‘NCIS: Sydney’ Season 2, Episode 8 Review – A Bloody Misfire That Misses the Mark
“Blood Is Thicker Than Vodka” is all gimmick and no bite as NCIS: Sydney’s latest episode trades storytelling for style—unfortunately, at the wrong time of year.
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NCIS: Sydney has never shied away from creative risks, but Season 2, Episode 8, titled “Blood Is Thicker Than Vodka,” is a misstep that feels out of sync with its calendar placement—and its audience. With a plot that plays like a Halloween special accidentally dropped into April, the episode leans heavily into its vampire-themed murder mystery, but fails to deliver a cohesive or compelling procedural. The result is an episode that may have looked fun on paper but leaves viewers scratching their heads.
The case opens with a gruesome find: Petty Officer Ezra Stokes is discovered dead in a coffin, completely drained of blood. While that’s more Dracula than Ducky, the NCIS: Sydney team is tasked with solving the bizarre case. Naturally, the investigation leads to a family of self-proclaimed vampires, and from there, the episode doubles down on gothic tropes, melodramatic music, and tongue-in-cheek humor. The problem? It’s all delivered with the tone of a spoof, not a serious whodunit.
Trying Too Hard to Be Spooky, and Not Succeeding
“Blood Is Thicker Than Vodka” plays like a themed episode written without looking at the schedule. The vampire angle might have worked during an October release, when viewers expect genre-bending, campy cases. But premiering in the spring, this feels jarringly out of place and overly forced. The writers clearly had fun crafting the vampire parody, but the exaggerated tone—creepy organ music, hypnotic stares, and dramatic capes—makes it difficult to take any of it seriously.
One scene, in particular, sets the tone for the entire episode’s misfire: when agents Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) and JD Dempsey (Todd Lasance) confront prime suspect Dawn Lazar, she’s playing Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor—arguably the most stereotypical “vampire music” imaginable. As she speaks, the background score ramps up with eerie tension, bordering on parody. It’s a moment that screams Halloween party, not a high-stakes naval investigation.
Beneath all the spooky flair is a shallow crime of jealousy. The resolution—that the killer acted out of envy toward the victim’s attention from the women in the vampire household—feels undercooked. Once you strip away the vampire costumes and atmospheric lighting, the mystery is flat and predictable.
Mackey and JD Save the Day — Barely
If there’s a silver lining to this otherwise forgettable episode, it’s the chemistry between Mackey and JD. Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance have been one of the bright spots of NCIS: Sydney, and their banter carries Episode 8 through its weakest moments. In a subplot that’s arguably more entertaining than the main story, JD finds an embarrassing photo of Mackey in full goth gear from her teenage years and gleefully shares it with the team. The “Count Mackula” reveal leads to a playful revenge prank from Mackey that brings some much-needed levity—and genuine character moments.
But while the humor between them works, there’s still a missed opportunity. JD casually mentions that he’s currently crashing in a friend’s garage, a throwaway line that could’ve opened the door to a deeper emotional moment. Especially considering the pair’s history, including Mackey opening up about her son earlier this season, this could have been a chance to reinforce their emotional bond. Instead, the episode sticks to surface-level gags.
A Stuck Formula and Forgotten Plotlines
With only two episodes left in the season, it’s become clear that NCIS: Sydney has fallen into a rut with its core characters. Mackey and JD always play the sarcastic duo, Evie (Tuuli Narkle) is constantly ribbing DeShawn (Mavournee Hazel) for something, and Blue (William McInnes) remains the awkward but lovable oddball. These dynamics haven’t evolved much since the season premiere—and that stagnation is becoming noticeable.
Even more disappointing is the near-total abandonment of the Colonel Rankin storyline that once seemed poised to define the season. What began as a potential serialized arc—with hints of deep government conspiracy—has quietly faded into the background. Episode 8 makes no reference to Rankin or the threats looming over the team. For a series that once hinted at a darker, more connected narrative thread, the lack of follow-through is frustrating.
A Crisis of Identity
Ultimately, “Blood Is Thicker Than Vodka” isn’t just a mediocre episode—it’s a symptom of a larger identity crisis within NCIS: Sydney. Is the show aiming to be a dramatic procedural grounded in real-world cases, or a playful spin-off willing to get weird and goofy? There’s room for both approaches, but the series needs to find a better balance.
The original NCIS mastered this tonal juggling act—offering weighty drama and lighthearted moments in harmony. NCIS: Sydney, on the other hand, swings wildly between the two. When it leans too hard into comedy, as it does here, the stakes vanish. When it gets too serious, it risks alienating viewers who signed up for fun in the sun with a twist.
With the season finale fast approaching, NCIS: Sydney would do well to tighten its focus, give its characters more dynamic development, and resolve its long-ignored overarching plots. Otherwise, it risks becoming a forgettable footnote in the growing NCIS universe.
Verdict:
Season 2, Episode 8 of NCIS: Sydney is a rare misstep that sacrifices tension for camp and mood for gimmick. Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance shine, but even their charm can’t save an episode that feels like a Halloween special airing six months too late.
Rating: 2.5/5
