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2014 Returning Fall Series You Should Be Watching: Procedurals

The fall TV season is just kicking off and it’s time to begin crafting a weekly TV-viewing schedule that fits your needs, genre preferences, and tastes, and that hopefully includes something old, something new, and something that’s been around for a while that you’ve been meaning to check out. Following up on Sound on Sight’s coverage of …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.21, “Berlin”: Tensions mount when a new boss complicates the search for a killer

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 21: “Berlin” Written by Scott Williams and Gina Lucita Monreal Directed by Terrence O’Hara Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS The hunt for Bodnar continues as Ziva and Tony fly under the radar to follow a lead to Germany while Gibbs gets acquainted with Mossad’s new director, who has some …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.20, “Chasing Ghosts”: Resumes the hunt for the season’s main antagonist with a flawed approach to storytelling

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 20: “Chasing Ghosts” Written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews Directed by Arvin Brown Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Opening with a recap, “Chasing Ghosts” gets back on track by focusing on Ziva’s discreet pursuit of Ilan Bodnar, the man responsible for the deaths of Eli David and Jackie Vance. The episode …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.19, “Squall”: Meeting the parents has its challenges as another family member makes a debut appearance

When NCIS reaches family reunion milestones, they usually coincide with an investigation- each agent has suspected every member of their family of murder/espionage at one point or another- so it’s no surprise that the debut appearance of McGee’s estranged father would result in a trip to interrogation, pitting the Admiral against Gibbs.

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NCIS, Ep. 10.18, “Seek”: Taking a look at unlikely heroes continues the season’s emotional arc

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 18: “Seek” Written by Scott Williams Directed by Michael Weatherly Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS There is no doubt that Michael Weatherly is a showman. Along with acting, singing, and the occasional comical impression, Weatherly is also proving to be a capable director, returning to the helm for the …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.17, “Prime Suspect”: A barbershop and the Bahamas offer complexity but deliver dysfunctionality

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 17: “Prime Suspect” Written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea Directed by James Whitmore, Jr. Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS The entirety of this episode is a balancing act: maintaining the heart of the matter in the midst of a complex series of constructed events. You have Gibbs juggling …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.16, “Detour”: Enables character growth amid aimless kidnapping plot

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 16: “Detour” Written by Steven D. Binder Directed by Mario Van Peebles Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Nine months have passed since the devastating attack on NCIS that coincided with Jimmy Palmer’s wedding date. So far, the season has illuminated the residual effects of the incident on every character …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.15, “Hereafter”: A search for answers brings an unexpected player to the forefront

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 15: “Hereafter” Written by Nichole Mirante-Matthews Directed by Tony Wharmby Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Despite the strengths for which it is praised, NCIS has its share of recurring issues, occasionally exhibited by withdrawn characters, uninspired subject matter, emotionally weightless subplots, and flat attempts at humor. The greatness of …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.14, “Canary”: Cyber crime investigation employs old-school methods

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 14: “Canary” Written by Christopher J. Waild Directed by Terrence O’Hara Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS “Wouldn’t it be funny if…?” Finish that question with a variety of unlikely hypothetical scenarios and you have the basic outline for the events in this episode. What if the team dressed out …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.13, “Hit and Run”: A look into the past weighs the importance of goodwill in a corrupt world

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 13: “Hit and Run” Written by Gary Glasberg and Gina Lucita Monreal Directed by Dennis Smith Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Knowing your purpose in life and that you are fulfilling that purpose is not an absolute that can be guaranteed. That uncertainty grabs a hold of Abby as …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.12, “Shiva”: Complicated case advances underlying love story

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 12: “Shiva” Written by Christopher J. Waild, Gary Glasberg and Scott Williams Directed by Arvin Brown Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS “Shiva” picks up where “Shabbat Shalom” left off: Ziva is grieving her father’s death and Director Vance, the death of his wife. Although the shooter is dead, the …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.11, “Shabbat Shalom”: Mid-season return features shocking departures of recurring characters

