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NCIS Season 8 Episode 12

Recruited

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AIRED: Jan 18, 2011

8.3

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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When a recruitment session of a petty officer results in murder, the NCIS team sets out to find the culprit by teaming up with Ducky's predecessor.

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

So-So What

5.0

By Thnunumber6, Jan 02, 2013

The gay theme is one that has been done to death on both NCIS and its prececessor, JAG. However, that does not bother me as much as the fact that the episode perpetuates the myth that Alzheimer's is basically about elderly people losing their memory. It is much worst than that - a person who has it begins to act inappropriately, and ultimately loses his or her identity. Do a little research, please!moreless
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The NCIS Team Must Chase Down Alibis As They Investigate The Death Of A Navy Recruiter. Meanwhile, Ducky's Predecessor Shows Up.

9.5

By Matt16020-FIN, Aug 09, 2012

WOW!!! There has never been a more powerful and emotional episode of "NCIS". The show brought us two storylines: a case which was interesting and heart-breaking and an emotional side-story about Ducky's predecessor. Veteran actor Bob Newhart is fantastic as a doctor who may have something something to confess for Ducky. Their confrontations are realistic and extremely well done. Another good aspect is the story which involves gay men. It is a current topic in this cruel world. The only reason why I won't give it a ten is the case. It was too predictable. "Recruited" is still one of the best episodes ever. Check it out.moreless
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An emotional episode interwined with some light-hearted humour.

9.0

By Sci-Fi_Fan, Sep 24, 2011

If you're looking for an action-packed episode then this certainly isn't for you. The A-story revolves around a petty officer who is found murdered in a school stairwell which takes a brilliantly crafted and unexpected twist. However, for me, it was the B-plot that made this episode special.

We get to meet Ducky's predecessor, Dr Magnus, and from the get go it's apparent that something isn't quite right. Bob Newhart's performance is excellent and entirely convincing, conveying Dr Magnus' struggle with his condition with a wonderful balance of emotion and frustration.

I also love how the A-plot of the gay petty officer is dealt with in a careful and respectful way, tieing in nicely with current events (the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell").

The title of this episode is aptly thought out, since we knew that Paul Simmons would eventually make the choice to join the Navy after the death of the only person in the world who truly understood him. And I like how Gibbs takes on the father figure role by going with him to the recruiter's office and providing him with that moral support that had been absent all his life. A very nicely done moment.

Overall, a very sombre and touching episode with some nice character moments brilliantly placed throughout. And of course, we all knew it would only be a matter of time before Gibbs started to build something else in his basement. I just wonder how he got the last boat out of there?moreless
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CBS, drop the political rhetoric.

4.0

By 94haley, Sep 24, 2011

I think this is the first episode I've not finished. If I wanted a political opinion I would have turned on CNN or Fox News. What's next, Al Franken or maybe Rosie O'dennell? I love this show, but if it turns into some kind of soapbox for writers or directors to air their ideological views, I'll find something else. Its really too bad, because I was excited to see Bob Newhart. I do kind of miss Jimmy though. Does anyone else get the feeling that Ziva's 'boyfriend' is not what it seems? When she mentioned Ray being 'experienced', my first thought was he's either much older or not a boyfriend. I guess we'll find out.moreless
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A great show! Some unexpected draws and some nice catches as well.

8.5

By bhonhoff, Sep 07, 2011

I loved this show! How different do we in Europe respond to both issues. The Alzheimer issue was to sweet to be true in my imagination. Would a refresh of old memories help here for a longer time? But it gave the people with beginning Alzheimer a face. Nice catch!

The issue of Paul with his father is one of all times. Especially if it is the only son and the mother, who can sweeten up things is no longer there to put things in perspective.

And I liked how they handled the "Don't ask, don't tell" approach. How different from what happens over here. In Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands there is a canal parade every year on pink-Saturday. The principal discussion whether gay marines, soldiers and police should show themselves as they are during these parades is long past.

I loved Gibbs standing in the back when Paul Simmons enlisted.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Mark Harmon	Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Rocky Carroll	Director Leon Vance
Cote de Pablo	Special Agent Ziva David
Sean Murray (I)	Special Agent Tim McGee
David McCallum	Chief M.E. Ducky Mallard
Pauley Perrette	Forensics Specialist Abby Sciuto

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Bob Newhart	Dr. Walter Magnus	Guest Star
John Posey	Lance Simmons	Guest Star
Guy Wilson	Paul Simmons	Guest Star

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Episode Photos

Michael Weatherly and Bob Newhart on NCI...

© 2010 CBS Corporation
Michael Weatherly, Bob Newhart and Mark ...

© 2010 CBS Corporation
Michael Weatherly, Bob Newhart and Mark ...

