the presentation, and his "attraction" will be the end of her and the 'General' she's working for. It just can't be soon enough for me.

I know other things went on in the episode, but truly, I was sooooo miffed at this character reappearing I could not focus. I'll have to watch the re-run this weekend I guess...and right after that, I will go out and get a life...moreless

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5 3
Better than expected

8.5

"Great"

By don_tcare, Feb 03, 2010 Report Abuse

(As a Tony-fan) I actually didn't think this episode would be any good at all, since the last two episodes have been Tony-centric. Well, at least Flesh and Blood was. This said, I was positively surprised! Every other or third episode is usually quite dull (read: Gibbs centric), but Masquerade was full of small treasures for a Tony-lover: Tony and Ziva talking about Tony's tap dance lessons, Palmer saying that Tony invited him to the tap dancing contest-thing and of course Tony accidentally revealing that he is seeing a therapist! No way he was telling the truth of it being a physical therapist, his facial expressions totally exposed him. This has to be developed! If the producers choose to ignore this (very important) thing, they will disappoint not only me but many others as well. Angsty Tony is by far the hottest Tony :)moreless

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6 3

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- GOOF: When Gibbs is at the crime scene at the beginning of the episode half the shots show him with the evidence markers draped over his injured arm and half with them attached to his waist but it changes with every camera angle. Edit
Notes
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- Original International Airdates: Canada: February 2, 2010 on Global Australia: March 23, 2010 on Channel Ten Sweden: April 6, 2010 on TV3 Germany: May 30, 2010 on SAT 1 Spain: June 4, 2010 on LaSexta Slovakia: August 26, 2010 on Markiza Norway: September 21, 2010 on TV3 Finland: December 14, 2010 on Nelonen Czech Republic: February 28, 2011 on TV Nova Edit
Quotes
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- (Gibbs and McGee go searching for the bomb at the bus station) Tony: Don't make me say it, McGee. McGee: I'll be careful, Tony. Edit
- Vance: Well, I guess we've got better nerds! Edit
- Tony: (looking at a photo of LCpl Vega's gorgeous girlfriend) There's no way he's our guy- not a suicide bomber in the world who'd have a girlfriend looks like that. (Gibbs gives him a look) Unless, you know, your gut says otherwise. Edit
Allusions
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- Vance: Either this guy has a serious Greyhound fetish... Greyhound is a popular bus transportation company in the USA. Edit