Episode Review: 7x05 - Code of Conduct
Beware! Tony-centric rambling, ravings, swoonings and squeeings behind the cut, along with 27 poorly cut and coloured caps! tejas, I swear I'm totally re-writing as well. I just got distracted by Tony's nose and hair. Again. ;-)
Code of Conduct
I just finished watching, and I think my head is about to explode from glee! Like, I'll have changed them by the time I post, but there are so many typos in this already, and it's all because Tony was made of awesome in this. Seriously. I read a couple of comments and reviews before I watched (who am I kidding, I was bored at work so I read everything I could find) and I was expecting vague mediocrity, with a slightly too silly Tony and a couple of scenes that were more text than subtext. But from my rabidly Tony-centric POV, this episode delivered. So much fun, and with added competence.
1. I admittedly took this cap purely because it had the title on it, and I'm a loser like that. But also, I love Tony opening the episode, and having stayed in contact with his friends in Baltimore. Who still love Tony, because he's awesome. I love his playing larceny lotto with Jerry. Remember that name, Tony-in-Baltimore fic-writers! Also, cute hair and retro-cool sunglasses. I like. And he's in classic black and white - look, chreesko, no jeans! :-D
2. He's so pretty. I love his semi eye-roll when McGee mentions growing up on a base - not mean, I don't think, but maybe McGee talks about that as much as Tony talks about being a cop - which canonically was a lot in earlier seasons and seems to be coming back - I like! I wonder, if Tony gets sick in the car because of Ziva's driving, whether Gibbs makes Ziva clean it up or Tony? Probably depends on who is being more awesome. If it was my decision, obviously it would be Ziva, because Tony is more awesome than all. Tony getting carsick is one of my favourite bits of canon/fanon.
3. "Looks like you got a problem in your neighbourhood, Mr. Rogers - that's a nice sweater by the way." I love the way he runs sentences on in that mild-mannered but vaguely sinister way of his. I think maybe there should be a post dedicated to the sexiness of his voice, because it struck me in this episode for some reason. I kind of want a DiNozzo answerphone message. With his Alien impression instead of the buzz. Hey Ziva! She looks pretty too. I love their fleeces and caps. Oh, I'm doing this as I cap, and I was just moving forward for the next gorgeous shot and the way he said "Thank you" to Mr. Rogers sent little shivers up my spine. He's got such a great voice. At the moment, I am in MW/Tony obsession extreme mode, and I'd have difficulty choosing between him and Jeremy Irons for whose voice I'd want to listen to for the rest of my life. Is Tony cooler than Scar?
4. Bonus Palmer! Because it's nice to see him again and he is my secret NCIS crush. Look at him, making cute zombie jokes and manhandling dead guys, wearing the glasses he stole from a Harry Potter set. Adorable!
5. "Thrill me, McGoblin!" Cutest nickname yet? For Tony/Tim slashers (yay!) that slow walk he does towards McGee is pure seduction. And I love his face in this shot. You know, compared to the shots of his face I don't love. 'Cause there are loads of those, really. ;-) Shut up, Jules. I also love McGee's lazy snark and Tony's amused agreement with it, and Tony's instant recognition of a hottie.
6. I like his smile! Interesting Tony/Ziva dynamics - they don't seem bothered to be working together or getting close to one another in an officey kind of way, and clearly she's not worried about questioning and teasing him. I think I like it. It seemed angst-free but still a little less comfortable than usual. I'm thinking about whitening my teeth.
7. I love Tony carrying out the interview, and this face he makes when he hears about Sarah (that is the girl's name, isn't it? I'm capping to music.) having lost both her biological parents. Seems to strike a chord - maybe just compassion, because obviously that's a sucky thing to happen - but it's canon he's had at least one stepmother, with possibly homicidal tendencies. When I say canon, I mean, Tony has mentioned this in passing in what may be a lie or a truth, but who can ever tell? Total hottie. I'm missing Gibbs a lot, but MW's doing an awesome job with his leadership role.
8. Ahahaha, but when Gibbs is on-screen, it's genius! I love him. *hands out gift of apple cider* ... 1.5 seconds ... "Break's over." LOL LOL LOL! CdP does a great reaction shot here, totally hilarious. But I'm limiting my caps to Tony (and bonus!Palmer), because I'm shallow like that. And hee, look at his face! I love him getting distracted and Gibbs having to take the cup away, in this ridiculously tolerant, weary kind of way. Married couple.