© 2010 CBS Corporation

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- TRIVIA: Gibbs starts to build something else in his basement.
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- TRIVIA: Ziva's elusive boyfriend is called Ray.
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QUOTES (7)
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- (Paul Simmons is sitting in the Navy recruitment office)
  Recruiter: Well, Paul, why don't we discuss your options?
  Paul: I really think the Navy can offer me the opportunities that I'm looking for. I'm ready to serve my country and I wanna be a part of something special.
  (Paul smiles as he looks towards Gibbs who is stood in the background listening in)
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- (Ziva, Tony and McGee are discussing Ziva's vacation with her elusive boyfriend)
  McGee: So when do we get to meet him? And please tell us his name!
  Tony: Oh no! Please, let me guess. Zeus? Er...Thor?
  Ziva: His name is Ray.
  Tony: Ray! What a nice little name! Ray, like Ray Crocker, Ray Charles, Sugar Ray...
  Ziva: Erm...I promise you, Ray is a good man.
  (Tony smiles at her jokingly before he realises she is being serious)
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- (Ziva walks into the squad room)
  Tony: Ah, thought you were in Miami? You look... positively alpine.
  Ziva: He came to me. We went skiing again, this time to Vermont.
  Tony: (Laughs) Vermont! That's... so quaint! They have all those lovely little country inns and cozy fires and sticky maple syrup that gets everywhere.
  Ziva: He enjoys nature, and I discovered that he's a fantastic cook. He made this delicious osso buco.
  Tony: Aren't you lucky? So, he's a real renaissance man?
  Ziva: He is an experienced man who knows how to appreciate life. There is a difference.
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- Ducky: Tony! Meet former medical examiner, and my esteemed predecessor, Dr Walter Magnus. Magnus is my guest.
  Gibbs: Bringing guests to crime scenes now, are you, Duck?
  Ducky: Yes, well, only ones that used to be me!
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- (Gibbs walks into the squad room)
  Gibbs: Come on, grab your gear. Don't wanna miss the school bus.
  Tony: Class trip, boss?
  Gibbs: Got a dead petty officer in a high school stairwell. Janitor found him this morning.
  Tony: Hmm. (Starts singing) Wheels on the bus go...
  Gibbs: (Gibbs joins in) ...round and round, round and round, round and round...
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- Magnus: Morning.
  (Tony turns to face Magnus wondering who it might be)
  Magnus: Gorgeous day.
  Tony: It's 27 degrees out. Who are you?
  Magnus: My name is Magnus. I'm meeting with Dr. Mallard.
  Tony: (Turning to McGee) Is Ducky in the pond yet, McGee?
  McGee: (To Magnus) I haven't seen him, you're welcome to wait here though if you'd like?
  Magnus: If you don't mind, I'd... I'd like to wait in autopsy.
  Tony: (Laughs) You sure? It smells funny.
  Magnus: Well that's, er, that's a matter of opinion.
  Tony: It's a matter of dead bodies. Stinky!
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- (Tony is staring at Ziva's desk wondering where she might be)
  McGee: So... where is she?
  Tony: Who?
  McGee: Tony, Ziva's been gone since Thursday.
  Tony: Oh... yes, Ziva! Actually, I hadn't noticed.
  McGee: You are lying.
  Tony: McGoo, unlike you, I have better things to do than to obsess over the whereabouts of our "Little Miss Fancy-Pants", Ziva.
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NOTES (4)
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- Bob Newhart is billed as "Special Guest Star."
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- This episode originally aired Jan 18th 2011, almost one month after US president, Barack Obama, signed the "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal into law.
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- The song played at the end of the episode is "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum.
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: January 18, 2011 on Global
  Australia: February 22, 2011 on Channel Ten
  Norway: February 22, 2011 on TV3
  United Kingdom: March 18, 2011 on FX/FX HD
  The Netherlands: March 22, 2011 on SBS 6
  Sweden: March 29, 2011 on TV3
  Germany: May 8, 2011 on SAT 1
  Finland: May 31, 2011 on Nelonen
  Spain: June 3, 2011 on LaSexta
  Slovakia: October 12, 2011 on Markiza
  Czech Republic: March 19, 2012 on TV Nova
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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- Tony: Ah, thought you were in Miami? You look... positively alpine.
  Ziva: He came to me. We went skiing again, this time to Vermont.
  Tony: (Laughs) Vermont! That's... so quaint! They have all those lovely little country inns and cozy fires and sticky maple syrup that gets everywhere.
  
  Episode guest star Bob Newhart starred in the 1980s show Newhart where he and his wife owned a little country inn in Vermont called the The Stratford Inn.
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- Tony: Ray! What a nice little name! Ray, like Ray Crocker, Ray Charles, Sugar Ray...
  
  Tony refers to the musician Ray Charles, pioneer of soul music in the United States and either Sugar Ray a late-90s rock band from Orange County, California, or one of two professional boxers, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard.
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- Tony: In high school, no-one can hear you scream!
  
  Tony is referring to the science fiction horror movie, Alien (1979), starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott. The film's tagline was, "In space, no-one can hear you scream!"
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- Vance: Gibbs, even with the change in military regulation, you're about to tick off a lot of very important people.
  
  Vance is referring to the controversial repeal of the US Military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy which was brought in by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The repeal of the policy was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 22nd 2010. Though it passed, there were still several high-ranking officials who were opposed to the repeal.
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