After being forgotten for a while, NCIS finally remembers the most quintessential aspect of Timothy McGee’s character that is reminiscent of the show’s best years. While there are no longer any original MCRT members in the show, it still has 2 characters who have been with the procedural since its inaugural year. Aside from Brian Dietzen’s medical examiner, Jimmy Palmer, NCIS season 22 also still has Sean Murray as McGee. While not a part of the Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ JAG team, the original “probie” is one of the most beloved players in the show.
Unfortunately, despite a deep history to pull from, not to mention years of experience being an NCIS agent, NCIS season 22 doesn’t seem to know what to do with McGee. When the year debuted, he was aiming for a promotion to be a Deputy Director, but after he lost that to possible agency mole Gabriel LaRoche, the procedural has barely made any movement on this plot. As frustrating as it is, it’s pleasantly shocking when NCIS season 22, episode 16, “Ladies’ Knight,” appears to remember one of the most quintessential McGee traits with a fun sequence.
The episode is technically about MCRT’s rare night off, but, as expected, it’s interrupted by a case. Since it isn’t as urgent as others are, the boys let Jessica Knight and Kaisie Hines move forward with their planned night out with Robin. While the rest are also supposed to leave the office, Nick Torres finds McGee playing Killing with Kindness 3. Apparently, he is planning to hang back to reach his target level. Soon, he is joined by his fellow agent, and eventually Director Leon Vance. Together, they cozy up and play McGee’s video game.
For those who have been following NCIS for a long time, seeing “Ladies’ Knight” bring back his love of playing video games sort of nostalgic. Throughout his years with the MCRT, the character has had countless nicknames, incling “Elf Lord” — a reference to his penchant for the matter. Granted that so many things have already happened in his life, such as getting married and having kids, it’s still nice for NCIS season 22 to reference this quintessential McGee habit in an unexpected way.
This isn’t the first throwback reference for McGee this year. Earlier, NCIS season 22 also brought back Thom E. Gemcity for a case. While he has slowed down his pace on writing books after an obsessed fan almost got Abby Sciuto killed, still being able to harken on it is a reminder of how far the character has come. That said, as exciting as it is to check up on McGee’s author counterpart, seeing him play video games again is a much easier way to drum up nostalgia.
Murray’s character maintaining his video gaming habit is a reminder of that point in the procedural, while also highlighting how far he’s come in his career.
“Elf Lord” is arguably one of the most popualr nicknames that McGee has ever had, and it’s extra special because even Gibbs used it, even though he didn’t always like joining his agents’ shenanigans. The moniker was given to him at a time when NCIS had its best team — Gibbs, McGee, Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, with Abby, Palmer and Ducky Mallard. Murray’s character maintaining his video gaming habit is a reminder of that point in the procedural, while also highlighting how far he’s come in his career.
