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NCIS Season 8 Episode 24

Pyramid

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AIRED: May 17, 2011

8.3

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Episode Summary

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When the Port-to-Port killer is finally revealed, the entire NCIS team finds themselves in grave danger.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (14)

The 8th Season Ends With The Agents On The Trail Of Jonas Cobbs. They Must Bring Him Down Following The Murder Of Mike Franks.

7.5

By Matt16020-FIN, Sep 19, 2012

What I've learned during the run of this show is that "NCIS" doesn't do well in season finales. However, I think this is one of the better finales we have seen. "Pyramid" was a very good way of ending the season but it does not mean it is without its flaws. I found it absurd that a serial killer who murdered dozens of people has only one guard escorting him in the headquarters. It was obvious he was up to no good. Another negative thing is how Cobbs was killed. Yes, he was about to shoot Vance and Gibbs but it could have been better if they would have arrested him. The funeral was a proper tribute to Mike. The high point is the end. It was suspenseful and I'm looking forward to find out who leaked classified information. Overall, this season of "NCIS" had its ups and downs, but in general it was a great season. Look forward to season nine.moreless
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I'm a big NCIS fan so was engrossed in the finale, though it was anticlimactic and rushed.

7.5

By chipee, Oct 10, 2011

The last several episodes of this NCIS season are as good an example of "anticlimactic" as you will ever see: "an event, period, or outcome that is strikingly less important or dramatic than expected." After the big build-up about how resourceful, meticulous and determined the unidentifed P2P Serial Killer is and expecting a big showdown between EJ and Gibbs, we get this rushed, lame ending -- Kort mentions in an off-hand way that the P2P is Cobb; and Cobb captures Kort, EJ and Ziva, then releases them and gives himself up; then we learn that he gave himself up so he could break out with two of them as hostages again; and then reveals where he is so the heads of NCIS and the Navy Department will kill him via "suicide by cop"! Not every day that two department heads strap on guns to face the super serial killer man to man!

I am a big NCIS fan and was engrossed in the finale just to see how things would wrap up. I wonder, though, what new viewers would think. Although I didn't mind as much as others, it was clearly out of character for Ziva to cry over Franks death, to rush into Ray's hotel room so carelessly under the circumstances, and not attend Frank's funeral. Cobb was wounded in "Swan Song" and a big point was made of the few number of bullets he had left, but in "Pyramid" it was like neither had happened. There was a lengthy embarrassing (to me) scene about McGee and Abby bickering over romantic longing and Cade that was inappropriate for the time and went on torturously long; even when McGee said goodbye to Cade, this issue cropped up. When Ziva and Tony were trying to warn Ray and couldn't reach him because he was on a classified mission, you'd think they could have his boss phone Ray with the warning or have a hotel employee knock on his door. EJ kept saying her partner Levin died because she screwed up, but I don't see how -- she and her two partners merely went to interview a witness, no big deal. It was typically foolish of Cobb to tell kidnapped Ziva that he was kidnapping her as a diversion! I don't see how kidnapping EJ, Palmer and Kort should make the Secretary of the Navy come up to face Cobb (though in NCIS world it did). The one really good touch was the way we learned that Gibbs, through all these recent episodes, was working on Frank's coffin, and the funeral itself.

Miscellaneous observations of recent eps: ridiculous of Ziva to breakup with Ray because he didn't tell her the classified info that he was working on the P2P case; the short period Ziva was kidnapped, the team didn't seem that upset -- for example, Gibbs didn't seemed worried that Cobbs had Ziva's blood on his hands; I'm surprised that Ray wasn't used that much, maybe season #9; I have to laugh at the way Ducky and the others changed their pop psychology profile of P2P as he changed tactics and targets; and I wonder why EJ would think that "the eye" would open up MTAC's door.moreless
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If it were a season's normale episode, I would probably give it a 10/10, but for a season finale, this was well below par. (Spoileres!)

9.0

By amazing_race, Oct 10, 2011

This was a disappointing episode, considering the fact that it was a season finale. I definitely had expcted a lot more for hthis one, and I had hoped for a much better cliffhanger.

The P2P case has been developing nicely for a good few weeks now, and I really enjoyed many of the scenes throughout this episode as well! However, I was dsiappointed that the P2P was killed in this episode, as they could really have created a very suspenseful ending to the season with thies episode.

The cliffhanger was mediocre, and it won't keep me hooked at all, unlike every other year. If they had shown us the photograph of who the leak was, then perhaps it would've been a huge revelation and a great culmination to the season, but right now, meh, nothing odoing for me.