9. My reasons for this shot are threefold. a) If I were on the writing/cinematography team on this show, I would make it compulsory that Tony stand like this once per episode, in order to highlight his lovely legs and bum. There's something really hot about that stance. b) Ziva's flares entrance me - at one point on her walk, they were eating her legs. What is it about 70s and 80s clothing at the moment? I'm all for a little bit of retro, but things seem to be getting out of hand. I went into Dorothy Perkins the other day - I don't know why, that shop always makes me angry, but it was that or Next, and that place is worse - and it looked like Diana Ross had vomited in there. I was distressed. That's a whole three mintues of my lunchbreak I won't get back. c) Tony wants candy!
10. I forgot I liked this scene so much. He gets really great lines. "Very convincing nerd outfit." I also laughed a lot at Mr. Roger's deadpan response that it was work outfit. And that he worked from home. My work-from-home outfit is pyjamas. Another great exchange:
Rogers: Are you accusing me of murder?
Tony: No, we're just asking you nicely if you did it.
He's too fucking cool, okay?
11. NCIS only recruits ridiculously good-looking people. It's nice having Ziva back and working with Tony in a competent team way. Just a nice scene that didn't feel like it had any extra motive behind it from the writers. Just to make clear, I'm a slash girl primarily, but I think these two are gorgeous together and I don't want their subtext to stop. I just want there to be subtext between all pairings indiscriminately. I also like the way Tony is all sensible in this scene, like he's genuinely disapproving of giving out energy drinks to the two adorably cute twin girls. Which is exactly what my attitude would be, but it's kind of reponsible and grown-up of Tony (and plays into the fanon I have developed of him being a total secret parent to the team, like, he always has spare wet wipes and gloves but he only gives them out with a mocking insult to hide his motherly tendencies). I bet Tony was insane on energy drinks as a kid. Or not on them, too.
12. I just really like the framing on this shot. I was expecting some kind of joke about Gibbs when he mentioned that the wife had been married three times, but I guess Tony's sticking to the rules for a while after the last time he made that joke. I hope he never stops entirely, they're too funny.
13. Ah! This is the scene that broke me. I've loved this season so far, but recently I've been super lazy about capping the episode since the premiere (and that was because of my love of Tony being tortured. *sigh*) and it's just tonight that I've gone, OMG, I need to cap this to remind myself of how awesomely cool I found this scene. I was literally jumping up and down in my chair with GLEE. He's so competent, in his uniquely DiNozzo way! The first point, obviously, is that he's working with Gibbs! My favourite relationship on the show! And they work so great here, and I can't quite work out what I'd call the shtick they're using - it's not quite good cop bad cop, but more like annoying, antagonistic cop and calm, menacing cop. Whatever, it works.
14. My second point is OMG Tony rocks! He's so very cool in this scene, all funny and smart, goading the guy in a casual kind of way like he doesn't even care that much, tricking him into saying too much. I can't describe this scene well enough to do it justice, so I'm actually going to transcribe it. With my own biased, fawning commentary in italics.
Tony: Where were you two nights ago? - Standing just behind Gibbs, all 2IC but not bothered, and seemingly the one controlling the interview.
Singer: In Norfolk, visiting a friend.
Tony: Does this friend live on a street corner and deal pharmaceuticals out of a paper bag by any chance? - Did he always have that sexy half-drawl to his voice? Hot!
Singer: I'm not on the juice, if that's what you're implying. Flexes really gross muscles. It's all natural. Don't let it scare you.
Tony: Looks like he's never been less scared in his life. But then again, he is standing behind Gibbs, which is a pretty safe strategic position to choose.
Gibbs: Alibi have a name?
Tony: Those things on the side of your head work? Man asked you a question. Deliberately, sexily provocative. Although short term memory loss and shrunken testicles-
Singer: You ever been shot at?
Tony: Makes truly gorgeous face, you know the one I mean, where it's like he's thinking of a million different instances where that's happened, but shrinking it all down into a casual, throwaway phrase: Once or twice.
Singer: People were getting blown up over there and Corby's serran(?)-wrapping people into their cots.
Tony: What's your point?
Singer: Some of us didn't appreciate it. His stupid pranks. But none of us killed him. No-one would have taken it that far if- Realises he's gone too far.
Tony: 1. Singer: 0.
