{ NCIS, 6x24, Aliyah. }

[delga]

Oh gosh, I can't think straight. A couple of initial (thinky, verbose) reactions, though.

1) THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING. When Ziva is talking about betrayals, I thought maybe the truth behind Ari's death would come to light, and Jethro would be forced to give that up. And then he went to do it, for other reasons, and Leon played another hand: Eli sent Ziva to kill Ari. Did I mention the part where THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING? (I did wonder why it was that Eli didn't seem antagonised by Jethro one way or the other). If Ziva didn't kill Ari for Jethro... well, that's what Jethro's questions are about, aren't they?

2) Ziva in Tel Aviv was everything I could have wanted. There are still so many questions about her that remain unanswered - more about her and Ari, her mother, others she knew in Mossad - but there was so much that was spot on. I loved seeing her there, all bruises and right angles.

3) Back to (1) momentarily: I guess what really solidified her trust with Jethro wasn't so much Ari's betrayal (which Eli would have revealed) but Eli's betrayal (which Ari reveals). Is it the circumstances of Hasmia Haswari's death instead? I think so. It breaks my heart to think that for Jethro that bond is now broken. It was such a vital part of their relationship - to me, it played through Hiatus II to Shalom and all the way through, even to Broken Bird and beyond. But if Jethro doesn't owe Ziva that any more, then what is the state of play?

4) "Let this be your aliya." Aliya(h) is Hebrew for ascent; it is the name given to immigration to Israel, or rather to Eretz Israel (it's a Zionist principle; the land promised by God to the Jews). In Ziva's case, aliya is specifically a return to the motherland. Its opposite, yerida(h) (descent) is something we've seen her do twice. Let me get clumsy with the language for a little while, and not be so precise: to what extent do the traditional meanings of these words apply to Ziva?

5) Fathers. Fathers, brothers; family, friends. Oh gosh, but this episode played with all those ideas and ripped us apart. And the closing scene was horrific. Oh Ziva.

--

6) Tony and Eli's stand-off was amazing. I think in the repair section of his relationship with Ziva we come to a balance, yes? Jeanne Benoit and Michael Rivkin. Oh, oh. I have more to say on Tony - I have three seasons' worth of more to say, but I never get there.

7) A sincere shame that Tim and Abby didn't have so much to do. Did we even get a Tim episode this season? Oh wait, the women's prison. I guess.

8) Ducky and Jethro in the basement, and another boat burnt to a crisp. Because it was finished? Or because Jethro needed to start again? This whole season has been about Jethro's ability to trust or not trust the people around him. It's very specific in Cloak and Dagger but really it goes back to Jenny in Judgment Day because these arcs aren't so self-contained. Jethro is competent only in the realms of the professional, and Jenny is a bridge between professional and private. So she's a crack in the armour. To have a season that starts that way - family torn from him - and then to end it with this episode - torn from her (Ziva) - is cruel and horribly compelling. I have loved this season in its entirety.

Oh, but this changes EVERYTHING. I have more to say. More, more, more. More about Ziva, and Jethro, and Tony, and I can't think. The episode has made me quiet about so many things. Oh gosh.

--

Picspam soon, no doubt. Once I've watched it a couple more times.

edit: OH GOSH CRIMINAL MINDS FINALE TONIGHT TOO.

Comments

[powerof3.livejournal.com]

You were all I could think about while I was watching this ep last night. The ending? I said outloud, "Oh, God. M is not going to be happy with this. I can't wait to see what she has to say!"

Oh, Ziva! *clings*

hi. um.

[shusu.livejournal.com]

Your newsletter, it is fascinating. Mine is rather scattered all over the place, but my compatriots are all woefully behind in seeing the NCIS, and this is the first entry where I'm going YES. OMG, THIS. So, um, despite my scatteredness, maybe this might be of interest (http://shusu.livejournal.com/1129700.html#cutid1).

Re: hi. um.

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

I agree with a lot of your thoughts! I'll have more to add when I've had time to think.

[eleigh.livejournal.com]

The Criminal Minds commercial creeps me out EVERY TIME.

[delgaserasca.livejournal.com]

Hey, hey, hey! There are spoilers in this post!

Lols. Oh gosh, s6 is amazing, girl.

What gets me about that is that they don't have an onscreen conversation for 3-4 episodes before 518/519. Nothing. And then he goes to instigate that contact & it's too late. My gosh.