User Reviews

A formulaic one and yet an interesting episode. Allowing the cast to play different characters for the flashbacks scenes was not exactly Emmy-worthy acting, but it was finally something fresh and different, something NCIS desperately needed.

I was surprised to read a few months back that viewers are not happy with Bishop's character. I love her and I feel the tiny bit of easy going flirting between her and Torres is a needed change for us viewers from the regular disciplined attitude of the storylines. It's presented to us in a very small way when it crops up, almost leaving us with a question in our minds like "are they or aren't they?" This episode was a perfect way to give us what we want in a way that won't mess up their characters' professional lives, which usually means an end to the show when characters do get together after their teasing and sparring.

I agree with the thoughts that a lot of other people mentioned, the ending of this episode left me in tears and I think it's one of the absolute best episodes to this point. Which is really saying something. True love, young love, I feel like I was born in the wrong generation. A lot of shows attempt flashbacks where they place current characters in new roles, some successfully and some not so much. And NCIS, as usual, did it perfectly. With the strength of the chemistry between Torres and Bishop at this point, the reflection of them as the young lovers in the story was powerful. And in the episode that prominently features Ducky is automatically solid. Incredibly done.

Been revisiting the series lately, and this season, season 17 has been incredible. The topics, dynamics. Growth arcs of the characters, and the play of them in this episode imagining themselves as these characters was fun and lovely, too. I didn't recognize Mark Harmon as Ann's Dad at first, had to go back and check. Love stories in this. I miss all the main characters/actors that leave the show, another aspect of the ephemeral nature of things and people, yet the new ones grow and become part of this family. It's incredible to look upon the team in a workplace as a kind of family, but that's a main theme of the show. This season between the temporary return of Ziva/Cote de Pablo, the deep confrontations among the characters working out their issues in a very real sense with the overlay of the mysteries they are solving has all been top notch. Whoever is writing and producing this show is so talented, let alone all the directing, etc. Behind the scenes and, of course, the acting. I marvel that Mark Harmon and Ducky/David McCallum keep going! I was a fan of The Man Called U. N. C. L. E. Way back in the day. Glad that this show is omehow like the energizer bunny, it keeps going and going ... and doesn't lose quality or pizazz -- yay.

Great story...well told. Nice seeing the crew in a different light. While it still followed a familiar pattern, I liked how they immersed themselves in the story.

"Ephemera" is the best episode of this season since "In the Wind". It's not a fantastic entry to the series, but manages to be a pretty enjoyable one- definitely the best story by Christopher Waild in this season.

Let's start with the good aspects.

. The production values of the episode are great. The direction's solid, the 70-s time period is well-handled, the music fits the scenery and I did like the acting. Mark Harmon has a great presence as usual.

. The story is sweet at times and there are a couple of interesting twists here. The idea of the NCIS team imagining themselves as characters of the mystery was entertaining.

But...

. The romance between Torres and Bishop is not a plausible plotline at the end of the day. Actually find the idea of those two together quite forced. The jokes do not always land and I did feel that the mystery was too straight-forward. Maybe more twists could have spiced it up.

Overall, a fine episode.

6/10 HK.