15. One more shot of Tony's seasoned, competent investigator face. Underestimate Tony at your peril! They could have Tony dressed as a clown juggling in every other scene this season, and I'd still be high off this scene. When people tell me they think Tony's an arrogant asshole who can't take his job seriously, this is the clip I'm going to show them.
16. Braces? Or a hint of the shoulder holster? I am, unfortunately, thinking it's the former. Inform me I'm wrong. Another kind of holster? I'm not sure I approve of braces on anyone but Ducky. He fiddles with it in the next minute, too, in a scene in which my eyes were drawn to McGee's rather pert, attractive bottom. Tony has taken him shopping for tighter jeans. I am beginning to see why Ziva rated his butt a 4/5. Oh, and then Tony's all like, "What causes a Marine unit to fall apart?" to McGee, asking him the answer. That's how you teach and mentor! (This does not leave my journal, but I totally just used the word ace-icles to express my love of them both. The two hours sleep I got last night is starting to show. Good thing I'm - fuck, only halfway through.)
17. Mobile campfire! Brilliant scene! I love Ziva's continued hatred of campfires, and the way Tony is so very much the leader of that little trio there. McGee looks a little despondent, and isn't really backing Ziva up - I think Gibbs' comment about Probie being an affectionate nickname really stuck with him, back in S4, and also I think he prefers sit-down-and-share-with-the-class campfires more than pede-conferencing. Gibbs exiting the bathroom and totaly backing Tony up is fantastic, too, and it's a great moment of re-establishing boundaries and re-distributing the power, for those people who had issues with Ziva invading the men's room in 7x02. And Gibbs coming out and continuing the mobile campfire? Cute! I love the way these two (Tony and Gibbs) seem so in sync this season, repeating one another's words but using different, complementary leadership systems. It's very equal.
18. Another very cool little interview scene - and the showrunners are really giving MW an awful lot to do by himself or with the team at the moment, aren't they? It's just becomign more and more apparent. I love it, I do, even though I miss Gibbs. His interview technique is really slick, and I just like the idea that he's being considered capable enough to follow up his own leads - actually, in this episode he's very much going off and doing his own thing, while Gibbs supervises and the other two stick on tasks, if that makes sense. More Tony on my screen for more time makes me extremely happy, especially when he's looking this good. He's had a little hair-trim, I think - the fringe isn't quite so floppy. It's back to S3/4 lengths, and I like it a lot. I enjoyed the floppy fringe, but his hair treads a fine line between adorable, and late 90s. I also enjoy his seeming nonchalance around Singer, who is a big guy and could totally take him.
19. Taking the crown as my favourite shot of the episode. People should not be this pretty legally. It's very rare to find features this well-aligned and effective in a package. I keep zoning out on this picture. There's so much to look at. I like to start from the outside and work in: his suit, which is a gorgeous fit and colouring and makes his shoulders look great; his wrists, which are unusually slim and look great in that expensive watch; his hair, ears and neck - Tyra Banks would be proud, he has not lost his neck at all; his eyes, is he smizing? (Go watch America's Next Top Model, it makes me not ever need drugs.) They're all greeny/blue and that slightly smaller one is adorable; his pretty pinkish lips with those gorgeous straight teeth; nose! Unfortunately the bump is not visible, but ... actually, there are only so many things you can wax lyrical about when it comes to nostrils. His nose looks very clean. Moving on, I love that his response to Gibbs throwing a file in his lap and asking if he's taking a break (with no heat whatsoever) is to say he's looking at the sprinkler system. Oh, that's okay then!?!? LOLZ.
20. Another cute scene I forgot about. Here he's all, "Fraulein? Danke schon." Have some of this guy's money. Very cool scene in general, especially this little exchange:
Barnes: Can we do this some other time?
Tony: Er, let me check. Ziva?
Ziva: No. Awesomely quick, in-sync delivery by CdP. I love how she does her hair. I'm going to ask my hairdresser if she can give me an ex-Mossad Agent cut the next time I'm in. I have the eyebrows to pull it off, I think, though I'm lacking in the stunning cheekbones and general great bone structure.
Tony: No, see, we can't do it another time. Achtung, baby. It took me ages to work out he said achtung, very funny!
I love German festivals. Can't wait for the one at Christmas to arrive!
21. "De-cider-dly delicious." I spat a cashew nut at my computer screen. In laughter. Bad puns are good clean fun. Let's check out Gibbs' reaction shot:
22. He's so ridiculously charmed by him! That's so cute! Back to Tony:
23. Ah, that smile. Also, the slashy subtext than can be taken from this. They're such a couple sometimes it hurts. Oh, and then Tony's all super-instincts super-cop with his knowing that the wife is holding something back - he is still sensitive to lying? Or just a good cop? Hmm. Whatever, he's right, and he rocks.
