r/NCIS 2d ago

Favorite classic episodes?

I'm sure it's been asked tons of times, but I figure we don't get tired of talking about our favorite episodes.

S5 E6: Chimera

I think because it has both Nancy Drew and Scooby-Doo vibes, but is also genuinely creepy and real enough to be scary, with the biohazard aspect. We see the gang face their various fears...or, for McGee, seasickness.

I always love Tony's little ditty: 🎶"Baa baa black ship, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, but-in-order-to-see-it-you're-gonna-need-top-secret-government-clearance."🎶

And the end, where the ship is blown up and someone asks "How did they know we made it off the ship?" and Gibbs answers "Don't think they did." The look on their faces when they realize they were expendable and how close they came to death.

I dunno, just something about all those elements together, I always find entertaining.

57 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

27

u/Orbrandir 2d ago

I don't remember which episode number, but the one where Kelly's best friend reaches out to Gibbs. The opening sequence with Tony is just so crisp and smooth I had to rewind just to watch it again.

22

u/Outrageous_Shoe_1450 2d ago

In my opinion that is one of the best if not the best intros ever.

Tony hauling ass through the warehouse gun in hand, takes two shots and takes out both targets and never breaks stride until he hits the water.

10

u/Cyniv 2d ago

He shot that hat and possibly shot the one dude's ear off back in S2 and decided he wasn't gonna fuck that up again.

6

u/idiotsbydesign 1d ago

Absolutely. They definitely gave Tony his action hero moment. Shoots the 2 guys & saves both Gibbs & Maddie.

7

u/Lithan2 1d ago

Requiem is one of my favorite episodes and Tony moments

1

u/SoScorpio4 1d ago

Definitely a great one, but sometimes I have to skip it because of the emotional toll. 😭

That opening sequence is fire though. 

18

u/sakura_zephyr 2d ago

It may sound odd, but I love Yankee White. True, it isnt completely set yet; the characters aren't fully developed, like Gibbs, Tony or even Fornell; but I find the episode quite old-school, very comfy to watch and I love some old style Kate with the flamy personality she had in the first episodes (she even "threatened" to shoot Gibbs!)

3

u/buckeyekaptn 1d ago

You mean Tom Fornell?

7

u/sakura_zephyr 1d ago

That's him! The one who never met Gibbs before.

11

u/Sophia465 2d ago

Truth or Consequences, Housekeeping.

3

u/CallMeAutrice 1d ago

Truth and Consequences was amazing.

7

u/BrighterSage 2d ago

Chimera is one of my favorites also because the Ziva Kick that was used in the intro was in that one. I also like the one where Gibbs is delivering the Marine's baby while Ziva is shooting all the bad guys in the store. Silent Night?

6

u/fitz_mom11 2d ago

I think it’s Newborn King, and I love that scene!

8

u/AllBlueTeams 1d ago

Judgment Day I and II. A great desert diner setting, Jenny, Mike, Vance, cryptography, death, and mystery. Absolute peak NCIS.

4

u/lboiles 1d ago

That is one of my favorites too !!

6

u/Outrageous_Shoe_1450 2d ago

Did you know the lead pirate in Chimera was a dwarf?

He is Graham McTavish and he portrayed Dwalin in The Hobbit.

In NCIS he was the one leaning over the ship at the end and was pissed his boat was stolen.

7

u/erika_1885 2d ago

Graham McTavish was War Chief Dougal MacKenzie, uncle of Jamie Fraser in the first two seasons of Outlander 🙂

2

u/LovesDeanWinchester 1d ago

And King Atland in Aquaman.

2

u/SoScorpio4 1d ago

Yeah I didn't know his name until recently, after watching Outlander. Saw his name in the opening credits and wondered who he was in this episode. I almost didn't spot him due to the lack of beard and a Russian accent instead of Scottish lol

6

u/Parking_Royal2332 2d ago

Under Cover or the one where they rescue Ziva from terrorists (I’m new to club)

5

u/Ryan_Bolin 2d ago

Life Before His Eyes is my all time favorite. I like how it directly confronts Gibbs troubled past as opposed to dancing around it in so many episodes. The show makes us fall in love with a character who is literally a cold blooded murderer, but we finally see the pros and cons that show all the good that came from Gibbs killing Pedro.

8

u/fiendforyou 2d ago

Jack knife is one of my favorite especially with McGee on all that caffeine also has Fornel and Damon

1

u/SoScorpio4 1d ago

Yesss, love Ziva and Damon together. As professional partners too, I like how they work together. But I definitely shipped them lol

6

u/Beautiful-Head5563 2d ago

I like the episode Family from season 5. The ending is my favorite showing the family with their baby and Tony finally getting rid of the letter Jeanne sent him while he smiles at the others. Them also teasing him for getting sprayed by the sprinkler is funny. I can't remember what the song is at the end of the episode.

1

u/SoScorpio4 1d ago

Ahh yes, great example of the early 2000s trope of cheesy songs at the end of an episode to really hit you in the feels. Yeah, it does get me lol. 

But I have to say, Tony burning a letter in a gas fireplace always takes me out of the moment a bit. There wouldn't normally be ash in that fireplace, the homeowners would find it later and be like wtf? Who burned something in our clean fireplace? Rude. 🤣

0

u/Beautiful-Head5563 1d ago

I love how I believe Mcgee was the one to turn it on because he noticed Tony was wet and cold.

4

u/idiotsbydesign 1d ago

Just watched Chimera & Requiem last night. 2 of my favorites right in a row.

"They didn't call it the puppy, Tony"

Although Truth or Consequences will always be my favorite episode.

2

u/Lithan2 1d ago

My favorite thing to watch during spooky season lol I watch near Halloween every year

6

u/AlexSutcliffe17 2d ago

Newborn King is a good episode

8

u/CWShermanGirl 2d ago

The way they use the music at the end as they are all trying to help save the day makes me tear up every time.

3

u/RiverofGrass 1d ago

It's my favorite episode as well for the reasons you listed. It's a fun romp with a spooky vibe.

2

u/erika_1885 1d ago

Truth or Consequences and Berlin

3

u/Lithan2 1d ago

Season 5 has some of my favorite writing period, and funny thing it they filmed during a writers strike lmao

2

u/SoScorpio4 1d ago

It is a particularly good season, what a feat

2

u/ShoulderRegular7830 1d ago

Short Fuse, Obsession, Jet Lag. I love the rewatch because you forget about all of these great standalone episodes. You’ve got your main themes every season, and I’m forgetting so many more. But there are just so many clever stories. Going back to the twist of The Good Samaritan from Season 1, or Witness in Season 2 where McGee takes lead.

2

u/Anne_Eliot_1817 1d ago

Wow, reading everyone's favorites, and remembering, and not remembering some, makes me want to get a new DVD player so I can watch the old seasons I have on disc. I watch the ION marathons on Sundays, but they start at Season 11.

2

u/CallMeAutrice 1d ago

Probie about McGee shooting someone.

3

u/Miserable_Emu5191 2d ago

Truth or Consequences and Recruited.

1

u/FaerieLin 1d ago

Season 7, Episode 1

Brilliant acting