Also, another "leak" seems sort of like "been there, done that" to me. I am very disappointed with the ending to the season, but hopefully Season #9 will have a more interesting beginning.moreless
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Finale good, but not up to show's high standards

9.5

By braves_snl, Oct 10, 2011

I've always maintained that the two best series that I've ever seen when it came to season finales was the former NBC political drama "The West Wing" and the CBS smash crime drama "NCIS."

I remember every single season finale throughout the previous seven seasons of "NCIS" as vividly today as the day I first saw them. I doubt I'll feel the same about the season eight finale down the road, or even really right now a little more than a week after viewing the finale. The interesting thing about the season eight finale about "NCIS" was that the penultimate episode "Swan Song" the week before it was actually better. In "Swan Song" we lost one of our fan favorite guests in Mike Franks (played by Muse Watson), the guy who was basically Gibbs' mentor. Franks, dying of cancer, sacrificed himself in a valiant attempt to rid Gibbs' team of the Port-to-Port killer that had been the focal point of the series for the final few episodes of the season. In the finale the team finale takes down the P2P killer, as we all knew they would. In a minor twist during the finale the serial killer (played by Kerr Smith) actually turned himself in. This was merely a ploy though to kidnap Agent Barrett (played by Sarah Jane Morris), who we learn is the Secretary of the Navy's niece. P2P is looking for a way to punish the SecNav for turning him into a monster. In the end, Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) and the team rescue Barrett, and Jimmy Palmer (played by Brian Dietzen), who had been taken with Barrett.

The plotline was decent, if not exciting/interesting, but wasn't up to the normal high standards of a "NCIS" finale. At the very end of the finale we get a start to a new storyline that will take place next season as the new SecNav (the aforementioned one resigns in this episode) assigns Tony (played by Michael Weatherly) to an undercover case to find out who in NCIS is selling undercover intelligence. It will be interesting to see what comes of this, but I can't help but think that they've been done this road before, after all Tony has been undercover in a huge storyline before.moreless
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Disappointing though intriguing (spoilers)

7.0

By Ev1lEye, Oct 10, 2011

I can say without a doubt that this was NCIS weakest finale but was it a bad episode? Not at all. The episode began strong with a dead agent and EJ saved. At that time it seemed as though the episode was going to avoid all cliches in what could have been another kidnapped agent story. However as the story progressed it fell dead at some points and became riddled with illogical events.

I feel that the writers "blew their load" in Swan Song's strong episode and didn't know where to go in Pyramid. They kept making turns and twists up to the point where it became annoying and completely unbelievable. Also mentioned in a review below me the dialogue was horrible. It sounded flat, cliche and lacked any emotional impact. They actually did a "oh this all seems like a dream". I'm not even going to waste my time ranting on the ending.

So what was good? Well the episode raised a lot of questions, something I can appreciate since it keeps the NCIS universe layered. Palmer had a great scene and the funeral was beautiful. Big thumbs up for recognizing The Boxer Rebellion's excellent latest album. There was a small but beautiful detail here that us loyal NCIS followers can appreciate. A worthy departure for Special Agent Franks.

In short the episode felt like a rush job and was dissapointing because it was a season finale. But since this is NCIS there is still enough to be enjoyed. One thing Pyramid definitly achieved is that I'm really looking forward to the season 9 premiere and I suppose that counts for something.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Mark Harmon	Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Michael Weatherly	Special Agent Tony DiNozzo
Cote de Pablo	Special Agent Ziva David
Pauley Perrette	Forensics Specialist Abby Sciuto
Sean Murray (I)	Special Agent Tim McGee
Rocky Carroll	Director Leon Vance

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Enrique Murciano	Ray Cruz	Guest Star
Kerr Smith	Navy Lieutenant Jonas Cobb	Guest Star
Alimi Ballard	NCIS Special Agent Gayne Levin	Guest Star
Brian Dietzen	Asst. M.E. Jimmy Palmer	Recurring Role
Matt Craven	Secretary of the Navy Clayton Jarvis	Recurring Role
Muse Watson	Mike Franks	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Brian Dietzen on NCIS from the episode "...

© 2011 CBS Corporation
Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray and Mark ...

© 2011 CBS Corporation
Mark Harmon on NCIS from the episode "Py...

© 2011 CBS Corporation
Mark Harmon on NCIS from the episode "Py...