24. Profile, in interrogation, where Tony attempts his usual confession-by-annoyance style, and I revel in imagining licking his nose bump. Listen to the way he says "Quantico." I've got chills, and not just the usual winter-in-Scotland kind. He is sexy. And then he walks into observation with the cutest, but cockiest little "woohoo!" ever. I love my Tony to pieces, but he is totally working the smug here. Good thing he's hot. I'm not going to cap it, because it's too dark and you can only really see him in shadows in the scene where Gibbs interrogates the wife, but he actually bounces on his feet a little when he enters the room. Tony loves his job again! I'm so relieved after the burnout signs in 7x01.
25. Aww! His I got it wrong? face is so cute. Yeah, you did, Tony, but your gut was actually right - and even though he doesn't officially crack the case, he seems to be the one who did the legwork getting the team to the stage where they got the rest of the evidence they needed. My rampant Tony-protective side is playing a part here, but really, he'd be the recipient of any black roses given out on this case. Did Gibbs just suddenly remember he'd seen something that might be a car on that tape before - but didn't mention it earlier because, I don't know, he really fancied some apple cider? I did like how once Tony had tried to sit in the car, he immediately started thinking again. That's why he's such a good cop, he's always going for the why. Things like him getting all the evidence, backing up his gut feeling on the wife, are all fantastic - and they're then used to show that the whole team is fantastic because they question and then go further. That's why they work as a team, I think, so I love it. Tony really doesn't seem cut up about getting it wrong (ish), because that's how their job works, always questioning, and also because he's, you know, almost unreasonably reasonable and laid-back.
26. He looks great, doesn't he? I love that he does most of the talking, and Gibbs lets him. I hope MH doesn't get paid per word. But it's very cool that Tony does Gibbs' talking, and I also love Tony's new habit of getting the handcuffs out and dangling them delightedly in front of the perps before arresting them. I also love this episode because of the money issues with it - I think I can say it's canon that Tony's got - not quite a preoccupation, but definitely some kind of issue/interest in money, that we're given hints of but have never quite had explained. It doesn't seem to be that big of a thing in this episode, but he's been very aware of fraud and tax laws in the past, and there's that early episode where he gets almost upset/emotional with Kate about growing up with money and it being crap, then covering the lapse with a joke about really missing the money - obviously judgement of that is subjective, but I think there was truth in both reactions.
27. And then to continue on this long, rambly (do you expect otherwise?) point, he wins the lotto and gives his money to an urban youth group! I'm reading that as him having really liked having money, and missing it when he got disowned/left home, but that because of his experiences growing up, he doesn't make money his priority in life, and gives it to places he feels need it most. Also, that whole thing makes my personal fanon of Tony volunteering to help underprivileged kids play basketball in his free time even more plausible. Thanks, show! Love Ziva's pranks - I need to look into that keyboard one, and I have been lulling my vaguely irritating co-worker into a false state of security by getting his coffee for him every day for the past nine months, but I didn't have a follow-through prank for that - until now! I was slightly worried that this final scene was going to be anvilicious, thanks to my voracious reading of spoilers, but I was surprised to find it completely subtexty and open to interpretation. My chosen interpretation is: CUTE. He expresses his affection, and she asks him nicely to desist with the name. I hope he follows her wishes. I'm also, and this is very off-the-cuff, sensing a little bit of power-play? Either from a shippy or non-shippy perspective, isn't it interesting that earlier, she took the power by barging into the bathroom, and he seemed content to let her find her place and decide how she wanted to play that one, but in this episode he pretty much bars her from the bathroom and now almost asks if she'll submit to him? I don't know, I'm more interested in the slash so I probably won't go further into it than that, but it's interesting. And they both have great hair. I have reached the end of the episode on a pleasing number that is divisible by 3, so my inner psycho is happy.
That's a sneaky last shot - the same as the one above, but without my shit-awful attempts at colouring in case anyone wants to go make icons with it or print it off and lick it. We're going to ignore the fact that this fucks up my divisible-by-3 rule because it's so cool.