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 11: “Shabbat Shalom” Written by Christopher J. Waild Directed by Dennis Smith Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS NCIS returns from its holiday hiatus with “Shabbat Shalom”, an episode that rises above seasonal standards, delivering memorable emotional performances by Cote de Pablo and Michael Nouri, who guest stars in a …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.10, “You Better Watch Out”: Holiday happenings bring grief and new beginnings

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 10: “You Better Watch Out” Written by George Schenck & Frank Cardea Directed by Tony Wharmby Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS No one wants to feel left out, especially during the holiday season. A simple sense of belonging is part of what comprise the Christmas spirit. So it’s only …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.09, “Devil’s Trifecta”: The return of an ex-wife adds flair to a desperate and dull investigation

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 9: “Devil’s Trifecta” Written by Steven D. Binder Directed by Arvin Brown Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS “We’re working on an IRS fraud case. You sleeping alone is more interesting.” Truer words were never spoken. Tony can almost be credited for reading viewers’ minds when he comments on the …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.08, “Gone”: A uniting effort by the cast makes for a more watchable hour of drama

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 8: “Gone” Written by Reed Steiner and Scott Williams Directed by James Whitmore, Jr. Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS When season ten was still shrouded in mystery, a fresh new year waiting to arrive, there was plenty of hopeful speculation concerning possible stories that might unfold throughout the upcoming …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.07, “Shell Shock (Part II)”: Extended story respects its subject but distracts with unnecessary subplot

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 7: “Shell Shock (Part II)” Written by Gina Monreal Directed by Tom Wright Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Previously on NCIS… Captain Joe Wescott attacked a man out of paranoia from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NCIS was called in to investigate when Wescott’s best friend ended up dead after the …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.06, “Shell Shock (Part I)”: A painful past and a suspicious witness make for a whole lot of trust issues

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 6: “Shell Shock (Part I)” Written by Nichole Mirante-Matthews Directed by Leslie Libman Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Television has the potential to influence millions of people, for better or for worse. One of the best things about the medium is that not only does it entertain, but it …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.05, “The Namesake”: Heartfelt backstory pays tribute to real-life heroes

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 5: “The Namesake” Written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea Directed by Arvin Brown Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS NCIS has given its audience numerous glances into the make-up of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, each one brief but hefty with emotional detail (“Heartland” still ranks high on the list). …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.04, “Lost at Sea”: Intriguing premise let down by mild execution

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 4: “Lost at Sea” Written by Christopher J. Waild Directed by Tony Wharmby Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS Season X continues its run with the return of Diane Neal as the Coast Guard’s equivalent of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, agent Abigail Borin, the “other Abby”. The case of the week …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.03, “Phoenix”: A satisfying return to form

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 3: “Phoenix” Written by Steven D. Binder Directed by Terrence O’Hara Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS For a show that largely prides itself on its character-driven storylines, NCIS has recently produced fewer episodes whose strength results from the focused analysis of a central character, missing the mark of perfection …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.2, “Recovery”: Painting pretty pictures and orange walls

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 2: “Recovery” Written by Scott Williams Directed by Dennis Smith Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS The latest installment of the CBS procedural starts off with what may be an intentional reference to the beginning of the Halloween season. Abby Scuito is having nightmares after the bombing, which is not …

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NCIS, Ep. 10.1, “Extreme Prejudice”: Strong premiere misses opportunities for growth, introspection

NCIS, Season 10, Episode 1: “Extreme Prejudice” Written by Gary Glasberg Directed by Tony Wharmby Airs Tuesdays at 8pm (ET) on CBS A bomb blast has wreaked havoc on the U.S. Navy Yard. The premiere opens right where the show left off last season. Doctor Mallard, who was last seen suffering from a heart attack …

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Not Your Average Heroines: TV’s Top 9 Warrior Women

With The Hunger Games a box office hit and the highly anticipated second season of Game of Thrones only a week away, it’s a good time to be a fan of powerful female characters. There are plenty of strong women on television (though, it feels important to add, still far fewer than strong men), and …

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