© 2011 CBS Corporation

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (7)
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- GOOF: Agent Barrett is seen scrubbing her neck furiously to remove the marker line. Later you can barely see it, but her neck isn't red at all from all the scrubbing.
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- TRIVIA: The casket Mike is buried in was made by Gibbs. In several episodes this season, the latest being "Dead Reflection," Gibbs was seen carving flowers out of wood.
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- TRIVIA: Ziva is the only team member not present at the funeral of Mike Franks.
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- TRIVIA: Jimmy Palmer is engaged to marry Breena.
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- TRIVIA: Director Vance made some modifications to his office, including installing a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) mode to secure the room against eavesdropping.
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- TRIVIA: Phillip Davenport resigns from his position as Secretary of the Navy. The President appoints Clayton Jarvis as his successor.
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- TRIVIA: Former Secretary of the Navy Phillip Davenport is Special Agent Barrett's uncle.
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QUOTES (9)
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- Barrett: This isn't right. It's too easy.
  Tony: He knows where Ziva is. There's nothing easy about it.
  Barrett: Cobb's playing us.
  Tony: Playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Guy must have a death wish.
  Barrett: What does he want?
  Tony: Rule 16: If someone thinks they have the upper hand, break it.
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- SecNav: You need time, Leon? For God's sake, take all the time you need.
  Vance: I'm not talking about time, sir, I'm talking about mistakes. Now you learn to accept a lot with this job. Resolutions that I knew were wrong. And now we're facing the consequences.
  SecNav: We can't talk about this here. You know that. We need a SCIF. It's a black op.
  Vance: Right this way, sir. Modifications were made, sir. We can talk all we want. The room's tight as a drum.
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- Vance: Good morning, Mr. Secretary.
  SecNav: (nods) Like hell it is, Leon. This better be damn important.
  Gibbs: Agent's dead, Mr. Secretary. Another critical. I don't know how much more important it could get.
  Vance: (nods) Right this way, sir.
  EDIT SHARE
- Abby: McGee, what are you doing here?
  McGee: (nods) Waiting for you. How's Cade?
  Abby: Stable, sort of. I mean, he's lost a lot of blood.
  McGee: (nods again) Well, he's a big guy.He's got a lot of blood to lose.Did you stay with him all night?
  Abby: He's a friend, McGee. I would do that for any friend. For you or for Tony, for Gibbs.
  McGee: (nods) I know you would. And listen, it's okay if you two are more than friends. I understand, seriously. I really like Cade, and I can understand how a man of his stature could be intriguing to a woman...
  Abby: Are you for real right now, McGee?
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- Agent Cruz: I have to work outside of the country.
  Ziva: For how long?
  Agent Cruz: It could take a while.
  Ziva: Then don't go. Stay.
  Agent Cruz: I can't.
  Ziva: Well, tell them that I threatened to divorce you.
  Agent Cruz: They know I'm not married.
  Ziva: Well, if you keep doing this, you'll never be.
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- Agent Barrett: You can have Rota, if you want.
  Tony: I think I'll stay put. No sense walking away from a good thing.
  Gibbs: That a compliment, DiNozzo?
  Tony: No, boss. Sorry. Never.
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- Cobb: Now, what kind of lesson would you learn if my actions were humane?
  Gibbs: You failed as a Navy officer. You were an embarrassment to the CIA. A disappointment to your dad. And you want to teach me a lesson?
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- Agent Barrett: We're all worried about Ziva.
  Tony: I know. It's just different for some of us.
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- Gibbs: Ziva went to meet Ray Cruz at his hotel, and he wasn't there yet. And now she's missing.
  Kort: Gibbs, all I did was provide your team with Cruz's location.
  Gibbs: Well, we think Cobb got her.
  Kort: You think I sent her in there on purpose? To gain what, exactly?
  Gibbs: If she gets hurt, you answer to me.
  Kort: Is he threatening me, Director?
  Vance: If he wasn't, I am.
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NOTES (4)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: May 18, 2011 on Global
  Australia: May 31, 2011 on Channel Ten
  United Kingdom: June 10, 2011 on FX/FX HD
  Sweden: October 10, 2011 on TV3
  Finland: November 1, 2011 on Nelonen
  Spain: November 4, 2011 on LaSexta
  Germany: November 13, 2011 on SAT 1
  Slovakia: February 3, 2012 on Markiza
  Czech Republic: July 9, 2012 on TV Nova
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- "Caught by the Light" by The Boxer Rebellion plays during the funeral.
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- Muse Watson (Mike Franks) is credited but only appears in flashbacks of previous episodes. In addition, he provides a voice over while Gibbs' reads his letter.
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- Matt Craven who plays the new SecNav worked with Rocky Carroll in the movie Crimson Tide wherein the play members of a sub crew.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Davenport: We can't talk about this here. You know that. We need a SCIF. It's a black op.
  
  A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or "SCIF" for short, is an enclosed area within a building that is used to process "Sensitive Compartmented Information" (SCI) level classified information without fear of interception by eavesdropping devices.
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