The talented karababe_64 has made some gorgeous icons of Tony's lovely face in this cap, and you can either scroll down to find them or go here. They're ace, just credit to her if you use! :-)
So, I thought it was okay. ;-)
If you did manage to take in any of the ramblings, and disagree/agree, let me know! I am always up for long, rambly discussion! :-)
Code of Conduct
I just finished watching, and I think my head is about to explode from glee! Like, I'll have changed them by the time I post, but there are so many typos in this already, and it's all because Tony was made of awesome in this. Seriously. I read a couple of comments and reviews before I watched (who am I kidding, I was bored at work so I read everything I could find) and I was expecting vague mediocrity, with a slightly too silly Tony and a couple of scenes that were more text than subtext. But from my rabidly Tony-centric POV, this episode delivered. So much fun, and with added competence.
1. I admittedly took this cap purely because it had the title on it, and I'm a loser like that. But also, I love Tony opening the episode, and having stayed in contact with his friends in Baltimore. Who still love Tony, because he's awesome. I love his playing larceny lotto with Jerry. Remember that name, Tony-in-Baltimore fic-writers! Also, cute hair and retro-cool sunglasses. I like. And he's in classic black and white - look, chreesko, no jeans! :-D
2. He's so pretty. I love his semi eye-roll when McGee mentions growing up on a base - not mean, I don't think, but maybe McGee talks about that as much as Tony talks about being a cop - which canonically was a lot in earlier seasons and seems to be coming back - I like! I wonder, if Tony gets sick in the car because of Ziva's driving, whether Gibbs makes Ziva clean it up or Tony? Probably depends on who is being more awesome. If it was my decision, obviously it would be Ziva, because Tony is more awesome than all. Tony getting carsick is one of my favourite bits of canon/fanon.
3. "Looks like you got a problem in your neighbourhood, Mr. Rogers - that's a nice sweater by the way." I love the way he runs sentences on in that mild-mannered but vaguely sinister way of his. I think maybe there should be a post dedicated to the sexiness of his voice, because it struck me in this episode for some reason. I kind of want a DiNozzo answerphone message. With his Alien impression instead of the buzz. Hey Ziva! She looks pretty too. I love their fleeces and caps. Oh, I'm doing this as I cap, and I was just moving forward for the next gorgeous shot and the way he said "Thank you" to Mr. Rogers sent little shivers up my spine. He's got such a great voice. At the moment, I am in MW/Tony obsession extreme mode, and I'd have difficulty choosing between him and Jeremy Irons for whose voice I'd want to listen to for the rest of my life. Is Tony cooler than Scar?
4. Bonus Palmer! Because it's nice to see him again and he is my secret NCIS crush. Look at him, making cute zombie jokes and manhandling dead guys, wearing the glasses he stole from a Harry Potter set. Adorable!
5. "Thrill me, McGoblin!" Cutest nickname yet? For Tony/Tim slashers (yay!) that slow walk he does towards McGee is pure seduction. And I love his face in this shot. You know, compared to the shots of his face I don't love. 'Cause there are loads of those, really. ;-) Shut up, Jules. I also love McGee's lazy snark and Tony's amused agreement with it, and Tony's instant recognition of a hottie.
6. I like his smile! Interesting Tony/Ziva dynamics - they don't seem bothered to be working together or getting close to one another in an officey kind of way, and clearly she's not worried about questioning and teasing him. I think I like it. It seemed angst-free but still a little less comfortable than usual. I'm thinking about whitening my teeth.
7. I love Tony carrying out the interview, and this face he makes when he hears about Sarah (that is the girl's name, isn't it? I'm capping to music.) having lost both her biological parents. Seems to strike a chord - maybe just compassion, because obviously that's a sucky thing to happen - but it's canon he's had at least one stepmother, with possibly homicidal tendencies. When I say canon, I mean, Tony has mentioned this in passing in what may be a lie or a truth, but who can ever tell? Total hottie. I'm missing Gibbs a lot, but MW's doing an awesome job with his leadership role.
8. Ahahaha, but when Gibbs is on-screen, it's genius! I love him. *hands out gift of apple cider* ... 1.5 seconds ... "Break's over." LOL LOL LOL! CdP does a great reaction shot here, totally hilarious. But I'm limiting my caps to Tony (and bonus!Palmer), because I'm shallow like that. And hee, look at his face! I love him getting distracted and Gibbs having to take the cup away, in this ridiculously tolerant, weary kind of way. Married couple.
