After gaining cooperation from Agent Todd, they manage getting the plane off the ground and once back in the lab, Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) and forensic scientist Abby Sciuto (Pauly Perrette) get to work in solving the cause of death, which may just be from natural causes. Meanwhile NCIS agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) investigates another mysterious death while agents Gibbs and Todd pursue other leads. When the deceased man turns out to be the commander who should have been on the flight, it may just be the final piece of the puzzle. Most the time it’s hard to know whether or not you’re going to like a show initially, because sometimes each episode changes or just becomes a stronger show as it gets further into its season. Such is the case with NCIS: it’s first episode is a bit less intelligent and each one becomes better. Season one doesn’t lend itself to tons of character development. Granted, as it gets deeper into the season, there are subtle elements that allow the viewers to learn about certain of the character’s past, but everyone retains the air of mystery.

If there’s something this show got “right,” it’s the fantastic cast who share a wonderful chemistry. Tony is the resident funny guy and flirt, while Caitlin is a devoted agent and maybe just a bit cynical, who isn’t about to take any of Tony’s glib teasing. The scientific brains are both witty and even though Abby and Ducky share similar tasks, it’s a delight to watch Abby try bringing Ducky into the 21st century. Gibbs is perhaps the biggest puzzle of the group as he’s not only the toughest to figure out, but expects much from his crew. He much prefers his privacy and doesn’t like either his personal life or authority questioned. Still, there’s an underlying respect for Gibbs from each of the characters and likewise, all the members play vital roles. Gibbs has a different relationship with each of his team mates but I especially enjoyed he and Abby’s interaction (particularly the “soda rituals” and their special communication). Each of the characters brings something unique to the show and when together, I absolutely loved their subtle humor, work ethics and characteristics. All these “little” things make viewers all the more anxious to know more. For a show that solves mysterious deaths, this actually has a marvelous balance of laugh-out-loud humor and seriousness. In fact one of the best lines comes in “Yankee White” when an airport security guy questions the team if they’re anything like CSI and Tony replies “not unless you’re dyslexic.”

NCIS is unique in that this team only investigates military murders. The filmmaking is modern and while some people may find the three quick succession shots annoying, they really add a fantastic dimension to the show, albeit small. Drastic changes take place over half way through the series through swift transitions to a more serious “solid” series. Interlocking episodes play a much more significant part late in the season, through careful clues; none more than one in particular dealing with a criminal besting Gibbs; he becomes different, driven to apprehend a nameless man, all leading to a climatic, tense, jaw-dropping conclusion. The most grotesque thing about this series is seeing Ducky perform frequent autopsies. “The Immortals,” “Dead Man Talking” and “Good Samaritan” are very visual (showing a body cut open, with the victim’s internal organs visible). Likewise, one episode finds them recovering a severed leg (we also see brief imaginary snapshots of the decapitated body). If you have a medical background no doubt you won’t even blink but others may find these scenes a bit nauseating. Whenever the camera pans out, side views of the nude bodies are seen in full, with anything inappropriate carefully obscured. Violence is more obscure and limited to guns being fired (a grenade injures a key character and a gunshot wound). The deaths generally wind up being murder; the roof of an SUV impales one man, another a wooden post, a woman is shot point blank in the head, others die from bombs along with various other offenses. In one of the more interesting episodes, a man half commits suicide but in a way was “dared” into his death, all because he couldn’t separate fantasy from reality. Drugs are dealt with in a few episodes; “High Seas” references urine samples numerous times.

Innuendo invades, often during Tony and Cait’s sparring (episodes deal with porn and affairs). Tony is always flirting and Cait remarks that she works with “pigs” after Tony purchases her half a bikini. Three separate episodes deal with homosexuals (a sexually transmitted disease is referenced) and a transgender. Various women wear inappropriate clothing (we see women tanning, including a far-off, blurry shot of a nude sunbather). A reference is made about someone’s “virginity." The third episode finds a high school couple making out in a car (she wants to stop). Profanities are used.

Particularly favorite episodes include: “Yankee White” (a comical premiere, in which the gang “kidnap” Air Force One), “The Immortals” (a clever video game whodunit), “The Curse” (a clever episode dating back eight years) and “High Seas” (which pits Tony against Gibbs former employee and is simply hilarious). A poignant episode (“Marine Down”) offers a glimmer of hope amidst sadness, while “Left for Dead” presents a twisted sense of justice. After a neighbor told us about this series, we became curious, (especially since Mark Harmon has always been a favorite actor) and now can say without hesitation: we’re hooked! It’s a fun series with just enough suspense to keep viewers guessing and for the most part isn’t running rampant with offensive material. It begins by pulling its audience in through a fabulous cast with wonderful chemistry before edge-of-your-seat thrills and intelligence wins out.