9. My reasons for this shot are threefold. a) If I were on the writing/cinematography team on this show, I would make it compulsory that Tony stand like this once per episode, in order to highlight his lovely legs and bum. There's something really hot about that stance. b) Ziva's flares entrance me - at one point on her walk, they were eating her legs. What is it about 70s and 80s clothing at the moment? I'm all for a little bit of retro, but things seem to be getting out of hand. I went into Dorothy Perkins the other day - I don't know why, that shop always makes me angry, but it was that or Next, and that place is worse - and it looked like Diana Ross had vomited in there. I was distressed. That's a whole three mintues of my lunchbreak I won't get back. c) Tony wants candy!
10. I forgot I liked this scene so much. He gets really great lines. "Very convincing nerd outfit." I also laughed a lot at Mr. Roger's deadpan response that it was work outfit. And that he worked from home. My work-from-home outfit is pyjamas. Another great exchange:
Rogers: Are you accusing me of murder?
Tony: No, we're just asking you nicely if you did it.
He's too fucking cool, okay?
11. NCIS only recruits ridiculously good-looking people. It's nice having Ziva back and working with Tony in a competent team way. Just a nice scene that didn't feel like it had any extra motive behind it from the writers. Just to make clear, I'm a slash girl primarily, but I think these two are gorgeous together and I don't want their subtext to stop. I just want there to be subtext between all pairings indiscriminately. I also like the way Tony is all sensible in this scene, like he's genuinely disapproving of giving out energy drinks to the two adorably cute twin girls. Which is exactly what my attitude would be, but it's kind of reponsible and grown-up of Tony (and plays into the fanon I have developed of him being a total secret parent to the team, like, he always has spare wet wipes and gloves but he only gives them out with a mocking insult to hide his motherly tendencies). I bet Tony was insane on energy drinks as a kid. Or not on them, too.
12. I just really like the framing on this shot. I was expecting some kind of joke about Gibbs when he mentioned that the wife had been married three times, but I guess Tony's sticking to the rules for a while after the last time he made that joke. I hope he never stops entirely, they're too funny.
13. Ah! This is the scene that broke me. I've loved this season so far, but recently I've been super lazy about capping the episode since the premiere (and that was because of my love of Tony being tortured. *sigh*) and it's just tonight that I've gone, OMG, I need to cap this to remind myself of how awesomely cool I found this scene. I was literally jumping up and down in my chair with GLEE. He's so competent, in his uniquely DiNozzo way! The first point, obviously, is that he's working with Gibbs! My favourite relationship on the show! And they work so great here, and I can't quite work out what I'd call the shtick they're using - it's not quite good cop bad cop, but more like annoying, antagonistic cop and calm, menacing cop. Whatever, it works.
14. My second point is OMG Tony rocks! He's so very cool in this scene, all funny and smart, goading the guy in a casual kind of way like he doesn't even care that much, tricking him into saying too much. I can't describe this scene well enough to do it justice, so I'm actually going to transcribe it. With my own biased, fawning commentary in italics.
Tony: Where were you two nights ago? - Standing just behind Gibbs, all 2IC but not bothered, and seemingly the one controlling the interview.
Singer: In Norfolk, visiting a friend.
Tony: Does this friend live on a street corner and deal pharmaceuticals out of a paper bag by any chance? - Did he always have that sexy half-drawl to his voice? Hot!
Singer: I'm not on the juice, if that's what you're implying. Flexes really gross muscles. It's all natural. Don't let it scare you.
Tony: Looks like he's never been less scared in his life. But then again, he is standing behind Gibbs, which is a pretty safe strategic position to choose.
Gibbs: Alibi have a name?
Tony: Those things on the side of your head work? Man asked you a question. Deliberately, sexily provocative. Although short term memory loss and shrunken testicles-
Singer: You ever been shot at?
Tony: Makes truly gorgeous face, you know the one I mean, where it's like he's thinking of a million different instances where that's happened, but shrinking it all down into a casual, throwaway phrase: Once or twice.
Singer: People were getting blown up over there and Corby's serran(?)-wrapping people into their cots.
Tony: What's your point?
Singer: Some of us didn't appreciate it. His stupid pranks. But none of us killed him. No-one would have taken it that far if- Realises he's gone too far.
Tony: 1. Singer: 0.
15. One more shot of Tony's seasoned, competent investigator face. Underestimate Tony at your peril! They could have Tony dressed as a clown juggling in every other scene this season, and I'd still be high off this scene. When people tell me they think Tony's an arrogant asshole who can't take his job seriously, this is the clip I'm going to show them.
16. Braces? Or a hint of the shoulder holster? I am, unfortunately, thinking it's the former. Inform me I'm wrong. Another kind of holster? I'm not sure I approve of braces on anyone but Ducky. He fiddles with it in the next minute, too, in a scene in which my eyes were drawn to McGee's rather pert, attractive bottom. Tony has taken him shopping for tighter jeans. I am beginning to see why Ziva rated his butt a 4/5. Oh, and then Tony's all like, "What causes a Marine unit to fall apart?" to McGee, asking him the answer. That's how you teach and mentor! (This does not leave my journal, but I totally just used the word ace-icles to express my love of them both. The two hours sleep I got last night is starting to show. Good thing I'm - fuck, only halfway through.)
17. Mobile campfire! Brilliant scene! I love Ziva's continued hatred of campfires, and the way Tony is so very much the leader of that little trio there. McGee looks a little despondent, and isn't really backing Ziva up - I think Gibbs' comment about Probie being an affectionate nickname really stuck with him, back in S4, and also I think he prefers sit-down-and-share-with-the-class campfires more than pede-conferencing. Gibbs exiting the bathroom and totaly backing Tony up is fantastic, too, and it's a great moment of re-establishing boundaries and re-distributing the power, for those people who had issues with Ziva invading the men's room in 7x02. And Gibbs coming out and continuing the mobile campfire? Cute! I love the way these two (Tony and Gibbs) seem so in sync this season, repeating one another's words but using different, complementary leadership systems. It's very equal.
18. Another very cool little interview scene - and the showrunners are really giving MW an awful lot to do by himself or with the team at the moment, aren't they? It's just becomign more and more apparent. I love it, I do, even though I miss Gibbs. His interview technique is really slick, and I just like the idea that he's being considered capable enough to follow up his own leads - actually, in this episode he's very much going off and doing his own thing, while Gibbs supervises and the other two stick on tasks, if that makes sense. More Tony on my screen for more time makes me extremely happy, especially when he's looking this good. He's had a little hair-trim, I think - the fringe isn't quite so floppy. It's back to S3/4 lengths, and I like it a lot. I enjoyed the floppy fringe, but his hair treads a fine line between adorable, and late 90s. I also enjoy his seeming nonchalance around Singer, who is a big guy and could totally take him.
19. Taking the crown as my favourite shot of the episode. People should not be this pretty legally. It's very rare to find features this well-aligned and effective in a package. I keep zoning out on this picture. There's so much to look at. I like to start from the outside and work in: his suit, which is a gorgeous fit and colouring and makes his shoulders look great; his wrists, which are unusually slim and look great in that expensive watch; his hair, ears and neck - Tyra Banks would be proud, he has not lost his neck at all; his eyes, is he smizing? (Go watch America's Next Top Model, it makes me not ever need drugs.) They're all greeny/blue and that slightly smaller one is adorable; his pretty pinkish lips with those gorgeous straight teeth; nose! Unfortunately the bump is not visible, but ... actually, there are only so many things you can wax lyrical about when it comes to nostrils. His nose looks very clean. Moving on, I love that his response to Gibbs throwing a file in his lap and asking if he's taking a break (with no heat whatsoever) is to say he's looking at the sprinkler system. Oh, that's okay then!?!? LOLZ.
20. Another cute scene I forgot about. Here he's all, "Fraulein? Danke schon." Have some of this guy's money. Very cool scene in general, especially this little exchange:
Barnes: Can we do this some other time?
Tony: Er, let me check. Ziva?
Ziva: No. Awesomely quick, in-sync delivery by CdP. I love how she does her hair. I'm going to ask my hairdresser if she can give me an ex-Mossad Agent cut the next time I'm in. I have the eyebrows to pull it off, I think, though I'm lacking in the stunning cheekbones and general great bone structure.
Tony: No, see, we can't do it another time. Achtung, baby. It took me ages to work out he said achtung, very funny!
I love German festivals. Can't wait for the one at Christmas to arrive!
21. "De-cider-dly delicious." I spat a cashew nut at my computer screen. In laughter. Bad puns are good clean fun. Let's check out Gibbs' reaction shot:
22. He's so ridiculously charmed by him! That's so cute! Back to Tony:
23. Ah, that smile. Also, the slashy subtext than can be taken from this. They're such a couple sometimes it hurts. Oh, and then Tony's all super-instincts super-cop with his knowing that the wife is holding something back - he is still sensitive to lying? Or just a good cop? Hmm. Whatever, he's right, and he rocks.
24. Profile, in interrogation, where Tony attempts his usual confession-by-annoyance style, and I revel in imagining licking his nose bump. Listen to the way he says "Quantico." I've got chills, and not just the usual winter-in-Scotland kind. He is sexy. And then he walks into observation with the cutest, but cockiest little "woohoo!" ever. I love my Tony to pieces, but he is totally working the smug here. Good thing he's hot. I'm not going to cap it, because it's too dark and you can only really see him in shadows in the scene where Gibbs interrogates the wife, but he actually bounces on his feet a little when he enters the room. Tony loves his job again! I'm so relieved after the burnout signs in 7x01.
25. Aww! His I got it wrong? face is so cute. Yeah, you did, Tony, but your gut was actually right - and even though he doesn't officially crack the case, he seems to be the one who did the legwork getting the team to the stage where they got the rest of the evidence they needed. My rampant Tony-protective side is playing a part here, but really, he'd be the recipient of any black roses given out on this case. Did Gibbs just suddenly remember he'd seen something that might be a car on that tape before - but didn't mention it earlier because, I don't know, he really fancied some apple cider? I did like how once Tony had tried to sit in the car, he immediately started thinking again. That's why he's such a good cop, he's always going for the why. Things like him getting all the evidence, backing up his gut feeling on the wife, are all fantastic - and they're then used to show that the whole team is fantastic because they question and then go further. That's why they work as a team, I think, so I love it. Tony really doesn't seem cut up about getting it wrong (ish), because that's how their job works, always questioning, and also because he's, you know, almost unreasonably reasonable and laid-back.
26. He looks great, doesn't he? I love that he does most of the talking, and Gibbs lets him. I hope MH doesn't get paid per word. But it's very cool that Tony does Gibbs' talking, and I also love Tony's new habit of getting the handcuffs out and dangling them delightedly in front of the perps before arresting them. I also love this episode because of the money issues with it - I think I can say it's canon that Tony's got - not quite a preoccupation, but definitely some kind of issue/interest in money, that we're given hints of but have never quite had explained. It doesn't seem to be that big of a thing in this episode, but he's been very aware of fraud and tax laws in the past, and there's that early episode where he gets almost upset/emotional with Kate about growing up with money and it being crap, then covering the lapse with a joke about really missing the money - obviously judgement of that is subjective, but I think there was truth in both reactions.
27. And then to continue on this long, rambly (do you expect otherwise?) point, he wins the lotto and gives his money to an urban youth group! I'm reading that as him having really liked having money, and missing it when he got disowned/left home, but that because of his experiences growing up, he doesn't make money his priority in life, and gives it to places he feels need it most. Also, that whole thing makes my personal fanon of Tony volunteering to help underprivileged kids play basketball in his free time even more plausible. Thanks, show! Love Ziva's pranks - I need to look into that keyboard one, and I have been lulling my vaguely irritating co-worker into a false state of security by getting his coffee for him every day for the past nine months, but I didn't have a follow-through prank for that - until now! I was slightly worried that this final scene was going to be anvilicious, thanks to my voracious reading of spoilers, but I was surprised to find it completely subtexty and open to interpretation. My chosen interpretation is: CUTE. He expresses his affection, and she asks him nicely to desist with the name. I hope he follows her wishes. I'm also, and this is very off-the-cuff, sensing a little bit of power-play? Either from a shippy or non-shippy perspective, isn't it interesting that earlier, she took the power by barging into the bathroom, and he seemed content to let her find her place and decide how she wanted to play that one, but in this episode he pretty much bars her from the bathroom and now almost asks if she'll submit to him? I don't know, I'm more interested in the slash so I probably won't go further into it than that, but it's interesting. And they both have great hair. I have reached the end of the episode on a pleasing number that is divisible by 3, so my inner psycho is happy.
That's a sneaky last shot - the same as the one above, but without my shit-awful attempts at colouring in case anyone wants to go make icons with it or print it off and lick it. We're going to ignore the fact that this fucks up my divisible-by-3 rule because it's so cool.
The talented karababe_64 has made some gorgeous icons of Tony's lovely face in this cap, and you can either scroll down to find them or go here. They're ace, just credit to her if you use! :-)
So, I thought it was okay. ;-)
If you did manage to take in any of the ramblings, and disagree/agree, let me know! I am always up for long, rambly discussion! :-)